Stone’s next door neighbor, Izzy Merlot, hated to read and did not participate as a book club member, although she did enjoy novels made into movies. Once she had said to Stone, “I used to read Daniel Steel and Nora Roberts, but thought it a waste of my time. I could have been doing so many other things.
“Danielle,” Stone had corrected her. “Not Daniel.”
“Whatever. Reading isn’t as pleasurable as I wanted it to be. That’s why I stopped.”
Since that brief encounter and conversation with his neighbor, Stone decided pretty much on the spot he would never enjoy the woman’s company. Never had he bothered her for a cup of sugar when he needed one, and he never borrowed her lawn boy, although Ricky Stanton was a muscled hunk with the most adorable country boy face and piercing green eyes. Ston
