Buttercup tucked a stubborn strand of hair behind her ear as she walked the sidewalk in front of the downtown shops. The morning was closing in on noon, and the humidity draped a sticky blanket over Harbor City. Florida weather was often confusing. September saw many states starting the decline toward cooler temperatures, but not Florida. It stayed hot and humid, the dry air playing havoc with her hair and causing her cream-colored top to stick to her honeyed skin. It didn’t bother her, however. She walked the streets long enough to be able to ignore the weather. Besides, she had to get out of the condo before she melted into a pile of emotions. The reappearance of Karl Bartlett brought back way too many bad memories she wanted to forget.