Real estate agent Joanne McConnell has had her fair share of bad relationships. Her last girlfriend complained she spent too many long hours working and didn’t focus enough on them. Now single again, Joanne still keeps too busy a schedule to meet someone new. That all changes when she’s babysitting for her brother and meets Edie, the contractor he’s hired to fix up his home. There’s no denying the instant attraction between the two women, and Joanne is more than ready to take a chance on someone new. But Edie Davis, sole proprietor of Davis Contractors, was so badly burned by her last girlfriend that she’s sworn off dating altogether. Edie won’t let anything -- or anyone -- distract her from growing her business. She isn’t lonely, she isn’t, so she’s more than surprised when she finds herself falling for Joanne. Joanne’s offer of a business lunch turns into a date on Friday night, the first in months for either of them. Things seem to be going so well for both ladies. Can Edie let herself trust another again? Or will her past relationships screw up any chance of a future with Joanne?

Renovated Heart

And polite, too. Despite her lingering sleepiness, she invited Edie inside, and once Ava had closed the door, Ms. McConnell asked, “Can I get you some coffee? Or something to drink?”


“No, I’m good.” Edie trailed behind her into the dining room, setting her portfolio on the table while Ms. McConnell continued to the kitchen. As Edie spread out the documents she wanted to review, she heard the tell-tale sounds of a coffeemaker starting up, and within minutes, the rich aroma of hot java filled the home.


The children stayed in the living room, and now that the woman was up, they turned on the television in search of morning cartoons. When Ms. McConnell came back into the dining room, a steaming mug of coffee in one hand, she hollered over the loud television, “Don’t get too comfortable! I’m taking you to school in an hour.”


“Aww!” Ava groaned from out of sight.


Her brother quipped, “Do you haveto?”


Chapter 9