Romance on Mountain View Road by Sheila Roberts

porch.
    Adam was right behind him. “That’s a chick book.”
    â€œI know,” Jonathan said as he laid it out on the porch railing. Chica, who’d come over to see what was going on, sniffed it. “Oh, no, you don’t,” he said, picking it up again. Maybe if he put it in the dryer.
    â€œSo, why are you reading a chick book?”
    Jonathan hadn’t wanted to tell anyone, but looking at Adam regarding him with disgust was enough to make him reconsider. What the heck. “I’m doing research.”
    â€œResearch? What, are you going to write one of those?”
    This was awkward. “No. I just...” Don’t want to be a loser. He couldn’t bring himself to say that, so instead he clamped his lips shut and went back inside, Adam and Chica following him.
    â€œWhat? I mean, dude, that’s weird.”
    â€œNo, it’s not. I figure I can learn something from these books.” If he could keep them from getting destroyed.
    Adam gave a disdainful snort. “Like what, how to get the prince to take you to the ball?”
    â€œNo. How to figure out what’s important to a woman.” Jonathan set the tycoon on top of the fridge where Chica couldn’t reach him. Then he took his Vanessa Valentine novel out from its hiding place under his magazine. “They’re written by women, and the women who read them like what the heroes do. I’m thinkin’ reading some of these is a good way to get a handle on what makes a woman tick and what she wants in a man.”
    Adam took it from him. “Seriously?”
    â€œSeriously.”
    Adam turned it over and read the back cover. “Sounds dumb.”
    Jonathan could feel his cheeks heating. Yeah, what did he know? He was just the dork who’d given Adam a place to sleep after his wife kicked him out.
    â€œSo who’s the woman you want?”
    â€œNever mind.” He went to the kitchen and pulled a box of cereal from the cupboard, keeping his back to Adam, willing the flush of embarrassment from his face.
    â€œNo, seriously. Who is she?”
    â€œNo one you know.” Adam was a relative newcomer to Icicle Falls. He hadn’t known Lissa.
    â€œSo she doesn’t live around here?”
    â€œNot anymore.”
    â€œShe used to?”
    Jonathan got busy pouring milk on his cereal. “Yeah. We went to school together.”
    Understanding dawned and Adam nodded sagely. “Your high school sweetheart. That’s right. You and Kyle have a reunion this summer. I remember you guys talking about it the other night. So, is your old girlfriend coming back for the reunion?”
    â€œWe never went out. We were just friends.” Jonathan shrugged like it was no big deal.
    â€œAnd you want to see if you can start something with her.”
    â€œYeah,” Jonathan admitted.
    Now Adam was looking skeptical. “And reading these books is going to help you?”
    â€œMaybe.”
    â€œYou’re nuts.”
    Guys like Adam thought they knew it all. He’d probably never had trouble sweeping women off their feet. But it looked like sweeping and keeping were two different things. Old Adam wasn’t doing so well himself right now. He was in no position to scoff.
    â€œYou got a better idea?” Jonathan demanded. “How much do you know about women?”
    Adam threw up his hands. “Nothing, nada, zip. Nobody does. Women are another species.”
    â€œI’d say they’re a species worth studying,” Jonathan said. “Unless you like sleeping on my couch more than you like sleeping in your bed.”
    Adam scowled and rubbed his chin, then dropped the book on the coffee table. “I’ve got to get ready for work.” He pulled some clothes out of his carry-on and disappeared back into the bathroom.
    Denial. The guy was in denial. He was probably hoping to run over to his house later, toss out an “I’m sorry” and watch