The goal was a rather simple one. Jon would do the
necessary repairs to allow the house that he and his
brother Tyler had grown up in go on the market. Staying in
the house dredged up old memories that were better left
alone -- memories of being with an abusive father. Both Jon
and Tyler were stubborn but Tyler had moved on and recently
married while Jon's life was still in limbo and the decision to
return was taking its toll on him physically and
emotionally. Something that Tyler couldn't stand by and
let happen.
Gabby Wade was office manager at Tyler's
furniture design and shared camaraderie with all the men at
work. She was slightly taken aback when Jon showed up at
Tyler's workplace and couldn't get over his rudeness. To
make matters worse she felt he was overwhelming and larger
than life as he invaded her space. Okay, that made her feel
like a shrew but she was very protective of Tyler. There
were times when Gabby had to stop and remind herself that
any intimate relationship she shared with Tyler was history
now that he was very devoted to Ally, his wife. Gabby and
Tyler's relationship instantly switched gears to being good
friends. Now that Jon was joining the company Gabby was
kept in the dark about issues concerning him certainly not
winning any brownie points in her book.
Jon on the other
hand couldn't figure out why Tyler held Gabby in such
esteem. As far as he was concerned, she was a rather
uptight chick who wasn't his type on so many levels. And
even though he had been warned that she was proud of her
independent nature Jon took that almost as a challenge.
Truth be told breaking up with Tyler hadn't been as easy as
Gabby thought even though she accepted how happy Ally made
him something she couldn't. But now with Jon's arrival and
his rather quick assessment of Gabby's feminine attributes
she was forced to take a really good look at herself.
Unconsciously she had been ingratiating herself to Tyler
but facing facts meant making some changes.
Jon was facing
some serious personal demons and while he knew his stay was
temporary he started having some unwelcome feelings for
Gabby. All of a sudden he was actually seeing her as an
attractive woman who saw any help from a man as a sign of
weakness. Even though she worked hard to camouflage her
womanly curves Jon was beginning to have oddly lustful
thoughts when around her. And Gabby was questioning her
sanity over her reaction to Jon. How could two people who
don't even like each other be so affected by them? It's one
of life's mysteries.
Great story line that expands into dealing with some heavy
issues about growing up with an abusive parent. Not enough
to show how scary trying to survive is but then Mayberry
adds still another dimension -- that of guilt.
It's time to move on...
Any day now Jon Adamson will pack his bags and hit the road.
After all, his intention was never to hang around Melbourne
once he’d settled his late father’s affairs. Yet he hasn’t
moved on. And it might have something to
do with Gabby Wade. The not-so-big office manager with the
really big attitude is making Jon’s
days…interesting…engaging…fun. It’s impossible for him to
resist her.
But he knows himself—long-term commitments and cozy family
dinners aren’t his style. If that’s what the future holds,
why is he still here? And why is he spending all his
days—and nights—with Gabby? Because maybe she’s the one
reason strong enough to make him stay.
What if you discovered that all you ever wanted were the
things you’d left behind?
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