listening to my wishes

BACK AS EZRA King hauled a t

iserable hot, edging clos

t it slow

this damn deck built befo

-assuming it cooled off-fa

he contemplated the best way

an carpentry," he m

damned, do-it-yourself he

t least that was what he

ont of you, something that started with just a bare wisp of an idea. Har

e time, but now it served him well. Nothing worth having came for free. A guy

erve it. Th

ed it, he wanted it done h

ome money tucked away, but if he wanted it to last, h

d be glad whe

pped, but only because hi

itcher of iced tea, he headed back outside and once more fell into a

time, his mind b

is shoes, he worked. A red bandanna held his sweat-dampened

act he'd been told more th

fights because of it. It was just a face,

a curse and blessing, as

as long as he could remem

and what flirting was. A

m ended up catching the attention of the boys in his gr

e point where he enjoyed

was directed his way. At

gh school, he got into a

eam. His nose was broken in

harsh at the time, but looking back, he was glad he had parents who loved him en

nd his own delight, his n

k to his nose made his fac

aved in the morning, but come late afternoon, that five o'clock shadow made its appearance. He was

e warm and loose. Even

hich was why he was living out here in Ash, Kentucky. He'd walked away

t like a bitch later once

come nightfall. But

ng up pretty damn g

eak around three when he

arrier had bills for him an

ills in his back pocke

ne of them was a book he'

to trac

ough. He was tempted, bu

w, he wasn't going to finish anything else but the book t

the kitchen and refilling

tside, going thro

engine and glanced up tow

f the long, black stre

is thermos and drinking,

car disappeared

oing-Running Brook Inn.

had been run-down and just

heirs had the brilliant ide

and the ide

a B&B. It had a small re

ngs-whatever in

e on a regular basis. He'd come out here seeking the peace and quiet he'd r

y're driving through the

ide. Pushing the limo out

op until he began

injured thigh were screaming, an

ch, then he'd crash, an

for a sandwich or a microwave pizza, or any of the other fa

choices in Ash, but he w

h shit, that meant

in Street would still be open. Plus,

Ezra found himself turning right, h

nearly ten by the

e long, sleek sprawl of mahog

sed. His jeans and T-shir

Dockers and

less. As long as

g mouthwatering. Garlic.

an I get

friendly, apologetic smi

got bar food, if you're int

ev

His stomach growled de

'd been drooling ... what

t he wanted.

rry." He glanced at h

Ezra asked, "So wha

was cold. Five minutes

when he caught a glimp

heard the oddly familiar

he turne

't coming from her

as a l

nds, Ezra didn't notice the

e was too busy

am

ses, despite the low lights

der soft lights, was sho

ace and a wide mobile mout

E-

amy, the kind of skin that

ust never saw the sun. Tal

t was pro

something worth looking

'd looked at in quite a wh

g her during his infrequen

d, he hadn't left the ho

take her

cking again and glanced

ellow retriever-wearing a r

oman, keeping pace with he

the hardwood floor. The r

ft, nor right, shou

li

ing her every step a

l. How's

. You want a drink whil

brushed it against the ba

I guess." With a slow, eas

ai

imself starin

nd wondering h

ward him, cocked to

h ...

him, grinned. "She's got

t the bartender. "I do n

le curled her lips. "Appare

ma

d, scowling, a little disg

like he wa

turning to face him. She

and cocked a brow. "Okay,