Susan Andersen - All Shook Up (Avon Romance)

Dru Lawrences uncle Ben came to the monthly meeting armed

The gas gauge on J.D. Carvers vintage Ford Mustang read

Supporting the warm weight of her ten-year-old son by linking

Drus uncle stepped out of the gift shop just as

She wore a faded black tank suit with red piping.

Butch hung up the phone receiver and threw himself back

Dru rose from one of the leather love seats bracketing

The following afternoon Sophie heard the screen door creak open,

J.D. pulled out his watch and checked the time. Blowing

Dru watched a shaft from the lowering sun gild J.D.s

Dru had known Kev Bronsen forever. Theyd gone through school

J.D. thought about her words off and on all that

Dru did a fairly decent job of avoiding J.D. for

A couple of days later Sophie knocked on the door

Butch stopped to pick up a six-pack of beer on

A drop of rain fell on Butchs head and he

Kev watched Char remove the octopus hand from her ass

J.D. lowered Dru to the bed and followed her. His

J.D. stretched out on top of Drus round, soft body

Come on, Mom! We dont wanna be lateJ.D. might leave

Sophie and Ben were waiting on their dock when the

J.D. carefully straightened and, with Drus arms still looped around

When someone started banging on Drus apartment door as if

Ben swore too, then said, My car is closest. The

I hope it keeps you warm at night, J.D. mimicked

Dru had one foot on the front porch step and

The minute the deputy bundled Butch into his cruiser, Dru

It had been an eventful week and a long drive

D ru Lawrences uncle Ben came to the monthly meeting armed with a police report on J.D. Carver. Hes clean, he said, slapping it down on the long, rustic conference table. He hasnt been arrested as an adult, and his juvenile record is sealed.

You neednt sound so disgusted, darling, Aunt Sophie said, reaching across the table to pat his hand before she snagged the report to read for herself. Thats very good news.

But Dru could understand where her uncle was coming from. Star Lake Lodge had been a family-owned business for four generations, and theyd all been shocked right down to their flip-flops to discover that Great-aunt Edwina had left her share of it to an outsider. And an urban outsider, at that. Edwina had been an absentee co-owner for so long, leaving them to run it as theyd seen fit for so many years, Dru had nearly forgotten it wasnt theirs alone.

Maybe, she said slowly, Carvers just stopping by to get a peek at what he inherited. He probably wont even stick aroundand well end up sending his checks like we did Edwinas.

I wouldnt count on it, hon, Uncle Ben said. I got the impression from his terse note that hes ready to settle right in and take up the reins.

Sophie suddenly pushed back from the table and walked over to the open window. She bent in front of it and held the neckline of her blouse open to catch the breeze blowing the green-and-tan gingham curtains into the meeting room. Dru got up and went to the built-in oak buffet against the far wall. Reaching past a collection of native baskets, she picked up a pitcher of water and splashed some into a glass. She carried it over to her aunt, stopping along the way to align an oil painting of snow-covered birch trees with the other landscapes that adorned the barnwood-paneled wall.

I dont know much about Carver, Dru admitted as she resumed her seat. Except that he was one of Great-aunt Edwinas boys. To tell the truth, I dont even remember her all that well, aside from bits and pieces. Edwina had been like Drus parents, a sometime visitor whod flown in and out of her life. Shed known her great-aunt mostly as a sophisticated, soft-spoken summer drop-in, here for one week each August and then gone again, back to her plush home in Seattle.

Sophie rolled the glass back and forth against her temple and smiled in fond reminiscence. You would have liked her, if youd gotten to spend a little more time with her. She returned to the table and gave the report a delicate nudge with her fingertips. I always admired Edwina a great deal. And J.D. was special to her. He was the first boy she ever took in.

And the one she fretted over having mismanaged, Uncle Ben added.

I do remember that! Dru straightened. At least I remember sitting at your kitchen table as a kid while you grown-ups visited, and I remember her worrying over the way she handled some boy. The boy with her fathers watch.

That was J.D.

I got the impression she cared for him a lot.

Yeah, she did. Hes pretty much the reason she got into taking care of all those troubled kids. Ben sighed. Edwina had excellent instincts about people. And I guess when it comes right down to it, the shares were hers to do with as she wished. He looked at Dru. Soph and I arent as hands-on around here as we used to be, though, hon, so youre the one whos gonna have to work with J.D. on a day-to-day basis. Whats your vote on all this?

Well, contesting the will is pointlessfrom everything Ive heard, Great-aunt Edwina retained her full mental capacity right up to the day she died.

The woman was sharp as a tack, Ben said.

Then I dont see where we have any choice but to respect her wishes.

I agree, Sophie said. And if were going to do this, lets do it right and give J.D. a warm welcome.

Of course, Dru added dryly, I also think I deserve a huge raise for taking on a new headache.

Ben looked up from his notes, peering at her over his reading glasses. Well definitely look into thatat next months meeting. This month, though, weve got a big problem. The repairs needed around here are mounting up. Weve got to find a way to hang on to competent workmen.

T he gas gauge on J.D. Carvers vintage Ford Mustang read Empty when he arrived in Star Lake, Washington, one day ahead of schedule. But then, it never read anything elsethe needle had been stuck there since hed bought the car in 93. The cars trunk held a few of his favorite power tools, a tool chest, and a fully loaded carpenters belt. The backseat held two table saws. He also had an antique gold watch in his pocket, an old canvas army duffel containing everything else he owned in the world, and a raft of emotions hed give a lot to deny sitting heavy in his gut.

His life back in Seattle had gone to hell. It was his own fault, but knowing that didnt help. His friend Butch he didnt even want to think about right now. And Bob Lankovich, the man whod given him his start in constructionand through whose companys ranks J.D. had risen to become foremanwas in prison. J.D. didnt want to think about Bob, either. Or his idiot son, Robbie.

He was just tired of the whole freaking messthe threats, the being a pariah. In Rat City, for chrissake. How could anyone do anything bad enough to be a pariah in a neighborhood known as Rat City? His unexpected inheritance from Edwina Lawrence was nothing if not timely. It was an excellent time to get out of town.

He laughed without humor. Of course, Edwina was just another can of worms. He ought to open a damn bait shopbetween her, Butch, and the Lankovich mess, he was ass-deep in worms.