Promises and Provocations

Preston gritted his teeth as he struggled with a range of emotions. He brushed Cora's hand away. "Then forget it."

Cora was surprised by his response. Then she laughed suddenly. After all these years, she couldn't say she never had any feelings for Preston. "Preston, I'm three years older than you."

"So?" came the gruff reply.

"And I'll be thirty next year," Cora continued. Dean suddenly remembere