Charmed by His Love by Janet Chapman

walked down the beach and stopped in front of her. “He told me you might know a thing or two about construction, but that, and I quote, ‘you’re too softhearted when it comes to negotiating stuff like prices.’” He snorted. “Did he just come out of a coma or something?”
    “Have you ever tried banging your head against a brick wall?” she asked with a derisive smile. “Until you eventually figure out the bricks aren’t going to move and that your head hurts?” She shrugged. “Sometimes it’s just easier not to bang my head against Galen. Thank you for keeping our business between just us.”
    “Are ye worried he would want a cut? Is the pit yours outright, or does the family have a stake in it?”
    “No, it’s all mine. Billy and I bought this property and the double-wide on it when we got married. And I’m not worried Galen is interested in anything other than getting me a fair price. He’s a good man, but he can’t keep two nickels in his pocket for more than a minute. If he knows how much money I’ll be making this spring, he’ll be finding ways for me to spend it faster than your wheelers are hauling out of here.”
    Duncan folded his arms over his chest, his gaze going to the locals talking to Robbie MacBain. “Did I make a mistake hiring your brother-in-law, Peg?”
    “Absolutely not. Galen’s a hard worker and good at what he knows, which is leveling dirt. Put him in the seat of a dozer and you don’t even have to rake out a lawn to seed it when he’s done.” She smiled. “Just don’t ever ask him to run electrical wire.”
    “I wondered why your husband’s family wasn’t helping you finish your house.”
    She shook her head. “Galen and his dad tried, but I told them not to bother because I wasn’t feeling up to moving into it without Billy.”
    He lifted a brow. “They’re unaware that you’ve been finishing it yourself? Quit getting defensive on me,” he growled when she lifted her chin—even as his eyes crinkled with laughter. “That was an honest question, not a dig.”
    Peg brushed down the front of her sweatshirt. “Working onthat house is my therapy. You try dealing with four kids under the age of nine all by yourself every day.” She shot him another smile. “At least gnomes and fairies don’t ask a thous—”
    Duncan was gone in a blur before the scream of terror even reached her, and was wading into the water and lifting Jacob into his arms just as the boy burst into tears.
    “Jacob!” Peg cried, running to them.
    “You’re okay,” Duncan murmured, hugging Jacob against his chest. “He’s okay, Peg. I don’t think he swallowed any water. You’re okay,” he continued, his broad hand holding Jacob’s head against his shoulder. “Quiet down now,” he whispered as he shot her a wink on his way by. “You’re scaring your mom.”
    Even though Peg was all but shaking with the need to make sure her son was okay, she took hold of her unusually quiet older twin’s hand instead and followed, Duncan’s soothing words seeming to calm her just as much as they were Jacob.
    “And it’s been my experience,” she heard him continue softly, “that when moms get scared, they make ye play inside for at least a week.” He stood Jacob on the picnic table, then shrugged out of his leather jacket and wrapped it around the boy—who was now valiantly sucking up his sobs. “And if you get yourself stuck inside, you’re going to miss my bulldozer pushing all the stumps and topsoil off the—”
    “Jacob! Peter!” Galen shouted as he ran toward them followed by the other men. He crowded Duncan out of the way and swept Jacob into his arms. “Lord Almighty, boy, what happened? Are you okay?” He turned on Peg, the wild look in his eyes making her take a step back. “You gotta watch them every minute. The boy could have drowned!”
    “Peg is well aware of her responsibilities,” Duncan said quietly, stepping between them. “Jacob only got a little