Running for Her Life. Beverly Long

the collar of his shirt away from his throat and swallowed hard.

      She was a perfect match to bright sunshine and blue skies. To sweet, juicy watermelon and ice-cold lemonade.

      “How was the volleyball?” Nicholi asked.

      “Exhausting. But I think I worked off your cheesy potatoes, Janet. Thank goodness Alice wasn’t here with her cherry pie. Both would have done me in.”

      Nicholi put up a hand to shade his eyes from the bright sun. “I can’t remember a year that Alice and Henry missed the town picnic.”

      Tara nodded. “I know. They left early yesterday to go see their son. Bill’s getting married soon, you know.”

      Janet made some kind of grunting noise. “I wonder if Alice will finally be satisfied. She’s been pushing that boy to get married for years. Lord knows she worked hard enough to match up the two of you.”

      Now that was interesting. Jake moved a step closer.

      “Afternoon, Chief,” Nicholi said.

      Tara’s eyes flew open and she jerked upright so fast that Jake thought she might have popped a vertebrae. But she was prevented from saying anything by the sudden arrival of Andy.

      “Come on, Tara,” the young man said. “It’s time for the sack races. I need a partner.”

      She moaned. “Volleyball almost killed me.”

      “You’ve been saving potato sacks for months. You’re the closest thing we have to a corporate sponsor.”

      The idea of her putting that sexy bare leg up against some other man’s was unexpectedly revolting. Jake took another step forward. “I was hoping Tara would be my partner.”