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she’s your friend.”
    â€œShe’s also a busybody,” Colette agreed with a small laugh. “But she means well. She worked for me in the shop for about six months before her husband bought the farm out west.” They stopped in front of her apartment building.
    â€œThey bought the place right next door to mine,” Tanner replied. He swept a hand through his rich dark hair and frowned thoughtfully. “Anyway, it was Margaret who told me about you, said she’d talked to you about you hiring Gina and giving her a place to stay for a while.”
    Colette nodded. “Margaret called me and told methat Gina was a sweet, bright young woman ready to strike out on her own.”
    â€œShe is sweet and she is bright, but she is also incredibly naive and innocent and not prepared for life on her own. She’s never even had a real job before.”
    â€œBut she told me she did volunteer work at an animal shelter and at the local hospital.” Colette juggled the catalogs into one of her arms and with the other hand retrieved her keys. “Tanner, I really don’t want to get in the middle of this fight between you and Gina. This should be a decision the two of you make.”
    â€œYou’re right,” he said instantly. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have brought it up.”
    Colette hesitated, knowing she shouldn’t say any more but unable to help herself. “All I know for sure is that in the three weeks Gina has been working for me, she’s proven herself to be very conscientious and responsible. Maybe it’s possible you’re seeing her as the little girl she was instead of the young woman she’s become.”
    His eyes grew stormy and the tic once again pounded in his jawline. “I know what’s best for her. And it’s best she come back to Foxrun with me.” His voice rang with an authority she hadn’t heard before.
    â€œThen I guess all you have to do is convince her of that,” Colette replied. “And now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to get settled in for the night.”
    â€œYes, of course.” He smiled, but she could tell the pleasant gesture was forced. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    Colette watched him as he turned and walked away. He walked with a loose-hipped gait that held a touch of arrogance.
    She turned and went into her building. As she rode the elevator up to the eighth floor, she thought of the conversation they’d just had.
    In the last moments of that conversation she’d seen a flash of the man Gina had described to her—a man determined to have his own way. She had a feeling that beneath his obvious charm was a man who could truly be “cursedly stubborn.”
    Entering her apartment, she immediately kicked off her shoes, dropped the catalogs on the coffee table and then went into the bedroom to change her clothes.
    On the one hand she was taken with the obvious love Tanner felt for his sister, the worry and concern she knew had driven him to the city in pursuit of her. On the other hand she had a feeling he was vastly underestimating Gina’s strength and resolve.
    She had just finished changing her clothes when the phone rang. Flopping on the bed, she picked up the phone on the nightstand.
    â€œColette, I’m glad I caught you in.”
    â€œHello, Lillian,” Colette said to her mother.
    â€œI got the message that you called last week and thought I would return your call.”
    Colette wanted to say that it was a good thing shehadn’t called with an emergency, but she’d long ago realized her mother was incapable of giving the emotions and love Colette had once hungered for.
    â€œMother’s Day is next Sunday. I was wondering if you’d like to go to lunch with me?” Colette twisted the phone cord around her finger as she realized how much she would love it if her mother said yes.
    â€œI’m afraid I can’t,”