Love's Sweet Surrender by Sandy Sullivan

my house.”
    Lily’s suggestion was innocent, and he thought for sure she wasn't aware being alone with her was the last thing he wanted to do. “No! I mean, it wouldn’t be proper for me to be alone with you at your home.” It sounded ridiculous even to his ears after their conversation the other night, but it was the best thing he could think of right at this moment.
    “Why not? The town thinks I'm a young widow, and having my
    students' parents to my home to discuss their children’s behavior isn’t out of the ordinary, I would think.” Lily stood and placed her hands on her hips. “I think that would be perfect. How about tomorrow evening? You could come to church and then come over for Sunday supper.”
    “Uh… well… I don’t go to church.” Seth sighed and tried to think of a reason to avoid this situation she was determined to put herself in.
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    Love’s Sweet Surrender
    69
    “Well, you don’t have to go to church, just come over in the afternoon for supper then. We can discuss the children in privacy. I think it’s a perfect idea.” Lily’s face brightened at the idea, and Seth closed his eyes before he pinched the bridge of his nose.
    “I just don’t think it’s a good idea, Lily. Are you sure about this?”
    “It’s perfect. I really should be going now. I have several things to do this afternoon. Thank you so much for breakfast and keeping my secret. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    She swept down the porch, untied the buggy from the railing and climbed in. When she pulled away from the house, she waved to him and with a huge smile turned toward town as Seth sank into one of the rockers on the porch.
    “Now what the hell am I going to do?” he grumbled and raked his fingers through his hair again.
    Carmen came out of the front door, and he jumped in response to her voice. “Mr. Seth?”
    He hadn’t heard her at all while his thoughts centered on the brown-haired woman who had just turned his day upside down.
    “Sorry, Carmen. I didn’t hear you. What can I do for you?” He stood again, ready to head back toward the barn. He had work to do, and hopefully it would keep his mind off Lily.
    “That’s quite all right. You are preoccupied by the new schoolteacher, yes?”
    “Yeah, you could say that,” Seth replied with a sheepish grin.
    “She is a pretty one. You could do worse.”
    “It’s not like that, Carmen. She’s concerned about the children. That’s all, nothing more.” Seth dodged her curious look a little too convincingly and was afraid Carmen saw right through his facade of indifference.
    “Of course,” Carmen replied with a wide grin.
    “I’m going to the barn. Make sure the children stay near the house, please. And wipe that grin off your face. She means nothing to me.”
    Seth stepped off the porch, and with a swift stride he arrived at the barn but not before Carmen’s hearty laugh reached his ears.
    Damn meddling woman.
    The dimness of the barn surrounded him, but he truthfully wasn't sure if he meant Carmen, or Lily. Both of them needed to stop trying to make him Ebook piracy is stealing. It is a federal offense.
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    70
    Sandy Sullivan
    do things he didn’t want to do. Not that he didn’t like Lily--he liked her a lot, probably too much if he were to be honest with himself, but she was going to be nothing but trouble. He didn’t need her type of woman in his life, the type who wanted to help all the time, a fine, upstanding woman. He was fine just the way things were. Carmen took care of the children, and he could concentrate on finding the men responsible for killing Victoria.
    Lily wanted him to open his heart and let the flood of emotion out he'd kept hidden for so long. He could feel it in the warmth of her hand on his arm or on his shoulder. He could see it when she looked at him with those green eyes