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taken aback. She stood in a shaft of morning sunlight streaming through the windows of his office. He’d first thought she had nondescript brown hair, but now he was struck by its rich, molten gold-and-amber highlights.

      It took a moment to gather his scattered thoughts. “And...uh...you don’t call him anymore?”

      â€œHis branch warehouse is clear down in the Quad Cities, and the company takes too long for deliveries. After Doc passed away, we started using ABC Vet Supply because it has a warehouse over in St. Paul. Next-day delivery, usually, because it’s so close.”

      â€œSo that sales rep is...” He thumbed back through the Rolodex. “Vicki Irwin?”

      â€œShe’s young and fairly new, but sharp as can be and really follows through. She stops in twice a month. Sooner if we have any issues.” Darcy lifted a shoulder in a faint shrug. “But of course, you’ll need to decide for yourself which companies you want to use. What kind of equipment are you looking for?”

      â€œThe most outdated pieces of equipment are the blood chemistry machine and CBC cell counter—which should run around twenty grand. A new anesthesia machine would be at least four grand more.”

      â€œWith Doc gone, I didn’t feel right making any major purchases, but both are long overdue, for sure. What else?”

      â€œMost everything else can wait a while.” He shifted his gaze to the computer screen. “But a new equine ultrasound is imperative for reproductive issues and evaluating injuries.”

      She whistled under her breath. “Not cheap.”

      He nodded. “It could run over fifty grand if I duplicate what we used in Montana.”

      â€œIt’ll be fun watching you bring this clinic up to date.”

      She turned to leave, but he cleared his throat. “Your friend Hannah came out to see me on Saturday. I imagine she told you about it.”

      â€œWhat?” Her mystified expression cleared. “You mean about the auction? I knew she planned to talk to you, but I haven’t heard from her since Friday night.”

      â€œShe and I got everything squared away.”

      â€œGood to hear. I told Beth that the committee shouldn’t try to push you into something you never intended to do, so you’re off the hook.”

      â€œBut is that what you want? Your friend says you’ve been saving money for this for a long time.” He eyed her closely. “That you really need the help and can’t find anyone to do it.”

      â€œYes, well...that’s my concern, not yours.” A weary smile briefly lit up her face, and she looked like someone who had the weight of the world on her shoulders. “Honestly, I just want to apologize for what happened.”

      â€œI understand your bidding saved me from the clutches of a difficult woman.”

      At that, she laughed aloud. “You do owe me a favor for that. You have no idea.”

      â€œI’m going to follow through. Will that just about cover it?”

      Her eyes widened with surprise and a touch of wariness. “You don’t need to. Really.”

      â€œI called Beth just a few minutes ago. It’s a done deal.”

      â€œUm...” Her gaze veered away, and she swallowed hard. “I don’t mean to seem ungrateful, but I...um...need someone who is really skilled as a handyman. Experienced.”

      â€œYou’re worried about getting your money’s worth.” He heard the unintentionally hard edge in his tone and instantly regretted it when he saw her flinch.

      â€œI must sound so crass.” Rosy color washed up into her cheeks. “It’s just that whether my daughter and I stay or need to leave town, I... I need the work to be done well and up to code.”

      â€œTell you what. You’ve got twenty hours of my time, so make a list of what needs to be done. Then let me come over some evening this week so I can see if I have the skill set for what you need. Tonight would be fine, if you’re eager to get started.”

      â€œThat I am.” She bit her lower lip. “But if you don’t feel it’s something you want to tackle?”

      â€œThen I’ll donate the full amount of your bid to the youth group, and you can save your money to pay someone else.” He offered his hand across the desk. “Deal?”

      She hesitated, her expression still filled with doubt, but she finally accepted his brief handshake. “This is beyond generous. I think you’re being too kind.”

      Not kind, he thought as he watched her head out of his office. Just careful.

      Since asking about her around town would only start rumors, he needed to take this into his own hands.

      Because absolute trust was a rare and fragile thing, and he couldn’t afford to make the same mistake twice.

       Chapter Four

      Darcy had given Logan a list of projects and the directions to her house before leaving work at the end of the day. She’d blushed a little, saying she knew there were far more than twenty hours of labor on the list, but she’d thought he might want to choose what he wanted to do.

      A tactful expectation that he’d need to select the easier tasks, he supposed.

      From that long, long list he’d figured she was living in shabby house worthy of a wrecking ball in a seedy part of town. Probably around the taverns, trailer park and mechanic’s shop on the south end.

      But he’d followed her directions down several winding, tree-shaded streets into an area of well-kept homes from the early 1900s. Now he stood on the sidewalk in front of 56 Cranberry Lane and just stared.

      The surrounding houses were two-story brick, with sweeping covered porches on the front, leaded glass and manicured lawns. Darcy’s place was brick as well, but just a single story, with a brick-paved driveway leading past the side of the house to a matching one-stall garage.

      It reminded him of a dollhouse in comparison. A neglected one, at that. If Darcy was blowing her money, it hadn’t been spent on the place she lived.

      Lace curtains in the front window fluttered. Then the door opened and Darcy came across the porch and down the steps and let him through the gate at edge of the sidewalk.

      â€œI’m sure you can already see some of the projects here,” she said with a self-conscious laugh, gesturing at the ornate white picket fence surrounding the front yard. “The backyard is fenced as well, and there must be dozens of pickets that have broken or rotted away.”

      He eyed the intricately cut upright pieces. “These were custom-made.”

      â€œMy sweet old aunt loved detail. There are lots and lots of gingerbread trim pieces on the cottage, and she echoed that theme in the fence.” Darcy smiled fondly. “I loved visiting her, because the place was rather like a little fairyland theme park. Lots of animal and elf statues tucked away in unexpected places, some little goldfish ponds. But now I can’t just go to a lumberyard and pick up replacements. She wanted everything to be unique.”

      He glanced up at the house. “Your aunt...”

      â€œShe passed away almost two years ago and left everything to my brother and me. He essentially got her liquid assets, and I got the cottage. So when I was able to find a job in town, I was thrilled.”

      â€œDid

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