She loved Doug dearly. It had about killed her going away to college and leaving her younger brother behind with parents who refused to understand not just who Doug was, but what he needed. “That’s right.”

They lapsed again into silence but this time neither of them tried to fill it.

Troy’s powerful four wheel drive made quick work of the mountain pass.

“Almost there,” Troy said a little bit later, putting on his turn signal, as they approached the exit for Marietta. It was still snowing, but the flurries were lighter and the snow plows had been working all evening, keeping the city roads clear. “Which part of town do you live?”

“Near downtown, ten blocks north of the library on Bramble Lane.”

“Know that street well. I had a girlfriend in high school that lived on Bramble,” he said, smiling crookedly, “and one of my best friends, Mason Jones, lived there, too.”

“I’m renting a room from the Jones’.”

“Then I know right where to go.”

Minutes later he was pulling up in front of the one and a half story Victorian home, the pale yellow paint contrasted with lots of creamy white trim, and snow. Mounds of snow. The snow clung to the big evergreen in the corner of the yard and blanketed the shrubs and hedges lining the front walk.

“So his parents rented you a room,” Troy said, shifting into park.

“His sister, Kara, did. She bought the house from her parents when they wanted to move to Florida.”

“Kara was just a pipsqueak when I knew her.”

“She’s not a pipsqueak anymore.” Taylor leaned forward and reached for her leather satchel. “She’s a Crawford County district attorney.”

“Is she, really?” Troy grinned. “Good for her. Tell her hello from me. Not sure she’ll remember me—”

“She remembers you.” Taylor couldn’t forget how Kara had positively gushed when talking to Jane about the Sheenan brothers during the Chamber’s Christmas party. Apparently Jane wasn’t the only Troy Sheenan fan in Marietta. “And I’ll tell her hello,” she added, reaching for the door handle. “Thanks for the ride.”

“Glad I could help. And if you need help tomorrow—”

“I’ll be fine,” she said quickly, opening the door to slide out of the car. She swiftly shouldered her bag and shuddered at the blast of cold air.

“You never did tell me your name,” Troy called to her.

Taylor tugged on her scarf, and forced a smile. “Taylor. Taylor Harris.”

He laughed softly. “I thought so.”

“You did?”

He nodded, his expression amused. “Jane told me all about you.”

Taylor suddenly couldn’t breathe. “She did?”

“You’re my date Friday night.”

Troy saw Taylor Harris’s eyes widen and her lips part in surprise for a split second before her mouth shut.

She managed a few words, mostly incomprehensible words and then raced up the walkway to the Jones’ front door. He stayed put, waiting for her to unlock the door. Once she was safely inside, he shifted into drive and pulled away.

So that was Taylor Harris, the new librarian.

Interesting.

He’d known Jane had set him up with Marietta’s new librarian, but he hadn’t expected Taylor Harris to be such a fiery, prickly little thing, nor had he expected her enormous tortoise frame glasses. The glasses practically covered her face.

Troy wondered why Jane would set him up with Taylor for the ball.

Troy did like smart women, but Taylor Harris wasn’t anything like the women he dated. He preferred urban sophisticates, women that were very ambitious and successful… lawyers, doctors, executives, entrepreneurs. Ever since graduating from college, he’d been drawn to women who had big careers and big lives, women who didn’t depend on a man and knew how to take care of themselves. Women who preferred to take care of themselves. Independence was sexy.