“You’re in a trap, Shay. You’re an intelligent woman, so you must know that the value of a person has nothing to do with what they prove or don’t prove.”

Shay felt distinctly uncomfortable. Next he’d be saying that she was just using her need to succeed at something to avoid taking a chance on marriage. “I suppose if we were married, you’d want me to give up the whole idea of starting a catering service.”

“On the contrary, Shay, I’d help you in any way I could.” He looked grimly smug. “Wriggle your way out of that one.”

Shay was stumped. “Okay, so I’m afraid. It’s human to be afraid when you’ve been hurt.”

“This conversation is getting us nowhere.” Mitch stood up, took the keys to the RV from the pocket of his jeans. “Can we at least agree that we’ll give this relationship or whatever the hell it is a sporting chance?”

Shay could only nod.

“That’s progress, at least. Let’s go.”

They were both settled in the front seat and the RV was jolting up the narrow road to the highway before either of them spoke again.

“I want to read what you’ve written so far, Mitch. About Rosamond, I mean.”

Mitch did not take his eyes from the road. “Buckle your seat belt. You’re free to read the manuscript whenever you want.”

Shay snapped the belt into place and sighed. “Ivy and Todd are coming over for pizza after I look at those properties. Why don’t you join us?”

“Now that was an enthusiastic invitation if I’ve ever heard one. Are you afraid I’d end up staying the night?”

“I know you would end up staying the night.”

Mitch cast a sidelong look at her and shook his head. “Woman, you defy logic. Caution is your middle name, and yet you seem to enjoy walking on thin ice.”

“I’m as confused as you are, if that helps,” Shay admitted ruefully. “Are you coming over for pizza or not?”

“I’m coming over for one hell of a lot more than pizza, lady, and you know it. Am I still invited?”

Shay thought for a long time. “Yes,” she finally answered. “The invitation stands.”

Chapter Nine

If Ivy and Todd were surprised when Shay arrived at Reese Motors promptly at five-thirty, they had the good grace not to show it. Freshly showered and made up, Shay went into her office long enough to check her telephone messages and align her work for the next day.

When she came out, her friends were waiting, Ivy wide-eyed and just a bit pale, Todd blithely unaware that anything was amiss.

Shay gave Ivy a scorching look that warned of an imminent confrontation and said, “Well, let’s look at those buildings. We’ll pick up the pizza on the way to my place, afterward.”

Ivy swallowed visibly and croaked, “Okay.”

Their first stop was the large Victorian house Todd had mentioned. It had been empty for a long time, but Shay could see vast potential in it; if she renovated the place, she would have room not only for her business, but for half a dozen small shops. She wouldn’t run these herself, of course, but rent them to other people.