built town houses. One looked pretty much like the other except some had prettier landscaping.
âThis is one of my developments,â Rowan proudly explained. âWeâre just about sold out except for the town house I live in.â
âIs it for sale, as well?â
âIâm still up in the air. Iâm uncertain whether Iâll be making Flamingo Beach home.â
âYou donât like it here?â
Rowan pulled into the carport and parked before answering. âHome for me is the road. Iâm always looking for new terrain to conquer. Thatâs why Derek and I are such a good team. Heâll take care of business while I scope out new opportunities.â
Rowan James was definitely not the man for her.
Sheâd had enough of the nomadâs life. She was sick of living out of boxes and couldnât wait to get settled someplace.
Rowan helped her out of the truck and hand in hand they walked to the front door. They entered a great room with huge fans whirling. A winding stair-case led up to a loft. The furnishings were minimal and the walls could use a picture or two.
âWhat would you like to drink?â Rowan asked the moment she was seated.
âWater, please.â
âYou really must not trust me,â he said, feigning injury.
âIf I thought you knew how to make a cosmopolitan thatâs what Iâd have.â
Chuckling, he left her and entered his state-of-the-art kitchen. Rowan returned a short while later, a beer in one hand and a martini glass in the other.
âYour cosmopolitan, madam,â he said, handing Emilie her drink before he turned on the stereo. He plopped down, throwing an arm around her shoulders. âHereâs to you, babe.â
Emilie sipped her cosmopolitan and eyed him over the rim. It was one of the best sheâd tasted. âMmm. Not bad. You surprise me!â
âI have a lot more surprises in store for you.â
She wasnât going there. âYouâre a good bartender,â she said.
His bushy eyebrows wiggled again. âThatâs not all that Iâm good at.â
The conversation was getting a bit too intimate for her liking. Glass in hand, Emilie stood. âHow about showing me around?â
Rowan gave her the grand tour of his surprisingly neat home. Downstairs, French doors separated the living room from a small office with tons of shelf space. The dining room was an extension of the kitchen, and a half bathroom provided a convenient place to wash up. Upstairs were two spacious bedrooms all with tiny back decks. One bathroom had a Jacuzzi tub as well as a shower. The other was more of a powder room and designed for the lady of the house. Recessed lights illuminated the vaulted ceilings. All in all it was a charming place to live.
âSo howâs a big-city girl from Joisey adjusting to small-town life?â Rowan asked when they were seated downstairs again. Heâd slipped off his loafers and began poking her with his toes.
She grabbed his big toe playfully, capturing it between her thumb and index finger and squeezed.
âI love it here. This little townâs got style and possibilities,â she said.
âYouâve got style.â
âYou never give up, do you?â
On the radio, Dâdawg, the popular radio personality, was having a field day picking on Mayor Solomon Rabinowitz.
âDonât yâall think itâs high time this village loses its idiot?â he drawled. âHit me up and tell me if you agree. Lines are open yâall.â
One caller after another said their peace. The mayor apparently had few supporters.
âHow come no one will ever admit they voted for Rabinowitz, yet heâs serving a second term?â Rowan asked, shaking his head.
âBecause he stole the election from Miriam Young, better known as the Flip-flop Momma. Sheâs a single mom who likes to wear flip-flops. Florida has a reputation for not being