“All right,” Nick opened the door, then went out himself. It was still hot out even though it was nearly eleven. He threw a tennis ball into the yard and Rex ran off to get it.

“Evening,” Nick called to Ted. It would have been weird not to say anything: the guy was sitting there staring at him. But Ted just glared back. He was creepier than the brother, if you asked Nick. Nick threw the ball a couple more times, but he felt kind of stupid doing it with this guy watching him. Nick whistled for Rex and headed back toward the house.

Nick turned to face Ted before he opened the door. “They were my trees.”

“One was mine.”

“I just cut down the half on my land.” It was a vertical cut. He’d meant it as a joke, really, a slice off the side, a little showing off for Allison—Mrs. Miller, he thought with a private smile—only the saw had moved so fast.

“We planted it for Jillian.” Ted shook his head disapprovingly, looking just like Nick’s father when Nick showed him his report card. This is the best you could do? Nick went back inside, Rex at his heels.

“Good dog. Good puppy!” he said, rubbing Rex’s back vigorously when they were safely ensconced on the couch again. Rex wagged his tail and smiled.

He didn’t know they’d planted it for their kid. Christ. How could he have known that? He’d just wanted to clear the property, give the place a little more light, maybe entice a buyer. The house was going to be a stunner—indoor pool, sauna, you name it: anything the new owner wanted. He was leaving it unfinished so the buyer could customize—or so he told people. The truth was, he didn’t have the money to complete it.

The place was coming in way over budget. If he didn’t sell it soon, the bank would come after him. His other properties in town would be next, a couple of tear-downs he’d snatched up at good prices.

He’d been an idiot to buy the excavator. It was just a mini excavator, but that didn’t make it cheap. The trouble was, he’d fallen in love with it. It was little and round and clean and yellow. How could any red-blooded male resist? He thought it would pay for itself, but now it was just another chain around his neck.