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

“So I fuckedhim!” Charlene hollered after her. “And yeah, I liked it, so what? But I said I was sorry! What the hell more do you want? Get off me, bitch! Get off!”


Edie risked a glance back and saw Charlene’s friend was trying to restrain her, with little success. Charlene stumbled against the side of the building and pushed her friend away, then kicked a leg out to try to connect with her friend’s knee but missed. The movement sent her off balance and she fell back, landing with an audible thudon the curb on her backside.


As if her tumble were Edie’s fault, she called out, “Fuck you, Edith Davis! You mangy cunt! Your new girlfriend’s an ugly, mannish whore!”


Joanne’s fingernails dug into Edie’s side, but she kept walking. They were far enough away now that they could pretend Charlene wasn’t talking to them, but Edie’s heart was racing, and her whole body shook angrily. With deliberate care, Joanne asked, “And who exactly was that again?”


Chapter 20