Chapter Twelve
Although Lawton and I remained friendly, we spent little time in each other’s company. After the rude way I’d treated him, I figured he’d written off our love affair for good, though from time to time, I’d see his magnanimous smile and a twinkle in his dark eyes. In the presence of his cheerful smile and handsome virility, my heart still skipped beats. I tried to guard myself against the strong attraction between us, but it wasn’t long before I could feel it getting fired up again. Perhaps the more I had of Ryder, the more I needed Lawton. When Lawton suggested a few casual dates, I was a little shocked, and I politely refused. But when he invited me to a barbecue on the hill, the invitation seemed so kindly offered and so innocuous that I had to accept.
Unlike my previous
