Mark Landing has a very difficult job to carry out within the next week. As the leader of Plimpton’s Neighborhood Hero Award Committee (NHAC), Mark must obtain a vote from ten NHAC members to determine which of three candidates will land the monetary award.<br><br>While interviewing each candidate, Mark finds one of them, bar owner and part-time roofer Cane Mercer, steamy-attractive. Not only is Cane handsome and easy to talk to, he’s a hero. He rescued three children from an accidental house fire a few months earlier. Hero or not, Cane flirts openly with Mark.<br><br>There’s one little problem, though. Anyone who knows Mark knows he’s Mr. Clueless when it comes to picking up men, dating, and falling in love. Will he end up with the hot and steamy roofer/bar owner, or will he forever be single and Mr. Clueless?

Mr. Clueless

Following the vote for the Neighborhood Hero Award, I held up an index card and read, “The result of the votes include: three votes for Cane Mercer; two votes for Kate Nicholson; five votes for Josh Bender.” I placed the index card on the table in front of me. “Josh Bender is our new Neighborhood Hero, people. Thank you for being a part of this process.”


Cheers from five voters filled the basement.


Gloria bitched, “I told you this was rigged!”


Denice Raye moved up to me and said, “You did a great job, Mark. Someone needs to give you the credit you deserve.”


“Trust me, this is the last year for me to lead this committee, if that’s what you want to call them.”


She patted me on the back and said, “I’ll follow you out.”


Chapter 17