Signed, Sealed, Delivered by Sandy James Page A

actually took over a lease to get this one dirt cheap. Only way I could ever afford a Caddy.”
    “I’m impressed,” Juliana said.
    “Good. I
should
impress my new partner. Now I’m going to go and make some adjustments to my—to
our
—information and print out the contracts for the Ryans. It’ll only take me a few minutes.”
    “So you have been a real estate agent before. I wondered about that, although the way Max Schumm was acting it was hard to tell for sure.”
    “I was rather hoping you’d wonder about a lot more than my employment history.”
    “Oh, I have. Trust me. I have.”
    He tried to read her expression and found wariness. “I admire you for jumping in there and saving this listing, Red, but are you thinking about really being part of a partnership? You’d planned solo. Like me. Right?”
    She shrugged. “I suppose. Look, I’m sorry I sprung it on you like that. I just, George was going to go with you and—”
    He held up his hand to cut her off. “He was. You’re smart enough to have seen it and snatched back some of the commission for yourself. Quick thinking.”
    “Thanks.” Lips drawn tight, she stared at him for a few moments that stretched to seem interminable.
    Connor didn’t understand why he was willing to change all his plans—his life—so quickly. He simply… was. He wanted her agreement, and he wanted it now.
    More than that.
    He wanted
her
.
    This listing would be not only lucrative but enjoyable. The thrill was back, and he gave Juliana credit for that. Besides, having a partner could benefit him in a lot of ways, best of all accountability. He’d work hard because her future was going to be at stake, too.
    “Do you think we could?” she asked.
    “Could? Could what? Be partners for more than this listing?”
    She nodded.
    “You’re willing to try, right?”
    “I am.”
    “Then what have we got to lose?”
    His cell phone chose that loaded moment to ring. The tune, “Lean on Me,” was one he could never ignore. “Excuse me. I have to take this,” he said as he popped his cell off his belt.
    Turning his back and hoping Juliana wouldn’t consider it too rude, he answered. “Hey, gorgeous.” His pat phrase made him wince. What would Juliana think?
    “Just wanted to see how that first step felt.” Tracy Barrett’s voice was, as always, a comfort. Nothing like hearing from your best friend and number-one cheerleader to perk a guy up.
    “It felt great.”
    “You got the listing?”
    “Yes.” He chuckled. “And no.”
    “That was cryptic. Care to elaborate or do you love leaving me guessing? My bet’s on you now representing those owners.” The confidence in her voice meant more to him than she could ever know. But that was Tracy. She’d nursed him through his darkest hours, from his parents’ deaths to his hitting rock bottom. Then she’d made him get right up, dust himself off, and start all over again. They couldn’t be closer if she was his biological sister.
    “You’re right. As usual. I got the listing, but… I’m sharing it.”
    “Sharing? You’re just playing with me now, and I don’t like it. I want the whole story. Spit it out.”
    He chuckled. She’d never let him get away with anything but the absolute truth. “I might’ve acquired a partner.” A quick glance over his shoulder made him wince again.
    Juliana frowned so fiercely the look sent shivers up his spine, and he didn’t think that was a good way to start out a new enterprise.
    “Look, Tracy, I gotta go. Kinda busy. Can I call you back later?”
    “It’s a
she
, isn’t it?”
    “Jealous?”
    “She’s there with you right now, isn’t she?”
    “Yeah. It’s making things a bit… awkward.”
    She chuckled. “Why? I thought she was your partner, not your—Oh, God. You’re not dating her, are you?”
    “Call you back soon?”
    “You are! Bad enough you’re diving into a new business, but a new relationship, too? Can you handle all that stress?”
    “Trace, not