“I’m just telling you that it wouldn’t hurt.” He glanced around the backyard where a rusted basketball hoop hung at an odd angle from the garage and the dandelions battled it out with the crabgrass for control of the lawn. Weeds choked the flower beds and the patio furniture needed to be treated for a severe case of rust. Yep, the whole place needed a makeover—and badly. Even her old hound dog, Blue, who was lying in the shade of the porch, one silvering ear cocked though his eyes were closed, could probably use a flea bath, a teeth cleaning and a “buff and puff ” from Elsie, the local dog groomer.

It didn’t make Jarrod’s suggestion any more palatable. She was a woman with a mission, imagined herself launched into a career in high-profile journalism. It was coming her way, and soon. She might already have been sent her one-way ticket to fame and fortune—if the anonymous letter she’d received in this morning’s post was to be believed.

“A man, Katie,” her brother repeated.

“You’re like a broken record or CD, these days.” Planting both fists firmly on her hips, she asked, “So what do you suggest? That I take in a roommate so that I don’t con my lazy, no-good self-serving half-brothers into doing odd jobs like fixing the dryer or the dishwasher or the car for me?”

A crooked smile tugged at the corner of Jarrod’s mouth. “Now, that’s an idea.” He swiped the beads of perspiration from his forehead and left a grease stain on his brow.

“Or should I just take out an ad in the personals, hmm? ‘Wanted: Handyman and part-time father. Must do light housework. References required.’”

“Maybe you should just get married,” he said, and Katie bristled at the thought.

She wasn’t interested in marriage with anyone. Wasn’t even dating. For a second her thoughts skipped to Luke Gates; then, horrified, she cleared her throat as well as her mind. “Our family has enough of that going around,” she grumbled as they walked toward the back porch where several wasps were busily constructing a muddy nest in the corner of the ceiling. Blue struggled to his arthritic legs and his tail whipped back and forth. Katie couldn’t let the subject drop. “If you haven’t noticed, Jarrod, I don’t have time for another man in my life. Believe me, Josh is enough.”

“He’s one boy.”