The warmth that surged through her when Quinn Freeman looked at her had yet to subside. His shoulders were so broad and his skin so tanned, she found her breath catching as she watched him work. Quinn was much more than just physically handsome—he had an energy about him, a presence that pulled feelings from her she’d never known before. Feelings so strong, in fact, that Nora was continually surprised that Mama or Papa hadn’t noticed. She felt so changed that it must surely show. Annette had talked about such feelings. She had been quite taken with a young man named Eric just before her death. Nora and Annette had stayed up many nights talking about him and, unfortunately, how Aunt Julia and Uncle Lawrence would react if they knew. Annette was a beautiful girl—the violet eyes they shared looked stunning against Annette’s dark hair—and Aunt Julia had considerable plans to strike her an advantageous match. It was only Annette’s fiery nature that had delayed such a match—her cousin had managed to sidestep many of her mother’s attempts by proving herself “a bit too spirited.”
