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There’s No Place Like Home...
Nothing could draw Sawyer Middleton back permanently to the town he left behind years before. Or so he thinks, before he meets his sister’s best friend. As soon as he matches wits with gorgeous, gregarious teacher Jessica Calhoun, Sawyer realizes he’s got a lot to learn about friendship...and love.
Smart, savvy Jessica wants to grow old in Wickham Falls. Software engineer Sawyer has made it to the big city—and away from small-town life. And just like his ailing father, Sawyer’s used to calling the shots. But can losing his heart make Sawyer realize that home is where the heart is...and that his heart is with Jessica for good?
“Women usually come here for dinner, but I’m willing to bet none are as beautiful as you.”
Jessica’s cheeks burned with the unexpected compliment. She lowered her eyes. “You’re biased because I’m your sister’s friend.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Jessica. My assessment of you has nothing to do with your association with my family. The first time I saw you I thought I’d conjured you up. I couldn’t take my eyes off you. I kept thinking how naturally beautiful you are.”
Jessica met his luminous sapphire-blue eyes. “You do have a habit of staring.”
“I do when there’s something worth staring at.”
“You’re also quite kind on the eyes,” she countered in a soft voice.
Jessica bit down on her lip not to laugh aloud when she saw Sawyer’s shocked expression. “Did I embarrass you?” she asked when he glanced down at the table.
Sawyer’s gaze swung back to her. “No. It’s just that I didn’t expect you to come out with something like that.”
“Why not? You have to know what you look like.”
“What I look like is not the issue, Jessica.”
“What is?”
“Us.”
* * *
Wickham Falls Weddings:
Small-town heroes, bighearted love!
Home to Wickham Falls
Rochelle Alers
Since 1988, national bestselling author ROCHELLE ALERS has written more than eighty books and short stories. She has earned numerous honors, including the Zora Neale Hurston Literary Award, the Vivian Stephens Award for Excellence in Romance Writing and a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews. She is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Iota Theta Zeta Chapter. A full-time writer, she lives in a charming hamlet on Long Island. Rochelle can be contacted through her website, www.rochellealers.org.
Home to Wickham Falls is dedicated to my editor, Megan Broderick.
Thank you for your patience and the wonderful chats that helped to breathe life into this story.
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Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife.
—Proverbs 17:1
“With a show of hands, how
