GOOD GIRLS DO by Cathie Linz

Chapter One

Four years of college and two more of graduate school had gotten Julia Wright where she was today - wearing a too-tight Bo Peep costume and staring down the mayor's belligerent adolescent son.

"Unhand the goldfish, Billy, and no one gets hurt."

He stood at the edge of the artificially made pond and stared at her defiantly. "It's a koi, not a goldfish." His words bounced off the frantically wiggling fish poised right above his mouth.

Julia wanted to drop-kick him over the nearest rooftop. "Unhand the koi." Her voice was pure Cameron Diaz in kick-butt mode. "Put it back in the water. Now!"

Billy muttered something under his breath with the rampant disgust only a twelve-year-old boy could display. But he did toss the fish back into the pond that formed the centerpiece of the public library's grounds.

Halloween didn't always bring out the best in people, even in a small town like Serenity Falls, Pennsylvania. Julia led a very quiet existence here. After experiencing a chaotic, roller-coaster ride for most of her life, she was entitled to a little peace and quiet.

That peace and quiet was interrupted by the sound of a male voice drawling, "I thought Bo Peep's job was the watch the sheep, not the fish.

Julia didn't recognize the man or the big bad Harley parked nearby. The newcomer, dressed in black jeans and a T-shirt, was leaning against one of the oldest trees in Serenity Falls. She figured he must be passing through, because he was much too dangerous to be a native.

Not that she feared for her safety. The man didn't exude that kind of danger. No, this was something much more elemental, male to female.

She couldn't see much of his face in the shadows cast by the tree's massive trunk, but she could tell he was tall and well built. She squinted into the fast approaching twilight to get a better look, He had broad shoulders, a lean waist, and long legs.

Feeling guilty for staring, she looked away. Only then did she realize that while she'd been wool-gathering, Billy had taken off, leaving her alone with the newcomer.

"Is that what you do around here to have fun?" he asked. "Dress up and eat live fish? You must be pretty hard up for entertainment."

She immediately defended her adopted hometown. "Serenity Falls has some wonderful entertainment venues."

"Venues, huh?" he drawled.

So hottie biker-man was mocking her, w