"Oh, wow," she said, stepping in.  The place was unbelievable - so spacious with beautiful furniture everywhere and gigantic windows all across the front looking out to the ocean.

  “Hi, Bryce,” Nick said, coming down the hall.  “Here, let me take that.  I’ll put it in your room.”

  "Okay.  Thanks."

  "Mom!  Bryce is here!" Nick called out.

  Bryce walked through the entryway toward the sitting area, her awestruck gaze drifting across the giant windows for a moment before dropping to go around the room.  First, she spotted Gwen sitting on the couch and then - on the loveseat - her eyes fell onto the most handsome man she'd ever seen in her life.

  Jesus, wonder who he is.

  Maryanne appeared from the kitchen.  "Hi, Bryce."

  "Hi, Maryanne," Bryce said, looking away from the Adonis.  "Thanks again for inviting me."  She dropped her fanny pack down near a side table.  “This is so beautiful,” she said, gesturing to the windows, thinking Becky was probably out there on the beach.

  “Thank you, Bryce.  We’re so glad you could come.  Here, let me just finish the introductions…”  Maryanne took her hand and pulled her up alongside the dining room table.  They stopped and turned toward the sitting area and Bryce felt her heart flutter at the sight of the man – whoever he was.  “You know Gwen, of course.”

  “Yes, hi,” she murmured to her.  But only ten percent of her mind was on Gwen, while the other ninety percent was fixed on the giant, gorgeous man who’d gotten up from his seat and was now walking toward her.

  He was as tall as Nick, but bulkier.  He appeared to have been carved from a block of granite - every inch of him solid muscle - she could tell it even through the fabric of his jeans.  Tucked into them he wore a forest green shirt with the cuffs rolled up to his forearms.  The angular features of his handsome face were the same as those of the models in the western magazines she’d mused over as a girl.  His gleaming blue eyes had little creases at the outside corners of them and his dark hair was brushed back casually, with some in the front a bit out of place.  At his temples were specks of gray that only added to the beautiful sight of him.

  He came across, stopping close in front of her.  She stared up at him feeling dazed.  He raised his large muscled arm and reached his hand out to her.

  “And this is Jim, a good friend of ours.”

  “Hi,” Bryce said, lifting her hand to his, feeling sure she would faint as his large, warm hand closed around hers.

  “It’s very nice to meet you, Bryce,” he said.  The sound of his deep voice tingled in her chest.

  “Yes…” was all she managed in reply.

  Beside her, Maryanne mumbled something about her cooking and headed back to the kitchen.

  The man let go of her hand and Bryce turned away – he was just too much to take.

  With a little cough, she brushed back her hair with her fingers and walked around the corner of the table, touching the back of a chair to steady herself, before going into the kitchen.