A Development of the Heart — Sherri Godsey

Petite, spirited Macie Kindrelle loves the environment. She revels in green fields and quiet streams, and hates developers who want to fill the world with concrete. Big bumbling Kade O'Halloran is just such a developer. He hates ‘wilderness' as much as Macie adores it. His goal is to turn the farmland and creek she's assessing into condos and retail shops. Macie hopes her findings will save at least the creek from destruction. The job sours when Macie falls on a body in the creek. When she was 15, she found her brother drowned, and the floating body brings back that terrible day. Shocked, she goes into a stupor. Kade's arms provide a safe haven, but once past the initial stress, Macie wants no comfort. In her mind, her lack of emotional control caused her brother's death. She's determined to pull herself together and get the job done, even though old nightmares plague her. Kade doesn't know what Macie's problem is, but as a recovering alcoholic with low self-esteem, he's willing to overlook her odd reaction. But he can't overlook his attraction to the lovely assessor. His divorce from a wealthy socialite left him disdainful of ‘decent' women -- but Macie's spunk, and her incredible legs, make him reconsider that opinion. Seduction is usually easy, but as he gets to know Macie, lust wars with a desire for a fulfilling relationship. Macie and Kade are unable to resist satisfaction in each others arms, but neither believes they are capable of a long-term commitment. Before that can happen, they must let go of their pasts and see the truth of who they are. Love, like any development, requires a firm foundation…