The Coming Home to You Collection

A Change in Plans Books 1-4

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An Unlikely Alliance

Her Charming Distraction

Protector of Her Heart

Pretending He’s Mine

Dunked by Love: A Short Story

Rachel John

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Table of Contents

Her Charming Distraction

Protector of Her Heart

Epilogue – One Thanksgiving Later

Dunked by Love: A Short Story

An Unlikely Alliance

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A Family by chance… Preston and Corrie don’t want a tug-o-war over his niece, but working together brings them closer than they ever expected.

Chapter 1

Preston Ford picked up his linen napkin and dabbed his forehead. He felt like he was on fire even though the restaurant was a cool, pleasant temperature. Thank goodness Nicole wasn’t back from the ladies’ room yet. Was this what a panic attack felt like? His glass of ice water was sweating too, and he picked it up and took a long drink, hoping to get rid of the lump forming in his throat. The soft clink of silverware and the murmur of restaurant patrons around him only confirmed that the only thing wrong with this situation was him.

Nicole was beautiful, smart, and challenging enough to keep him on his toes. They’d been dating for over a year, and the timing felt right. Picking out a ring for her had been a breeze thanks to her Pinterest account. Along with the fashion hacks and salad recipes, she had a whole section on wedding ideas, including the perfect princess cut diamond ring. He was pretty sure she showed it to him with the sole intention of dropping a big hint.

Other people had commitment issues, like his friend Shaun who flitted from relationship to relationship, never satisfied with anyone. Or his sister April, who consistently picked men destined to treat her badly. This was not supposed to be Preston’s problem. But apparently it was, and the more he acknowledged it, the more uncomfortable he became in his own skin. He ran to the men’s room and splashed water on his face, but his skin still felt hot and his stomach clenched.

It didn’t have to be tonight. There would be a better time for this. As he dried his face and hands, the panic began to subside. He left the bathroom feeling slightly better, but also ashamed.

Nicole smiled up at him as he approached their table, until she took in his blotchy face and her eyebrows came together in worry. “Are you okay?”

He could pretend he was, but his appetite had left him, and he knew if they stayed Nicole would want to linger over dessert and coffee. He shook his head. “I don’t feel well. Do you mind if we call it a night? I’m sorry.”

There was a flash of disappointment, which she quickly hid. She stood and pulled her purse off the back of the chair. “Of course. I’m done eating, and I’m assuming you are as well.” She glanced at his half-finished pasta. “I guess it’s a good thing I drove. You can rest on the way home.”

Nicole hated his messy work truck and had once again insisted on taking her immaculate Yukon Denali. Whatever made her happy. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet, putting down enough cash to cover their meal and a generous tip. Nicole put her arm around his waist and guided him out of the restaurant, her thoughtfulness only making him feel worse.

“So, food poisoning, do you think?” She approached her SUV, and he quickly went to open the driver door for her.

“I don’t think so. Maybe I’ve been working too much.”

She touched his arm. “Well, go home and get some sleep.”

Preston walked around and eased into the passenger seat, trying to relax. Yes, sleep. That’s all he needed. And a swift kick in the pants.

Nicole let him rest and didn’t say anything until she pulled into his driveway. “Are you going to be okay?”

“I’ll be fine. And I’m sorry about leaving the restaurant early.” He leaned over the SUV’s console to kiss her, but she pulled back a little.

Right, she thought he might be contagious.

He smoothed down her silky, dark hair instead and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Goodnight, sweetheart.”

Relief washed over him once he was inside his own house. He had some thinking to do, and he hoped the next time he saw Nicole, he’d better understand what was holding him back.

***

Corrie Windsor stretched her aching muscles and re-focused on the glowing computer screen. Just another thirteen essays to grade and she could be done for the day…night. Okay, technically it was already the next day, but who was counting anymore?

The Giver and the Receiver had to pass on all the knowledge of their community that had ever been given or received.

Was it her fuzzy brain making the sentence indecipherable or the seventh grader who wrote it? A long moan from down the hall turned into a high-pitched wail, and Corrie left her desk to go comfort Ella.

“Shhh, baby girl. What’s the matter?”

“Where’s my sippie?” Ella cried.

Corrie felt around on the floor until she found it under the bed and handed it to her. Ella downed three-quarters of it before tossing it on the floor and curling up against her teddy bear. In a matter of seconds, she was snoring again. What a relief.

Corrie decided not to go back to the computer. She’d be up with Ella at six anyway. She could finish reading the essays in the morning with fresher eyes. Hopefully her roommate, April, would be home and could spend some time with her daughter, giving Corrie a chance to take a nap. Where was April anyway? She was supposed to be back by now.

April had just started freelancing for a rideshare company and set her own hours, which so far meant she worked non-stop, only coming home to sleep and check on Ella. But she wasn’t supposed to work late at night. They’d both agreed picking up strangers was dangerous enough.

It was nice that April was paying rent again and not between jobs, or worse, out partying with friends, but once again Corrie felt the weight of the predicament she’d welcomed into her apartment. Into her life.

Three years ago, when April was just some next door neighbor with a scary live-in boyfriend, and she asked if Corrie wouldn’t mind watching baby Ella for a few minutes, Corrie had hesitantly agreed. That few minutes turned into a few hours, and then several times a week. And when the eviction notice went up and the boyfriend left, Corrie went against every logical notion and invited them to live with her. She was already so hopelessly in love with the little girl that she couldn’t watch them walk away and always wonder if Ella was safe and cared for.

Corrie texted April one more time, but after no response, she crashed in bed and didn’t wake until Ella’s little face pressed against hers at precisely six a.m. The child was a living alarm clock.

“I want cereal, Corrie.”

“Okay, okay.” Corrie yawned and crawled out of bed, taking Ella’s hand and heading for the kitchen. “Go potty while I get your cereal, please.”

Ella giggled. “Oh, yeah. I have to go bad.” Her bare feet took off to the bathroom, and Corrie leaned against the counter, rubbing her bleary eyes.

Ella ran back in. “Where’s Mommy?”

“Did you wash your hands?” Corrie asked, changing the subject. Maybe April was buried under her covers and Ella hadn’t seen her.

While Ella went back to the bathroom, Corrie checked April’s bed and then ran to the window to look down on the parking lot. April’s parking spot was empty.

Worry warred with anger. In the meantime, there was a hungry little girl who wanted breakfast. Thankfully, Ella didn’t ask about her mother again. She scarfed down two bowls of cereal and then pulled her coloring books closer and spread out her crayons.

Corrie sat down to finish reading the essays she’d been putting off. Teaching online had been awesome when she lived alone: sitting at the computer in her pajama pants, blasting music, and dancing in-between homework help and live class lessons. Now it was a balancing act between caring for Ella and taking care of her students. Corrie was always barely finishing something before the next thing came up that she didn’t have time to do.

A knock at the door interrupted Corrie’s focus as Ella jumped from her chair with a cheery, “I’ll get it!”

“No, baby. Let me get it.” Corrie scooped her up and put the little girl on her hip before checking through the peephole. Cops. Two of them.

Whatever it was, it wouldn’t be a conversation for Ella. She sat Ella on the couch and flipped on the TV, finding the nearest cartoon.

“I don’t like this show,” Ella said.

A second knock sounded and Corrie turned to Ella. “I have to get the door. I’ll change it in a minute. Okay?”

Ella nodded, her eyes already glued to the show she claimed not to like.

Corrie opened the door and glanced from one officer to the other, one young and nervous-looking, the other older and solemn. “Hello, officers. Can I help you?”

“Are you related to April Ford?” The older one asked.

“I’m her roommate. Has something happened to her?”

Please let her be arrested. It was a terrible thought, but the alternative…

“Are you cops?” Ella appeared at Corrie’s hip and stared up at the two men.

The officers glanced at each other and the older cop knelt in front of her. “Yep. Is this your mommy?”

“Nope. She’s Corrie. I’m Ella.” She turned back to Corrie. “Is it okay to tell them that?”

Corrie nodded, her heart thumping wildly in her chest. She had to find a way to distract Ella so the police could tell her whatever terrible news they came to deliver. Where was April?

Chapter 2

Preston’s alarm went off, and he grabbed his phone, pressing desperately with fumbling fingers to silence it. His first scheduled job of the day wasn’t until eight-thirty, not that his alarm cared. He’d forgotten to shut it off the night before. Being awake meant being aware, and he picked up the ring box from off his bedside table and studied it.

“You are messing with my head, ring.”

He was no closer to figuring out what was wrong with him. He hadn’t been all that worried when he picked out the ring. In fact, he’d been determined. All his life, Preston had been surrounded by people who lived by their feelings, leading to stupid choices and heartache. He refused to act that way. His life would continue to be carefully planned out, with decisions based on what was logical and best. And every indication so far was that marrying Nicole would be a good decision.

His parents divorced when he was nine, using him and his sister as a tug-o-war, and he swore he’d never put his own kids through that. All he’d ever wanted was a happy family of his own and the means to support them.

Most school subjects had been a struggle, but he was handy. Going to trade school and learning to fix air conditioning units was a no-brainer. In Arizona, people paid good money to not suffer in triple-digit heat.

So now he had a successful business and a home, a former foreclosure he’d picked up after watching the housing market for a year. Nicole was helping him fix it up, room by room. And yet she never dropped hints about marriage. At least not verbal ones. Showing him her Pinterest account, which included her entire future wedding planned down to the engraved napkins, had been the biggest hint yet.

She deserved someone who could love her without reservation, without any doubts. He was sure he’d get there, but the fact that he wasn’t there yet bothered him. A lot.

The sun was starting to filter through his blinds, and he dove under his comforter and rolled over. Maybe he could sleep for a few more minutes and put off thinking about it. He waited two minutes before giving up on that idea. He got up, showered, and dressed, knowing what he needed to do. He would have no rest inside his head until he talked to her.

Leaving the ring box in his room, he grabbed his phone and keys and headed out to his truck, sending Nicole a heads-up text as he sat in the driveway.

You awake?

Yep. How are you feeling?

Better. Can I come over? I wanted to talk.

Talk, huh. Is this a good talk or a bad talk? :/

Leave it to Nicole to joke about it. He didn’t know how to respond, and when he didn’t text back right away, she dug in deeper.

Dun-uh, dun-uh, dun-uhhh! She followed it up with a shark emoji.

The woman was exasperating sometimes. But at least he wasn’t coming over to break up with her. So maybe they’d still laugh about this after they talked. Maybe.

Nice. I’ll see you in a few.

That was the last text message she sent, giving him ten minutes to go over his speech in his head while he drove, thinking through what she might say in response.

Nicole looked amazing as always, with her hair and makeup already done at seven in the morning. She could create these wingtips with her eyeliner that highlighted her crystal blue eyes. Sometimes he wondered what she would look like on a bad day. She’d never given him an opportunity to find out.

He sat on her couch, and she snuggled up against his chest.

“So, what’s up?” She smiled at him expectantly, and his speech blew right out of his head and disappeared into thin air.

What was it he wanted to convey? Oh, yeah. Honesty and trust. Understanding.

“Nicole. I love you.”

“I love you too.” She studied him, waiting for the rest of it. ‘I love you’ wasn’t exactly a revelation. They’d been saying it to each other for months.

“Okay, I hate having secrets from each other so the truth is, I bought a ring…”

Oh, he shouldn’t have paused. Her face beamed with such joy that it struck him in the chest like a knife twisting.

“But, I don’t think I’m ready to give it to you yet.”

“Oh.” She sat up and clasped her hands together, the confusion and frown lines in her forehead intersecting.

The tense silence stretched out and he knew he had to fill it, but when he was nervous he usually didn’t say the best things.

“I mean, I thought I was ready, but now I don’t know. Something is holding me back, and I’m trying to figure out what it is.”

“Something’s holding you back?”

“Yeah.”

This was the worst talk ever. He wanted to get up and run out the door. So much for gaining clarity and honesty in the relationship. Now he just wanted to take it all back.

Nicole stared at him. “So, we’re the same as we were before, not engaged.” Despite the breezy way she said it, he knew the underlying message. This conversation should’ve never happened.

“I should start over.”

She put her hand on his arm. “Preston, I love that you’re a straightforward guy and not a smooth pickup artist, but sometimes you’re really not smooth.”

He dropped his head into her shoulder. “Do you hate me?”

She sighed. “No, but if I’m not getting a ring, I expect a really big gift the next time you see me.”

Preston laid his head back against the couch. “Fair enough.”

***

Corrie walked around the apartment, picking up stray clothing and putting away toys. She’d had the sense to contact her boss and her students, telling them she had a family emergency and letting them know she couldn’t teach today. Now she was back to being numb.

April was dead. She’d been sitting in her car on the side of the road, probably checking her phone for her next route, and a drunk driver plowed right into the driver door, killing her instantly. It took the police a while to find the purse with her I.D. in it. Somehow it got wedged under a seat. They’d apologized about that, as if the few extra hours of not knowing were a burden instead of a blessing. How Corrie wished she could go back to being mad at April for working late.

Their relationship had always been more utilitarian than friendship. April needed her, and they were linked by their mutual devotion to Ella. But a family bond had been there too. April was like a sister who fiercely irritated her, but Corrie had loved her fiercely too.

She pulled a tissue out the pocket of her jeans and wiped her eyes and nose. There would be a time to lose it later. Right now, there was too much to do, too much to figure out.

Ella hummed to herself while she finger-painted. She lifted one finger and licked it clean. Finger-painting with chocolate pudding had been the distraction Corrie needed so she could step outside with the police. But they were almost out of chocolate pudding, and then what would they do?

Corrie had to tell Ella. Soon. The cops said a social worker would be stopping by. Please don’t let them take her away. A tear fell down her cheek. How many things would Ella lose today?

There was nothing Corrie could do to fix any of this. She felt so hopeless. But if a social worker was coming, the apartment needed to be presentable. No dirty dishes, no messy beds. Corrie needed something to focus on, so she cleaned with single-minded purpose, putting off everything else.

***

Shaun went for a layup, missed, and turned to grin at Preston. “You said what?”

“I said I wasn’t ready to give it to her yet.”

“Has Nicole pressured you about getting married before?”

Preston knew where his friend was going with this, but he answered anyway. “No.”

“So, you dangled her secret desire in front of her face, and then told her it was never going to happen.”

“Not never.” Preston stole the ball and went up for a shot. Swish. If only he had Shaun’s freakish height, he might have played basketball past high school.

Shaun huffed. “Dude, she’s two years older than you. Her ovaries are crying out to make babies. I give her one month before she dumps you and marries someone twice as good-looking and three times richer.”

“Never mind, I never should have talked to you about this.” Preston dribbled over to the side and picked up his water bottle from the park bench. His phone began to vibrate, almost falling off the end.

“Dang, it’s my mom.”

Shaun grinned. “Throw me the ball. I’ll see you in a couple hours.”

“Whatever.” Yes, his phone calls with his mother were notoriously long, but Shaun didn’t have to rub it in. Preston sat and stretched out his legs before answering the call. “Hi, Mom.”

“Preston?” Her voice wavered and she cleared her throat.

“Mom? What’s the matter?” With her, it could be anything from a spider on the wall to a burglar breaking in. She’d sound just as panicked either way.

“It’s April. She was in a car accident last night, honey. She didn’t make it.”

He pulled the phone away from his ear as if it was a foreign object. Not April. He hadn’t seen her in years. He’d always meant to reconnect despite how crazy she made him. But he thought there’d be time. There was supposed to be time for that. What had he done?

“Preston, did you hear me?”

“Yes, Mom.” His voice sounded hoarse in his ears. He rubbed his eyes and tried to keep it together.

“There’s more. She has a daughter. Four years old. They don’t know where the father is. The police want to know if I’ll take her. They said a social worker would be calling me in the next few days. I just …. I don’t know. I did such a bad job with April. She was always mad at me, no matter what I did. Especially after your Dad left. I don’t know if I can start over—” She began to sob.

“Mom. Slow down. You don’t have to raise April’s kid.” But the words sounded callous to his ears, and he couldn’t help picturing a tiny April with blonde pigtails. April had been a little chunk with big brown eyes at that age. Did her daughter look like her?

“But they said if they don’t find any family to take her in, she’ll go into foster care.”

“Where is she?”

“Albuquerque. With April’s roommate. Whoever that is.”

He wondered if April was still living in that dumpy apartment he’d tried to pull her out of five years ago. She’d called and said she was leaving her boyfriend and needed help. He’d driven seven hours to pick her up and seven hours to bring her back home. Three days later, April hopped on a flight and returned to her boyfriend, saying she couldn’t live without him. Preston begged her to come back, telling her he’d find her a job and help her start over, but every time they talked after that, all she would say was she was he needed to back off. Eventually, he did. If she was living with a roommate, maybe she’d finally gotten free of the controlling boyfriend.

“Preston, could you possibly keep April’s little girl?”

“I don’t know, Mom.” He was still trying to come to grips with April’s death, and a decision like that was life changing. There was so much he didn’t know. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. We need to focus on what happens next.”

“Okay.” His mom sounded so timid. She needed him to be strong, to handle things like he always did.

“Have you talked to Dad yet?”

“No, I…We haven’t spoken in years.”

“I’ll call him right now. Will you plan the funeral and figure out where April should be buried? I’ll pay for everything. Don’t worry about what it costs. And if a social worker calls, give her my number, okay?”

***

Corrie stopped scouring the sink and turned to look at Ella. Freshly bathed and dressed in one of her better outfits, she was giggling at the screen, her wet curls dancing around her face. Ella had already watched way more than her allotted daily amount of TV, and Corrie couldn’t put off telling her anymore. The doorbell could ring any minute, and Ella needed to be prepped.

“Ella, sweetheart. I need to turn off the TV and talk to you.”

Ella moaned for a few seconds, but then rolled off the couch and landed on the floor. “Okay, my eyes are falling out anyway.”

“Your eyes are falling out?”

Ella put a hand to her hip. “Too much TV, Corrie. Too much TV.”

Corrie smiled at her mini adult. “I agree.”

“Can I have an apple?” Ella asked.

Corrie swallowed, terrified at the relief she felt at putting off the inevitable for another minute or two. “Do you want me to cut it up?”

Ella nodded and waited for her apple, humming again, this time a song from the TV show she’d just watched.

After Corrie handed Ella the bowl of apple slices, she sat at the table with her. “Ella, you know how your mommy didn’t come home last night?”

Ella looked up, a line creasing her little eyebrows. “Uh-huh.”

“She was in a car accident.”

“Was she hurt real bad?” Ella asked.

Corrie nodded, willing herself not to cry. She needed to be able to speak clearly. “Yes. She died, Ella. She loved you very much, but she won’t be coming back to us.”

“She won’t?” Ella dropped her apple slice back in the bowl and hugged her knees. “But when Jack died, you said he went to heaven, and I’d see him again.”

Jack had been Ella’s pet mouse. Corrie had forgotten about him, but obviously, Ella had not. “Yes, your mom is in heaven with Jack, and you’ll see her again. But first, you have to grow up and live a long, good life.”

Ella didn’t say anything. Corrie was sure several questions were swirling around in the little girl’s head, but she was just sitting there, picking at her feet and frowning. Death was not a concept a four-year-old could understand very well.

Finally, Ella asked, “Are you going to die too, Corrie?”

“Someday, love. But hopefully not for a long, long time.” How she wanted to promise she’d always be there for her. But that would be unfair. There was so much uncertainty now.

“And I’ll die too?” Ella whispered.

Corrie scooped her up and held her. “Not until you’re really, really old.”

“Was my mom old?” Ella murmured.

How smart, how intuitive this little girl was. Corrie closed her eyes, praying for the right words. “No. Not very old. But she had an accident.”

“A car accident?”

The questions kept coming. Circular, but necessary. Corrie stroked Ella’s hair and patiently explained the best she could, wondering if it would be enough.

Chapter 3

Loretta, the caseworker who came the next day, was an older woman, organized and matter-of-fact. She wanted to see that Ella had a bed and that there was food in the fridge, and then she sat on the couch and took out a yellow legal pad from a battered briefcase. Ella was playing quietly on the floor, too quietly, and Corrie bit her nail, watching the little girl’s emotionless movements.

“Why don’t we sit at the kitchen table,” Loretta murmured after observing Ella for a few minutes. “I’m not going to question the poor thing, and she doesn’t need to hear us talking about what’s happened.”

“Of course.” Corrie walked with her to the kitchen table and sat, trying to appear calm. She couldn’t bring herself to ask if Loretta was going to take Ella with her or not. Childishly, she thought if she didn’t ask, it might prevent it from happening.

Loretta clicked her pen. “So, you’re not related to April or the girl? You’re just the roommate?”

Just the roommate. She was going to lose Ella for sure. “Um, they’ve lived with me for two years, and I often care for Ella during the day. I work from home.” Her voice came out hoarse, and against her will, tears dripped down her face. She brushed them away, embarrassed and ashamed that she felt more grief over the thought of losing Ella than over April’s death.

Loretta’s warm hand covered hers. “It’s all right. I know this must be hard.”

Corrie nodded. “I love Ella. I’m worried about her. She’s very quiet today, and I think, scared. She usually likes visitors and will come up and say hello.” As it was, she’d only sneak glances at Loretta before turning back to her dolls.

“Are you okay with her staying with you for the time being?” Loretta whispered, as if expecting Corrie to answer no.

“Of course. I’d like her to stay with me permanently, but I know that’s probably not up to me.”

Loretta’s eyes widened. “Then I suggest you get started on the paperwork right away to become a legal foster parent. If there aren’t any relatives who can take her, you’d be the obvious next choice. I have a sheet in my briefcase that can point you in the right direction.”

Corrie sat up straighter. “Thank you so much.”

“Don’t thank me yet. They push hard to find a blood relative. So you think…” She glanced down at her notes. “Gary Jepson is the father?”

Corrie frowned. “He used to beat on April. Please don’t give him Ella.”

Loretta shook her head in disgust and wrote out more notes. “We have to find him first. Let’s hope he’s in prison. Easy to get a paternity test, and no chance of him getting custody.” Loretta glanced up. “But I never said that, you hear?”

Corrie nodded. “My lips are sealed.”

***

The timing was terrible. May was shaping up to be a record-breaking month for high temperatures, and Preston was taking a week off, just when the summer season was getting started. Tune up requests and emergency calls were flooding in, and he had to put them off or turn them down.

April’s funeral was over. It had been a small, nice service with just the family and a few friends of April’s from high school they’d tracked down. His parents had been respectful to each other for once. Preston hoped his sister was able to look down and see it. He hoped that whatever was on the other side meant he’d have a chance to see April again and tell her how sorry he was. The only thing he could do now was make sure her daughter was taken care of.

His mother had contacted the roommate keeping April’s daughter and offered to fly them to Phoenix for the funeral, but apparently, Ella got the stomach flu and they’d stayed home. It didn’t sit well with him. Maybe this roommate just didn’t want to come. Maybe she didn’t want them to see Ella. He’d find out the truth in a few hours.

The caseworker had emailed a photo of his niece, and he looked at it while sitting in the cramped airplane, waiting for everyone else to board. Her big brown eyes, so much like April’s, shined up at him. Only her hair was different, a dark brown instead of April’s blonde. He put his phone away when an older woman sat down next to him.

Now that she was Ella, and not some nameless and faceless niece, the emotions of the situation were hitting harder. Could he, a single guy, offer Ella a better life? What if she went to foster care and got adopted by a great family?

Either way, he was on his way to meet her. Alone. Nicole knew about Ella, but she’d assumed there were other family members taking her, and he hadn’t corrected that impression. She would have insisted on coming with him, and he had to do this on his own. Telling Nicole he might be adopting his niece after the marriage proposal fiasco seemed like a bad idea anyway. He could commit to a niece he’d never met, but not her?

There were too many what ifs. Preston had no idea what he was going to decide, and he could only guess how Nicole might feel about it. She thought he was going to Albuquerque to collect April’s things and pay her final bills. And he was, so it wasn’t a total lie. Man, he was a bad boyfriend. Shaun was right. Nicole should find someone better-looking and more emotionally available.

He stared out at the endless blue through the tiny square window, jumping slightly when the captain came on to announce they would be momentarily landing.

After renting a car from the Albuquerque airport, Preston punched the apartment address into the GPS and realized he had two hours to kill until the initial meeting with Ella and her caseworker. The drive would only take twenty minutes. He pulled into a shopping center and wandered up and down the aisles of a large toy store, wondering what a four-year-old girl might like. An employee took pity on him and helped him pick out a princess doll in a shimmery dress and a matching tiara for Ella to wear in her hair. He bought a gift bag to put it in and headed to the meeting, nervous but determined to see it through.

***

Loretta’s visits had become part of the new routine, but all that would change today. With a relative coming, Corrie had little chance of keeping Ella. The best she could do was dig for information and shower Ella with love while she could.

Loretta took a cookie off the tray Corrie had prepared and waved it at Corrie. “To be honest, I’m not sure what he intends to do. He said he’s just here to visit.”

Corrie gathered up a few crumbs from the table and deposited them in the garbage. “That’s what I explained to Ella. That she had an uncle who wants to meet her.”

“Perfect. No use getting any expectations up.” Loretta nodded at Ella, glued to the TV. “When a decision is made, I’ll coach you on what to tell her.”

The knot in Corrie’s stomach twisted. How could Loretta be so casual about it? Maybe after working with hundreds of children just like Ella you formed a sort of detachment to the whole thing. Corrie couldn’t be detached. Not when Ella woke up sobbing and crawled into Corrie’s bed every night. Nobody was getting much sleep, but it was too hard for Ella to stay in a room she used to share with her mom. Last night, Corrie hadn’t bothered to put Ella in her bed at all, she just moved her from the couch to Corrie’s bed.

The doorbell rang, and she jumped up to get it before pausing in front of the closed door.

“You gonna let him in, or what?” Loretta chuckled. “These are great cookies, by the way.”

Corrie closed her eyes and silently prayed. Let him be nice. Let him actually care about her. She thrust open the door and stared into eyes as apprehensive as her own. The fact that he was young and handsome was a surprise, as was her immediate girlish reaction. She suddenly wanted to change her outfit and check her hair. Did I even put on makeup today?

Ella gasped, bringing Corrie back to reality. The little girl had noticed a pink, glittering bag in his hands, and she ran up behind Corrie, spying on their guest around Corrie’s legs.

“Hi, I’m Preston.” He held out a hand, and Corrie shook it before inviting him in, dragging Ella along behind her as they returned to the table.

“I’m Corrie. This is Loretta, Ella’s caseworker. And Ella is this little thing strapped to the back of me.” Corrie ventured a smile, relieved to see Preston smile in return.

He held out the gift bag, and with some coaxing, Ella detached herself from Corrie and went to see what was inside. She immediately put on the tiara and picked up the new doll, touching its shiny dress and hair. Preston glanced over at Corrie as if to ask, ‘did I do okay?’

She nodded and stroked Ella’s hair. “What do you say to Uncle Preston?”

Ella shyly mumbled ‘thank you’ and ran over to her basket of toys, tearing it apart. “I need a doll brush,” she called over her shoulder.

“Take a seat.” Loretta patted the kitchen chair next to her, and Preston sat, staying right at the edge as if he might need to bolt at any moment.

Now that introductions were over, Corrie’s nervousness crept back. She wasn’t sure what came next or how long he planned to stay.

She picked up a cookie and took a big bite, right before Preston turned to her and asked, “How long were you roommates with April?” He noticed her frantic chewing and looked away, his embarrassment matching her own.

Corrie swallowed. “Sorry. Um, two years.”

He nodded, studying her as if looking for hidden flaws. April used to talk about her brother, how she couldn’t stand him judging her all the time. Corrie hadn’t thought much of it, but now under his scrutinizing gaze, she didn’t want to imagine what he was concluding. Her rose-colored skirt had seemed like a good choice when she put it on, but she smoothed out a crease and wished it was less faded.

“Come play with me.” Ella ran up and grabbed Preston’s hand. He seemed totally flustered by the invitation, but he joined her on the floor. She handed him a princess doll, directing him what to say and do. The image was so precious, Corrie was tempted to take a picture, but she didn’t want to interrupt their moment. Her heart seized, feeling happy and sad to see the two bonding so quickly.

***

Preston had expected a dirty apartment, sullen faces, maybe even a sketchy boyfriend hanging around, but so far, everything looked on the up and up. The carpet was threadbare but clean. There was a bulletin board displaying Ella’s drawings. How had someone like Corrie lived with April for so long? None of it made sense. And while he wanted to ask, he didn’t quite know how. With his propensity to put his foot in his mouth, he was trying to say as little as possible.

The caseworker, Loretta, only added to the awkwardness of the situation. She’d assured him he didn’t have to make a decision right away, and that Ella had no idea it was even a possibility, but he still felt Loretta’s eyes on him, evaluating his fitness as a father figure. The thought of being a father scared him a hundred times more than the thought of marriage. So why was he here, sitting on the floor, playing dolls?

“Ask her to dance,” Ella prompted. She smiled up at him, showing off a cute gap between her two front teeth.

“What?” Preston looked at the doll she was shaking in his face.

“Sprinkles wants to dance. You have to ask her to dance.”

Preston snuck a glance at Corrie, who was holding back silent laughter, and then in his best doll voice he said, “Sprinkles, may I have this dance?”

The two dolls swayed together, and Preston felt like the world’s biggest idiot. But if this was what Ella wanted to do, that’s what they’d do. Whether he adopted her or not, he was still her uncle, and he wanted her to have good memories of him.

Loretta cleared her throat and stood. “I’m gonna go. Ya’ll keep getting acquainted. Preston, give me a call later and we’ll talk. Bye, Ella.”

Ella waved. “Bye, Miss Loretta.”

Corrie looked a little panicked to see the woman walking out the door. He couldn’t blame her. He’d been in the apartment for five minutes, and now they were being left alone together to figure things out. He needed to explain how long he was staying.

When he’d thought about spending a week with Ella, taking the time to make a careful decision, he hadn’t even thought about the roommate tagging along. She was just this person offering temporary housing. Having met her, Corrie seemed like someone a little more important to Ella than that.

He ran a hand through his hair. “Um, I can go whenever you need me to. I don’t want to make you feel like I won’t leave if you give me a gentle hint. Although I’m here for a week, and I’d like to come over every day. My flight is next Tuesday. I can change it though, if I need to.”

Corrie came over and sat on the couch next to where they were playing on the floor. He had to look away from her long legs perched at eye level. Corrie wasn’t model-gorgeous like Nicole, but she was pretty enough to make the room feel smaller when he looked at her. He liked the sprinkle of freckles across her little snub nose and her big green eyes. He mentally smacked himself. They had things to work out, and dumb guy hormones would only make that harder.

“Spend as much time with Ella as you need. Would you like to stay for dinner?”

“That would be great.” The thought of eating alone in a restaurant was not appealing.

Ella reached up and pulled on Corrie’s arm. “Play with us, Corrie. You can have Buttercup. She wants to dance with … um, what’s your name again?” Ella turned her questioning eyes to Preston.

“Preston,” he prompted.

“Dance with Preston,” Ella insisted.

Corrie sat next to them and gave Preston an amused look. “Okay, Ella, but only for a minute. Then maybe we should play something else.”

Preston bounced his doll back and forth next to Corrie’s, although his eyes were trained on the wall behind her. He could ham it up for Ella, but having Corrie playing along ramped up the embarrassment ten-fold. Somehow it reminded him of slow dancing with a girl for the first time at a seventh-grade dance. He hadn’t been able to make eye contact then either.

He chanced a glance at Corrie, and she was doing the same—looking in his direction, but not at him. Her thoughts seemed very far away.

***

Why did I offer to feed him dinner? And what can we possibly eat for dinner?

She should have thought ahead on this. Would he be annoyed if they had fish sticks and tater tots? Because that’s all she could throw together right now. Her brain wasn’t working right with him sitting close enough for their legs to brush. She could smell his cologne, and she really, really liked it.

Wow, I am lame. Okay, so she hadn’t been on a date in almost a year. It was hard to meet guys when she rarely left her apartment. She’d even let her gym membership lapse, opting for YouTube exercise videos and hand weights.

“So, I should tell you about our schedule,” she said, dropping her doll and shifting over a bit to give herself space from Preston. She pulled a tub of blocks into the middle of their group and started building, despite Ella’s protests that she still wanted to play dolls. “Ella gets up at six, and after breakfast I usually give her a quick pre-school lesson before I have to get on the computer at eight. I teach seventh and eighth grade English Lit classes online. Ella’s pretty good about playing on her own. We take a break for lunch, and then I’m done by two at the latest. I save grading homework and prep work for after she goes to bed.”

Preston’s forehead wrinkled. “And that’s been since April’s … passing?” He glanced over at Ella, but she wasn’t paying attention. She had her dolls dancing on top of the block towers.

“No, I’ve always watched Ella, even before she and April moved in. Because I work from home, it just made sense.”

His stare seemed to go on and on, making her notice the little flecks of green in his blue eyes. He started to say something and then must have changed his mind. He went back to block building, but still had that concentrated look on his face.

Should she tell him? Should she tell him she wanted to adopt Ella? Maybe showing her cards would be premature at this point. Maybe he’d already guessed it.

“How close were you and April?” he finally asked.

She didn’t want to answer because it was complicated. While she’d grudgingly learned to love April, it had taken time, and they hadn’t always gotten along. “Not close. I had rules for living here with me, and she did her best to follow them. Our priority was taking care of Ella.” Corrie turned and tucked a strand of hair behind Ella’s ear.

“Then why…” Preston was staring at her. “Why would you do all that? Did April pay rent?”

“Usually. Like I said, she tried her best.”

This time, when he stared Corrie down, she stared right back, until it grew too personal and they both looked away.

“Look,” she said, meeting his eyes again. “If after this week, you decide you just want to be an uncle, it’s okay. I would be happy to adopt Ella, and you could visit as often as you like.”

“Will they let you do that?”

She shrugged. “Loretta said if they don’t find a blood relative to take her, I’d be next on the list.”

“Blood? Eww gross.” Ella folded her little arms and looked from one to the other. “Corrie, can I knock down your building?”

***

She’s hoping I don’t want Ella. Instead of filling him with relief, her offer made him leery of the whole situation in a whole new way. He had expected to find a roommate, not a … he wasn’t exactly sure what word he was looking for. Corrie was tied to his niece in a way he wasn’t yet. Maybe it would be better if she adopted Ella and he remained the visiting uncle, but he didn’t know Corrie well enough to know if it would work, or if they would end up putting Ella through a tug-o-war.

He wouldn’t knowingly put his niece through that. Not after experiencing it himself.

Right now, Corrie had no rights to Ella. He could call up the caseworker, take Ella home with him at the end of the week, and that would be it. Not that it would be the healthiest choice. As it was, Ella seemed pretty happy for someone who’d just lost her mother. Maybe April hadn’t been around that much. It was sad how little that would surprise him.

The best thing now would be to play nice and observe. He needed to know what he was dealing with. Why would Corrie dedicate all her time and energy to someone else’s child? Why had she been so good to April? Or was this all an appearance to hide what was really going on?

Chapter 4

Corrie pulled the tray of fish sticks out of the oven and placed them on top of the stove. Ella chattered on and on to Preston, but Corrie couldn’t shake the feeling that her offer had changed things. He was back to watching her, looking for chinks in her armor. But she wasn’t wearing armor. Everything she’d told him was true. She hadn’t lied and said April was her best friend. Corrie was genuine when she said he’d always be able to visit whenever he wanted. Heck, she’d move to Phoenix if he insisted. It wasn’t like it mattered since she worked online.

But he didn’t trust her. She had to remember that he was April’s brother. He was probably used to being lied to and manipulated. She should have kept her mouth shut. No one understood her bond with Ella. Couldn’t they see that after practically raising her, Corrie was like any mother, fighting for her child? Trying to protect Ella from further loss?

Maybe she was being selfish, and Ella would be okay without her. Preston seemed like a decent guy. His parents wanted to meet Ella, and she’d noticed the screen saver on his phone, a picture of him together with who she assumed was a girlfriend. He’d probably get married and give Ella siblings to play with. She’d be part of a family, tied to her by blood and love. Maybe Corrie was just getting in the way of all that.

She realized Preston was right at her shoulder and jumped, putting her hand down on the hot tray. She turned and held her throbbing hand against her chest.

He took a step back, looking embarrassed. “Sorry. I just wanted to see if you needed help with anything.”

She moved to the sink and ran her hand under the cold water. “Nope. I’m fine. Everything’s fine.” Great, now she was getting teary, and the harder she fought it, the harder it was to hold it in. If she spoke again, she’d give it away. Thankfully, he went back to the table, and she kept the water running over her hand until she felt in control again.

“Is your hand okay?”

She nodded and moved to take the tater tots out of the oven. Then she took her time turning off the heat on the peas and draining them. She hoped her face wasn’t blotchy and finally turned around to serve dinner.

Preston’s expression held a mixture of concern and suspicion. She turned her attention to Ella and served her first, before getting her own plate. To Preston’s credit, he didn’t say a word about the lame dinner and ate everything he took, murmuring ‘thank you’ when she passed him food. Even compliments would have been condescending.

Once Ella had finished and went to play toys, Preston’s watchful eyes turned to Corrie.

“How did you meet April and Ella? How did they come to live with you?”

He wasn’t even trying to be casual about it. This was an interrogation.

Corrie met his gaze. “They lived in the apartment next door. With Gary. April and I had chatted a few times while doing laundry downstairs. She knew I worked from home, and one time she asked if I could watch Ella for about fifteen minutes while she drove to pick up her check from work. Ella had just turned one.”

“I remember Gary. Go on.”

Corrie took another bite, barely tasting it. “So, after that, I babysat her almost every day. Sometimes April paid me, and sometimes she had excuses. But the alternative was leaving Ella with Gary, and I think she knew enough not to do that. When they got evicted, Gary took off. April was a mess. I was afraid of what would happen to Ella, so I offered to let them live with me as long as it was just the two of them.”

“That was really nice of you.” The suspicious way he said it made it sound like he thought there was more to it than that, some sinister reason he hadn’t weaseled out of her yet.

Corrie had had enough. “Look, I wasn’t trying to steal Ella, if that’s what you’re thinking. I’m not trying to steal her now. I will help you in any way I can. All I care about is that she ends up somewhere wanted and loved. If that means without me, then so be it. But I’ve spent every day with her for most of her life, so I hope you won’t write me off as some loon and ban me from seeing her. She’s lost enough people already.”

He didn’t say anything in response, and it only angered her more. He thought she was just like one of those childless crazy women who steal babies from hospitals. She could see it in his face.

“It’s been a long day. I’m going to go check into my hotel.” He got up, as if they hadn’t just had that weird conversation, and went to say goodbye to Ella. “I’ll be back in the morning, okay?”

Ella looked up at him. “Will you bring another present?”

Preston smiled. “Um, probably not tomorrow, but we’ll see. Maybe I can take you to McDonald's for lunch if that’s all right with your … with Corrie.” He glanced over at Corrie, and she raised an eyebrow. Like she had any say in it.

He walked out, closing the door behind him, and she let out the breath she’d been holding. He was determined not to like her. To not trust her. And he was the one holding all the cards. It was so unfair.

***

He wasn’t sure what to make of Corrie. By her account, she was the reason Ella was a well-adjusted, happy four-year-old. If Corrie hadn’t intervened, maybe Ella would be lost somewhere, neglected, abused. And yet, he didn’t like the fact that he had to trust her at her word. April wasn’t here to tell him if it was true. So, he did the next best thing and ordered a background check on Corrie.

It felt sneaky, but he’d been raised on his mother’s crazy stories from her years working in Human Relations: the perfectly responsible-sounding person who used Tom Foolery as a reference with the number for the local sports bar, or the lovely old lady who falsified accounts to skim money without anyone realizing it for a year. Preston refused to be duped by a sweet face, even if he’d finally found someone who loved fish sticks as much as he did.

After that, he called up Loretta, and as casually as possible, pressed her for information. The caseworker had spent more time with Corrie than he had. Loretta seemed to like Corrie, but she was also not one to be swayed by anything other than what her job told her to do.

“Corrie said if I didn’t want to adopt Ella that she would. Is that actually an option?”

Loretta tsked. “I shouldn’t have gotten her hopes up. We’ve located the father, and he’s got six months left on a misdemeanor theft charge. But he has a sister who’s willing to take her until he gets out. That is, if you’re not.”

He swallowed back the disgust at the thought of Ella going to Gary’s family. He hadn’t forgotten the excuses April used to make for her boyfriend’s behavior, mainly that Gary had a rough childhood without any love. As if that made it okay for him to hit her.

No, there was no way he’d leave Ella to that fate. And it was good to know, because he had already started picturing a future with Ella, despite his determination to take his time deciding. Logic told him she would turn his life upside down, that he’d probably be overwhelmed at times and maybe even regret it. He had to keep reminding himself that she’d grow up to be a sullen teenager and give him all sorts of grief, but his gut was telling him that walking away would be worse, for both of them.

Would April want him raising Ella? It made him sad to think she’d probably prefer Corrie. But since that wasn’t an option, it was better not to dwell on what ifs. He couldn’t fix what had happened with April, but he could do his best to love her daughter.

Where did that leave Corrie? She wanted to stay in Ella’s life, but how would that work? He was glad he had a week here. Tomorrow, he’d go see what they actually did all day. Maybe Ella just sat in front of the TV. Maybe Corrie had a temper he’d never seen. Maybe her online job was actually scamming people out of money or selling drugs.

Which was why, at exactly 6:00 a.m., he knocked at their door, holding a new present for Ella. If the girl was sharp enough to ask for another one, why not? She had proudly showed off her favorite pink plate at dinner, so before returning to his hotel, he had searched the local Walmart for a pink cup and bowl to match.

Corrie answered the door, her hair sticking up in places and hiding a yawn. His eyes flitted to the line where her shirt and pajama bottoms didn’t quite meet and flicked back up again, hoping she hadn’t caught him looking. Too late. She gave her pants a tug and wrapped an arm around her waist as she moved to let him in.

Ella ran straight at him and tugged at the gift bag. “Yay, yay, yay!”

They sat together and opened his gift while Corrie went back down the hall. She returned a few minutes later, her hair tamed, makeup on, and dressed in jeans and a long T-shirt. He realized she hadn’t been wearing makeup yesterday, and wished he didn’t think she was even more attractive now. It was just another reason to be careful while he was here.

“What a cute bowl and cup! Ella, let me give them a quick wash, and then you can use them for breakfast.” Ella took Corrie’s hand, and they went to the sink with her new dishes. “You want breakfast?” Corrie called over her shoulder.

“No, I ate at the hotel. Thanks, though.” Preston made himself comfortable on the couch and watched the two eat cereal. His plan was to be a fly on the wall today and see if Corrie was the open book she claimed to be. If it was all an act, she couldn’t keep it up forever.

When Ella finished breakfast, she ran over to a cupboard under the TV and pulled out one-pound hand weights, and then with a groan, dug out a set of five-pounders. “Corrie, let’s exercise!”

Corrie was cleaning up the breakfast dishes, and she turned around and glanced at Preston. “Um, I think we’ll skip today, pumpkin. Let me rinse these bowls, and we’ll work on your letters.”

Ella brought the pink one-pound weights over to Preston. “We dance and exercise. It’s fun. I’m super strong. Watch this!” She held one up above her head and waved it in the air. “I’m a good dancer.”

Preston bit back a grin. “I bet you are. But let’s put these away so I can see how well you know your letters.” He helped her return all the weights to the cupboard.

Corrie came over and he sat and watched the two play an alphabet matching game, laughing together when Ella narrowly beat Corrie by one match. Corrie had taken his cue and was ignoring him completely. They continued to play without him while he watched.

At eight, the two moved to Corrie’s desk. He hadn’t noticed before, but a child’s desk was pushed up right next to it, and Ella sat down and started scribbling on a piece of paper with markers, the look of concentration on her face in sync with Corrie’s.

“This one’s for Sam,” Ella said after a minute, holding it up for Corrie’s inspection. “Will you put his name on it?”

“He’ll love it.” Corrie quickly wrote ‘Sam’ across the top and went back to furiously typing on her computer.

Ella started on a rainbow masterpiece next.

Although he’d promised himself he wouldn’t interfere, Preston couldn’t help coming up to peer over Corrie’s shoulder. “Do you mind if I watch?”

She glanced up at him. “That’s fine. But you’ll have to go back to the couch when the students come online, otherwise, they’ll pester me the whole time about who you are, and if you’re my boyfriend, and we’ll get nothing done.” She tapped the camera perched on the top of the computer screen, a pink sticky note currently covering up the lens.

He stared at her screen where she had a long list of discussion questions submitted by her students. Corrie was highlighting some of them, and when she saw him reading along she said, “I include the best ones in our discussion for extra credit.”

“Who is Romeo?” Preston read aloud. “What does tragedy mean?”

Corrie smiled up at him. “Yeah, some are better than others.”

“I have Tylee’s ready!” Ella announced, holding up another picture.

“What’s she doing?” Preston asked.

“She draws a picture for each of my students, and I show them off when they check in. It helps Ella feel included, and the kids love them.” Corrie glanced back and shooed him away. “Sorry, I need to uncover the video camera now.”

Preston went back and sat on the couch, his plan to catch Corrie being less than genuine pretty much pointless so far, especially after he watched Corrie and Ella greet each of the pimply-faced kids popping up on the screen. He could tell they loved Corrie. What was there not to love? She was perpetually, infuriatingly, cheerful and calm.

It was clear the woman actually did teach online, did care for Ella adequately while doing so, and he was being a paranoid jerk. They had a routine and a life that was familiar to them. He was just a visitor, banned to the couch.

***

“Watch your mouth, Edgar.”

“I said fudge, Miss Windsor.”

“Even so. Do you have an answer for Sam’s discussion question?”

Corrie was in tune with the lesson, but there was a part of her that was also in tune with every shift of Preston’s leg or arm, every sigh that left his mouth. She’d had job performance reviews before, but this was different. Preston wasn’t interested in her teaching skills, he was interested in her care of Ella. And Ella was getting fidgety.

“I need a drink of water,” Ella said, wiggling in her chair. “And I need to go potty.”

Darn. Water Preston could help with. She wasn’t sure he’d be as successful or comfortable with making sure Ella washed her hands and got her pants pulled up before leaving the bathroom. If Corrie didn’t go with her, Ella sometimes waddled out to get help. Corrie had only made that mistake once while teaching.

“All right, class. You have two minutes of free-writing about the worst book a teacher has ever made you read. The best answer when I get back gets an extra day to submit their next paper. Starting now!” She jumped up with Ella and ran with her to the bathroom, and then refilled her sippy cup before sitting down and looking at the time. “Thirty seconds left, class!”

The entries started coming in, and she had to fight to keep a straight face.

The Scarlett Letter: How to make a book about sex super boring.

Old Yeller and Where the Red Fern Grows. Death to dogs? Romeo and Juliet dying I’m good with. But not the cute puppies!!!

She loved making assignments like this. Thinking on the fly. She loved the weird minds of teens. She had them read their answers aloud and they had a good laugh together before getting back to the lesson she’d had to interrupt. It wasn’t until signing off that she had a chance to turn and look at Preston.

He was studying her, but his expression was different this time. She’d almost call it approving if she didn’t know better. “Um, I have another class checking in soon, so if you wanted to take Ella to lunch, that would give her a good break from sitting here with me.”

He stood up. “Of course. Ella, do you want to go to McDonald's?”

Ella started jumping up and down, and Corrie had to calm her so she could hand him a pair of Ella’s socks for playing in the jungle gym and explain about transferring Ella’s booster seat to his car. She handed him her car keys, entrusting him to lock it back up and return the keys, the booster seat, and Ella when he got back.

The irony was not lost on him. His hands closed around the keys, brushing against her fingers, and he looked into her eyes. “I’m sorry if I was rude before.”

“It’s okay.” She had to pull away from those eyes of his. He could probably be forgiven for just about anything if he smoldered with them long enough. She knelt down and gave Ella a hug, reminding her to stay with Preston and eat all her lunch before playing on the jungle gym. Then she swapped the sandals Ella had insisted on putting on all by herself. They’d been on the wrong feet, as usual.

***

How is your trip going?

Preston stared at the text from Nicole, still not sure if he was ready to tell her about Ella. Nicole never did things half-way. No matter how she responded to the news, it was sure to be emotionally overwhelming, and he had a four-year-old to keep track of.

Ella had eaten three of her chicken nuggets and drank most of her chocolate milk before running off to climb the jungle maze. It had been a few minutes and he still couldn’t see or hear her. Did those tubes just swallow her up? He walked over and looked inside, wondering if he’d get stuck if he tried to climb it. A little boy pushed Preston out of the way and scampered up before Preston could ask him to look for Ella. Preston ducked back out, not sure what to do. He could just imagine it, the fire department laughing at him as they cut him out of the playground and handed over a large bill for his rescue.

His heart pumped a little faster as thirty more seconds went by and he didn’t see or hear Ella. But then she came down the slide, laughing and whooping. So this is what it’s like to be a parent.

Hard but good, he texted back. Did Nicole like kids? Would she want to be a mom right away? Nicole was an only child, and he tried to think if he’d ever seen her around kids before. She once complained about the little boy kicking the back of her chair at the movie theater, but that wasn’t a fair assessment. That kid would have annoyed Mother Theresa.

If he was adopting Ella, he’d need to go home and propose to Nicole. He would need her by his side, helping him create a family. It was the only logical thing to do.

Corrie’s earnest face came to mind, begging him to let her be a part of it. He pushed the image away. It was too soon, too complicated to consider. Today, his only thoughts were getting to know Ella and evaluating Corrie. Professionally. Unemotionally. Decisions were for later, despite what his gut was telling him.

Can you talk right now? I want to hear your voice.

No! He needed to tell her no. His phone rang and his shoulders dropped. She hadn’t waited for an answer.

“Hi, Nicole. What are you up to today?”

Luckily, she launched right into a story about the office politics going on at her work, and he continued to make the conversation all about her, hoping she wouldn’t ask what he was doing. He glanced up, checking for Ella again, but of course, couldn’t see her anywhere. He stood up, craning his neck to see around the pole blocking his line of sight.

“Preston.” A little tug on his hand alerted him to Ella’s location. “Preston, I have to go potty.”

“Is that a little girl talking to you? Is that your niece, Ella?”

Crap, Nicole had heard. “Yeah. I have to go take her potty. I’ll call you later.” He hung up and shoved his phone in his pocket, which immediately vibrated with an incoming text. He had so much explaining to do.

“Can you hold it until we get you back home?” he asked Ella.

She shook her head.

Excellent. He led Ella to the men’s room and helped her up on the toilet, cringing at the way she held onto the dirty seat with both hands. When she was finished he scrubbed her hands and arms and carried her out before she could touch anything else. There’d been a dime on the floor, and he picked her up before she could get to it. Men’s restrooms were so gross. He’d have to tell Corrie to give Ella a bath when they got back. This was all so new to him, and he realized someday it would all be up to him. Yeah, he needed to fix things with Nicole. And fast.

Chapter 5

Are you babysitting your niece? That’s so awesome that you got to meet her.

Yep. I’ll call you after I drop her off.

He put his phone in the cup holder and looked back at Ella before putting the rental car in drive. Ella was chattering away about her friend from McDonalds, the little boy who had shoved Preston out of the way, leaving ketchup marks on his T-shirt.

Corrie was finishing up another class when they got back, so he’d took Ella for a walk where she’d chattered some more and collected flowers, a wilted bunch she saved and handed over to a delighted Corrie.

He left the apartment before dinner, promising to be back in the morning. “But not six in the morning,” he’d assured Corrie. Her amused smile at his joke stayed with him, and he had to push it from his mind when he left the apartment. There were more important things to deal with.

Alone in his rental car, he pulled out his phone, wondering how to tell Nicole the truth about Ella.

She answered after the first ring.

“Hey, Nicole, we need to talk.”

“Oh, not this again.” She laughed. “Last time you said that I didn’t get a ring.”

He laughed uncomfortably. “Well, actually. Um, I’ve decided to adopt my niece, so maybe I should pull that ring out after all.”

Silence. Long silence while he hit his forehead with his palm. His impulsive, stupid mouth had failed him again.

“I need you, Nicole, and she’ll need you. I’m sorry to spring this on you. Are you okay?”

“Are you kidding me? I thought she was going to family there in Albuquerque.”

“There’s no family in Albuquerque, Nicole. There’s just me.”

Nicole let out a frustrated sigh. “So, is this a marriage proposal? Because if so, this is the worst one ever. Two weeks ago, you told me you weren’t ready to marry me, but now that you need me we’ll go ahead and get married? How is throwing in a grief-stricken girl going to help our relationship? I can’t talk about this right now. I’ll end up saying something I’ll regret. Or more likely, you will. I gotta go.”

She hung up on him. He put his hands through his hair and growled. “Why, Preston? Why don’t you ever think before you speak?” He’d ruined the most important moment in their life. Twice.

He wanted to change his flight right then, go straight to her door and beg for her forgiveness. But this wasn’t just about Nicole anymore. This was about Ella too, and he had to stay. Nicole had been right about that. Ella changed everything.

***

Ella pounced on Corrie’s stomach at six in the morning. “Is Preston coming?”

Corrie moaned. “Yes. But not yet. Can we go back to sleep for a while? Five minutes?”

Ella curled up, her head against Corrie’s neck. It was highly uncomfortable but sweet.

“Is Preston Mommy’s friend?” she asked.

Corrie shifted, moving Ella’s head back to the pillow. “Yes, baby. Preston is your mom’s brother. Your uncle, remember? They grew up together.” She prepared herself for more questions, but Ella jumped up and ran to the bathroom. “Corrie…” she called out. “I didn’t make it.”

Corrie sighed and went to start her day. She showered Ella and got them breakfast, glad Preston wasn’t doing an early morning visit today. Things were better now that he wasn’t so suspicious, but it was still weird to have him around. They hadn’t talked about what his plans were or what her role in it would be. It was too soon for that, but she couldn’t help feeling anxious anyway.

Today, he needed to spend more one-on-one time with Ella, at least while Corrie had classes going on. She checked to see what time the zoo opened and how much it cost, quickly hiding the window when Ella came over. Preston would have to agree to it first.

“Can I wear this?” Ella held up her bright pink tutu and a crumpled unicorn shirt, one she’d worn so many times that it probably needed to be retired to the trash.

“You might be doing a lot of walking today. I think we should go with pants.”

Ella’s face fell, and Corrie pulled the little girl into a hug. “Why don’t we save this awesome outfit as pajamas for tonight?”

“These aren’t pajamas,” Ella said with a giggle.

The doorbell rang and Ella ran to get it, dropping the outfit in her haste.

Corrie picked up the clothes and hid them behind a couch cushion, then hurried to reach the door before Ella. “I have to check the peephole first. Remember, Ella?”

“Preston?” Ella called out. “Is it you? Corrie says we have to check.”

“It’s me.”

Corrie let him in, and Ella practically barreled him over with a hug. He wrapped her up in his arms and planted a kiss on the top of her forehead. When he looked up at Corrie, she knew he was already sunk. Once again, it filled her with joy and pain, the two so intertwined she wasn’t sure which one would win out. A lot of that depended on how he felt about Corrie staying in Ella’s life.

Preston pulled today’s present out of his pocket. A pink plastic bracelet that he carefully put on Ella’s wrist. Corrie loved this little tradition. She’d been worried at first that he would spoil her, but his presents, after the first big one, were always very simple. Just something to let Ella know he’d been thinking of her.

While Ella was distracted with trying to put her pants on all by herself in her room, Corrie sat on the couch next to Preston and leaned into his ear. “I thought the two of you could go to the zoo today, but that’s totally up to you.”

Preston nodded, not turning to look at her. He cleared his throat. “Good idea.”

***

She smelled like coconut. And a soft strand of her honey brown hair had tickled the side of his face when she’d leaned in to whisper in his ear. It was totally innocent. She hadn’t wanted Ella to hear them talking. That was all. But he had to get out of the apartment and get away from her. It was nothing to get worked up about. He was just being a stupid guy. He loved Nicole. He needed Nicole. Corrie was a stranger. A stranger with an already complicated relationship to him.

He focused on helping Ella get her shoes on and attempted to brush her hair after Corrie handed him a hairbrush. He had been terrified of pulling too hard, but Ella didn’t make a sound, except for an excited giggle every now and then. It didn’t look nearly as good as what Corrie could do, but she praised the ponytail he put in Ella’s hair and didn’t try to fix it. He barely looked at Corrie as he left, taking the snack bag from her and tucking the booster seat under his arm.

Today was about Ella. Nothing else.

He couldn’t even think about the unacknowledged roses he’d sent to Nicole. No texts, no calls, nothing. Maybe it was for the best. They’d need a face-to-face conversation anyway.

Albuquerque was eighty degrees in May. A perfect day for the zoo. Many other people must have thought so too, because it was crowded with families and school groups blocking most of the exhibits.

Ella acted like a wild monkey, and he spent the first hour chasing after her and weaving around baby strollers. Somehow, getting to the next animal was more exciting to her than actually looking at anything. She loved the carousel and begged to ride it a second time. He successfully avoided a third ride by suggesting they stop for lunch instead.

Ella had no idea what she wanted to eat, and he ended up finishing most of it anyway, considering lunch had cost more than the actual ticket into the zoo. He knew it was time to go when Ella dropped to the dirt outside the restaurant and threw a fit about wanting an ice cream cone. He carried her to the car, and by the time he pulled out of the parking lot, she was conked out, filthy, but fast asleep.

Her face was angelic, with no hint of the hellion he’d met at the zoo. She was still asleep when he pulled into the apartment complex and got her out of her booster. Her little arms flopped around his shoulders.

Preston used his forehead to knock on Corrie’s apartment door, his hands full of Ella, her booster, and the bag they’d taken with them. Corrie answered, a sympathetic smile on her face as she gestured to the couch. He dropped Ella there and sank down next to her.

“Sorry. I’m sure we smell like zebras. Did you know zebras stink worse than cows?” He let out a yawn and let his head fall back.

“How was it?”

He cracked an eye open and peered at Corrie. “It was fun-ish.”

She came over with a cold bottle of water and he took it, resting it against his head before taking a drink.

“You made it until two-thirty. I think that’s pretty amazing.”

He closed his eyes against the admiration he saw in her face. “I survived my first meltdown. That girl has some lungs. She can also kick.” Despite the ordeal, he was totally in love with that kid.

Ella moaned next to him and sat up, one side of her face red and plastered with sweaty hair. “Corrie?”

Corrie came over and picked her up. “Let’s get you in the bath, my friend.”

Preston groaned and got up off the couch as well. “I’m going to head to my hotel and shower.”

“Do you want to come back for dinner?” Corrie asked. His hesitancy must have shown in his face because she added, “Or you could take Ella out to eat.”

“I’d like that. I’ll be back to pick her up at five.”

Corrie nodded and turned away before he could gauge her reaction. Maybe he’d hurt her feelings, but Ella was the priority, and with things so precarious with Nicole, the less time he spent talking to Corrie, the better. He was still waiting on the background check. He had to be sure about Corrie’s past before he could think about offering her any kind of place in his future.

Chapter 6

The email with Corrie’s background check arrived Saturday morning. Her first name was actually Corianna, though Preston had a feeling she probably hated to be called that. It felt weird to go through her work and employment history without her knowledge. He found out she was still paying off a student loan, but otherwise had no debt. He now knew she’d grown up in Iowa, attended college there, and then moved away and never went back. No criminal record, of course. He’d never heard her talk about friends or family. She hadn’t received any phone calls while he was there. How had she ended up in Albuquerque alone? It was a question no background check could answer.

Nicole texted while he was in the shower, and he saw it when he was toweling off. When do you get back?

He fumbled with wet hands to respond. After going three days without hearing from her, he’d been afraid he never would. Tuesday afternoon. Can I come see you?

Her answer was immediate. Of course. I’m sorry. This must be a lot for you to take in.

He relaxed at the kindness and empathy he sensed in those words. This was the Nicole he knew and loved. He’d stolen her fantasy of a perfect marriage proposal, but that didn’t mean she was walking away.

I know it’s a lot for you too. Sorry, hon.

He brushed his teeth and got ready, exchanging texts with Nicole and wondering what the day would bring. Corrie wouldn’t have work to distract her. It was time to have a talk. A real talk where they made plans for Ella’s future. He’d received the green light from Loretta to take Ella back with him to Arizona when he was ready. A new social worker would be assigned and take over until the adoption was finalized. Corrie wasn’t mentioned in any of it. Including her was up to him.

When they opened the door to the apartment, Ella stood in front of Corrie, holding out a present. For him.

He laughed. “For me?”

Ella’s head bobbed. “I made it.”

He took it over to the couch and waited for Ella to squeeze in next to him before ripping the wrapping paper off. Inside was a wooden picture frame Ella had obviously painted. He rubbed his finger across a dried glop of paint, glad Corrie hadn’t tried to smooth it out. Inside the frame was a picture of him and Ella, cheeks together, grinning. Corrie had taken it with her phone a few days before and had it printed for him. He glanced up and smiled at Corrie before turning to Ella and giving her a hug. The little sneak managed to grab the gift bag he’d brought for her during the hug and ran to the corner with it, giggling.

“How do you know that’s for you?” he teased.

Ella responded by throwing tissue paper up in the air and pulling out the unicorn T-shirt he’d bought for her. She immediately wanted to put it on and ran to her room to find something to go with it.

Preston looked up at Corrie. “We need to talk today. Without Ella hearing.”

Corrie agreed, her face immediately serious. “I’ll call Ruth. She’s an older lady who lives below me. She’s watched Ella before.”

***

Corrie hugged her knees. She was glad to finally get some answers, but also terrified to know what Preston was thinking. She wasn’t stupid. He’d been polite, but standoffish with her—so different than the warmth he showered Ella with. He probably didn’t want to have to feel bad when it was time to tell Corrie to back off.

Preston sat down next to her, turning his body to fully look her in the eyes. “I want to adopt Ella. It felt like the right choice the first day I came here, and it still feels right. But that means she’s moving to Arizona. And you’re here.”

She nodded, her stomach clenching so bad she had to close her eyes to keep the nausea at bay. “I understand. I have to say goodbye.”

Preston rubbed his forehead. “Hold on. That’s not what I’m saying. Can I ask you a question?”

She opened her eyes. “Of course.”

“Why are you here? In Albuquerque, I mean. Is your family here?”

It shouldn’t have been such a loaded question, but she understood what he meant. Why was she such a loner? She hadn’t meant for it to happen. It just had, gradually. She’d wanted to move away and do her own thing. And the rest of her sisters didn’t. They’d gotten married and started having kids, living in the same neighborhood they’d all grown up in. She felt more and more like an outsider every time she visited home.

“My family’s in Iowa.”

He didn’t say anything, and she didn’t want to say more, but if she didn’t explain, he’d think it was worse than it was.

“I have three sisters. Two older, one younger. They’re all married with kids. And I’m not. I got my first teaching job here and just stayed. Every time I visit home they have a blind date waiting for me. I’ve started telling them I have a boyfriend, even when I don’t.”

Preston’s mouth twitched. She wished she knew him well enough to understand his expressions. She wasn’t sure if he was holding back amusement or disdain, and the longer he stared at her the more her face heated up.

“That’s nothing to be ashamed of, Corrie. My parents are divorced, and I didn’t even know Ella existed because I stopped speaking to my sister years ago. It must be nice to have all those sisters who care about you enough to try to set you up on dates.”

If he’d met the winners she’d been on blind dates with, maybe he wouldn’t think it was such a blessing. She stood up, filled with nervous energy. “Do you need something to drink?”

Preston tugged on her arm. “I’m fine. Let’s talk about Ella, okay?”

“Okay.” She looked at his warm hand on her arm, and he immediately withdrew it as she sat back down.

“Corrie, if you want to come with us to Arizona, that’s fine with me. I’ll help you find a new apartment nearby.”

“Really?” She burst into tears and covered her face with her hands. Happiness was going to burst out of her.

“I think we should put her in preschool during the day, so she can get to know other kids and you can focus on work. Would you be willing to watch her in the afternoons until I can pick her up?”

“Yes.” She didn’t trust herself to say more or she’d start blubbering. This was more than she’d allowed herself to hope for. But she was curious about the woman on his phone. This week, it had just been the three of them, but that wouldn’t be the case in Arizona.

“How does your girlfriend feel about all this?”

His face stiffened for a moment, and then he seemed to force himself to relax. “How did you know about her?”

“The cover photo on your phone.” And how careful you are around me.

“She knows I’m planning to adopt Ella. What about you? Have you told your family about Ella?”

His immediate deflection was interesting, but she tucked away that thought for later. “No, I’ve never mentioned her to my family. Are you kidding me? Look at the way you reacted. No one’s going to understand why I’m so attached to my roommate’s kid.”

Preston cringed. “I’m sorry I was so suspicious. I think it’s because you succeeded in helping April where I failed, and I couldn’t understand why. I’m not sure I’ll ever understand. I wasn’t here, but you were, and she let you help her after she rejected me. It’s dumb to be mad at you for that, but I guess I was.” His eyes begged her to forgive him. And how could she not? He was inviting her into his life with Ella.

***

Preston cricked his neck back and forth and let out a quick breath. This week had been the Olympics of hard phone calls, and he prepped himself for the final event: the phone call to Nicole he’d put off until now. He was relieved when she answered right away, happy to hear from him.

He talked a long time about Ella, what she looked like, the funny things she’d said, and how much she looked forward to his little gifts each day. When he got to the part about bringing her with him on Tuesday, Nicole gasped.

“So, you’re really doing this.”

“I’m really doing this.”

She squealed in excitement. “I’m so proud of you, Preston. I know I was angry at first, but I’ve given it a lot of thought, and I want to do this with you. I’m in it for the long haul.”

“You are?” His heart swelled at her words, but it also sped up at the thought of what that meant. Ella was the push towards commitment he’d been lacking. And that was a terrifying and unromantic realization. Nicole had hinted at it when she yelled at him, and she’d been completely justified.

When he made it home, he would get out the ring hiding in his bedside table and make it a reality. There would be no fancy restaurant this time, but hopefully, it would go better than a phone call begging her to be a mom.

“Preston, we have so much to figure out. What are you going to do with her during the day? She’s not old enough for kindergarten, right?”

“I’m looking at preschools.” Tell her about Corrie already. “About that…she’s been doing at-home preschool with April’s roommate. Being around other kids will be different for her.”

“Huh.” Nicole didn’t take the bait. “So, does she need clothes? I’d love to go buy her some cute outfits to wear. That might make her feel better about preschool. Gosh, this is so weird to think about being a parent.”

“I know. I did her hair yesterday, put in the bow and everything.”

Nicole giggled. “I have to say, hearing you talk like that is so attractive. I want to reach through the phone and snuggle you.”

He’d missed her funny personality. “I can’t wait to see you.” It was killing him that he hadn’t said a thing about Corrie yet, but he had to find the right moment. A headache started to form as Nicole went on and on about the TV shows she’d watched all by herself and the work party she went to alone. It wasn’t a lecture. She’d missed him and it was her way of telling him that, and making up for her outburst earlier in the week.

Finally, he jumped on a lull in her thoughts. “Nicole, there’s something I have to tell you, about Ella coming with me. She’s really attached to April’s roommate, Corrie. So Corrie’s moving out to Arizona to be near her.”

“Oh, that’s nice of her.” Nicole launched right back into her previous story and didn’t hang up until late, when he begged to go to sleep, teasing her about missing him a little too much.

Maybe he’d been overreacting. If Nicole didn’t think it was a big deal, then maybe it wasn’t.

Chapter 7

Ella stubbornly held onto her five teddy bears. Corrie had suggested they cut down on some toys for the move, but it was proving harder than she expected. Maybe she should let it be. They could always get rid of things after Ella adjusted to life in Arizona. Preston had decided to turn his plane ticket home into a voucher to be used later and rent a U-Haul truck instead.

That was something Corrie was discovering about him. Once he made a decision about something, he didn’t look back. He insisted on paying April’s half of the rent for the month, and he’d already talked to April’s phone company and called about her credit card balance. Today, they would go through April’s belongings and decide what should pass on to Ella, and what needed to be sold or donated to charity. Because April was single and had so little to her name, it didn’t require a lengthy legal process. A small blessing.

“Okay, Ella. Put your teddy bears in the box, and all your dolls too. Let’s see if they’ll all fit.”

“I don’t have to sell them?” Ella asked with worried eyes.

“We wouldn’t sell them. They’d go to a charity so some other little girl could have something to play with.”

Ella’s nose twitched, like she still wanted to complain, but didn’t think it was right now that there was some sad little girl somewhere who didn’t have a doll. “But I love all of them.”

“I know. So squish them in really well, and we’ll see if they all fit. Put your favorites in first.”

“They’re all my favorites,” Ella muttered.

A knock at the door saved Corrie from continuing their pointless argument. She let Preston in, ignoring the fluttering in her stomach she always got at first seeing him. He has a girlfriend.

“Is Ella still okay with the idea of moving?” Preston whispered. They’d told Ella the night before, and so far she was taking it well. Except for the downsizing part, of course.

“Yes. She’s packing right now.”

“And what about you? Did you talk to your landlord and your boss?” He’d stepped closer, and she had to focus on his questions, despite the intensity in his blue eyes. She could lose herself in those if she wasn’t careful.

“My landlord loves me. Since we’ve already paid this month’s rent, as long as I clean it out, I’m good to go. And he said he’d forward my mail to your address. April’s too.” Work was a little trickier. She’d have to get her computer set up and high-speed internet service immediately. She bit her lip.

“What’s the matter?”

“Nothing.” She didn’t want him to worry. He had enough with planning for Ella. But he lived in a nice part of Phoenix, almost bordering ritzy Scottsdale, and the apartments near him were out of her budget. So were the hotels, which she hoped she wouldn’t need for long. “I’m still trying to find an apartment, but I’ll get it figured out.”

“Are we doing this too fast?” Preston ran a hand through his hair. “Maybe I should fly home and come back in a few weeks.”

“You’re missing enough work already.” As a one-man business, the thought of losing potential customers every day had to be eating at him.

He seemed relieved at her answer and turned to catch Ella as she ran out to give him a hug. Today, he’d brought her a pack of gum, which to a four-year-old, was quite the treasure. She’d never had a whole pack to herself.

Ella took his hand to show him her box of stuffed animals she’d packed all by herself, and Corrie went to the kitchen to pack up her pots and pans. This is insane. What are we doing? What am I doing?

Staying with Ella had made sense when it was just the two of them in this apartment, but moving to follow her? A worry tickled at the back of Corrie’s mind, the fear that if this didn’t work out she’d be stuck there and broke. But would it matter? The sad fact was, she had nothing to return to here anyway.

It was time to start making plans for herself, regardless of what happened with Ella. I need to go back to a real classroom. Make friends. Maybe meet someone.

***

Preston took one step into April’s closet and had to back out and leave the room. The smell of her clothes was so familiar, bringing up memories both dear and hurtful.

Corrie leaned against the door frame, her face full of sympathy. “Preston? I can’t do this on my own. I’m not family. You have to tell me what to do with her things. I’ll pack them up, but I need you to make the decisions.”

They’d sent Ella to Ruth’s apartment again. The older lady was lonely and on a fixed income, happy to have company and a little extra spending money. And Ella didn’t need to see them hauling out her mother’s twin bed. That had been the easy part. A charity sent a truck to pick it up, and a man came and helped Preston haul it out. It was all the little things he couldn’t deal with.

He stared at the carpet. “Just pack up all the clothes and toiletries. I’ll drop them off at the community center. Anything you’re not sure about, put in a pile and I’ll look through it.” He started to walk out, but Corrie followed him.

“I think you should keep the bedspread. Ella might want to sleep with it. Also, there are a couple of dresses Ella might want later. April kept her old prom dress and Ella liked to look at it.”

“That’s fine.” He headed to the kitchen and started washing breakfast dishes. He didn’t want to talk about it anymore. He didn’t want to break down in front of Corrie and make her uncomfortable. They were still walking that line between friendship and acquaintance, and because of Nicole, he hadn’t tried harder to change it.

He continued to clean and organize, focusing on what still needed to be done. An hour later, when Corrie hadn’t come out to bother him again, he reluctantly ducked his head back in to check on her. A stack of boxes blocked his entry, and he stepped over them, coming to sit next to her on the floor.

She had the saddest face, and she was staring at a picture of Marilyn Monroe on the wall. “I miss how much she irritated me. Is that weird?”

“No. I feel the same way. I want her to walk through the door and chew me out for butting into her life.” He plucked at the carpet. “Will you tell me a good memory of her, maybe something I can tell Ella about someday?”

Corrie’s lips puckered. “One time Ella had a bad cold and she was just too congested to sleep. April sat with her in her lap next to the humidifier for hours, singing to her. As long as she was singing, Ella wouldn’t cry.”

“What did she sing to her?” Preston asked.

Corrie smiled. “One Hundred Bottles of Beer on the Wall.”

“She did not.”

“She did. Somehow she could make it sound like a lullaby. I fell asleep too.”

Preston rested his head back against the wall picturing it. He was pretty sure he’d taught April that song back in elementary school. He looked over at the remaining twin bed, the one Ella slept in. “Will Ella mind sleeping in here tonight with just her bed? Is seeing the room like this going to freak her out?”

Corrie sighed. “She hasn’t slept in here for weeks. She’ll only come in this room if I’m with her. I’m not sure if it’s healthy or not, but I didn’t want to press her about it.”

“So she sleeps with you.” It took him back to a few days ago when he realized all the things Corrie had been doing for Ella. And it made him feel unprepared, all over again, to take over. “Should I get her a counselor?”

“About that, you’ll need to sign her up for health insurance. She’s on state care here, but you’ll have to start the process all over again when she moves.”

He pulled out his phone and typed it onto his growing list of things to do. It was overwhelming, and yet there would be dozens more he wouldn’t know about until they presented themselves.

“Can I see your list?” Her soft fingers brushed against his as she took the phone out of his hands, and he couldn’t help studying the face looking down at his phone. Her lashes were a light brown without the help of mascara, but so long that they brushed against her cheekbones, against that smattering of freckles making her look younger than she was. He stared at the carpet.

He hadn’t told Nicole about Corrie coming back with him. He wasn’t sure how. She wouldn’t understand how much Ella would need Corrie, or how much he’d need her for the transition. And he wouldn’t blame Nicole one bit if she reacted like a jealous girlfriend. He needed to make sure he never gave her a reason to worry.

Corrie handed back his phone and stood up, stretching out her arms.

“What still needs to be done?” he asked.

“Hmm. Pantry?” She headed to the kitchen and assembled a box on the kitchen table.

He stepped around her and started pulling items off the top shelf of the pantry. “Quinoa? Really?”

She shrugged. “I always planned to try it. What’s the expiration date?”

“Two years ago. If it makes you feel any better, I’ve never tried it either.”

“Grab the kale chips up there too. You can toss both.” She blushed. “What’s that can in the corner?”

He pulled it down. “Water chestnuts.” There was a bag of brown rice behind it, unopened.

She took both out of his hands and put them in the box. “Now you know my dark secret. I prefer Oreos and bleached flour to healthy food.”

“How horrifying.” He taped down the box, trying not to laugh. All his research and all he had on her was that she hid whole grains on the top shelf.

Chapter 8

Preston eased the moving truck into his driveway, relieved to be home. He jumped out and stretched before running to get Ella out of Corrie’s car, eager to show her around and welcome her home. He hadn’t talked to Ella about adoption yet, or what that would mean for their relationship. He figured the move was enough for her to process right now.

Ella was covered in cracker crumbs and extremely grumpy when he pulled her out of her car seat, but when they started up the walk, she squirmed to get down and studied the grass in the front yard. She poked a cautious toe at it and then ran across, her arms outstretched. Bermuda grass in summer was prickly on bare feet, but she didn’t seem to mind.

Corrie came to stand next to him. “She’s never had a yard before.”

“I should get a little playground set for her and put it in the backyard.”

“She’d love that.” Corrie touched his arm. “Hey, I have an appointment to go look at an apartment soon. Do you mind if I take off for a bit? I’ll help you move things in when I get back.”

“Of course. You don’t need my permission. Just let Ella know so she doesn’t worry.”

Corrie ran over and scooped up Ella mid-flight. Ella squealed and tried to get away, but she was no match for Corrie’s tickling. At least until Ella started tickling back.

“Hey, truce! I need to tell you something.”

Ella flopped in Corrie’s arms and then reached up to pat Corrie’s cheeks. “What, Corrie?”

“I have to go to an appointment. Stay here with Preston and help him unpack, okay?”

“What kind of appointment? A doctor?”

Corrie shot him a glance. Ella was too curious for her own good. “No, baby. I’m going to look at an apartment.”

“For us?”

“You’re living here with Preston, remember? You’ll get to run around in this yard every day. Won’t that be awesome?”

“Why can’t you live here too?” Ella turned her pouty face to Preston as if it was just a matter of begging to make it happen.

Corrie sent him an apology with her eyes. “Because I need my own place, Ella. But I’ll still see you all the time. Okay?”

Ella crossed her arms, ready to go into full-on sulk mode.

“Before I go, have Preston get your doll box out of my trunk, and you two go find a place for them in the house. Would that be okay?”

Ella ran to take Preston’s hand, argument forgotten. He heard Corrie’s car pull away the second they went inside. Maybe they should have gone with her. After all, he’d promised to help Corrie find an apartment. But having Ella at a walk-through would be distracting, not to mention confusing for a girl already upset by all the changes going on.

He gave Ella a tour of the house, ending with the room that would be hers. “Your bed and dresser are in the moving truck. We’ll get them out so you can sleep in here tonight. What do you think?”

Ella hugged one of her dolls to her chest and didn’t say anything.

“I have a friend named Shaun who’s going to come over and help me move everything in. You’ll like him. He tells funny jokes and he’s really tall.”

“Like a giraffe?” Ella asked.

“Exactly like a giraffe. In fact, I think you should tell him that when he gets here.”

***

The studio apartment was less than half the size of her old one and fifty dollars more a month, not including the fees for the gym and pool. But it was only a ten-minute drive from Preston’s house, and the appliances, wood flooring, and counters were nicer than anything she’d ever enjoyed before. It also included high-speed internet. It was better to dwell on the positive. Especially since she’d be locked into a year lease with penalties for leaving early.

She signed the paperwork, eager to get back to Ella and Preston and have things settled. Maybe I can pick up another class to teach now that Ella will be in preschool.

Preston and some tall, red-haired guy were carrying Ella’s mattress down the moving truck ramp when she pulled up to the house. She got out and waited until they came outside again, momentarily empty-handed.

“Did you get the apartment?” Preston asked.

“Yep. I have the keys and everything.”

Preston wiped the sweat from his forehead. “That’s awesome. We’ll head over there in a few minutes and unload your stuff.”

“Where’s Ella?” she asked.

“Go see,” Preston said, pointing to the door. “My mom is with her, and she brought something for Ella to hang on her wall.”

“Oh.” Corrie hesitated. She didn’t want to intrude on Ella’s first visit with her grandmother.

“Ahem?” Preston’s friend bumped him in the shoulder. “Aren’t you going to introduce me?” The guy was openly checking her out, and while he seemed to like what he saw, she didn’t feel comfortable with his gaze lingering on her.

Preston hit Shaun in the arm. “Sorry, man. This is my friend Shaun. Shaun, this is Corrie, Ella’s…er…nanny.”

That was a strange way of putting it, not that she had a better explanation.

“The nanny, huh.” Shaun smirked. “Nice to meet you, Corrie. Hopefully, we’ll be seeing more of each other.”

“Yeah, sure,” Corrie said.

Preston gave him a weird look and Shaun put his hands up. “I’m just being friendly.”

“Well, try to be less friendly.”

Corrie decided going inside was exactly what she needed right now. She was glad Preston had told Shaun to back off, but how awkward. She couldn’t tell if Shaun had been messing with her or hitting on her for real.

She found Ella in a room down the hall with an older woman. The two of them were busy drawing on a framed whiteboard, hung low enough on the wall for Ella to draw all the way to the top corners. What a thoughtful gift.

She waited in the doorway until Ella spotted her.

“Corrie!” Ella gave her a big hug, and then Corrie dragged her back over to her grandmother so she could walk Ella through a proper introduction.

“This is Nana Jean,” Ella said with a little prompting. “And you’re Corrie.”

The woman’s scrutiny matched Preston’s upon first meeting her, except she seemed to approve. “Preston has said such wonderful things about you. It’s nice to finally meet you, Corrie.”

That was a surprise. “Thank you. I’m happy to be here.”

Ella handed her a marker, and the three of them continued to draw until Preston came in, huffing and puffing and covered in sweat. Somehow, he made it look good.

“You two already brought in the bed and dresser. What could you possibly be so out of breath for?” Jean asked.

Preston grinned. “An impromptu basketball game. Mom, do you mind watching Ella while we go drop off Corrie’s things?”

Jean looked so delighted it bordered on tears of joy. “I’m so happy to be a grandma. Thank you, Preston. This means so much to me.”

His face turned an even deeper red, and he mumbled something unintelligible before sweeping Corrie from the room, apologizing for getting his sweat on her arm.

She wiped it off and lifted an eyebrow. “I’m going to be sandwiched between you and Shaun in that truck, aren’t I?”

He winced. “Uh-huh. If Shaun gets too close, swat him. He can be a little annoying around beautiful women.”

His eyes dropped, and she immediately saw in his face that he hadn’t meant to let that little compliment slip. But it was out there and the best she could do for him was pretend she hadn’t heard it.

“So, how long have you and Shaun been friends?”

“Since high school.” He opened the door to the garage and held it for her. “Where’s your apartment? Is it close?”

“Yes, about ten minutes from here.” She pulled up the website on her phone and showed him as they reached the truck. Shaun was already on the passenger side, his face pressed against an air conditioning vent.

Shaun smiled when Corrie hopped into the middle seat, and started to put his arm around the back of her seat.

“I have back trouble,” she lied. “I need to sit up against the backrest without anything in the way.” Like your arm, Casanova.

“She also has a sensitivity to cooties.” Preston jumped in and winked at her. Even though he smelled like sweat and they were in the cab of the grossest moving truck known to man, she couldn’t help the butterflies from starting, being squished in next to him.

Chapter 9

“Dude, her bed is in the living room.”

Preston’s jaw twitched. “Only you would think that was a good thing, Shaun.” The apartment was tiny, miniscule even, and there was only one explanation. Corrie couldn’t afford more if she wanted to be in this area. Was there anything the woman wouldn’t sacrifice for Ella?

Corrie came through the door with a box and set it down in the corner. “Ready to move the couch in, guys?”

“Where are you going to put it?” Shaun asked.

Preston jabbed him with an elbow.

Corrie sat down on her bed, currently residing a few feet from where Preston was standing. She’d have to make her bed every day. He hated making his bed.

She glanced around, her expression dropping. “I love that couch, but maybe I should just sell it.”

Preston wasn’t ready to give up that easy. He wanted somewhere to sit when he came to pick up Ella, and sitting on Corrie’s bed wasn’t happening. “Let’s measure first. Maybe we can rearrange in here.”

Shaun stretched out his neck muscles. “Yay, more moving stuff.”

Preston tossed him the keys. “Don’t be a baby. Go get the measuring tape from the truck.” He looked around, thinking about possible arrangements. “Do you have a pen and paper, Corrie? Let’s sketch this out.”

She dug out what he needed from her purse, and he drew the basic layout of the apartment, from the kitchenette to the tiny bathroom. Everything had to be based off the placement of the TV, which, thanks to the brackets left by the last tenant, was already hanging on the wall. He drew her dresser right under the window, the desk beside the TV, and the bed long ways on the opposite wall.

Corrie studied his drawing. “Won’t the bed be too close to the kitchen barstools?”

He raised an eyebrow. “What barstools?”

“I haven’t bought them yet. But I can’t fit my kitchen table in here, and I’ll still need somewhere to eat. I’m not eating all my meals in bed.”

Preston smiled. “Now that would be the life.”

“If you lived in a nursing home.” She took the paper from him and flipped it over, making a new plan. Her sketch was a lot better than his, with a tiny sink and stove that actually looked like the real thing.

“Are you going to add a person in there?” he couldn’t help asking. “This is a layout, not a work of art, Corrie.”

She drew an adorable stick person holding a balloon and stuck her tongue out at him. “What’s taking Shaun so long?”

“I don’t know. Probably flirting with your downstairs neighbor. Let’s try this.” Walking the length of her room took four large strides. He went along the walls, measuring out each side with his less than scientific walking method. Then he came up with a crazy idea and measured diagonally across the room. “I think you should put the couch at an angle, facing the front door. Everything else will be against a wall.”

Surprisingly, Corrie didn’t immediately balk at the idea. She went to stand at the door and studied the imaginary room they’d created. “I hate to say this, but I think you’re right. Otherwise, I’ll have to put the couch directly under the TV, and that would make no sense.”

He couldn’t believe how well she was taking everything. As it was, half her furniture would have to be sold or donated to a thrift store. She was going to entertain, sleep, and eat in the same room and hadn’t complained about it. She didn’t even look stressed. He wondered how Nicole might handle a similar situation. Nicole! He hadn’t called her yet, hadn’t even remembered he was supposed to call her. Not that he was going to tell her that.

“I’ll go see where Shaun ended up.” He took out his phone after leaving the apartment and walked to a balcony on the other side of the building. Nicole didn’t answer, so he texted, letting her know they’d arrived safely. From his vantage point, he could see Shaun out at the moving van, talking to a woman in tight yoga pants. The guy was so predictable.

Now that they had a workable design for the apartment, he headed down to get Shaun’s help bringing up the couch. They’d make it fit, exact measurements or not.

***

The guys planned to drive back to the house and have Shaun follow Preston to return the moving van, but when they pulled up to Preston’s house, there was a silver SUV parked at the curb. Preston’s hands tightened slightly on the steering wheel. Corrie didn’t recognize the car, but obviously, he did.

Shaun nudged Corrie’s arm. “The girlfriend’s here. She’s inside with Ellie and Preston’s mom, and Preston’s trying not to freak out about it.”

“Her name’s Ella,” Corrie corrected. But Shaun was right about the freakout part. She’d known Preston long enough to recognize that stress vein bulging in his forehead. He pulled out his phone and went to his messages, but as far as Corrie could tell, he didn’t find what he was looking for.

Shaun leaned over her and tapped the steering wheel. “Dude, does it bother you that Nicole is meeting Ella for the first time without you?”

“Shut up, Shaun.” Preston glanced at Corrie. “Let’s go in for a minute. Maybe I’ll have Nicole follow me to the rental place instead of Shaun. I want to get this truck dropped off before they close.” He pulled into the driveway and got out, not bothering to see if they were going to follow him.

Against her normal inclinations, Corrie held back with Shaun, hoping he would feed her more information. Preston had been very tight-lipped about his girlfriend and that wasn’t likely to change. She wanted to be prepared before she met her.

“What’s she like?” Corrie whispered.

Shaun turned to look at her. “You really want to know?”

Corrie scooted over to get out. “No, I was just making polite conversation.”

Shaun tugged on her arm. “Relax. I’ll tell you everything you want to know.”

“Well, make it quick.”

He saluted and started talking fast as they got out and followed Preston up to the door. “She’s super energy, fake happy all the time. Preston calls it bubbly. I call it annoying. She’s got a hot body, I’ll give her that, but he’s been a stress case ever since they started dating. He bought her a ring, but hasn’t given it to her. Oh, and I’ll bet fifty bucks she won’t like you.”

“Why?” Corrie turned to look at him, suddenly alarmed.

“Because you have a hot body too, but you’re less annoying.”

She never should have asked. Of course he would use her curiosity to embarrass her. She pretended she hadn’t heard him and rushed the last few feet to the door.

Ella barreled into her as she entered, hugging her legs and jumping up and down, and Corrie had to focus to understand what she was saying. Her mind was still caught up in Shaun’s stupid explanation about hot bodies.

“Corrie! Corrie! I have a rocking pony!”

Corrie looked where Ella was pointing to the gigantic rocking horse in Preston’s living room, a massive red bow tied around the neck. That was going to take up so much space in Ella’s little bedroom. Surrounding it were various large gift bags, some knocked over, their contents spilled. Outfits, hair bows, stuffed animals, and Barbie dolls were everywhere.

Preston was massaging his neck, another classic tell that he was tense, but Corrie dropped her gaze from him when she saw the woman standing by his side. Nicole, she presumed, was staring at Ella and Corrie, a wooden smile making her face looked pained, despite her perfect hair and makeup.

Corrie didn’t want Shaun’s take on her to taint her first impression, so she gave Nicole the benefit of the doubt and smiled back, hoping hers looked more genuine.

“You must be Nicole. I’m Corrie.” She knelt down at Ella’s level. “Did you thank Nicole for all these nice things?”

“Thanks, Nicole,” Ella called over her shoulder before tugging Corrie down the hall. “You have to see what Nana and I drawed while you were gone.”

Corrie decided it was probably better to hide in Ella’s room for the time being anyway. Ella had always been her focus, and that wouldn’t change here.

***

Preston could feel his mother’s pointed stare from the couch and Shaun’s amusement. He took Nicole’s hand and stepped over a gift bag. “Let’s go for a drive.” There was no way he was having this conversation with an audience, or in this room full of excessive gifts.

Nicole nodded, taking one last forlorn look around at all the things she must have been so excited to buy for Ella. He wasn’t mad at her, just not sure how to explain where she went wrong without hurting her feelings.

They didn’t talk until they pulled out of the neighborhood in Preston’s work truck. He tried not to think about the fact that the moving truck was still sitting parked in his driveway.

“Nicole, why didn’t you wait for me? I wanted to be the one to introduce you to Ella.”

“Your truck was here. I thought you were home. I came to the door with all those gifts, and when Ella saw them, her eyes lit up, and I just went with it.”

“But does she know who you are?”

Nicole twisted her hands in her lap. “We opened all the gifts and then you got home. So, I guess not.”

Preston reached out and took her hand. “Taking this on is new for both of us. But as long as we’re in this together, we’ll figure it out. I should have called you and planned better. I’m sorry.”

“We have to be together in this, Preston. I felt so left out while you were gone, and I overcompensated by going and buying everything I thought she might like. But nothing I bought excited her as much as seeing Corrie walk through the door. How will I ever compete with that? I mean, Corrie even looks like a mom with those Walmart jeans and ponytail.” She gave a nervous laugh. “Sorry, it’s that game I like to play when I’m out places. I look at what people are wearing and try to guess what they do for a living.”

Preston knew that, but it irked him that she was using it on Corrie.

“Anyway, if I’m going to be Ella’s mom, eventually I’ll have to replace that relationship so Corrie can move on and go back to being a preschool teacher.”

“She teaches seventh and eighth grade English.”

“All the same.” She glanced over at him to gauge his reaction, and he kept his face as neutral as possible, even though her words filled him with worries he’d never considered before. Nicole wanted Corrie to fade out of the picture. Not because of any girlfriend jealousy, but because she was jealous of Corrie’s relationship with Ella. He hadn’t expected that.

“Nicole, promise me you’ll go lightly on this. I have to be honest. That room full of toys scared me to death. I’ve never seen you like this before.”

Nicole hugged his arm. “Preston, up until now, the most stressful thing in our relationship was deciding where to go for dinner. If we’re going to get married, we need to see if we can weather some storms together.”

He nodded. “You’re right. So, speaking of working together, do you think you could follow me to the rental place so I can return the moving truck tonight?”

Nicole sighed. “Of course. And then I want to spend more time with Ella, if that’s okay.”

“I would love that.”

Chapter 10

Corrie sat straight up in bed and looked around, momentarily confused. The moonlight filtering through the front blinds was different, the quiet refrigerator hum unfamiliar.

But then her phone jumped off the bedside table again, and she grabbed it to get it to stop ringing. “Dumb alarm.”

Preston’s name blinked across the phone’s screen. Incoming call? What time was it?

Her frozen brain finally started to thaw and she swiped to answer, knowing there was only one reason Preston would be calling her at two in the morning. Ella.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, not even bothering with a hello.

“She won’t stop crying, and now she’s hiccupping and crying. She says she’s scared and asks for you and then asks for her mom, over and over again. I’m sorry. I don’t know what to do.”

“I’ll be right over.”

Preston started to protest, but Corrie hung up and got out of bed, looking for a bag she could stuff a toothbrush and a change of clothes into. She’d been afraid this would happen and should have been better prepared.

Locking up behind her, she jogged down to her car and drove over to Preston’s house. He met her on the porch with Ella clinging to his neck. She was half-asleep, but when she saw Corrie, she started crying again.

Preston handed her over and rubbed his eyes. “I don’t mind losing sleep. I expected that. I just don’t know what to do when she’s this sad. It’s not like denying her ice cream. She wants her mom.”

He was in boxer shorts and a thin T-shirt, and Corrie didn’t allow herself more than a cursory glance. Yes, he had muscles. No, she shouldn’t be noticing them. He looked so frazzled he probably hadn’t given a thought to what he was wearing. Or not wearing.

Corrie held up her overnight bag. “I’ll sleep over tonight, and we’ll come up with a plan in the morning. Go get some sleep.”

She carried Ella down the hall to her bedroom and let Ella snuggle in next to her on the bed. In minutes, Ella was snoring. It took Corrie at least a half-hour more to succumb to sleep.

She opened bleary eyes the next morning when Ella sat on her stomach, attempting to climb over Corrie’s body to get off the bed.

“Let’s go wake up Preston,” Ella said, sliding down and running out of the room.

Corrie hopped up at that suggestion and chased her down. “No, Ella. Wait.” She put a finger to her lips and carried Ella to the kitchen. Sitting her down in a chair, she kneeled in front of her and put her hands on each side of those chubby cheeks. “Ella, honey. Preston is tired. I’ll help you, but you have to get used to sleeping in your own bed again so we can all get some sleep.”

Ella let out a deep sigh. “Okay.”

Corrie knew it wouldn’t be that easy. She’d started a habit Ella was familiar with, but one that couldn’t continue. Maybe she should have insisted on Ella staying in her own bed after April’s death. It was hard to know what was best.

Preston shuffled into the kitchen, his hair adorably askew, and bent down to kiss Ella, leaving the back of his neck inches from Corrie’s face. He smelled like bar soap and… Preston. How did she even know the scent of him? She needed to leave. She didn’t belong in his house and certainly didn’t want to overstay her welcome the morning after moving here.

He turned to look at her. “How about some breakfast? I’ve been told I make great eggs.” The corners of his eyes crinkled in that adorable way he had and Corrie swallowed.

She turned to look at the clock on the microwave. “I should get back. I have my computer set up, thanks to you and Shaun, but I really should give everything a trial run before class starts.”

“Do you have five minutes? I could get you a bowl of cereal.” He motioned with his head towards Ella. “We kinda need to explain some things to her.”

She did have five minutes, and they did need to figure out a plan. He smiled in relief when she nodded, and retrieved three bowls from the cupboard, putting one down in front of her.

He headed over to the pantry and ducked his head in. “I know you eat that terrible nutty bran flake stuff. I don’t keep anything like that around here. What about Honey Nut Cheerios?”

“That would be great.” Out of habit, she served up Ella, pouring just enough milk to cover her cereal so she wouldn’t spill. “Do you have any smaller spoons?” Even his silverware drawer looked like it was meant for a bachelor.

Preston glanced around. “Hm. I don’t. Wait.” He pivoted to a lower cupboard and pulled out a box of plastic spoons. “I guess I’ll add kid-size spoons to my shopping list.”

They munched in silence together for a minute. They’d done the same thing in Corrie’s old apartment, only Preston’s kitchen was twice the size and full of sunlight from the windows.

“No dog or cat?” she asked him, suddenly curious.

He ducked his head. “Will you hate me if I say I don’t really like pets? Nicole has a cat, and I swear it rubs against my leg just to irritate me. What about you?”

“Wow, something we have in common.” Corrie smiled at him and set her spoon back in her bowl. “I’m allergic to cats. I like dogs as long as they belong to someone else. Don’t tell anyone. It’s a sin in my family to have less than three.”

Preston leaned forward. “My mom has three Chihuahuas.”

“I want a dog,” Ella said, looking between the two of them. “I like dogs.”

“Sorry,” Corrie mouthed to Preston. She should have known Ella listened to everything. “Are your mom’s Chihuahuas kid-friendly?”

“Not in the slightest.” Preston turned to Ella. “When Corrie gets a dog someday, you can play with it.”

Corrie’s jaw dropped. “You are so busted, mister.”

Preston sat back and crossed his arms, emphasizing the muscles behind his T-shirt. His eyes twinkled back at her. He was definitely not intimidated.

Ella giggled. “When I’m busted, I have to go to timeout. Send him to timeout, Corrie.”

They both laughed and Corrie shook her head. “I’ll leave that up to Nana Jean. So, what’s your plan for today? Do you need help finding a preschool?”

Preston studied his cereal. “Actually, Nicole is going to help me with that this morning. She’s taking a few hours off of work, and we’re going to go look at a couple of them.”

“That’s great.” Corrie was genuinely happy that Nicole was getting involved in something. She seemed like she needed that.

Preston looked over at Corrie, back to scrutinizing. “Does anything ever upset you?”

She didn’t answer that. It was a stupid question. A lot of things upset her. Like the way he was looking at her right now. She didn’t want to feel this way about him when it could only lead to heartache. “I’d better get going.”

She set her bowl in the sink and rinsed it before dropping a kiss to Ella’s forehead. “How about if I come by and tuck you into bed tonight. Would that help?”

“And you’ll stay with me?” Ella pleaded.

Corrie didn’t know what to say, and Preston shrugged, looking helpless.

“Maybe just until you fall asleep.” Corrie tucked an errant strand of hair behind Ella’s ear and gave Preston a small smile.

The front door opened and closed. “Knock, knock!” Nicole came into the kitchen, a big smile on her face, and then stopped dead at the sight of Corrie standing next to Ella’s chair. Corrie looked down at her cotton pajama pants and fingered the edge of her ratty tank top. If Ella hadn’t run down the hall determined to wake up Preston, she would have changed into proper clothes before leaving the bedroom. Compared to Nicole, all decked out in designer jeans and red high heels, she felt exposed and frumpy.

“Did she sleep over or something?” Nicole asked, giving Preston a confused glare.

“She slept in my bed all night,” Ella proudly announced. “Corrie, can I have more cereal?”

Corrie poured Ella a second bowl and then headed down the hall. She gathered up her things in record time and slipped out the front door, trying not to listen to the quiet, but tense, voices in the kitchen.

***

“Why was she here last night? I thought you moved her into an apartment. You’re not paying for her apartment are you?”

“No! Why would you even think that?” Preston got up, not wanting to argue in front of Ella, and headed to the living room couch. Nicole followed and sat next to him.

He took her hand. “Ella woke up crying last night, and I couldn’t get her to stop. She wanted her mom, and I didn’t know what else to do.”

“You could have called me. I would have come.”

He couldn’t tell her how bad an idea that would have been. Ella needed time to get used to her. In spite of all the gifts from yesterday, so far Ella pretty much ignored Nicole unless someone directed her to do otherwise. Nicole was a stranger.

“Corrie was the one to comfort Ella after her mom died. She still needs that comfort.”

Nicole leaned forward and rested her head on his chest. “I know. It’s just…when you mentioned the roommate coming along, I didn’t know she’d be this involved. I know it’s stupid to be jealous.”

“It’s not stupid. It’s normal. But can you please go and sit next to Ella and eat a bowl of cereal? You don’t even need to talk. Just be next to her and let her warm up to you in her own time and her own way.”

Nicole nodded into his chest. “When did you get so wise?”

He did not feel particularly wise. More than anything, he wanted to hop in his truck and get back to work and not deal with women’s feelings for a while, including the four-year-old variety that prevented sleep. As it was, he’d forgotten to ask Corrie if she’d watch Ella while he did the one air conditioning job he was able to schedule for the afternoon. He’d call her later and ask, after Nicole was safely at work.

He led Nicole into the kitchen and gave her hand a squeeze for encouragement. Not wanting to hover, he made sure to keep himself busy with dishes and putting cereal boxes away so that Nicole and Ella could have a little time together. Nicole was delighted to get to help Ella get dressed for the day and do her hair. He heard lots of giggling coming from Ella’s room, and they came out a few minutes later to show off Ella’s fingernail polish.

“Ready to go look at some preschools?” he asked.

“I get to go to school,” Ella confided in Nicole. The two held hands all the way to Preston’s truck. He strapped Ella into the new booster seat he’d picked up, and they drove to the first preschool, only a few miles away from his house. There was a gigantic shaded playground outside with a soft rubberized surface underneath. Anyone who spent that much time and money on their playground had to have a pretty good program. That was his thinking, anyway.

Nicole was scrolling through online reviews. “One mom said they constantly revolve through instructors. And another one said they put her son in timeout all the time.”

“Maybe he deserved it.”

Nicole tried to hide a smile. “Very funny.”

They sat through a long orientation with a woman named Miss Ellison, when all he really wanted was a tour of the place. Thank goodness for Nicole. She asked all the questions he never would have considered and took notes. There was a reason Nicole had moved up from a mere receptionist to the office manager of a law firm. She had a great eye for details, and timidity wasn’t even in her vocabulary.

“I don’t like this one,” she whispered as they left. “Their student-teacher ratio is too high.”

“I want to play on the playground,” Ella whined.

Preston gave her a hug. “Me too. We’ll have to see if the next place has a good playground. And we’ll ask if we can play on it. What do you think?”

Ella’s face scrunched up in concentration. “It needs swings. That one didn’t have swings.”

“We women must keep our standards high,” Nicole added, giving him a sly grin.

***

It was strange to go through classes without her little assistant by her side. Corrie was definitely better prepared and more focused on the lesson, but her students missed Ella and so did she. Things were kinda boring without an energetic four-year-old around.

She took a lunch break alone, eating a sandwich on the couch and flipping through the daytime news shows. The online school she worked for did classes year-round, but they didn’t have anything she could add to her schedule at the moment. Sensing her desperation, her boss had referred her to a few students who needed tutoring, and she’d already Skyped with their parents and been hired. It was a relief to have that little extra money coming in soon.

Her phone rang at noon, and she dove at it like the desperate loner she was. At least back in Albuquerque she went to a book club and occasionally had neighbors over for coffee. It was sad that she didn’t even have that now.

“Hello?”

“Corrie, it’s Preston. I have a job this afternoon, and I told them I’d arrive sometime between three and five. Could you possibly take Ella? If not, I’ll call my mom.”

“I can watch her. No problem.”

He let out a relieved sigh. “Would you mind coming here? Then you can help get her to bed and hopefully she’ll sleep better tonight.”

“Of course.” She wanted to ask how the preschool search was going, but it would be better to wait until tonight. He sounded rushed.

When she was done with classes, she took a little time doing her hair and makeup and changing into something a little less drab and then drove over to Preston’s house, telling herself dressing up was for her own self-esteem and not to try to impress him.

Preston was in a hurry to leave, but he did do a double take at the door, stopping mid-sentence to stare at her. She tried to keep her face neutral. “You were saying something about dinner?” she prompted him.

“Yeah, sorry. There’s cash on the kitchen counter if you want to order pizza, or feel free to make anything you can find. I’ll come straight home after this job.”

She couldn’t help reaching out and touching the blue iron-on nametag on his work shirt and running her finger over the letters. It was weird to see him in uniform. “We’ll be fine, Preston. Text when you’re on your way home, and I’ll have dinner ready for you.”

“You don’t have to do that.” He swallowed hard and fiddled with his keys, not meeting her eyes.

“Don’t get too excited. You’ve had my cooking before.” She closed the door on him and went to find Ella, wondering if he’d thought she was flirting with him. She was so out of practice with talking to guys, it was hard to know. But that had to change.

First thing tomorrow morning she’d hit the apartment gym and see if any single guys worked out there. She wanted someone to talk to without worrying if it would cause their thoughts to stray where they shouldn’t. Not that Preston felt that way about her. Crushes did weird things to your perception, making you think everything held romantic potential. She wouldn’t fall into that trap again.

Chapter 11

Preston whistled as he pulled into his driveway that afternoon. It was amazing what one repair job could do to make everything right in his world again. It didn’t matter that he was sweaty and filthy, this was familiar and secure and he’d missed it. Since they’d successfully found Ella a great preschool, he’d be back to a full work schedule starting tomorrow.

Ella ran at him the second he walked through his front door, and he put his hands up in warning. “Don’t hug me, Ella. I was up in someone’s attic and I’m covered in insulation. It’s really itchy.”

He looked up to meet Corrie’s eyes, suddenly feeling awkward in his sweat-soaked collar and dirty jeans, though Corrie didn’t seem fazed by it. Nicole always wrinkled her nose when she saw him like this and sent him straight to the shower. It didn’t matter how much money he made, it was blue collar and something to be hidden.

He looked down at his nametag, remembering Corrie’s fingers on it. That small gesture shouldn’t have meant so much.

Corrie came and retrieved Ella, who was still begging to be picked up despite his warning. “I made macaroni and cheese and steamed broccoli. It’s about as gourmet as you’ll get from me.”

“That sounds great. I’ll just take a quick shower first. You two don’t have to wait on me.” He strode down the hall and showered and shaved, making sure to comb his hair before coming back out and sitting at the kitchen table.

Corrie put a plate in front of him and handed him the pan. “Hope we saved enough for you. Ella will eat this stuff until she explodes.”

Ella shot her hands in the air. “Kablammy! Noodles and guts everywhere.”

Corrie covered her face with her hands. “That’s so gross. Let’s pretend I didn’t start this conversation.”

Preston laughed. “Don’t worry. It’ll take more than that to make me lose my appetite.” He dug in for a few minutes before remembering all the news Corrie hadn’t heard yet.

“So, we found a preschool for Ella, and she starts tomorrow. It’s from eight to three. Will that work for you?”

“Of course. Where is it?” Corrie picked up Ella’s empty plate and put it in the sink.

“Actually, it’s just down the street from you. I put you down as her emergency contact and let them know you’ll be picking her up. I also called a counselor and made an appointment for Friday.”

Corrie’s face grew serious. “I hope she does okay at preschool. It’s so much new stuff, all at once.”

“I know. And I explained the situation to her new teacher. We got to meet her, and she promised me she wouldn’t let Ella cry all day, that she’d call if Ella needed us.”

Corrie came to take his empty plate away, but she paused by his chair. “Preston, you’re doing such a good job. And I know you probably don’t like to hear that from anybody, but it’s true.”

He did hate to hear that. He should say something about her in return, but things were already charged between them, and he owed it to Nicole to distance himself. Mumbling thanks, he turned his attention to Ella, who had noodle bits caught in her hair. There was always a new discovery when it came to her. And just then, he discovered wet macaroni noodles did not like to unleash themselves from her hair.

***

As Corrie snuggled next to Ella, she once again tried to reassure her, in hopes they’d both get a good night’s sleep. “Even though we’re in a new place, I’m still here with you. And Preston’s here. And Nicole’s here. And you have a Nana that loves you. And your mommy is looking down from heaven, and I bet she’s so happy that you have family all around you.”

Ella nodded and wrapped her little hand around Corrie’s arm. “Will you stay here until I fall asleep, Corrie? Maybe you’ll fall asleep too?”

Corrie rolled her eyes in the dark. “I’m only staying for another minute, and then I have to go home. Preston is here. And if you get scared in the night, you can call me on the phone, okay? I’m not leaving forever. I’ll see you after school tomorrow.”

When Ella’s breathing started to even out and she rolled over to get more comfortable, Corrie eased herself out of the bed and tiptoed down the hall. She paused to pick up her bag from the kitchen. Preston was on the phone, pacing in front of the refrigerator. She assumed it was a work call until he said, “Nicole, she does like you. You guys were awesome together today.” There was a long pause in which he listened to Nicole, and Corrie tried to justify in her own mind why it was okay to still be eavesdropping. “Maybe we can do dinner tomorrow.” He glanced up, noticing Corrie standing there, and looked away, whispering, “Not if you don’t want her to be there.”

Corrie slipped out the door without saying anything, not liking the icky feeling of being talked about. What a crappy situation. She was starting to think Shaun might be a genius after all.

Miraculously, there were no late night calls, and she got up early the next morning, ready to follow through on her plan to hit the gym.

There were no attractive single guys, or guys of any kind, in the apartment workout center, just a girl in her early twenties lifting weights. It was always hard to tell if people wanted more than a friendly nod, so Corrie moved to the elliptical machine without saying anything.

After a minute the girl asked, “You new around here?”

Corrie slowed down and turned to face her. “Yeah. Apartment 320. I moved in a few days ago. I’m Corrie Windsor.”

“Lina James. Apartment 201.” Lina put down her weights and got onto the machine next to Corrie. “Sorry, I get so bored in here by myself. You’d think this gym would get used more, considering how much they make us pay for it, but it’s usually just me.”

Lina seemed nice enough not to make fun of her, so Corrie ventured, “No hot single guys in here?”

Lina leaned over conspiratorially. “Well, you gotta come earlier. Like at five. That’s when Travis and Ben work out.”

“Wow. I don’t know if I want to get up that early just to meet a guy.” Corrie realized she’d slowed down to listen, and she took a minute to get back up to speed.

“I gave it a couple weeks. They were friendly but never asked me out. In fact, I became the buddy they asked for advice about girls.” Lina rolled her eyes. “They can text me for that. So now I work out at six thirty most days.”

Corrie took a sip of water. “Well, if you don’t mind, I’ll probably work out with you then. Although, I might try a crack of dawn workout someday just to see if it’d be worth it.”

Lina nodded. “I’d love to have you. But don’t wait too long on meeting Travis and Ben. Travis recently broke up with his girlfriend, and he won’t be back on the market for long. Ben…I don’t think he’s had a second date with any girl ever. But he sure is pretty to look at.”

Lina filled her in on the rest of the apartment complex gossip for the remainder of their workout, and they planned to meet same time, same place tomorrow. Honestly, having a new friend was just as exciting as meeting a new guy, however hot Ben might end up being.

***

Dropping off Ella at preschool had been harder than Preston expected. For him, anyway. Ella went right in and started playing with toys. He was the one lingering at the door, making sure the other kids were being nice and that Ella didn’t suddenly change her mind and come launching at him. After the last parent dropped their kid off, Ella’s teacher nudged him out the door with an understanding smile. “Go to work. We’ll be busy here, and before she knows it, the day will be done.”

He took her advice and hurried to his first job of the day, someone with a faulty thermostat, and then drove across town after getting an emergency call from a frantic housewife with a dead skunk trapped in her air duct. Thank goodness for face masks and an extra set of clothes.

He stripped down after successfully removing the skunk and put everything he’d been wearing in a garbage bag and tied it before getting back on the road. It wasn’t until he’d stopped at a drive-thru for lunch that he was tempted to check on Ella. Instead, he dialed Nicole’s cell, knowing it was her lunch hour too.

He hoped Nicole was having a better day. She’d been an emotional wreck ever since his non-proposal, not helped by throwing Ella into the mix, and while he understood how she must be feeling, it sure didn’t propel him towards pulling out the ring he’d bought and making it official. But if he ignored things, as he was inclined to do, it wouldn’t make anything better.

“Hi Nicole, can you talk?”

“Of course. Is something wrong with Ella?”

“No. I just wanted to hear your voice, see how you were doing.”

“You’re so sweet.” She relaxed at his answer and began telling him about the amazing sandwich she was eating at a new place that just opened a block from her work. Something with feta and apples and balsamic vinegar.

He looked down at his own double bacon burger and smiled. Nicole’s idea of an amazing sandwich was much different than his. Although he did try to eat a healthy breakfast and dinner to make up for all the fast food during the day.

“You still on for dinner tonight?” he asked. It would have been nice to invite Corrie to come with so she could have another night to tuck Ella into bed, but he wasn’t about to push the issue with Nicole. She’d flat out asked that Corrie not come.

“Yes. I’m bringing in Chinese takeout. I thought it might be fun for Ella to try chopsticks. I’ll be there about six. Gotta run. Love you.”

She hung up, and he checked his GPS, making sure he hadn’t missed his exit. If his next three jobs were typical, he’d be back to pick up Ella from Corrie by five thirty.

Of course, things rarely ever went as planned. His last call of the day was a little old lady who lived alone, except for a yappy dog. She was already looking overheated when he arrived, and unfortunately, after examining her unit, he realized the part he needed was a half-hour drive away. Normally, he’d come back the next day and let the homeowners stay with friends or tough it out for the night, but a little questioning revealed that all her children lived in other states, and she was reluctant to ask anyone else. There was no way he was going to leave her in 100-degree heat until he could make it back the next day.

He dialed Nicole’s office on the way to get the part. She was usually too busy to answer her cell.

“Law Office of Franklin, Franklin, Rice, and Carroll. This is Nicole.”

Her chipper voice cracked him up. He couldn’t imagine repeating that all day. “Nicole, I’m stuck finishing up a job across town and I’ll probably be another hour, at least. Do you want to go pick up Ella from Corrie’s apartment or do you want to do dinner another night?”

There was a long thinking pause. “So, you think I should just have dinner with Ella? She’d be okay with that?”

“You have my key. You two can eat and play until I get there. But if you don’t feel up to it, I’m sure Corrie can keep her.”

“No, no,” Nicole assured him. “I’ve got this. Girls’ night out. It’ll be fun. Just text me Corrie’s address.”

Chapter 12

Ella had jumped up and down upon seeing Corrie at pickup, talking her ear off and tugging on her hand, but she conked out on the way home and slept another hour on Corrie’s couch.

And like most kids who get an unexpected afternoon nap, she woke like a hungry bear after hibernation—roaring and super ticked off at having to wake up.

Ella was still screaming when Corrie checked her phone and saw she’d missed a text from Preston. He was running late, and Nicole would be picking up Ella instead. The thought filled her with apprehension, knowing Nicole was already insecure about dealing with Ella and wasn’t Corrie’s biggest fan.

She had ten minutes to get Ella back into a good mood. She flipped on the TV, found a cartoon, and ran to the kitchen to get a bowl of grapes. But Ella rolled over on her side, ignored the TV, and was almost back to sleep. She’d keep Preston up all night if that happened, so Corrie propped her back up.

“Wake up, Ella. Don’t you want to watch a movie?”

Ella moaned. “I’m wet.”

No! Sure enough, she’d peed on the couch sometime during her nap.

Corrie’s poor couch would have to wait. She stripped down Ella, thinking she’d just change her clothes, and then realized she didn’t have anything to change her into. This wasn’t their apartment back in Albuquerque with a whole dresser full of outfits.

Well, if Nicole was signing on for this, she’d have to get used to the reality of it, including the crazy moments. Corrie picked up Ella and put her in the shower. As a nice coincidence, the warm water woke her up all the way, and by the time Ella got out she was back to the chipper girl Corrie was used to. Corrie sat her on the bed in a towel and went to get spray for the couch.

That was when the doorbell rang.

Corrie turned to Ella who was already trying to wiggle out of her towel and get off the bed to reach the door. “Don’t even think about it, young lady.”

Corrie took a deep breath and pulled open the door. Nicole stood there, looking all put together in a black pencil skirt and a flowing black and white blouse. Corrie realized she was still in workout clothes from that morning, not that Nicole needed to know that.

“Come in. We have a little bit of a situation.” Corrie gestured to Ella who had piled under Corrie’s covers and couldn’t stop giggling.

Nicole went to sit on the couch, and Corrie yelled, “No!” scaring Nicole back to her feet.

“Sorry. Ella peed there and I haven’t had a chance to clean it up.”

Ella chose that moment to pull off the covers and yell, “Surprise!”

Nicole took a step back and turned her ankle, catching herself on the edge of the couch. She pulled her hand away as if the arm of the couch might have pee on it too.

“I showered her, but I don’t have a change of clothes.” Corrie chased Ella down and got her wrapped back up in her towel.

Nicole crossed her arms. “Did you check her backpack? The preschool asked us to send an extra set.”

She let a small smile slip when Corrie opened it and came up with a set of clothes in a zip-top bag. Corrie was too relieved to be irritated by Nicole’s condescending smirk. She dressed Ella while Nicole waited in silence, surveying the tiny apartment.

“Okay, Ella. You’re going home with Nicole now. I’ll see you tomorrow at pick-up.” Corrie willed Ella to respond happily with all her might, but of course, it didn’t happen. Ella immediately started whining and clinging to Corrie’s legs, a totally natural response anyone who spent time with kids understood. But based on what Corrie had observed so far, Nicole was a novice and an insecure one at that.

“Come on, Ella.” Nicole tried to pry Ella off of Corrie, which only made Ella cling tighter.

Ella screeched. “I don’t want to go with her.”

Nicole’s eyes started to tear up, and Corrie lifted Ella over to sit on the edge of the couch, regardless of pee stains.

“Ella, I’m going to carry you down to Nicole’s car. Do you want to hold your backpack or do you want me to?”

“I hold it,” Ella mumbled.

Corrie put Ella on one hip and picked up the backpack and the bag of Ella’s wet clothes. Ella grabbed the strap of her backpack, keeping her other arm wrapped securely around Corrie’s body.

“Do you see her shoes anywhere?” With Ella clinging to her, Corrie couldn’t see much of the floor.

Nicole picked them up and led the way out, not looking back. It was silent all the way to the parking lot.

Corrie got Ella strapped in the backseat, not mentioning the fact that Nicole didn’t have a booster seat for her, and waved goodbye. Then she went upstairs and got out a carton of rocky road ice cream.

***

Preston didn’t know what to expect when he walked in the door, but was relieved to see Nicole and Ella watching a movie together on his couch.

“How was dinner?” he asked, smiling down at them.

Nicole didn’t take her eyes off the screen. “The chopsticks were a no-go, but she likes rice, though I think more of it ended up on her than in her.”

He walked over and kneeled in front of Nicole’s legs. “I’m so sorry I’m late. Thank you for taking care of her.”

Nicole cracked a smile and leaned toward him, but inches from his lips she reared back and wrinkled her nose. “What is that smell? Ugh, I think it’s coming from your hair. That’s awful.”

Preston stood up, feeling embarrassed and a little irritated. Then he remembered. “Oh no, the skunk.”

“Skunk?” Nicole jumped off the couch and shooed him back toward the front door. “I can’t believe you even came in here after being sprayed by a skunk.”

“I wasn’t sprayed. I had to remove a dead one from a duct. And I changed my clothes right after.”

“Well, go shower and wash your hair twice. I’ll go warm up your food.”

He glanced over at Ella who was watching the exchange with wide eyes. She nodded at him as if to warn him that he’d better listen to Nicole.

He wondered if anyone else today had thought he reeked, but didn’t say anything to him. How humiliating.

He went to shower, washing his hair three times, just to be safe. Ella was in her pajamas getting her teeth brushed by Nicole when he came out and found them in the guest bathroom. He stood in the doorway and watched, enjoying seeing Nicole taking such good care of her. “I’ll help get her to bed. I can eat later.”

Ella jumped into his arms, and he carried her into her room and got her tucked into bed.

“Do you want me to stay with you for a while?” Nicole asked from the doorway.

“I want Corrie,” Ella whispered. She hugged her bear and begged Preston with her eyes.

Nicole slipped from the room, and Preston’s shoulders dropped. He couldn’t make both of them happy. Heck, he couldn’t make either of them happy.

“How about if I lie next to you for a while? Corrie has a lot of school work to get done so she can be ready to get you from preschool tomorrow. Hey, I forgot to ask you about preschool. How did it go?”

Ella scooted over for him to lie next to her and told him all about her new friends at school, what she’d eaten for lunch, and who had spilled paint all over the floor.

The next thing he remembered was waking up with a cricked neck and a sense of disorientation. Ella snorted in her sleep, and he realized he’d fallen asleep next to her. The hallway was dark, and after sneaking out of Ella’s room, he searched the house. A couple of Chinese takeout boxes were in the fridge. Nicole was gone.

It was only nine. Five minutes later, Ella woke up and started screaming for Corrie.

Chapter 13

Shaun wolfed in his sub sandwich. “And you haven’t talked to Nicole since?”

Preston glanced at the clock on the wall of the sub shop. “It’s only noon. This happened last night. How mad do you think she is?”

Shaun leaned back in the booth. “Who cares? This is why I don’t do relationships. All this apologizing and tiptoeing is not my thing.”

Preston toyed with a piece of lettuce on his sandwich wrapper. “I didn’t think it’d be my thing either. I swear, she used to be so laid back. I don’t know what happened.”

“Ella happened.” Shaun put up his hands in defense before Preston could answer. “I like Ella. She’s adorable. But you were already having cold feet before this whole parenting thing fell in your lap.” A grin spread across his face. “How is Corrie doing?”

Preston did not like Shaun asking after Corrie, but he wasn’t about to explore exactly why it bothered him so much. “Corrie’s fine.”

Shaun nodded. “Yes, she is. Too bad she has a thing for you and not me.”

Preston stood up, wadding his paper wrapper into a ball. “Don’t talk like that, Shaun. I need some help here, not someone trying to mess with my head.”

Shaun reached out and took the paper ball from him, launching it into the garbage can across from them. “This is me trying to help. Aren’t you going to see a therapist tonight?”

“A counselor.”

“What’s the difference?”

Preston shrugged. “Actually, I don’t know.”

“Well, talk to this therapist/counselor person about Nicole. I have a feeling she’ll tell you the same thing I would, which is to return that ring to the store and run before Ella gets too attached to her.”

“I think I’ve had my fill of your advice, Shaun.”

Shaun saluted. “I’ll always tell you the truth, even if you don’t like it.”

They said their goodbyes and Preston got back on the road, giving himself time to let the anger dissipate before considering what Shaun had said. Shaun had never liked Nicole. Of course he’d tell him to ditch her. Shaun’s version of ‘the truth’ was what would be easiest in any given situation, not what would be best. Nicole and Ella would get used to each other and everything would calm back down. He just needed to give it time.

He sent Nicole a funny meme with a bunny holding a bouquet of flowers. She responded a few minutes later with a picture of an old guy wearing a ‘fart loading’ T-shirt.

This was at lunch today. I pretended I was taking a selfie and took his picture instead. His wife was in pumps and a dress suit. I have a feeling that will be us in 50 years.

He laughed. Shaun was wrong about her. Preston wasn’t about to give up because the first three days were rocky.

***

It turned out Corrie didn’t have to wake up at the crack of dawn to meet someone. There was a nice-looking guy pulling things out of a dryer when Corrie came into her apartment laundry with her basket of clothes Friday afternoon.

The apartment laundry room was on the first floor next to the front office, and Corrie was pleased to see such nice washers and dryers inside. The counters were clean, and the whole place smelled of detergent and dryer sheets. At her old apartment, there was always a lingering musty smell in the washers.

“Don’t you love the smell of clean laundry?” the guy asked, his million dollar smile bright in his tan face. “I’d take a nap in here if they’d let me.”

Corrie raised an eyebrow. “What, you mean you’ve already tried?”

He came over to shake her hand. “No, but they do have that no loitering sign up. I think it includes naps. I’m Vance.”

“Corrie.”

His hand lingered a half-second longer than normal, and he looked into her eyes. “Can I be forward?”

“Well, that depends.” Oh my, where did that flirtatious voice come from? Was that me?

Vance leaned against the counter, his eyes never leaving her. “Are you single? Because I’d like to get to know you better over dinner.”

“Yeah, that was a little forward.” She turned away from him and looked inside one of the washing machines, liking the power of keeping him waiting, but also a little freaked out. She was rusty and this guy was not.

She started checking the pockets of her jeans and pushing them into the machine. “So tell me a little bit about yourself, Vance. Are you single?”

He laughed. “Would I be asking if I wasn’t?”

Unfortunately, the answer to that wasn’t always no. She’d had a roommate in college who unknowingly dated a married guy. The guilt and anger of it made her fail all her classes that semester.

When Corrie didn’t laugh at his joke, he grew serious and took a cautious step towards her. “Sorry, I’m not usually this smarmy. I broke up with my girlfriend two months ago, and we’d been dating for three years. I don’t know how to start over, but I feel like I need to. How’s that for brutal honesty?”

So maybe he was rusty too. Interesting.

Her load started, Corrie wasn’t sure what to do with her restless hands or this unprecedented situation. “I have to go back upstairs and get some work done while my load is in. How about I give you my number, and you promise not to be stalkery? We could text each other for a while and see where it goes from there.”

His face broke out into a relieved smile, and they exchanged numbers before she left to go grade homework. Hopefully, this wouldn’t end up being a huge disaster like her last relationship. Although that was so long ago it shouldn’t even count.

***

Preston jogged up the steps to Corrie’s apartment, eager to see Ella and hear about her day. There had been no skunks today or varmints of any kind. In fact, he was off earlier than expected. He could hear music through the door, and he stopped to listen to Corrie and Ella, singing along to some syrupy pop song. Corrie’s voice wasn’t half bad. He was dying to see if there was dancing to match the singing, but alas, her blinds were doing their job.

He finally knocked, and the music and singing ended. Corrie answered the door slightly out of breath. Her eyes and cheeks glowed. Once again he had to fight the attraction he felt for her. He’d done such a good job today, texting back and forth with Nicole and being optimistic about the future. Would it ever be enough?

“Ella, look who’s here!”

Ella peeked around Corrie and broke into a huge smile. “Preston!”

He came in and sat next to her on the couch, looking through all of Ella’s papers from preschool while Corrie tidied up. Occasionally, she pulled out her phone and tapped it, smiling at something she was reading before typing something out quickly in response.

Who was she texting?

She read another message while twirling a piece of hair around her finger. Yep, definitely texting with a guy.

“So, what’s his name?” He instantly regretted asking. The look she gave him let him know she hadn’t missed the aggressive tone in his voice. He was such an idiot.

Corrie put her phone down and came to sit on the other side of Ella, ignoring his question. “Ella, tell Preston about lunch today. What did you eat?”

“I ate vasketti,” Ella announced.

Corrie smiled at him over Ella’s head. “I love the million ways that word can be mispronounced.”

Rather than getting sulky or challenging his nosy rudeness, she’d chosen to be pleasant and turn the focus back to Ella, where it should be. She was such a better person than him. The thought made him want to push the issue further.

“So, is this a new guy or someone from Albuquerque?”

“I was very open with you about my life there, so what do you think?” She turned the full force of her green eyes on him, and he had to look away. “If you’re afraid something might affect Ella, I promise to leave her out of my dating life. Okay?”

Ella caught a whiff of the tension in the room and patted Corrie’s hand. “Be nice, Corrie.”

Corrie laughed and Preston ducked his head in shame.

He put his arm around Ella, telling her, “I was the one not being nice. I’m sorry.”

Ella ran from the couch to return her papers to her backpack and Corrie leaned over, the scent of her coconut shampoo assailing his senses. “It’s new. We haven’t even gone out yet. We’re just getting to know each other through text.”

“Like an online thing? Did you meet him through a dating site?”

Her eyes flashed. “No. Why would you assume that?” She got up and helped Ella gather her things, occasionally shooting him dirty looks. Unfortunately, he really liked her ticked off. He’d never seen her mad before and kind of liked that he’d brought it out in her. Definitely time to leave. They had to be at the counselor’s in an hour anyway. Maybe Shaun was right. Maybe he needed a therapist as much as Ella did.

He got Ella in his truck and drove home, leaving just enough time for a quick shower while Ella ate a microwave corndog. Not his finest parenting moment, but it was the fastest thing he could find.

He explained to Ella on the way to the appointment that they were meeting someone really nice who wanted to help them get along better and make sure she was okay. Ella seemed more confused when he was finished explaining, and he changed the subject. He hoped she’d hit it off with the counselor, despite the fact that he was a failure at prepping her for it.

Nicole had wanted to come to the appointment with them but he’d talked her out if it. Considering what he wanted to discuss, he didn’t regret that decision, but once again he was pushing her to the sidelines of things. Eventually, she would need to be there. He just hoped until then she would understand that all of this would take time.

The counselor’s office was in a nice office complex, and he was happy to see a small kids’ area with a basket of toys when they walked in. Ella ran right to it, leaving Preston in peace to fill out the pages and pages of paperwork. A lot of it he didn’t know. Whether or not she was full term at birth. If she was allergic to any medications. When she’d first learned to talk and walk. Corrie should be here for this, but he knew Nicole would flip if he had invited Corrie and not her. He had ended up with a tug-o-war after all, but he was the one in the middle of it, between Nicole and Corrie.

Martha, their counselor, came out and introduced herself to Ella and then asked Preston if he could speak with her first. Ella was happily playing at the Lego table under the receptionist’s supervision, so he followed Martha into her office and sat across from her in a comfortable leather chair.

She crossed her fingers together. “So, tell me about Ella and how you came to be her guardian.”

He didn’t want to take up all of the session, but it was a long story and there wasn’t a short way to tell it. Her eyes perked up when he described Corrie, and grew a little more serious when he described Nicole and how things were going there.

“Do you plan to marry Nicole?”

It should have been such an easy question, but he hesitated and they both knew it. “Yes,” he finally answered. “She’s having a hard time right now, feeling like she’s competing with Corrie for Ella’s affection. She thinks I should slowly wean Ella from Corrie.”

Martha gave him a stern look. “I’m going to strongly suggest that you set aside what your girlfriend wants and think about this like a divorce situation. The best thing for children is for all their supportive parents to be in their lives, whether they want each other there or not. Ella has already suffered the loss of her father and mother. I don’t think phasing out Corrie will be good for Ella. If Corrie is willing to help parent, let her. You said she moved here to be close to Ella?”

He nodded, feeling chastened, but grateful for her advice. He wanted to admit his budding feelings for Corrie, knowing that was an important factor, but saying it out loud was acknowledging those feelings were real and not just something in his head. He could fight it. He’d have to.

“Well, let me talk to Ella and see how she’s doing. I’m grateful she has caring family in her life that can step up for her. You’re doing well. Don’t forget to take time for yourself and de-stress.”

He went to get Ella and placed her in the leather chair across from Martha. Ella’s little legs weren’t even long enough to bend toward the floor. Martha came around and shook her hand before giving Preston a gentle nod, letting him know it was okay to wait outside.

Ella skipped out of her office a half-hour later and took his hand to go home.

“Did you like Martha?” he asked after making a follow-up appointment at the receptionist’s desk.

Ella nodded. “She said my mommy loves me.”

“She does love you. So do I.”

Ella looked up at him. “I love you, Preston. I love Corrie too.”

And there it was. It wasn’t his place to choose Ella’s people. It was hers.

Chapter 14

Corrie continued to text with Vance for the next week, which eventually evolved into late night phone calls. They had a date planned for that night, and as soon as Preston picked up Ella, she was going to get showered and ready for it.

Preston didn’t linger when he picked up Ella anymore. She was their link, but otherwise, they didn’t talk. She’d asked Ella as casually as possible about Nicole, and all Ella said was that Nicole liked princess movies and chopsticks, or in Ella’s words ‘stick chops.’ She couldn’t expect better when she was pumping a four-year-old for information.

Preston stayed in the doorway after knocking, which was his new normal. He barely even looked at her while waiting for Ella to gather her things and take a last-minute bathroom run.

“You won’t come in?” Corrie asked, watching him from behind her kitchen counter. “You’re letting bugs inside.” Which was true. It was much brighter inside her apartment, and the little moths were swarming in from the dark walkway and attacking her light fixtures.

Preston came inside and shut the door, looking tired and dirty from working all day.

“Sit down. You look exhausted.”

He just stared at her, not moving. She was tired of not knowing what was going on, so she did the opposite of what Preston wanted and got right up in his personal space. “So, we’re back to this? Why are you so weird around me again? I thought we understood each other. You want to tell me why you won’t even meet my eyes anymore? Why you can’t even say hi when you come to pick up Ella? I’m not your ex-wife, you know.”

He picked up her wrists, the soft touch of his hands making her insides quiver. “No, you’re not my ex-wife, but sometimes this does feel like a custody arrangement, and I’m not sure how to fix it.” He dropped her wrists as abruptly as he’d picked them up and ran a hand down his face.

“Because of Nicole?”

“Because of a lot of things.” He craned his neck around her. “Ella? Are you ready to go?”

“I’m washing my hands,” Ella called from the bathroom. “I don’t need help.”

Corrie was running out of time. He’d leave and make sure they never had this conversation again. “Are you marrying Nicole? Shaun told me you bought her a ring.”

“Shaun talks too much.”

“Well, are you? Because if so, Nicole needs to be slowly replacing me. Obviously this…” she ran her hands between them, “is not healthy for anybody.”

“No one is going to replace you.” His eyes bored into hers, sealing his promise. “That’s why I’m distant. So just…leave it be, Corrie.”

Ella came out and bounced after Preston, calling out a cheerful goodbye. Corrie closed the door on them and placed her head against it, not even swatting at the moths trying to alight on her hair. Why did he have to be so cryptic? Why couldn’t he just say what he meant? And if he meant what she thought he did, it explained why she suddenly couldn’t care less about getting ready for her date.

But she did anyway, carefully putting on her makeup and curling her hair. Vance came to get her promptly at seven, and they drove to a nice Italian restaurant, making pleasant small talk the whole way. She thought she’d been putting up a good front, but Vance took her hands over their salads and frowned. “What’s bothering you, Corrie?”

She’d told him little about her real life. He knew she taught school online and that she’d moved here from Albuquerque. But he didn’t know why. He thought she babysat as a side job. There was nothing she could say without saying everything.

“It’s complicated.”

“If you haven’t noticed, you have my undivided attention for the evening. I have time for complicated.”

When she didn’t answer he carefully let go of her hands and sat back. “Another guy?”

She shook her head, but he didn’t buy it.

“Don’t try to spare my feelings, Corrie. I’d rather know.”

She shrugged. “He has a girlfriend, but we have to see each other every day, and he’s started acting weird around me. He said, in a very, very roundabout way, that he’s fighting feelings for me.”

Vance picked up his water glass and swirled it, making the ice clink in the glass. “I thought you worked online. Why do you have to see this guy every day? Is he your personal trainer or something?”

She ducked her head. This was why she should have never gone down this road. But Vance seemed to care about her, would probably still care about her even if she relegated him to the friend zone, so over the rest of dinner, the true story emerged. The story of Ella.

Vance was totally understanding, but the more she told him, the more concerned he looked. The odds were not in his favor. Complicated didn’t even begin to describe her life.

***

Nicole was waiting in her car at the curb when Preston and Ella pulled up. He brought Ella inside, but when Nicole didn’t follow them in he went out and opened her passenger door, thinking she might be finishing up a work call. But she was just staring at the steering wheel.

“We need to talk, Preston. I called your mom and she said she could watch Ella for a bit. She’ll be here any minute.”

He sat down in the seat next to her. “Are you okay?”

She shook her head. “I don’t know. I’m just going to sit out here for a bit. Go on in and feed Ella dinner. She’s probably hungry.”

“She ate at Corrie’s, and she’s playing a game on my tablet. What’s the matter?”

Nicole shook her head and wiped away a tear that threatened to fall. Headlights were coming toward them and sure enough, it was his mom. Jean parked at the curb, and he went to greet her and help her into the house.

“Mom, what did Nicole say to you?” Preston took her big black leather purse from her and gave her his arm. The bag was so heavy he could have sworn she kept a bowling ball in it.

Jean looked up at him, confused. “About what? You two go have a nice time. You deserve a date night.”

He was relieved Nicole hadn’t confided in his mom, but more and more confused about her behavior. She’d been over practically every night, helping him get Ella to bed and then watching a movie with him or cuddling on the couch until one of them fell asleep. Things were just starting to feel normal with the three of them. And he’d started planning how he was going to give her the ring. Maybe he should have skipped the planning and just done it. It seemed like no one believed he ever would.

Once he had his mom and Ella settled, he went back and sat in Nicole’s car, looking at her. “Where to?”

She glanced at his work uniform. “Let’s go park around the corner so your mom still thinks we went on a date.”

Wow. If he had any doubts about her being upset, they were settled now.

She pulled away from the curb and drove around the block, pulling into a spot beneath a street light, casting a glow on her long dark shiny hair.

“Are we engaged?” She didn’t wait for him to answer. “You can’t keep putting this off, Preston. I’m either all in or I’m not.”

“I want you all in.” It was what he was supposed to say, what he wanted, despite his doubts.

Her shoulders relaxed just slightly. “Okay then. Can I have a ring? Can we set a date? I feel like I’m begging for things I shouldn’t have to beg for.”

He pulled her to him as her tears started to flow. “I’m so sorry, Nicole. I screwed up, and I wanted to give you the ring in a really special way, I promise. But we can go back home and I’ll just stick it on your finger, no more waiting. A bird in the hand is better than two in the bush, right?”

She laughed. “I don’t know what that means, but sure. Let’s do that.”

She grinned the whole way back to his house. Her excitement was contagious.

“Why don’t I shower and change so we can actually go out to dinner? Give me ten minutes.”

She kissed him hard and gave him a playful shove. “Absolutely. Just don’t forget the ring. I think we should stage it so all the people at the restaurant think they’re witnessing the proposal. That would be so funny.”

Yeah, funny. Acting was not his thing, though he knew Nicole had been in lots of plays in high school and missed it. But if that was the proposal she wanted, what the heck. He ignored his nervous stomach and led Nicole inside. She waited in the living room while he got ready as quickly as possible. He tucked the ring box in the pocket of his jeans and went out to meet her. She spotted it right away.

“Can I see it?” she whispered.

He kissed her cheek. “Not until I propose.” They went out the front door, and Nicole started heading for her SUV.

“Should we take my truck?”

She lifted one shoulder. “I’d rather drive, if you don’t mind.”

They went to the same restaurant where he’d failed to give her the ring the first time. It was Nicole’s favorite restaurant, which was why he’d initially picked it. And because it was a Tuesday night, they were slow enough to get a table right away.

She giggled all through the appetizers and meal, looking to see who was at the tables around them. Finally, she gave him the signal, a wink that meant it was time. He pulled the black box out and stood before dropping to one knee in front of Nicole’s chair. She squealed in delight as did all the females in the general vicinity. He wouldn’t allow himself to look around. Theatric or not, this was a real proposal, and he was giving Nicole the ring she was always meant to have.

Her eyes widened when she saw the diamond, a princess cut in a halo setting. That’s what the jeweler had called it, and the guy hadn’t lied when he’d promised Preston she would love it.

“Nicole Marie Daring, will you marry me?”

She jumped up from her seat and threw her arms around him as if she had no idea and was overwhelmed with the surprise. “Yes. Of course.”

Several people held up their phones and took a picture. Nicole unleashed herself from him so she could go around and ask to have the photos sent to her phone. The restaurant brought out complimentary champagne. Nicole was so pleased, and he was pleased for her. It was not the way he would have wanted it, but that wasn’t important.

All the way home from the restaurant she gushed about how great he did and stared at her ring. He had to remind her to watch the road.

“So, can we talk about Ella?” she asked as they pulled in front of the house. “She’s such a big part of this, I almost wish she could have been there.”

“We’ll show her the ring and tell her in the morning.”

Nicole turned to him, her eyes occasionally flitting to the diamond as she moved her hand back and forth in the light. “Does she know you’re adopting her and you’ll be her dad?”

“There’ll be time for that. I haven’t even met with the lawyer yet to start the process. Right now I’m her legal guardian. I’ve explained that part to her. That she’s family and it’s my responsibility to take care of her.”

Nicole cocked her head to one side. “You always say there will be time. But how do I explain I’m going to be her new mom if you don’t tell her you’re going to be her dad?”

“Nicole.” He took her hand and ran his thumb in a circle around the ring’s diamond. “Please don’t say the words ‘new mom’ to her. She can be excited for our engagement without all that. She’s four.”

Nicole pulled her hands away and crossed her arms. “You’re doing it again. Pushing me off to the side and avoiding making this real. You said I was all in, right?”

“Just talk to the counselor first and get her opinion, okay? Can you do that for me?”

“So, I get to come to the counseling sessions now?”

It didn’t matter that he’d proposed. Nicole still felt like an outsider. How could he tell her the more she pushed the issue, the harder it was to include her?

He leaned forward and kissed her. “Let’s not fight,” he whispered against her lips. “We just got engaged.”

***

“Nicole has a ring with a big diamond on it. And she said I’m a part of her family, and we’ll talk to Martha about it tonight.” Corrie glanced back at Ella in her booster seat, looking pleased as punch with her legs swinging back and forth like she’d just announced it was the class hamster’s birthday.

Corrie gripped the steering wheel. “Martha, your counselor?”

It felt like she was losing Ella all over again. Nicole was a force. She’d make sure, no matter how noble Preston’s intentions were, that Corrie stayed out of the picture. Eventually, it would happen, and she needed to prepare for it.

“That’s amazing that you’re going to have a family, Ella.” Corrie smiled at her through the rearview mirror. “I’m so happy for you.”

“You’re my family too, Corrie.” Ella started listing all the people in her life, including her preschool teachers and Shaun, who had given her a candy bar yesterday. “I like Shaun. The candy bar was kinda smushy but I ate it anyway.”

Ella continued to talk and Corrie tuned out most of it, frozen by the news she’d been expecting. It wasn’t a surprise. She just hadn’t realized her crush on Preston had gotten this bad. The fact was, it hurt a lot, though she told herself not to feel it.

It was worse when Preston came. She was the one avoiding eye contact and conversation. But unlike her, he didn’t push to find out what was wrong. He just took Ella and left.

If it wasn’t for Lina calling, Corrie never would have left the couch.

“Hi, Lina.”

“I missed my workout this morning. I was going to go now. You in?”

Corrie let out a sigh. It seemed to go on forever. “I’m totally in.”

“Oh, no. What happened? Is it that guy you went out with?”

“No, nothing ever happened with Vance. Mostly because of someone else. But now that someone else is engaged. He got engaged yesterday.”

“Well don’t sit in your apartment. Let’s go kill this workout, and then we’ll go order hot fudge sundaes and you can tell me all about it. Or not tell me. I’ve been there. It sucks.”

“Bless you, Lina. If I’m not down in fifteen minutes, come bang on my door and tell me to get up and stop feeling sorry for myself.”

***

Preston picked up Nicole on their way to the next counseling session. If Martha seemed surprised to see her, she didn’t show it. She smiled and asked to speak with the two of them first before bringing in Ella.

For the first few minutes, Martha watched their entwined hands and listened to Nicole without saying much in return. Not that she could have. Nicole had a lot to say without a lot of breathing room in between.

Finally, Martha held her hand up. “So, your question is whether you should start having Ella refer to you as Mom and Dad?”

Nicole nodded.

“Well, my answer is, let Ella initiate that.”

Nicole slumped in her chair. “How is she supposed to initiate it if we haven’t even told her it’s an option?”

Martha pulled down her glasses and stared across at Nicole. “Are the two of you planning on having more kids?”

Nicole snuck a glance at Preston and nodded. It wasn’t something they’d discussed in great detail, but he definitely did want kids, and he was pleased to know that she felt strongly about it too.

“Well, when your other children call you Mom and Dad, she will too, if not sooner. There’s really no need to compel her or even ask her to. It should be something she wants.”

Nicole nodded, though she didn’t seem very happy about it. “What about Corrie? Preston says you told him she has to be in Ella’s life. Why?”

“Why not?” Martha challenged Nicole in another staring contest, and Nicole lost.

“Because I’m jealous of her relationship with Ella. I can admit it.” Nicole squeezed his hand, and he squeezed back, knowing that was brave of her to say aloud. “She wakes up crying in the night and Preston calls Corrie and has her talk to Ella until she falls back asleep. And Preston has Corrie picking up Ella from preschool every day. What if someday I have a different nanny I want to hire?”

“Corrie’s not a nanny,” Preston murmured.

“Well, what is she then?” Nicole looked from Martha to Preston, wanting an answer.

Martha leaned forward. “Again, that is for Ella to determine. Corrie’s not her mom, but she’s something.”

“She’s her person.” He didn’t realize he’d said it aloud, but Martha smiled at his answer, while Nicole looked hurt.

Martha turned the conversation to other things, and Nicole seemed to perk up when they talked about goals the counselor had for Ella. Nicole was a list person, and she thrived on concrete details. Taking notes seemed to help her nerves, and Preston was grateful to have her there paying such good attention. He’d never thought to take notes on the things Martha suggested.

He told Nicole as much when they went to sit in the waiting area after Ella went in. Nicole rested her head against his shoulder. “Thank you, Preston. I needed to hear that.”

“You’re amazing. You know that, right?”

She crinkled her nose. “Yeah, I know.”

Chapter 15

“So you’re still texting back and forth with Vance, even after you basically admitted to him that you’re in love with your…with Ella’s guardian?” Lina leaned forward on the cycling machine, a sheen of sweat beading her forehead.

“I’m not in love with him. I’m… I don’t know how I feel.”

Lina snorted. “We’ve talked about this a lot, Corrie. Trust me, you’re in love with him.”

Thank goodness for Lina, even though Corrie’s legs were killing her from repeated workouts. Lina didn’t believe in wallowing in misery. It wasn’t good for the body.

“I thought Vance was a smooth pickup artist when I first met him. But he’s been such a good friend.”

Lina grinned. “I’m sure Vance loves being your good friend. Please tell me you don’t still talk to him about Preston. There’s only so much a red-blooded man can take.”

Corrie shook her head. “Absolutely not. I save all my brooding for you, dear, and these walls.”

Lina turned to her with a sly look. “So, ready to meet Travis and Ben yet?”

“Ha! I actually did come early one day, just out of sheer curiosity.”

“And?”

“And Ben spent the whole time lifting weights behind me and staring at my backside. Travis has a new girlfriend, like you predicted. But they are as scrumptious as you said.”

Lina threw back her head and laughed. “Well, it was worth a shot.”

Corrie checked the time and slowed down, knowing if she didn’t leave now, she wouldn’t have time to shower before her classes started and she’d have to spend the day in her workout clothes again.

Lina ran to her gym bag and pulled out an envelope. “Happy Birthday, Corrie.”

“How did you even know it was my birthday?” Corrie took the envelope and opened it, pulling out two movie theater certificates.

“Facebook informed me.” Lina put a hand to her hip. “Heaven forbid you actually told me yourself.”

“I don’t like making a big deal about my birthday. Thank you for thinking of me.”

She gave Lina a hug and went up to get ready for her workday, excited to recite a section of Romeo and Juliet with her students. They’d been memorizing lines for two weeks and some of them had even come up with costumes. She tried not to laugh when the feather on Edgar’s cap kept tickling his nose and he knocked the cap off his head trying to get the feather out of his face.

Her parents called to sing her Happy Birthday. They did every year, and it never ceased to embarrass her.

She got caught up on all the latest family news, like her sister, Dianna, winning a baking contest, and how her nephew, Ty, had broken his collarbone doing skateboard stunts.

“How are things with you?” her mom asked. There was a lot of curiosity behind that answer. Corrie rarely told them anything beyond how work was going.

“Actually, I’m in Phoenix now.”

“You moved?” She called out to Corrie’s dad and repeated the news. He came back on the line.

“Why are you in Phoenix?” he asked.

She couldn’t tell them about Ella. She’d spent too many years not telling them anything to unload it all now. They had nine real grandchildren they had to keep track of. Besides, with Preston and Nicole engaged, there was no guarantee Corrie would even be continuing in Ella’s life.

“I needed a change of scenery. And it’s been great. I’m making friends, and I’ve started dating someone.” Throwing Vance in was probably pushing it, but she reminded herself he wasn’t made up, and she didn’t need to feel guilty about mentioning him.

“Oh, I’m so happy for you. You have to tell us all about this guy. What does he do for a living?” Her mom’s excitement was so embarrassing.

“Mom, it’s really new. I’m not sure what he does for a living. Something in sales, I think.”

“Well, don’t be afraid to ask. You need to find someone who can take care of you.”

Her dad’s exasperated sigh was in sync with hers. “Leave her be, dear. When you met me I was bussing tables at Denny’s.”

“Yes, but you had potential. Make sure this young man has potential.”

Corrie rubbed her temples. “I will, Mom.”

“Dianna’s husband has some openings at his Lumber Company. You know, if you got married and wanted to move back.”

Well, this birthday call was ending worse than most, which was saying something. “I have to go, Mom and Dad. I love you.”

“Hold on now. Are you coming to our anniversary party in July? You never sent back the RSVP.”

Crud. She’d totally forgotten about that. And now flights would be even more expensive. “Mom, I lost the card in the move. It’s the last Saturday in July, right?”

“That’s the one. We’d love it if you came. We miss you.”

“I miss you too.” And she did. As crazy as they made her, they were family. “I’ll try to make it. Let me look at flights and check my schedule.”

She hung up and compared airlines, cringing when she saw the prices. But it was unlikely to get any cheaper so she booked a flight and sent off an email RSVP to her mom with her flight details. She’d been planning to do laundry, but she decided a quick nap before picking up Ella sounded a lot better than hauling baskets downstairs.

A knock at the door woke her, and she checked the peephole to see a delivery man holding a bouquet of peach roses, a little Happy Birthday balloon tucked between the blooms. She opened the door and thanked him, reaching for the card as soon as she had the flowers in her arms. Love, Vance. Darn Facebook notifications.

She wished she had never told him about Preston. Maybe her feelings would change. Vance would be a perfect boyfriend, the kind she’d always wanted.

She called him on the way to the preschool. “Vance, you didn’t have to do that. The roses are beautiful.”

“So are you.”

He was too much. She changed the subject, telling him about their Romeo and Juliet performance online and how ‘Juliet’ had a coughing fit during the death scene. By the time she stood waiting outside of Ella’s classroom, she was feeling pretty good about her birthday.

“How was your day?” she asked Ella, giving her a hug as she came out with her gigantic backpack on.

“We painted.” Ella held up paint-stained fingers. “And Toby threw sand in my hair.”

Sure enough, her scalp was coated in sand. “That’s okay. We’ll go clean you up at my apartment.” After the couch incident, she’d made sure to keep a set of extra clothes in the apartment.

After washing all the sand out of Ella’s hair, they made a bag of popcorn and sat down to watch a Disney movie until Preston arrived. He was later than usual and just as distant. She didn’t ask him to come inside, despite the heat and dive-bombing bugs flying into the apartment.

Just as Ella took his hand to leave, his eyes looked beyond her to the roses sitting on the kitchen counter with the birthday balloon.

“It’s your birthday today?”

Corrie leaned against the door and blocked his view. “Yesterday,” she lied.

He shook his head. “No, I remember it being on the fifth.”

“What do you mean, you remember?”

He didn’t answer, and she took a step towards him. The panicked look he’d just hid said he was definitely hiding something.

He looked down at Ella, avoiding Corrie’s gaze. “Fine. I did a background check on you when we were in Albuquerque. Just to give me some peace of mind about having you in Ella’s life.”

It was such a Preston thing to do. “Have a good night.” She started to close the door on him, but he put his hand up to stop her.

“Why don’t you come out to dinner with us? Let us treat you for your birthday.”

She wanted to be petty and tell him she’d rather be alone, but Ella was listening, and she immediately started jumping up and down and pulling on Corrie’s hand.

“Come with us, Corrie!”

Corrie threw Preston a dirty look. She didn’t need any pity favors from him. “Well, I guess I don’t have a choice now.” She went to get her purse and shoes and reluctantly followed them out and locked up her apartment.

Preston offered to drive, but she insisted on taking her own car. She didn’t want him to have to drive her home afterward and walk her back to her door.

***

Nicole was surprisingly understanding when he texted, saying Corrie was coming along to dinner and it was her birthday. Ever since the counselor’s stern advice, Nicole had been doing her best to put Ella’s needs first, ahead of her own feelings and insecurities. She was growing as a person and a mom every day, and he was proud of her efforts.

He knew it would be a difficult night for her though when Corrie and Ella walked into the restaurant hand-in-hand, and Ella ignored Nicole’s greeting until Corrie prompted her to go give Nicole a hug.

They were brought to a four-person booth by the hostess, and Ella immediately squeezed in next to Corrie on one side of the table, giving Nicole a full view of Ella’s preference for Corrie.

“So how old are you turning?” Nicole asked. She’d been rubbing up and down Preston’s arm while he browsed the menu, and Corrie’s eyes flitted there before she looked up and answered.

“Twenty-eight.”

“Hmm.” Nicole went back to staring at her menu, one hand still moving over Preston’s arm. She was thirty-two and didn’t like her birthday acknowledged any better than Corrie did. What was it with women and aging? Neither of them could be considered old by any standard.

On the other side of the restaurant, the wait staff clapped a rhythm and danced around a red-faced teenager, singing an earsplitting birthday song to him.

Corrie slapped Preston’s hand from across the table. “If you tell them it’s my birthday, I will kill you.” It was meant to be funny, but it was still her hand on his and caught his attention all the same.

He didn’t dare look to see if Nicole had noticed, afraid she’d read something in his face. Instead, he leaned over and kissed the side of Nicole’s forehead. “I made that mistake at a restaurant with Nicole once. She denied it was her birthday and told them I was trying to get free dessert.”

“You were trying to get free dessert,” Nicole said with a laugh.

Ella was getting squirmy, and she begged to play on Corrie’s phone. Corrie shook her head and motioned to the little crayon set provided by the restaurant. “Let’s do this dot-to-dot together.”

“You can play a game on my phone.” Nicole unlocked her screen and handed it across the table to an ecstatic Ella, who immediately sat back with it, oblivious to anything else.

He wanted to say something. He’d caught the smug look on Nicole’s face before she smoothed it out, but Corrie went back to studying her menu, refusing to show any irritation. Her face was serene, a determination to do what was best at all times.

He wished he’d never invited Corrie to dinner. Worse, he wished they were back at her cramped apartment eating fish sticks or boxed macaroni and having a great time. Was it cold feet making him think that way?

He put up a pleasant front for the rest of the evening, but the best part of his night was saying goodbye to both Nicole and Corrie in the parking lot and taking Ella home. He fell asleep next to her again, eventually waking and moving to his own bed. Ella slept through the night, giving him hope that at least one of them was getting used to the new normal.

Chapter 16

Preston called Nicole on Friday afternoon to remind her about Ella’s counseling appointment that night, but she said she had to work late.

“State taxes have to be in the mail Monday morning. I promised my bosses I’d get it done.”

“No problem, Nicole. I just wanted to make sure I’m including you in things. It’s been a couple days since we’ve done anything together. Do you want to come over tomorrow? We could take Ella to the Children’s Museum.”

Nicole hedged. “I don’t know. I’ll have to see. Sorry, Preston. I’ve got a lot on my plate right now. Can we talk later?”

“Of course.”

Maybe it was just stress, but he couldn’t help feeling like there was something she wasn’t telling him.

He picked up Ella and drove to their counseling appointment. Martha asked if anything was different this week, but except for his hunch about Nicole hiding something, everything was moving along smoothly. A social worker had come over for a home visit, and he told Martha about how that went.

“How is Nicole?” Martha’s shrewd mind missed nothing.

“She’s working late tonight, but she’s fine. I really see her trying to make things work and bonding well with Ella.”

Martha nodded. “Okay, go ahead and let me talk with Ella. I think we can move to once a month appointments after this. We can add more sessions if Ella needs them later, like when you have your wedding and Nicole moves in. Changes like that can be challenging for children. Have you two set a date yet?”

He stared at his hands. “Not yet.” Nicole hadn’t pushed him on it like he thought she would. He stood up and went to the lobby to pull Ella away from her Lego creation. Only after he’d taken a picture of it with his phone did she agree to abandon it for her appointment.

He sent the picture to Nicole, but she never responded.

***

Corrie was trying another date with Vance, and they were both very nervous about it. But, with Preston engaged, it didn’t make sense to keep pining over him. Not with someone wonderful like Vance waiting for her.

This would be a lot less formal than last time. It was a Saturday morning, and they were going to play laser tag with Lina and Ben.

“We’re just going as friends,” Lina had told her, “but he knows if he stares at your backside, or anyone else’s for that matter, I’ll whack him upside the head.”

Corrie couldn’t wait to see the two of them together.

Vance picked her up from her apartment and took her hand as they jogged down the stairs together to his car.

“Have you played laser tag before?” he asked.

“Not since I was a teenager.”

“And that was sooo long ago.” He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it. “Thank you for giving us another try.”

She shrugged, feeling embarrassed and a little panicked that she might be leading this guy to even more disappointment. She did her best to keep the conversation light all the way to the laser tag place. Lina and Ben were already inside.

Lina openly stared at Vance, having not met him before, and then leaned over to whisper in Corrie’s ear. “He’s gorgeous. You were totally not exaggerating.”

“What are you two whispering about over there?” Vance took Corrie’s hand and swung it back and forth with his.

“Not much. Just that Lina thinks you’re gorgeous.” Corrie crinkled her nose at Lina, knowing the fun-loving, bubbly girl wouldn’t mind in the least. And she didn’t. She winked at Vance, making him blush.

“Hey!” Ben protested. “I was the one that got the lecture about checking out other girls.”

Lina gave Ben a little peck on the cheek. “You’re gorgeous too. In fact, the four of us make this disgusting bowling and laser tag place ten times better-looking just by walking in.”

“Oh, yeah?” Ben threw her over his shoulder and headed over to the ticket counter, Lina squealing the whole way. Corrie and Vance followed, keeping clear of Lina’s kicking legs.

They decided on three games and headed over to suit up and pick out codenames for the scoreboard. Lina chose ‘Popstarlet.’ Ben was ‘Cruisin4Chicks.’ Vance became ‘LoneWolf’ and Corrie chose ‘LadyinRed’ in honor of her bright red shirt.

Vance stayed with Corrie through the first round, keeping an arm around her and helping her dodge hits, but they both ended up low on the scoreboard, and she told him to take after his codename and go do some real fighting for the second round like she knew he wanted to.

She’d never been good at laser tag, and time hadn’t changed that at all. Her strategy was to keep moving and shoot back at anyone aiming at her. They had the scoreboard running along an LED display screen at the edge of the ceiling, and she laughed when she saw she was second to last. She hadn’t seen Lina and Ben in a while and noticed their scores were getting lower and lower as the game went on. Turning a corner several minutes later, she realized why.

They were making out against a wall while teenagers blasted them for easy points. Just friends, my foot.

By the end of the third game, she was so ready to turn in their equipment and do something else. She’d put in her best effort on the last game and managed to get seventh place. Vance took the top spot, and she gave him a victory hug.

They went to a nearby Mexican restaurant, and the four of them shared a gigantic order of nachos, talking and laughing. She was having so much fun that she didn’t even worry about it being an actual date until Vance walked her to her door.

He leaned in and kissed her, lingering for several seconds. It wasn’t unpleasant. In fact, it was quite nice. But as she smiled up at him and said goodbye, she couldn’t help the dropping sensation in her stomach, knowing the chemistry wasn’t there like it should be. Maybe she needed to give it a little more time.

***

“Did you get your tax stuff turned in?” Preston asked as he sat across from Nicole in a café on Monday. He’d surprised her by coming to meet her for lunch, since he’d been at a job close to her office.

“Oh, yeah.” She picked at her sandwich and stared out the window at the people walking past.

Preston put down his burger. “Nicole, what’s going on? You can tell me.”

“I don’t want to. I just need time to work through some things, that’s all.”

“What things?”

She started to take a bite, but then abruptly put her sandwich back down. “Everything.”

She didn’t say more, but he waited, sensing the dam she’d put up was starting to crack. Soon it would come pouring out of her. He knew her too well. She didn’t want time. She wanted to be heard. She wanted him to notice her distance and ask her about it. And so he was.

She stared at him a long time. “I’m thirty-two. We’ve been together over a year. And there have been several guys at the office who have wanted to go out with me, and I’ve turned them all down. Because of you. Because of this.” She pointed to her ring. “I knew getting engaged wouldn’t fix us, but I still wanted it.”

“Are you saying you don’t want to get married?” He tried to keep his voice down, to not react too strongly and end something that might not be ending. Relief warred with panic. Deep down, he knew he didn’t want to get married either, but he’d asked anyway, wanting to be the guy she needed him to be.

“I’ve tried so hard with Ella. I tried to bond with her. But she has Corrie and you and she doesn’t need me. Yeah, she likes me okay because I give her stuff. But I don’t want to wait a year or two for her to finally decide to call me mom. Sometimes I think you don’t want me there either. Like it would be easier if it went back to being the three of you. You had that whole week in Albuquerque with them and it changed you. It changed us.”

“What do you want me to do?”

She laughed, a hard laugh that meant there was nothing he could give that she would want. “I want your undivided attention. And maybe that makes me selfish but I feel like I deserve that in a relationship, regardless of what Ella’s counselor has to say about it.”

She started pulling off the ring but it got stuck around her knuckle, and she sat back and began to cry. Her mascara held, but small flakes of it stuck to her cheeks after she wiped her eyes. She’d be mortified if she knew. It was a strange thought to have while their relationship was dissolving right before his eyes.

Nicole pushed her plate away. “I can’t keep trying anymore. I’m not happy with you. And I don’t think you’re happy either.” She stood, grabbing her purse and trying not to bump any of the other patrons pretending they weren’t hanging on her every word as she maneuvered between tables. “I’ll get you the ring back,” she called over her shoulder, leaving him sitting there with two half-eaten lunches.

He couldn’t stand to be there another second. People were staring at him, and he had to remind himself that Nicole hadn’t planned to do this so publicly. He was the one who pushed her to tell him what was wrong. He was the one who surprised her with a lunch date. He felt like a fool.

If he hadn’t pushed her, when would she have said something? He was ashamed of his relief, but the betrayal and hurt were at the forefront right now, squeezing around his throat. He wished he had cash on him. Instead, he had to fight his emotions while waiting for the waitress to run his card.

Chapter 17

Preston stepped right in when Corrie answered the door and sank on her couch. He looked agitated. Lost even. She wanted to smooth out the pieces of hair sticking up, giving him the look of a little boy, or a madman.

He didn’t seem to notice Ella climbing all over him and giving him kisses on his cheeks. Corrie pulled Ella off of him and plopped her on the bed, turning on a television show to distract her, even though she wouldn’t get to watch for long.

“Bad day?”

He stared at the floor. “Yeah, you could say that.”

“I can take Ella tonight if you need me to.”

Preston shook his head. “The counselor said consistency was really important for her. She should sleep in her own bed.” He rubbed his hands down his face and frowned.

“What about dinner? Do you want to stay for dinner?”

He finally looked up at her. “Would you come to our house? You haven’t been over in a while. I think Ella would like that.”

Something was wrong. He was saying normal things, but he was upset, more upset than she’d ever seen him. It wasn’t her place to ask. Not that she knew what her place was. Would things be different if he didn’t have a girlfriend? Not girlfriend. Fiancée, she corrected herself.

Corrie stood and rounded up hers and Ella’s things. Then she scooped up the girl and flipped off the TV that had only been on for a minute. “Change of plans, sweetie. I’m going to come have dinner at your house. Won’t that be fun?”

“Yay!” Ella happily slipped on her shoes and pranced all the way down to the parking lot, oblivious to Preston’s lack of energy or attention.

Corrie waited until he had Ella buckled in before getting in her own car and following Preston’s work truck back to his house. Once inside, she immediately headed for the kitchen, pulling out a pan and starting up water boiling. Ella wanted to help, so she assigned her to setting out the silverware and bowls. Preston disappeared for a few minutes, though she understood why when he came into the kitchen, freshly shaved with his wet hair combed. She could smell his aftershave, and she turned back to the stove, trying to protect herself from her automatic reaction to him.

“It’s macaroni and cheese again, guys.” She risked a glance back.

“Sounds great.”

Preston’s eyes were intensely focused on her, and she faced the stove again, stirring the noodles, though they didn’t need it. She was aware of Preston getting the milk out of the fridge, pouring a glass for each of them and leaving the carton on the counter next to her so she could add it to the noodles after she drained them.

“I’m sorry I’m not a better cook.”

“I like your cooking.” He leaned against the counter, very close to her. Maybe something had happened with Nicole, causing him to act this way. A fight maybe. The wall of distance he’d always kept up between the two of them was not in its usual place. She’d promised to stay and help with Ella, but her instincts were telling her to leave and go hide in her apartment until Preston was back to normal, until her beating heart was back to normal.

***

Breaking up had lifted a weight off his shoulders, but Nicole’s words rang in his head, making him angry too. Angry at her and angry at himself. He’d dragged this relationship on because he hated to give up on something, because he thought it was a weakness in himself and not a problem between him and Nicole. He’d been so blind.

He’d thought Nicole was doing better, but actually, she’d been stuffing all her real feelings inside until they were ready to burst. And burst they did.

He’d tortured himself and alienated Corrie, holding back for someone who didn’t even want him. Now Nicole was free to date her whole office. No more wasting her thirties on someone because she desperately wanted to get married.

He hated that he’d put pressure on Ella to spend time with Nicole, to bond with Nicole, just to have to explain it would no longer be necessary. At least now Corrie could spend all the time with Ella that she wanted to. No one’s feelings to consult or coddle.

Corrie continued to stir the noodles on the stove, occasionally glancing at him as if he might do something crazy. And he might. He wanted to turn her around and kiss her until he forgot Nicole ever existed. Corrie’s beauty was so natural, so inviting. He loved everything about her. Now that he was free to think about it, he couldn’t stop.

He shouldn’t have begged her to come over. Not when his thoughts were so emotionally charged. He should have taken Ella home and acted like a parent. But Corrie was here and the calm she brought outweighed his guilt. He liked having her here.

He sat quietly through dinner, watching Ella chatter away and Corrie putter around, refilling glasses and wiping up Ella’s spills. Corrie deserved so much better than what he’d offered her so far. Was it true what Shaun said, that she had a thing for him? Or was that just Shaun, trying to stir the waters?

Corrie carried a sleepy Ella away from the table and off to her room to get into pajamas. Preston started on the dishes, resisting the urge to go down the hall and join them. He needed to get Corrie out of here and sleep on it. Everything would be clearer in the morning.

When Corrie didn’t return after he’d started the dishwasher and wiped down the counters and table, he walked down the hall and peeked his head in Ella’s room.

Ella was asleep. Corrie was lying next to her, staring at the wall. She turned and saw him watching and got up, tucking the blanket around Ella before leaving the room with him.

Their arms brushed in the hallway, and she moved aside to break the contact. He walked her to the door where she got her purse down from a hook. Ten more seconds and he could breathe again. Make rational decisions.

“Oh, I forgot my phone in the kitchen.” She moved past him and went to get it off a kitchen chair, looking around. “Wow, it’s really clean in here.”

“Thanks. I had a lot on my mind.” He was still standing by the front door, and she gave a self-conscious smile, catching on that he wanted her to go, and she was lingering.

“I’m sure you’re tired. I’ll let you go.” She walked over and put her hand on the doorknob. “Have a good night.”

She looked up at him and without thinking he moved, closing the space between them and placing his hands on each side of her head. His lips were on hers, and he couldn’t stop himself. He coaxed her lips to respond until they did. She pressed into him, giving as much as he took. He ran his hands through her hair and down her shoulders, pulling her closer, his senses on fire.

“Preston, stop.” She pushed him back and took a ragged breath, blinking as reality struck. The hurt in her eyes piercing right through him. “You’re engaged. What are you doing?”

“I’m not engaged. Nicole broke it off.”

Corrie put a hand to her forehead. “When? Today?” Her eyes teared up, and she yanked the front door open, putting her hand out to warn him not to follow. Once outside, she ran down the walkway to her car. He followed anyway and caught up to her before she could open her car door. “Please wait. I don’t regret it. I don’t. I’ve wanted to kiss you like that since the day I met you.”

Her tears turned to anger. “Is that some sort of line? The first day we met you looked at me like I might be some criminal stealing your niece. How dare you! How dare you make me some crazy rebound to help you feel better about yourself. What happens when Nicole comes running back to you?” She dropped her keys in the gutter and stooped to pick them up before he might try to help. “You can’t undo this, Preston. You’ve already relegated me to being Ella’s babysitter, and I’m okay with that. I’m grateful for that. What the heck am I supposed to be to her now?”

She wrenched open her car door and got in, immediately hitting the lock button. But, in typical Corrie fashion, she didn’t speed away from the curb and burn rubber like he would have done after a speech like that. Instead, she paused to look both ways and sedately drove away, making him feel even worse.

Chapter 18

Corrie wrenched the door of her apartment open and dropped her purse in the entryway. She was so glad to be home, if she could call it that. This tiny apartment wasn’t really home. Nowhere felt like home anymore. For the first time in a long time, she was tempted to move back to Iowa and start over, even if it meant going back to bad blind dates. But then she thought of Ella and knew she’d never do it. Not unless she was cut off from her completely.

Her phone buzzed with a text and she checked it, needing to know if it was Preston, even though she wouldn’t answer if it was. But no, it was from Vance, asking if she wanted to go out on Friday. Corrie threw the phone across the room, watching it hit the wall and skitter across the hardwood floor. Throwing things was oddly not as satisfying as she’d expected.

She would not cry again. It was bad enough she’d cried in front of Preston.

Corrie went over and warmed up her computer, knowing classwork wasn’t going to wait until she felt better. After grading the first test, she realized her corrections were coming off a little meaner than they should and had to go back and censor herself. It wasn’t the seventh grader’s fault she was in a bad mood. She worked until she was too tired to continue and then fell back in bed, not bothering to even brush her teeth.

She awoke the next morning and moaned. Her mouth felt like sawdust and her head ached. She was supposed to meet Lina to work out and decided she’d sleep in instead, but Lina sent her a text ten minutes later warning her she better not be ditching out.

Getting up and moving made everything feel less depressing, and Corrie found she wanted to talk to someone about it. Lina would definitely provide a sympathetic ear, and she wouldn’t overwhelm her with advice and pity like her sisters or her mom might.

“What happened to you?” Lina asked when Corrie came in, dangling her running shoes over her shoulder by the laces.

Corrie sat down and started putting her shoes on. “She broke up with him.”

Lina’s eyes narrowed. “Who broke up with who? Wait. Fiancée Nicole broke up with Preston?”

Corrie nodded, fighting with her laces like they were personally responsible for her love life.

“Aren’t you happy about that?”

“I’d be a lot happier if he’d broken up with her and not the other way around. Yeah, that’s probably prideful, but when a guy grabs you and kisses you, and it’s the best kiss of your life, it totally stinks to know it’s just because he’s hurting.”

“Ouch.” Lina turned and raised an eyebrow. “Best kiss of your life, huh.”

Corrie threw back her head and groaned. “It was so amazing, and yet I’m so mad at him. You don’t know Nicole. She does these things to stir up attention. She’s probably calling him right now, smoothing things over. And then what? Things will be even more awkward than they are now. If she ever found out Preston and I kissed, she’d make me pay.”

Corrie got on a machine and started rowing, hating how paranoid she sounded. This was not her. She was used to being in charge of her emotions, not the other way around.

“You don’t know that will happen.”

Corrie turned to look at Lina. “Let’s talk about something less depressing. What’s going on with you and Ben?”

Lina rolled her eyes. “He hasn’t called. I don’t know why I expected any different. Men are the worst.”

“The worst,” Corrie echoed.

“So when do you see Preston again?” Lina asked. “I’d rather talk about your depressing stuff than mine.”

“Tonight, when he picks up Ella.”

Lina smiled. “And are you going to be nice to him?”

Corrie pumped her legs even harder. “No. I’m going to make sure he’s not thinking about trying something again.”

***

Despite Corrie’s reaction to him last night, he was hoping for better after a day apart to think things over. But when Corrie opened her door, he knew she was not any happier with him. She had Ella ready to go and after giving her a hug, she gave Ella a gentle nudge towards Preston and started to shut the door on them.

He stuck his foot out and caught the door before it closed. “Hey, wait a minute.”

She frowned. “I’m not coming over to help you get through your breakup, Preston.”

Wow, he deserved that, but the jab hurt as intended.

“I’m not asking for that. I just want to talk.”

“I’m dating someone.”

She pushed on the door and he removed his foot, feeling like an idiot as the door closed in his face. He hadn’t even considered that possibility. It added a whole extra layer to the reasons Corrie despised him for kissing her.

Ella pulled on his hand. “Come on, Preston. I want to take the elevator.” He’d been staring at Corrie’s door, hoping it would open again. He followed Ella to the elevator and let her push the down button.

They went home and ate pizza in front of the TV and then he fell asleep in Ella’s bed again, abruptly waking when he rolled over and hit the floor.

Every day that week he thought about Corrie more than he should, and when he went to pick up Ella, Corrie reaffirmed how much she wanted nothing to do with him. Maybe he really had damaged things irreparably.

He thought about sending flowers, but that seemed too cliché for someone like Corrie. He needed to think bigger. She hadn’t gotten stools for her kitchen yet, so he ordered a nice set and had them delivered, hoping they were the type she wanted. Corrie sent him a thank you text, but she still didn’t let him in the door when he came to pick up Ella.

On Friday evening, he drove home to find Nicole’s SUV sitting at the curb. She’d never returned his ring, and he had started to think she never would. While the money from the ring would be nice, he was still nervous about seeing her again. He hoped returning the ring was all she was here to do, especially since she’d already gone inside his house.

He had explained to Ella that he and Nicole were not getting married, and they wouldn’t be spending as much time with her, so the confusion on Ella’s face was completely understandable when Nicole rushed from the couch and gave her a hug.

“I’ve missed you, munchkin.”

Ella squirmed out of the hug and ran to the kitchen. It suddenly occurred to him how little Ella had ever truly liked Nicole. Ella’s instincts about people were much better than he gave her credit for. Had he really been that blind?

Nicole came at him next and wrapped him in a hug. His mind had still been on Ella’s reaction, and it wasn’t until Nicole’s lips were on his that he understood what was going on. He pulled away, noticing she was still wearing the ring.

Nicole fidgeted with her hair and looked at the floor. “I get that you’re mad at me, and I understand. You caught me at a stressful moment last week, and I unfairly dumped all my fears and doubts on you. But I’ve had time to think, and I want to try again.”

He took a step back before she could attempt to touch him again. How had Corrie known Nicole would come back? She’d been right about everything, except how he would respond. He wasn’t about to let Nicole back into their life. His anger at Nicole had dissolved, but the conviction that they were wrong for each other had only solidified.

“Nicole, I don’t want to try again. You were right. I can’t give you my undivided attention, and it wouldn’t be healthy if I tried. We’re done. Let’s keep it that way.”

He turned to see Ella watching from the doorway, holding a banana. She needed someone to open it for her but obviously didn’t want to ask.

Nicole followed his gaze and then wrenched the ring off her finger, her face turning a blotchy red. Luckily, the ring came off this time. She dropped it into his hand, pulled her keys out of her purse, and took his house key off the keyring.

“If I find anything else of yours, I’ll mail it.” She whipped her hair around and stalked to the door, not bothering to say goodbye to Ella.

***

Corrie was not dating anyone. Not wanting to string Vance along, she’d ended things, permanently this time. Vance didn’t need to hope their friendship would turn to more. Not when she was hopelessly in love with Preston, and completely miserable.

Every time she saw his apologetic face in her doorway she wanted to cave, invite him in, and hear him out, but she couldn’t. She couldn’t hope for something just to have her heart trampled. He didn’t really want her. He was getting over someone else, and she was conveniently there. It had been a moment of weakness on both their parts, one she wouldn’t let him repeat. Even if Nicole had left for good, someone else could come along, and Corrie would be in the way again. The thought made her want to eat her weight in chocolate.

Even the bar stools wouldn’t change her mind. Though she really, really liked them. She ate every meal at the counter now, a silly grin on her face, knowing she’d never have to balance a plate on her lap again. It was the nicest gift she’d ever received. But just like his kiss, it had been given for all the wrong reasons.

It would be a relief to have the weekend to herself and not have his puppy dog eyes at her door, begging her to forgive him. She rented a movie and sat on her bed eating popcorn, but the award-winning drama ended up being super boring, and halfway through she turned it off and jumped up, glancing around at her four walls. She hated having her bed and living room in one, making her feel perpetually stuck in her bedroom, all the time. Maybe if she tried a different movie, something completely goofy and non-award-winning.

Her phone buzzed with a text. Ella and I are headed out to get ice cream. Care to join us?

Preston. It was like he was in her head, knowing when she was her most vulnerable. She only hesitated a few seconds before texting back, finding out where and when. Anything to get out of this apartment. She couldn’t avoid him forever, not when they shared Ella. She’d do it for Ella.

Changing into her most flattering jeans and touching up her makeup meant nothing. It would give Corrie confidence, the upper hand tonight. That was the goal. Yep, she’d keep lying to herself. About everything.

All the way there, she steeled herself to be as aloof and distant as the way he’d once been to her, but her heart gave a little jump at the sight of Preston through the window, sitting across from Ella in a booth, and all she wanted was to be with them, with no hard feelings in the way. She couldn’t do that if she continued to stay angry and secretly pine away for him. It was time to act like an adult.

She opened the door, causing a bell to jingle above her head. Preston and Ella hopped out of their seats when they saw her.

“Now can I have ice cream?” Ella asked.

“Nice to see you too, my little monster.” She went and scooped up Ella and brought her to the ice cream counter so Ella could see the different flavors. Preston stood nearby, his hands behind his back, rocking on his heels. He looked like he was waiting for her to dismiss him or chew him out. Tonight, she’d have to make things right. They could come to some kind of truce, couldn’t they?

Ella squirmed, and Corrie put her down, watching her as she went to climb onto a bench and spy on the teenagers eating on the other side. The teens didn’t seem too bothered by her, so Corrie turned her eyes to Preston.

“I won’t bite,” she whispered.

The relief she saw in his face made her feel like a jerk. He stepped up next to her and looked down at the giant tubs. “What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?” he asked.

“Pecan praline.” She laughed at his immediate grimace. “Have you ever tried it?”

“Nope. I’m a plain chocolate man, all the way.” His face grew serious, and he moved his hand to her back, leaning in. “I’m really sorry, Corrie. About everything.”

She wanted to turn and let him hold her, let him fill up all the empty spaces in her heart, but that wasn’t what he was offering. He hadn’t invited her to Arizona as his girlfriend. She was here for Ella, and she needed to support him, not take advantage of his broken heart. So she steeled herself against what she wanted and said what she thought was best.

“I’m sorry too. This drama isn’t good for Ella or for us. I have to believe you when you say you want me in Ella’s life, regardless of who you date or who I date. So, whether you get back together with…” She glanced down at Ella who had returned from bothering the other ice cream patrons, “you-know-who, or you find someone else, let’s just try to stay friends, okay?”

“I’m not getting back together with she-who-must-not-be-named, so don’t worry about that.” His beautiful, blue eyes bore into hers.

Corrie bit back a smile. “Even so. I promise I won’t freak out if you want to start dating again.”

Preston stared at her blankly. “You just want to be friends?”

“Don’t you?”

The guy behind the ice cream counter had been waiting on them so she turned to give him her order. Preston, looking a little miffed, put in his order too. And Ella’s. The little girl pranced around the two of them, oblivious to their conversation.

***

No, Preston did not want to be friends. He wanted to take Corrie in his arms and kiss her endlessly. He wanted to warm up her feet and hands on cold nights. He wanted her to look at him the way friends never could. The memory of the taste and feel of her was already playing on a loop in his head.

But he had to remember she was dating someone else, and this was her attempt to smooth things over between them. Because that’s what Corrie did. She made the impossible feel manageable. Little did she know, she couldn’t possibly manage his feelings for her.

Preston hadn’t kissed her to get revenge on Nicole. That kiss had been the culmination of everything he’d been holding back. But clearly, their kiss hadn’t been anything to Corrie but a roadblock to all the relationships that were more important: her relationship with Ella, and whoever the lucky guy was that had her heart. He suddenly empathized with Nicole, feeling like some sad third wheel. Not that it excused all of Nicole’s crazy behavior. No, he’d be more mature than that with Corrie. If friendship was what Corrie wanted, then that’s what he would give her.

“Yes, let’s be friends.”

She looked relieved and sat down next to Ella with her ice cream, laughing when Ella got a brain freeze and started whacking herself in the forehead.

“Calm down, baby girl. It’ll go away in a minute.”

Ella went to take another gigantic bite, and they both lunged for her spoon. Corrie pulled away when his fingers brushed hers.

Dang, this was going to be torture. But a different kind of torture than all those previous weeks of holding back. He owed nothing to Mr. Text Wonderboy, and if Preston somehow won Corrie over while she thought she was in love with someone else, so be it. He wasn’t afraid of a challenge.

He’d have to tread carefully, though. Ensure Corrie didn’t see right through it and run. She could think whatever she wanted, but one thing Preston knew for certain, he wouldn’t be dating anyone else. He only wanted Corrie.

Chapter 19

On Monday, when Preston came to pick up Ella, he walked right in and plopped down on Corrie’s couch, looking up at her with a mischievous grin. “Isn’t this better? I can stay as long as I want now because we’re friends.”

She shook her head at him and turned to hide her smile. It was nice. “Ella, I think Preston could use some tickles. He looks so alone there, sitting on the couch.”

Ella jumped down from one of the stools to comply, only Preston grabbed Ella up and tickled her instead.

“Save me, Corrie!” Ella reached out her arms to Corrie, and Preston tickled her exposed underarms, sending her into a fit of giggles.

Corrie reached out to take Ella from him, but he swung her out of Corrie’s reach, daring her with his eyes to come closer.

It was too much like flirting, and she crossed her arms, shaking her head at him. “Sorry, Ella. I think you’re doomed.”

Preston let out a booming sinister laugh and cradled Ella in his arms. “My prisoner.”

Ella ate up the attention from him, and Corrie left the two of them to go check the fridge. “If you get to stay as long as you want, does that mean I have to feed you?”

Preston craned his neck around to see her. “Actually, I was going to invite you to my house tonight. Shaun’s coming over to play basketball, and I thought we could order pizza.”

Preston was taking this friends arrangement in a totally different direction than she’d envisioned. She thought they could be friendly and respectful, living separate lives intersecting only where Ella was concerned. He wanted to be buddies. It was a tempting offer. But could she do that and still protect her heart?

Preston raised an eyebrow. “If you have plans with your boy toy, you can tell me. I thought that was the agreement.”

She sighed. “No plans. And he’s not my boy toy.”

“If I had a name, I’d stop calling him that.”

“Vance. His name is Vance.” This lie was taking on a life of its own, as most lies did. She should just tell him she’d said it because she was mad at him at the time. But instead, she deflected. Preston would keep his distance if he thought she had a boyfriend. “What are Ella and I going to do while you two play basketball?”

“Who says you’re not playing? You’ll need some actual shoes though. None of this flip-flop stuff.”

She glanced down at her pink flip-flops. “You want me to play basketball with you guys?”

“Are you any good?”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “You’ll have to wait and see.”

They gathered up Ella’s things, and Corrie went to go change her shoes and throw her hair up in a ponytail. She grabbed her purse and car keys.

“Drive with us,” Preston offered.

Corrie shook her head. “You won’t be able to put Ella to bed until after you drive me back.”

“If it’s late, we’ll have Shaun stay with her.”

And you’ll insist on walking me up to my apartment door. She pictured another doorway. His. And her mind conjured up his kiss again, his breath mingling with hers, his hands pulling her closer, moving through her hair and down her back. She took a step back and locked her fingers around her keys. “It’s easier if I have my own car.”

He shrugged like it didn’t matter, but his eyes were studying her. Please don’t let him be able to read my thoughts.

She turned to pick up Ella and headed out the door, waiting for Preston to follow so she could lock up.

She was relieved to see Shaun already hanging out in the driveway shooting hoops when they pulled up to Preston’s house. She parked her car right behind Preston’s truck at the curb. Perfect. I’m just one of the guys.

***

Preston passed Corrie the ball, and she dribbled under Shaun, using the height difference to keep him from stealing it. The girl had game and had kept it a secret.

“Pass to me, Corrie!” Ella jumped up and down, waving her hands in the air, and Preston didn’t miss Shaun’s eye roll. His best friend was putting up a good front, but playing a non-competitive family basketball game that included a four-year-old, obviously wasn’t his ideal Friday night. He’d canceled his plans when Preston begged, agreeing to come be a buffer to keep Corrie’s guard down. Whatever favor Shaun exacted from him in return would be big. His friend had made that very clear.

But as he watched Shaun guarding Corrie, clearly enjoying the excuse to get into her personal space, Preston knew it was time to switch up teams before he was tempted to give Shaun an ice cold Gatorade shower.

Corrie weaved around Shaun and went up for a shot. One he easily blocked. He picked her up and threw her over his shoulder and started spinning.

She laughed and pounded him on the back. “Let me down, you big gorilla!”

He responded by tickling her middle, causing her to have to hold onto him tighter to keep from falling. But when Shaun looked over and saw Preston’s face, he lowered her back to the ground and took a step back, taking a minute to catch his breath.

Corrie glanced from Shaun to Preston and bit her lip.

This was not part of Preston’s plan. He needed to tamp down his natural caveman jealousy and go back to acting like the thought of Corrie with someone else didn’t bother him.

“Dizzy?” he asked Corrie. He put a hand to her forehead.

She sighed. “I’ll recover.”

“Water break?” Shaun asked, walking away from them and taking a drink from his water bottle. He came back to stand next to Preston while Corrie helped Ella open the lid to hers.

Preston reached out a hand to Shaun. “Sorry.”

Shaun gripped his hand in return and then punched him in the arm. “You need to relax a little or you’re never going to get her to believe you just want to be friends.”

Preston nodded.

“Why all this pretense anyway? Why not lay one on her and see where the chips fall?”

He hadn’t told Shaun about kissing Corrie, choosing to relive that particular moment in the privacy of his own mind instead. All Shaun knew was that Nicole was history, and Preston needed time to make Corrie believe it enough to dump the guy she was currently dating.

Preston rubbed his forehead. “Tried that. It didn’t go over so well.”

“Wait, what?” Shaun glanced from Corrie approaching, and then back to Preston. “What do you mean tried?”

But Corrie came up and knocked the ball out of the crook of Shaun’s arm, and it was game on once again. With some good teamwork, Preston and Corrie were able to defeat the Shaun and Ella team. They celebrated with Popsicles for everyone.

***

Corrie waited until Preston went inside to clean up Ella’s sticky Popsicle face. “Shaun, I need to ask you something. And I need you to not tell Preston I asked.”

Shaun stopped dribbling the ball and stepped closer. “When did this become our thing?”

She folded her arms. She would not attempt this without a promise from him, though she wasn’t even sure that was to be trusted.

“Okay, what? You want to know if Preston has a thing for you? That’s fairly obvious. You saw the way he looked at us when I got a little flirty.”

She wouldn’t go there. “No, I want to know about Nicole. What happened?”

Shaun smirked. “Stop worrying about her. Guys get over breakups a lot faster than girls do. It’s just how things are.”

“That’s not how things are.” She wanted to smack him. “Maybe that’s how you are. He said she called off the engagement. Why?” She glanced at the door to the garage. Preston would be coming out any minute. And this was not something she wanted to discuss with Preston. At all. But that didn’t mean she didn’t want to know.

“Nicole is a heartless wench. She said she wanted his undivided attention. Oh, and she mentioned she’d been getting hit on by some guys at her law office, like it was this huge sacrifice not to date other people. She was ready to move on to someone without strings attached, a.k.a. you and Ella.”

Corrie had to remember this was Shaun’s interpretation. There was a lot of truth in Nicole’s need for undivided attention, but it wasn’t necessarily all selfish to want that. Likely, her relationship with Preston had been a lot different before Ella and Corrie came into the picture. Finding a new guy and starting over probably seemed pretty tempting once she realized things would never be the same again.

Preston and Ella stepped back into the garage, and Corrie moved away from Shaun and smiled at Preston. “Did you find a little girl under all that syrup?”

Preston ruffled Ella’s hair. “I did. And she wants to know if we can watch a movie and eat pizza now.”

Shaun chucked the basketball into the plastic storage box against the wall where Preston kept it. “As long as it doesn’t involve singing princesses. How about some Die Hard? Maybe we could find an edited version for Ella.”

Corrie and Preston exchanged glances, and Shaun sighed. “I’m going home now. You two try to keep your hands off each other during the movie, okay?”

Corrie felt her face growing hot, and she risked a glance at Preston. He looked like he wanted to murder Shaun. “Dude, she has a boyfriend.”

Shaun grinned. “That wouldn’t stop me. Have a good night.”

They watched him jump in his car and drive away, leaving a trail of awkwardness in his wake. They did watch a singing princess movie, but made sure to have Ella as a solid barrier between them. Corrie helped Ella into bed and then practically ran to the front door, not bothering to find Preston and say goodnight. She didn’t breathe easy until she was in her car again.

This friendship thing would take some work. And when she thought back to what Shaun had said about Nicole, she felt even worse about kissing Preston. No wonder he’d been out of his mind that night. Knowing Nicole was breaking up with him so she could choose someone from her law office? Corrie hadn’t just been a rebound, she’d been a revenge move to stroke his fragile ego. Well, he would just have to find solace in someone else. She wouldn’t be that convenient place for him to fall, no matter how much she liked the way he looked at her.

Chapter 20

“Shaun, you are seriously the worst best friend in the entire world. You can’t even handle a simple wing-man position.”

Shaun laughed. “Let me guess. She sat as far away from you as possible on the couch.”

Preston gripped the steering wheel. “Yeah. And ever since then, she’s barely talked to me.”

“That’s because you’re in her head. Trust me. She’s going to come around. You are two weeks over an engagement breakup. Have some patience, man. I promise I did you a favor. If you would have tried something that night, you’d be worse off than you are now.”

Preston wanted to believe him, but he was still mad. “Well, I’m not letting you near her. If I can’t put the moves on her, neither can you.”

“Fair enough. Although if you irreparably screw this up, I have next dibs.” Shaun hung up before Preston could answer. It was probably for the best. Preston was getting a work call, and Shaun would’ve gotten an earful and still laughed.

“Ford Air and Heating, this is Preston.”

“Hi. I’ve got a big problem. There’s water leaking from my ceiling. I didn’t know whether to call a plumber or you, but it’s right by the air handler so I figured it had something to do with the air conditioning. I mean, the air is cold, it’s working fine. Maybe I shouldn’t have called you.”

Preston sat up straighter in his seat. “No, you’re right. Turn off your air conditioner right away. It sounds like you have a clogged condensation pipe. Where do you live? I’m in North Scottsdale, but I can come now and help you.”

It was going to set back his next appointment another hour, but that’s why he gave customers a three-hour window. He flipped around at the next red light and headed back toward the freeway.

Putting all thoughts of Shaun and Corrie aside, he focused on his driving and the job he had to do.

By the time he was done for the day, it was close to seven. He had given Corrie a heads up text, but he still felt bad when he came into her apartment and saw Ella jumping on the bed. The apartment was strewn with the remnants of discarded activities. He stooped down and scooped the pieces of an abandoned puzzle back into its box.

Corrie went back to her desk. “I tried to stop her from jumping, but it keeps her happy, and I have to get this lesson plan done or I’ll be toast tomorrow. I have a tutoring session starting in a half-hour.”

“Sorry I’m so late.”

Her face softened. “I’m not mad, Preston, and you don’t have to clean up. Did you get that lady’s ceiling to stop leaking?”

“Yes. Though she’ll have some bad staining and bubbling.”

Corrie stretched out her neck and rubbed her shoulder, a look of discomfort on her face. More than anything, he wanted to go over and rub out the knots she’d probably earned from sitting at a desk all day, but instead he went to get Ella off the bed and looked around for her sandals.

“I was thinking I might take Ella to an aquarium or a movie tomorrow. Something to get us out of this blasted heat. Do you want to come along?”

Corrie continued to stare at her screen. “Um, okay. Call me in the morning.”

He could see she was too preoccupied to handle schedule details, so he left with Ella and walked to the elevator. He hoped someday soon Ella wouldn’t be so obsessed with the elevator buttons and they could just jog down the flight of stairs instead of waiting for the sluggish elevator to open.

A ding sounded, and it finally reached their floor. A man inside walked out, and then did a double take, turning to stare at them as if they were a puzzle to be solved. “You two aren’t Preston and Ella by chance?”

Ella was already nodding. Preston pulled her closer. “Yeah. And you are?”

“Sorry. I’m Vance, the guy who lost out to you, I guess you could say. How’s Corrie doing?”

Preston froze, letting the words unravel in his head. They’d broken up?

“Uh, she’s fine. So, when did you two break up?”

Vance shoved his hands in his pockets. “You can’t call two dates a breakup, but she let me know she couldn’t date me when she had feelings for someone else. I should have known not to try again after the first time she said that.”

Vance looked miserable, so Preston did his best to keep his face serious until he and Ella had moved into the elevator and the doors closed. Then he punched his fist in the air and let out a whoop. Ella joined him, not having a clue what they were celebrating, but excited for him, nonetheless. He swung her around before putting her down as the elevator opened on the first floor.

So Corrie had embellished a boyfriend to keep Preston away. He should have guessed that. He wanted to turn around and confront her right then, make her really mad and flustered and then kiss her until her knees gave out. But he needed to be patient and realistic, not crazy. Martha’s words from their last counseling session came to mind.

Telling the counselor about his breakup with Nicole had been painfully embarrassing. She’d lectured him to take his time and be slow to introduce any new girlfriends to Ella. After that, he didn’t dare admit to her that he’d kissed Corrie the same day.

This news about Vance changed everything except the timing. Preston was still only two weeks past a breakup, and that’s all Corrie would see, boyfriend or not.

He strapped Ella into her seat and got in his truck, still filled with renewed hope, but also filled with regret. Corrie must have hidden her feelings for him while he stupidly got engaged and spent all his time trying to make things work between Nicole and Ella. Corrie had every right to distrust him, to be cautious. He’d start tomorrow, being the kind of friend she deserved, and wait for the right time to try for more.

***

Corrie tucked Ella into bed and kissed her forehead. Preston waited in the doorway, but she no longer feared what he might do when they were alone. She’d been over practically every night for almost a month, and nothing had happened between them, even after she told him she wasn’t dating Vance anymore.

Every night they talked at the table, or on opposite sides of the couch. And then he’d walk her to her car, with not so much as a hug or a kiss on the cheek. To be honest, it was exasperating. He wasn’t dating anyone. She knew because she’d asked Shaun, even though she knew Shaun would tease her for it, which he did.

She passed by Preston in the doorway, and he followed her to the couch. The TV was still on, with the sound down, and he picked up the remote and hit the off button.

“Do you want a bowl of ice cream? I have some in the freezer.”

She shook her head. “That lasagna did me in. I had no idea you could cook. You’ve been holding out on me.”

He laughed. “I have to give Betty Crocker the credit. I followed her recipe to the letter.”

“Well, since you cooked, I’ll do the dishes.”

She wasn’t at all surprised when he beat her to the sink and started up the water. In fact, she’d been counting on it. She stood shoulder to shoulder with him and began scrubbing dishes, making sure to brush her arm across his when she reached for the next one. She had to know. She had to know if that one amazing kiss was a fluke, or if he’d ever try for another. This time, she wouldn’t push him away.

But they finished dishes without so much as a lingering look from him, and she gathered up her things to go. Dropping hints wasn’t working. Maybe it really had been a weak moment. Maybe he was relieved to have things back to the way they were supposed to be: platonic teammates.

“Do you want to go swimming with us on Friday after Ella gets out of preschool?” Preston asked, following her out to her car. “Shaun is going to come.”

“I can’t. I’m heading to Des Moines for my parents’ anniversary party, remember? Will you still be able to pick up Ella on Friday?”

Preston opened his calendar on his phone. “I’d forgotten about that. Of course. We’ll be fine.” He looked thoughtful. “Are you excited to go?”

Corrie shrugged. Trips home always filled her with a mix of anticipation and dread. “I usually end up as the default babysitter for all my nieces and nephews, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It also makes me the favorite aunt.”

“Your sisters won’t be throwing men at you this time?” He grinned, and her face heated up. She never should have told him about that.

“That’s how I get around it. I just offer to babysit so they can have a night off, and suddenly setting me up is less important.”

Preston leaned against her car and looked up at the stars. She wanted to snuggle in next to him and see what would happen, but she was too much of a chicken and stayed put on the sidewalk.

“Do you need a ride to the airport? I’d be happy to drop you off.”

“It’s kinda early. My flight is at seven-thirty on Friday morning, so I’d need to leave my apartment at five.” She had planned to park her car at the airport over the weekend, not wanting to bother anyone, but since he was offering she wasn’t about to turn it down.

“It’s no problem. You’re getting back Sunday night, right?”

She pulled up the flight info on her phone and checked the time. “I get in at 8:40 p.m. on Sunday”

“Well, send me your flight details and we’ll pick you up too.” He moved toward her like he was about to hug her, but patted her arm instead. “Goodnight, Corrie.”

She got in her car and returned to her apartment, warming up her computer so she could prep for tomorrow’s lesson. Anything to keep her mind off Preston and his mixed signals. Maybe he was secretly dating someone and didn’t want her to know about it. What a depressing thought.

She stretched her legs out and pulled her keyboard toward her, right as her phone rang across the room. Reluctantly, she got up and dug it out of her purse. It was her sister, Brianna.

“Hi, Corrie! I hear you’re coming this weekend. I have this guy I totally want to set you up with, but Mom said you might still be dating someone.”

Corrie ran a hand down her forehead. She wanted a blind date like she wanted a root canal. But she wasn’t dating Vance, and she wasn’t dating Preston. She hated to lie. “Um, yeah, I’m still dating someone.” Or wishing I was.

“That’s great! Is he coming with you?”

“No, no. It’s not serious like that. How is Mike? How are the kids?” The distraction worked and Corrie spent the next half-hour listening to Brianna talk while she worked on lesson plans. Then Brianna’s daughter dropped a gallon of milk on the floor and Brianna abruptly hung up.

***

Corrie’s alarm went off at 4:15 a.m. on Friday morning, and she moaned, mentally going through what she could skip to give herself another ten minutes of sleep. A shower. She could shower at her parents. She hit snooze and spent another blissful ten minutes dead asleep before the evil alarm started up again.

She dressed quickly and gathered up her duffle bag and backpack, double checking that the plane ticket was still in the front pocket. Hair went into a ponytail, and she brushed her teeth before tucking her toothbrush in her backpack and sticking her potentially dangerous tube of toothpaste in with the other packed liquids for security to scan.

Preston arrived right at five, holding a sleepy Ella over one shoulder. She was fully dressed though, including shoes, and Corrie couldn’t help being impressed. Hopefully, Ella wouldn’t even need to leave the car and could sleep the whole way to the airport.

They took the stairs down to Preston’s truck, and he got the door for Corrie and buckled in Ella before hopping in the driver’s seat. He turned to look at Corrie before starting the ignition. “Ella will miss you.”

“It’s only a weekend.” Would he miss her? Probably not. “What do the two of you have planned? Still going swimming tomorrow?”

Preston backed out of his parking spot. “Oh, yeah. Swimming at the community pool. Besides that, we don’t have any plans. I keep hoping Ella will sleep in one of these days, but she still hops up ready to go at six every morning.”

“Enjoy it. She won’t do that when she’s sixteen.”

Preston shuddered. “Probably not. What were you like at sixteen?”

Corrie smiled. “Nerdy. My older sister Brianna was the rebel, though she turned out all right. If she has it her way, her kids will never know she snuck out to meet boys as a teenager.”

“I can’t picture you as nerdy.” Preston turned to look at her, and her heart started beating faster under his scrutiny. She’d give anything to know what he was thinking. But he didn’t say anything. He just went back to staring at the road, and she closed her eyes and rested her head back. She was tired. She should have gone to bed early instead of staying up and finishing a mystery novel. Now she wouldn’t even have anything new to read on the plane.

An Ed Sheeran song came on the radio. Preston sang along softly. She kept her eyes closed, not wanting him to know she was listening, although she wanted so badly to see his face. His voice was nice, with just a hint of rasp to it. The words of devotion and angst pulled at her heart.

But then a traffic report came on. Her head felt so heavy.

At some point she dozed off, waking up suddenly when Preston pulled to a stop and killed the engine. They were in one of the airport parking lots.

“What are you doing?” she asked, glancing around.

He got out, not answering her question, and went to the back to get her bag. Then he pulled out a suitcase and a backpack, neither of which were hers.

She hopped out of the passenger side. “Preston? What do you think you’re doing?”

He stared her down, but there was a hint of a smile too. “Ella and I are coming with you.”

Chapter 21

He knew she wouldn’t like the idea. Which was exactly why he didn’t tell her. He picked up a sleepy Ella and then slowly bent his knees until his hand reached the handle of the suitcase he’d placed on the ground.

Corrie was still standing there staring at him.

“Come on, Corrie. Let’s get inside the airport.”

She glanced around as if searching for a way out of a surprise she wasn’t ready for. “This is an express lot. They charge by the hour.”

“Shaun and his mom are coming to pick it up today. I gave him an extra set of keys to my truck.” He walked over, but having no hands free to touch her with, he stooped until they were eye to eye.

“I bought the tickets after you sent me your flight information. Be as mad as you want. Just keep walking while you yell at me.”

She stared at him, not looking happy about it, but at least she picked up her bag and followed. Together they crossed traffic, which was not very busy at five-thirty in the morning.

She didn’t say another word to him until they reached the security line inside. “What do I tell my family about you? About her?”

He shrugged. “The truth. I’m your good friend and this is my niece who I’m in the process of adopting.”

Corrie threw up her hand. “Which would be fine if my family didn’t think I have a boyfriend.”

“You made up a boyfriend again?”

“No! They called on my birthday, and I was dating Vance at the time.”

He cocked an eyebrow, waiting for the whole truth. After all, he knew two-date Vance had never been her boyfriend.

Corrie squirmed. “And I didn’t bother to correct my sister, Brianna, when she asked about him yesterday.”

“There it is. No need to lie to me about it.” Teasing her about this was too much fun.

She took off her shoe and held it up like she might throw it at him, but a security guard was already looking at them funny, so she put it back down and slipped off her other shoe. She looked at Preston’s tied shoes and then up at him holding Ella before untying his laces for him. Leave it to Corrie to anticipate his needs, even while ticked off at him.

“In all seriousness, Corrie, your family needs to meet Ella whether they understand the history behind it or not.” He pulled out his phone and keys and put them in one of the bins and then took off his backpack. Ella was stirring. Which was a good thing. His arm was numb, and they’d probably make him put her down anyway once they reached the metal detectors.

He rubbed Ella’s hair. “Are you ready to wake up and walk with us?”

Ella reached out her arms to Corrie and they did a transfer, with Corrie holding her while he pulled out their liquid items and lugged all their bags onto the conveyor belt.

The security guard asked Corrie to put Ella down so she could walk through security, but Ella threw such a fit that the lady finally told Corrie to pick her up and carry her through. Then they got a pat down with Corrie glaring at him the whole time. He couldn’t help laughing.

***

How could she be so mad at him, and yet so grateful to him at the same time? Traveling with Ella would be difficult, but it was hard to wish either of them weren’t with her. She wanted to be with them all the time. They were her whole world, which was why being around Preston was such blissful torture. As much as he aggravated her, she felt safe with him. She felt valued and appreciated.

Once Preston had made the decision that Corrie should stay in Ella’s life, he’d committed to it fully, no matter what Nicole said to him, or how scared Corrie was to share Ella with her family. It was amazing. Absolutely amazing.

She stopped walking, and Preston paused a few seconds later, realizing she wasn’t keeping up with him. He was burdened with all the bags, while she carried Ella, but she moved in and leaned against him with an Ella sandwich in the middle.

“Thank you, Preston. I’m still really mad at you. But I’m also glad you’re a stubborn mule and that you tricked me into letting you come.”

She felt his lips on the top of her head and sighed. Even that little bit of affection did funny things to her heart.

“You’re very welcome, Corrie. Let’s keep moving though. My arms are dying here.”

She shifted Ella over to free one of her hands and reached for a backpack, but Preston shook his head. “I’ve got this, just take care of our girl.”

She smiled, liking the sound of that.

It felt like they walked another mile before they reached their gate, and she plopped into a chair and hugged Ella to her. Preston dropped the carry-on bags and sat down next to them.

“So, I have to know. Your full name is Corianna. And your sister is Brianna. I think I’ve heard you mention a Dianna…”

Corrie looked up at the ceiling, shaking her head. “I have that stupid background check to thank for this, don’t I?”

“What? You don’t want me to start calling you Corianna?”

“Not unless you want to die.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “Yes, I’m Corianna, and my sisters are Dianna, Brianna, and Susannah. My mom is Joanna. Any other questions?”

“Nope.” He was trying so hard not to grin.

She butted his shoulder with her head. “I can’t believe you hijacked my trip.”

“I like spending time with you.” He pulled out his phone and checked the news, like he hadn’t just said that, and Corrie stared at him. She should say something. Instead, she rested her cheek against Ella’s little head and thought about how her family was going to freak out when she showed up with a man. It was their dream come true.

***

By the time they’d boarded the plane, Ella was wide awake and not interested in sitting still for three hours. She chowed through her little bag of pretzels and then ate most of his and Corrie’s, her feet swinging and hitting the seat in front of her more often than should be tolerated. Corrie was going to hate him by the end of this trip. She could have stayed in her window seat up front and enjoyed the flight, but instead, she’d offered to trade with the person sitting next to him and Ella. The guy had taken one look at Ella and jumped at the chance to move away.

Preston didn’t think to bring extra snacks or games to amuse her. She was playing on his phone, but the battery wouldn’t last the whole flight. Preston had been woefully unprepared to travel with a child, and he couldn’t believe Shaun had been right about yet another thing. When Preston told him he was surprising Corrie by coming along on her trip, Shaun shook his head and warned him he was supposed to be wooing Corrie, not annoying her.

But then Shaun had also said Preston should wait and let Corrie make the next move, but that was totally not working. She seemed to like being friends just fine. He didn’t think he could take another night of walking her to her car and leaving her with a wave and a smile.

The lady sitting in front of Ella turned around and glared at them. Ella’s feet were planted firmly against the lady’s seat, pushing. Uh-oh. He unbuckled Ella and pulled her onto his lap, moving her legs so they faced her empty seat and not the woman’s chair.

Corrie looked up from her phone and pushed up the armrests, pulling Ella’s legs across her lap. “Ella, you little stinker. We told you not to kick.”

Ella just giggled.

Corrie sighed. “What should I tell Susannah? She was planning to pick me up from the airport so I wouldn’t have to rent a car.” She chewed her nail and stared at her phone.

“I don’t mind renting a car, Corrie.”

He saw the shoulder slump. She didn’t want him spending more money, but he wasn’t exactly excited about being chauffeured around and inconveniencing her sister.

“I’m really okay with renting a car. If you tell her about us, she’ll blab to the rest of your family before we even get there.”

He had no idea if that was true, but Corrie seemed to buy it. She nodded and sent the text to her sister, telling her she’d be renting her own car.

“I have to go potty,” Ella declared.

“Of course you do.” Corrie swept her up and carried her to the back of the plane.

When they returned, he stood and made sure to move next to Corrie when they all sat down again. With Ella on his lap, it didn’t make sense to keep an empty seat between them. If Corrie noticed, she didn’t say anything, and with the armrests up he could get as close as he wanted. When Corrie got tired, she leaned against him and he adjusted, making a spot for her head in the crook of his shoulder. Her face turned toward him in her sleep, and he reveled in the feel of her skin against his neck. He pressed one small kiss to her forehead, too afraid of waking her to attempt more.

Ella continued to play with his phone until the thing died, ten minutes before landing. They were asking for phones to be shut off anyway.

Five minutes later, Ella started screaming about her ears hurting and Corrie woke up with a start, pulling away from him. She took one look at Ella crying with her hands over her ears and dug out a stick of gum from her bag.

By the time they had her calm again, it was time to stand up and wait to get off the plane. He got their bags down and the marathon of carrying and power walking began again.

They rented a sedan, along with a booster seat for Ella, and drove to Corrie’s parents’ house, a nice two-story with cream-colored siding. Preston couldn’t get over all the rolling green hills on the way. And the trees and their enormous canopies shading the ground were unlike anything he’d ever seen in Arizona.

Corrie twisted her hands together, looking up at her old front door like it might be the gates of hell. “Everyone’s having lunch here. We’re going to be walking into the equivalent of a press conference. I should have told my sister when I texted her on the plane.”

“Is it such a big deal to bring a guy home?” Preston asked.

She pinned him with a stare. “Yes. It doesn’t matter if I tell them we’re friends. They will still get their hopes up for nothing.”

Well, hopefully not for nothing. Not if he had any say in the matter. Besides, he wasn’t planning on using the friends story. No one would believe she’d brought a guy friend and left her boyfriend at home.

Which was why when they walked in the door he immediately wrapped his arm around her waist and left his hand there. She looked up at him, just like he thought she would, and he dropped a peck on those kissable lips of hers, slightly opened in surprise.

“Just go with it,” he whispered as he pulled back.

“Corrie’s here!” A sister ran toward her and gave Corrie a hug. She looked exactly like Corrie, only a little shorter and plumper. “Who did you bring with you, you sly thing? Brianna said you weren’t bringing your boyfriend.”

Corrie was speechless. She glanced from Preston to her sister and then back to Preston.

“I’m Susannah, by the way.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Preston.”

He held out a hand, but she waved it away and went in for a hug. “We hug around here, Preston.” She pulled away and noticed little Ella clinging to his other side. “And who’s this?”

“He’s not—”

He cut Corrie off before she could try to change the story. “This is my niece, Ella. I’m her guardian.”

Susannah glanced from Ella to Preston. “Well, how eighteenth-century gentleman of you. I thought things like that only happened in books.”

“Susannah.” Corrie’s face turned red, but Susannah only grinned.

“Come meet everyone else. We saved some sandwiches for you.” She turned and headed into the kitchen, leaving them momentarily alone.

“What are you doing?” Corrie hissed.

“They think you have a boyfriend. What did you want me to do?”

“Not this.” She rubbed a hand across her mouth and looked back at the front door like she was considering bolting out of it.

“I’m hungry,” Ella whined. “I want a sandwich.”

Corrie snapped back into responsible mode, ignoring him and pulling Ella along into the kitchen. “I’ll get you some lunch, baby girl. Don’t worry.” She whipped around and stuck out a finger. “Don’t follow me in there just yet.”

Chapter 22

She could have slapped that stupid grin right off his face. She’d waited a month for a second kiss from him, and he chose to make it a game to fool her family?

She wanted to cry. He must really have no clue how she felt about him. And maybe that was her fault for not saying anything, but having him pretend to be affectionate was not what she’d had in mind. Yes, she had made up a boyfriend before, but she’d never actually brought one!

She squeezed in-between two of her nephews and grabbed a sub sandwich off a tray in the middle of the table, and then went to the counter to get chips. Her parents found her and she stopped to give them each a hug. They must not have heard the news because they didn’t say a word about Preston or Ella, and didn’t notice the extra little head in the crowd. Ella was already getting to know Corrie’s niece, a sweet girl who was a few years older. She scooted over to give Ella room so they could share a chair.

Corrie dropped a kiss on Ella’s head and placed the plate of food in front of her. Taking care of Ella came so naturally, she’d forgotten what it might look like to her family, and she froze, realizing Susannah was watching her, a stupid knowing smile on her face. She whispered something to Brianna, and they both giggled.

There was no way out of this. Preston was probably still standing at the front door where she’d banished him. It had been a move born of panic and not clear thinking. She left the kitchen and searched until she found him sitting with her brother-in-law, Ed, on a couch in the den. Ed had a sleeping baby against his chest, and he and Preston were talking business. Ed owned a coin-operated laundromat and was telling Preston about his utility bill every month and how it kept fluctuating, though he wasn’t sure why.

She was about to slink out, hopefully unnoticed, but Preston saw her and waved her over. She sat down next to him, not at all surprised when he threw an arm around her shoulder and began playing with the ends of her hair. Did she not make it clear how she felt about pretending? And yet she wouldn’t freak out again, so she stayed, half-listening to Ed. All she could think about was how much she both loved and resented Preston’s fingers in her hair.

“How long have you two been dating?” Ed asked, changing the subject.

Preston glanced at her for a moment. “Only about a month, but we’ve known each other longer. I was dating someone else, and I realized I was falling for Corrie.”

What a spin artist. As if he’d been the one to end things with Nicole. Two could play at this game. She squeezed his knee. “He wasn’t just dating someone, he was engaged. And then he somehow thought it would be okay to invite me over the same day they broke it off and try to kiss me.”

“You kissed me back, if I recall.” He turned to look at her, his eyes daring her to deny it.

“That’s not how I remember it.” She looked away, irritated that he’d make fun of her reaction to his kiss. “Would you like something to eat, sweetie?”

He must have suspected he was very close to sending her over the edge, because even though he was likely starving, he shook his head. “I’ll get something in a few minutes. Why don’t you go eat, babe?”

She heard Ed laugh as she walked around the corner. “I don’t think she’s over you being engaged to someone else.”

Preston sighed in response. “Don’t I know it.”

***

Preston waited another ten minutes before venturing into the kitchen and sitting next to Ella. The place had cleared out considerably, and Corrie was at the sink doing dishes. He had really hoped to milk this fake boyfriend thing, finally getting to be as affectionate as he wanted. He could picture himself coming up behind Corrie and sweeping away her hair to kiss the back of her neck. She’d turn around and kiss him fully, amid a chorus of whistles and pleas for them to get a room.

Someone cleared their throat across the table from him, and he tore his eyes away from Corrie.

One of Corrie’s sisters was smiling at him. Not Susannah, since he’d just met her.

“I know you’re Preston, but I haven’t had a chance to introduce myself. I’m Dianna, the oldest.” She looked down at Ella, covered in orange dust from eating too many Cheetos. “Corrie is great with kids. I think you’ve found a real keeper. I mean, look at her over there. She’s been here a half-hour, and she’s already tackling the dishes.”

A dish clanged in the sink, but Preston didn’t dare turn around to look. “Yep, Corrie’s great.”

Dianna brought her plate to the sink and left the kitchen, taking a little boy with her who whined for more chips. “But she gets to eat as many as she wants!” he said, pointing at Ella. He did not win the argument.

Preston got up and went to Corrie at the sink. Even from behind, he could tell by the hunch of her shoulders that she was not happy. If her sisters talked her up like that to every date, he could only imagine how much Corrie dreaded them.

Except for Ella and her endless Cheetos fest, they were now alone in the kitchen. Almost everyone else was playing an impromptu game of kickball in the backyard. They could see them through the kitchen window. Corrie’s dad had a big round belly, but he made it around the bases like a pro. He scissor-jumped across home base, just missing getting tagged by the ball.

“I like your family.”

She gave a little huff.

He found her hands in the suds and pulled them out, drying them on a towel by the sink. Then he wrapped them around his neck and held her. She resisted at first, but she started to relax, bit by bit, until he heard a sob.

“Hey, now. Have I ruined your trip already?”

She shook her head into his chest.

“Do you want me to go? Ella and I can change our flight if you want.” It was a lame offer. Ella had just endured a three-hour flight, and it wasn’t likely Corrie would send her on another one the same day.

She shook her head again, not meeting his eyes. He would have held her like that forever, but Ella came up, showing off her orange hands. “Can I have a hug too?”

He smiled down at her. “Of course, just a minute.”

Corrie pulled away from him and lifted Ella up to the sink, washing her hands. Then she handed her off to Preston for her promised hug.

An older woman came in the door, someone he assumed was Corrie’s mom, Joanna. Her face lit up when she saw him, and he had to go through the introductions all over again. It was less fun this time because he knew how much Corrie hated the assumptions about him. Joanna gushed about how cute the three of them looked together, and Corrie cringed.

Maybe they should have gone with the friend story and let everyone gossip about them behind their backs. Corrie probably would have preferred that to the open excitement in everyone’s faces.

“Come out and play with us,” Joanna offered. “I’m sure Ella would like that. All the cousins are outside.”

Ella clung to Preston’s leg, but Corrie surprised him by agreeing and walking outside. He picked up Ella and followed.

One of the brothers-in-law assigned them to teams. Preston and Ella headed to the outfield, while Corrie got in line to kick.

Ed was up next, and he lobbed the kickball over the fence into the neighbor’s yard, amid a host of groans. He ran over and jumped the fence, coming back a minute later with the ball and tried kicking again. He was too cautious with his second kick, and his grounder was easily scooped up and thrown to first base.

Preston spent most of the game chasing Ella, who was chasing the three family dogs, and occasionally blocking her from being hit when she attempted to catch a speeding kickball. Corrie chatted with family members. Occasionally, he’d catch her looking at him, and they’d share exasperated smiles. But she didn’t come talk to him.

He hated this feeling of not knowing where he stood with her. This trip was supposed to show her how much he cared, but maybe all it did was show her that he was impulsive and not to be trusted. After all, he’d gotten engaged while falling for someone else. That alone was unforgivable.

And now once again, he hadn’t thought things through. He had jumped at the chance to surprise her, even though Corrie had told him repeatedly how much being around her family caused her stress and made her feel like she didn’t fit in. This was the wrong time and the wrong place for the unexpected. He’d have to do his best not to screw things up worse. It was hard though, because the little bit of affection they shared in the house only had him wanting more.

***

Corrie knew her mom would insist on having them stay in the guest bedrooms, and sure enough, after the kickball game, she cornered Preston and had him bring all the luggage in and haul it upstairs. His suggestion that they could stay in a nearby hotel fell on deaf ears.

Corrie followed them up just as her mom was steering Preston into Dianna’s old bedroom. “You can stay on the queen bed in here.” She turned and saw Corrie standing there. “Do you think Ella would mind sharing a room with you, Corrie? I have two twin beds in your old room, and they’re all set up with clean sheets.”

Of course Ella wouldn’t mind. Not that her family knew that. “That sounds great, Mom.”

“I’ll just leave you two up here to get settled.”

Corrie was tempted to follow after her mom, but Preston was watching her with wary eyes, more unsure of himself than she’d ever seen him. She knew he needed some kind of reassurance that he wasn’t making himself a nuisance, even if he kind of was.

Against her better judgment, she walked over and sat next to him on the edge of the bed. It shouldn’t have made her nervous. They were friends, and she trusted him, but ever since that kiss at the front door, she was back to being skittish. It wasn’t a good feeling.

She reached out and brushed a strand of his hair back from his forehead. He was ready for a haircut.

He turned and gave her a shy smile. “Can I see your old bedroom? Does it look like this one in here with all the trophies on the shelves?” Dianna had been quite the athlete. The rest of the room looked like a regular guest bedroom, but the trophies had stayed.

“I don’t have any trophies in mine, but I’ll show you anyway. Come on.”

She stood, resisting the urge to reach out and take his hand, and led the way to her bedroom where she and Ella would be staying. Preston picked up her bag along with Ella’s things and followed.

It had been a year since she’d been in here, but her track and field bibs were still in place, lined up along the walls in one long row. Her whimsical dresser with its painted drawer knobs stood in the corner.

Preston walked closer, examining the bibs. “Hurdles?”

“Yep. It was my favorite event. And no one else was really interested in it at our school, so I could pretend to be good at it, at least until the meets against other schools.”

He turned to look at her, his eyes going down to take in her long legs before meandering up to her face.

Her face grew warm. “Knock it off.”

“You’re beautiful, Corrie. Inside and out. You know that, right?” He sat down on one of the twin beds and reached out to tug her over to sit next to him.

She clutched her hands together, wishing she understood why he’d pick right now to say those kinds of things.

“What can I do to help you, Corrie?” He nudged her shoulder, looking worried.

Now was the time for honesty, while no one else was around. “We can continue this charade about you being my boyfriend for the weekend, but please don’t kiss me again.”

Preston’s eyes widened. “Was it that bad?”

“That’s not what I’m saying.”

“What are you saying then?” Preston leaned in, his arm coming around her. “What if there’s mistletoe?”

Leave it to him to turn something serious into a joke.

“It’s July.”

“What if your family wants to play spin the bottle, or reenact a scene from Romeo and Juliet?”

She smiled, glad he wasn’t offended by her request, but also freaked out by the little bit of challenge she detected in his voice.

“I can guarantee you neither of those things is going to happen.”

“What if you kiss me?” he asked, softer this time.

She froze. Sitting here with him, it didn’t sound that farfetched of an idea. If she just turned her head a little she could do what the goosebumps up and down her arms were already telling her she wanted. But there was too much at stake for playing around and letting real feelings mingle with things he didn’t mean.

She scooted away. “Preston, please.”

He nodded and stood up. “Okay, I promise. I’ll go check on Ella.”

Chapter 23

Well, that couldn’t have been any clearer. When a girl tells you not to kiss her, there’s little you can do but back off.

Preston tried not to panic or be offended, but honestly, he felt like he’d been punched in the gut. He loved Corrie. He wanted to spend the rest of his life making her happy, and to his surprise, that didn’t scare him at all, except possibly thinking it might never happen.

He had to be patient, to think of the long game. Corrie had asked him not to kiss her again, and he wouldn’t. Not on this trip anyway. When they got back, all bets were off.

“Hey, Preston.” Dianna pulled him aside as soon as he reached the bottom of the stairs. “Brianna and I are going to be spending most of the night in the kitchen baking cupcakes for tomorrow’s anniversary party. And my parents are planning on watching a movie with all the grandkids in the den. Why don’t you and Corrie go have a night out and let Ella stay here?”

“Oh, that’s definitely a question for Corrie.” He doubted she’d want to go out with him after what she’d just said.

“Spoken like a smart man.” Dianna looked over at her husband, sitting on the arm of the couch. “You could learn a thing or two from him.”

Dianna’s husband looked up at Preston. They hadn’t officially met yet, but Dianna’s husband, Alex, was a quiet guy with a dry sense of humor, which Preston could appreciate.

“When Preston’s been married for at least ten years, we’ll talk about giving lessons on women.” Alex held out his fist, and Preston bumped it.

Preston looked around for Ella and found her coloring with a bunch of the other kids. They had a bucket of crayons in the middle of a circular table and they’d pass their crayon to the kid on their left when they were done with it. Dianna explained that it was a silly game they’d played as sisters, and now the cousins liked to play it together. Ella smiled up at him and went back to her coloring book. At least someone was happy to be here.

He sat down on the couch with his phone and started Googling places nearby, in case Corrie did want to go out. He hated bowling alleys, he knew she’d been on a laser tag date with Vance, and if they went to a movie, it would be too easy for her to ignore him.

Scrolling through possible ideas in Des Moines, he saw an ad for a place called Adventureland. He looked up at Dianna. “Does Corrie like roller coasters?”

“I don’t know. She hated them as a kid.” She looked up the stairs. “Corrie, do you like roller coasters?”

Corrie was coming down, and he quickly went back to staring at his phone to keep from staring at her. She’d changed her clothes. She looked great in a tight pair of jeans and a short-sleeved sweater.

“I love roller coasters. Why?”

Dianna rubbed her hands together and squealed. “Because you’re going out on a date tonight.”

“What? With who?” Corrie looked around in a panic.

“With Preston, you goose. Brianna and I are making cupcakes, and Mom and Dad are watching a movie with all the kids.”

Corrie glared at him like somehow this was his fault. “I can stay and help with cupcakes.”

Dianna shook her head. “No way. You’re always the one who stays. I insist. Take Preston to Adventureland, and go make out in line. That’s what Alex and I did for our anniversary last year.” She high-fived her husband. “It was so much fun grossing out the teenagers.”

Corrie came to sit next to Preston on the couch and leaned into his ear. “I leave you alone for one minute, and you’re back to boyfriend mode?”

He turned so that his lips were almost touching her earlobe. Partly because he didn’t want to be overheard. “Dianna suggested we go out. I told her I’d have to check with you. That was Dianna’s method of checking with you.”

“Well, okay then.” She straightened and stood up. “In that case, I’ll go get my purse. I don’t know if we’d have enough time at Adventureland before it closes. What about bowling?”

“Bowling?” Dianna shook her head. “Corrie, that is so unromantic. Why don’t the two of you just head to Chuck-e-Cheese, while you’re at it?”

“Chuck-e-Cheese is better than the fabric store.” Alex shuddered. “That’s where we went on our last date.”

Diana gave Alex a dirty look. “We went to dinner first. I only needed to get a few skeins of yarn.”

“And stickers. We were in the sticker aisle for a half-hour.”

“Preston.” Corrie motioned for him to follow her upstairs, leaving Dianna and Alex to finish their argument.

“Did you pack Ella a dress? And do you have dress slacks and a button-down shirt for tomorrow?”

He shook his head. It sounded like roller coasters would definitely have to wait for another trip. “I take it the party tomorrow night is formal?”

“Well… It’s supposed to replicate my parents’ wedding reception from forty years ago. My sisters have been working on it for months. They looked at old pictures and tried to find similar decorations. They’ll have a dance floor and a receiving line. So, no, you can’t wear jeans and neither can Ella.”

They went back to her old bedroom, and Corrie inspected Ella’s wardrobe. “I guess we’ll have to get shoes for her too. That won’t be expensive for Ella, but what about you? Maybe you can borrow some. What size are you?”

“Can’t I wear my boots? It’s not like I’ll be in a tux.”

She studied his shoes. “We can polish them up tomorrow. I guess those would be fine.”

He put his hands on her arms. “Can I at least take you to dinner before you go all motherly on me, picking out my outfit?”

She took a step back. His joke had offended her somehow, but she was trying not to show it. She turned and walked down the hall to Dianna’s bedroom, and he quickly followed, watching her zip open his suitcase and take out shirts, smoothing them before hanging them up in the closet.

“Corrie, look at me.”

She shook her head. “No. I just need a minute. I’ll meet you downstairs in a few.”

He wanted to fix it right now, but he’d already stuck his foot in his mouth. He wished he wasn’t so good at it. He left to go brush his teeth and then went downstairs, trying to act like nothing was bothering him in front of her family. Why did he keep making things worse?

***

She had to stop this. Acting all moody and insecure had been Nicole’s thing. No wonder that girl was so miserable all the time. It was exhausting. Corrie couldn’t change this. She couldn’t undo Preston showing up and acting like her boyfriend, so she just needed to make the best of it. When had they ever had a night out to themselves?

She sat on the bed and texted Lina, hoping she had her phone nearby.

Help! I need guy advice.

Lina chimed back almost instantly. Sweet. Is this Preston related? Wait. I thought you were in Iowa this weekend.

I am. He came with.

Squeeeee!

Not Squeee. I’m a mess and he’s seeing all my messiness.

Messiness? Like you admitted you’re desperately in love with him?

Not exactly. I told him to back off.

What!?! No! Why?

This was followed by several crying emojis and Corrie laughed, even though she felt like crying for real. What was wrong with her?

What if he’s just messing with me?

Preston is not Ben. Guys don’t go meet the fam unless they care. Besides, you guys have Ella. You have to make it work.

And that was the problem. They did have to make it work. And things would be a lot easier on Ella if they ended up together, rather than with other people. Had Preston come to that conclusion too?

Corrie thanked Lina and put the phone down. The knot in her stomach grew just thinking about it. Preston was stuck with her, and that was less romantic than a night at the fabric store.

He’d said it himself, she was kind of this mother figure holding them all together. What if someday that left him feeling trapped?

She forced herself off the bed and went downstairs. Talking to Lina about this hadn’t helped at all, but that didn’t matter. The goal was still the same: getting through this weekend without any more emotional theatrics. She found Preston and let him know she was ready to go. She didn’t blink an eye at all the teasing from her family as they went to the front door. She even tugged on Preston’s hand and held it until they were outside.

“Do you like barbecue?” she asked him.

“Of course.”

Preston smiled at her, and she could see the relief in his face that she was in a better mood. She didn’t even have to fake it. Just being alone with him, away from her family and their assumptions was easing her stress.

“Great. I know a place with awesome ribs. Let’s go get messy.”

She played navigator while he drove, and they went into the noisy restaurant together and waited against a wall for a booth to open up.

“I’m sorry for what I said earlier. You’re not motherly.”

She shook her head. “No more apologizing. I am motherly. It’s okay. Let’s just go back to being friends, okay?”

He pushed himself off the wall and moved to face her, one hand coming up to rest above her head. Her heartbeat sped up as he moved his face with hers to keep her from looking anywhere but right at him. His blue eyes drilled into hers.

“I will be whatever you want me to be on this trip. But after we get home, we’re having a real conversation about where we stand, and I make no promises about kisses, or apologies, or anything else. Deal?”

“Deal.” She took a deep breath. He was still staring at her so intently. And it didn’t matter that dozens of conversations were going on all around them or that the whole place smelled like barbecue sauce. Right then it was just the two of them locked in a silent standoff.

Her fingers itched to reach up and smooth that angry look off his face. She should have let him apologize for the motherly comment. But then the hostess called for them, and they followed her to a booth in the back.

***

Corrie sat across from him, staring at her menu, and Preston had no idea what to say after that deal he’d forced on her. He didn’t regret it. Every time she told him she wanted to be friends, he wanted to confront her on it, make her tell him the truth. He knew very well she didn’t really want to be just friends. So what was holding her back? And when would she let that fear go?

The waiter came over and took their drink orders, and then the silence grew. A TV was on behind Corrie blaring sports highlights, and it took all Preston’s willpower not to watch it.

She looked up at him and caught him glancing at the TV.

“It’s okay, you know. I don’t mind if you watch sports while we eat.”

“Nope.” He’d had enough of ignoring each other. He reached across and tapped her hand. “Tell me about your family. I’m still trying to get everyone figured out. Who is Ed married to?”

“Ed is Susannah’s husband. They have two kids, a girl Ella’s age and the baby boy you saw Ed carrying around.”

“And Dianna is married to Alex. How many kids do they have?”

“Four.”

“And Brianna? Her husband must be the mustache guy.”

Corrie almost snorted her lemonade. “Brianna hates it so much. They have an agreement that he can keep it until Thanksgiving Day, but I know she’s tempted to shave it off while he sleeps.”

He kept asking her more questions up until their food arrived, enjoying her stories and the way her eyes would light up when she remembered something funny. They both plowed through a plate of ribs and a gorgeous loaded mountain of mashed potatoes.

He moaned when it was time to get up. “I’m so full. I think you might need to roll me out of here.”

Corrie snickered. “Maybe we should have had you try on pants before dinner.”

“Accurate but mean.”

He put his arm around her, and they headed out of the restaurant and back to their rental car. He drove over to a nearby department store as directed by Corrie. He would have bought the first pair of pants he tried on, but Corrie made him compare them with three other pairs and then they started matching up shirts.

“Sorry. I know I’m driving you crazy.” She looked up from the two white shirts in her hands. “But, if you have to buy these, we should find ones that fit and look nice so you can use them again.” She turned and spotted a sale rack of ties and started holding up ties against the shirts.

He hated clothes shopping. He’d hated it as a kid too. Wearing a tie was voluntary strangulation as far as he was concerned, but he liked watching Corrie. She had this little smile for when she liked something, and a terrible poker face for when he picked out something she didn’t approve of. He would not make any stupid comments about her mothering him again. Besides, this was more like husband and wife territory, using their date night to go run errands.

“What are you wearing tomorrow night?” He pointed to a display across the aisle where a headless mannequin was showing off a black dress that hit mid-thigh. He was picturing Corrie in it. She had great legs.

“Nothing like that. I have a maxi skirt and blouse. Anything else would be a wrinkled mess in my duffle bag.”

“What’s a maxi skirt?”

“It’s long and fitted but flows around the legs. Stretchy, like that one.” She went and grabbed a flowered skirt off the rack to show him.

He wrinkled his nose. “Looks like something a teacher would wear.”

“I am a teacher.”

“I know. I mean something a teacher would wear to school. You could probably sit cross-legged in that for circle time and not flash anything.”

She crossed her arms. “That’s a good thing, Preston.”

He was so getting into trouble, but he wasn’t quite ready to back off. “I’m not saying you won’t look hot in a maxi skirt. But hey, I tried on four pairs of pants for you. You won’t try on one little dress for me?”

“You want me to try on that dress?” She started blushing. “I thought we agreed this was a friendly trip to the store. Motherly, even.”

“Friends try on stuff together.”

She shoved the pants, shirt, and tie they’d picked out into his arms and went over to the rack of dresses. “Go sit in that chair over there and don’t move.”

She found her size and disappeared into the dressing room for a long time.

Chapter 24

This was not the dress for her. She didn’t quite fill out the top enough, and though the bottom flared out nicely, it exposed a lot more of her legs than she was used to. She couldn’t help picturing Nicole in this dress. She’d totally rock it, with a wicked set of heels to go with.

But those doubts were not her friends, and they certainly wouldn’t help her leave this dressing room with her head held high. Or leave this dressing room at all. What was Preston thinking?

She finally uncrossed her arms, forcing them to her sides by sheer will and walked out. Preston looked up, and she tried her hardest not to blush as he broke out in a slow smile.

“You look beautiful.”

He sounded like he meant it, and she felt a little better. But not enough to hang out and chat. She did one twirl and hightailed it back into the dressing room. Her first foray into fashion modeling had lasted all of four seconds.

When she came back out in her jeans and sweater, she couldn’t quite meet his eyes. “Let’s go find an outfit for Ella. Follow me.”

She hurried over to the kid's section and started flipping through a rack of sale dresses.

Preston followed, looking pensive. He didn’t tease her about the black dress, or even try to talk her into buying it. He just got to work helping her look for something pink and sparkly and not too expensive for Ella. They found the perfect dress and a pair of shoes to match and headed to the register with everything.

Corrie felt terrible about the total, but at least none of it was for her. Preston ran his credit card and then held open the door for her.

Back at her parent’s house, they went up to check on Ella and found her fast asleep on a twin bed in Corrie’s old room. Her hair was in several ponytails, and her nails were painted pink, indicating that some kind of makeover had happened while they were gone. Corrie hung up Ella’s new dress and left the closet door open so Ella would see it when she woke up in the morning.

“I guess I’ll get ready for bed too.” She looked over at Preston, noting the frown lines deepening in his forehead. This would probably not go down as his favorite date, and that thought depressed her more than she wanted to admit. Since when did she give up so easily on something she really wanted? Was this how she wanted to lose him? By being a coward?

She had some thinking to do. She went over and kissed his cheek before walking out. “Thanks for dinner.”

She changed into pajamas and brushed her teeth in the bathroom. When she got out, Preston’s door was closed, and she let out a sigh. She was disappointing him and disappointing herself. It took a long time to fall asleep. She kept picturing herself in that black dress.

The next morning, when Dianna started whining about needing more rustic wire to bend into hearts, Corrie volunteered to run to the craft store. She stopped at the department store on the way back and started trying on dresses.

***

“Brianna, have you seen Corrie?”

“I’m Susannah.” She immediately put her hand out before Preston could apologize. “It’s fine. The running joke growing up was that the next kid would be named Banana. Thank goodness my parents stopped at four.” She glanced around. “I haven’t seen Corrie in a while. I’m sure she’s helping with something for the reception. Here, let me straighten your tie.”

He let Susannah fuss over him and then escaped back upstairs to try to help Ella with her hair. But eventually, he turned that over to a sister to fix as well.

He walked out into the hallway and saw Corrie coming out of the bathroom, running a brush slowly through her loose curls. She was wearing the most stunning red dress he’d ever seen. Something you definitely couldn’t pull out of a duffle bag. Had she bought that for him?

“Wow, go give that girl a kiss,” Susannah gushed. “She looks amazing.”

He headed toward Corrie, not sure what the rules were when one person was encouraging him to kiss her, and Corrie had told him in no uncertain terms that he shouldn’t. But Corrie’s eyes weren’t telling him no, and his hormones won out. He slid his hands around her waist, not caring that he was about to mess up that red lipstick.

As he pulled her in, her arms wrapped around his neck and her lips met his, reminding him of their heady first kiss. Only this time, he took his sweet time, teasing her with his lips, trying in every way possible to let her know how much he loved her, how much he wanted her. When the hoots and whistles started, he broke away and touched his forehead to hers, rubbing his hands down her arms.

Corrie reached up and wiped her thumb across his lips, concentrating on cleaning him off rather than meeting his eyes. Her face was flushed a nice shade of red.

“You got a little too.” He wiped a little bit off her upper lip and enjoyed her utter embarrassment.

Susannah walked over with a package of baby wipes and held one out to Corrie. “You might want to skip the lipstick tonight in case that happens again. Here’s a wipe, dear.”

Preston glanced back and saw Ella watching from her doorway, her mouth hanging open. “Are you guys getting married?” she asked.

Corrie’s smile immediately disappeared, and she took a step back from Preston. He’d just gotten Corrie to let him kiss her. This was not the next conversation to have.

Corrie moved past him and knelt down in front of Ella. “We’re not getting married, baby. We’re just good friends.”

He came down to join them, taking Ella in his arms. “Corrie and I care about each other a lot. Just like we care about you.”

Corrie glanced away. “Let’s get going. We need to get to the reception hall and help set up chairs.”

He followed, knowing the conversation was far from over, but he’d have to fight to get it. He put Ella in her booster seat and helped Corrie into the passenger side, tucking her dress in before closing the door. It was only a five-minute drive, and Corrie spent the whole time wringing her hands.

He reached over and took one. “Corrie, I do care.” He wanted to say love, but not here in the car with Ella. Corrie wouldn’t be free to be honest in return.

She shook her head. “I was afraid of this. I don’t ever want you to feel stuck with me because of a little girl’s expectations.”

“What does that even mean?”

“We’ll talk later.” Corrie got out and ran into the reception hall. By the time he came in the door with Ella, Corrie was side by side with Brianna, stringing lights.

He guided Ella over to the table where they were blowing up balloons and let her play with the ones on the floor while he made more. Later couldn’t come soon enough.

***

Corrie was so happy for her parents. They loved everything about their party and had spent most of it cheek to cheek on the dance floor. Ella was out there too, her shiny shoes on top of Preston’s boots.

Dianna nudged her. “That sweet little girl is hogging your date. Has anyone offered her cake yet?”

“No interfering, Dianna. I’m okay.”

Dianna studied Corrie’s face, not buying it. “You didn’t put on that red dress to stand behind a refreshment table all night. Give me two minutes to go all Hansel and Gretel on her, and once she’s seated with cake and dinner mints you go make your move.”

Dianna didn’t wait for permission. She grabbed a slice of cake and headed straight for Ella, guiding her over to a kids table.

Preston stuck his hands in his pockets and walked off the dance floor, looking like he wasn’t sure what to do with himself now. This wasn’t his party. He was here for her.

That thought echoed in her head the entire walk over to him. He’s here for me.

She slid her hand into his. “Care to dance?”

His eyes twinkled. “They unchained you from the refreshment table?”

“I unchained myself.”

He led her to the dance floor, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, resting her head on his chest. “I’m sorry, Preston.”

His lips touched the top of her head. “For what?”

“For everything. I’m such a coward when it comes to you. I’m so afraid.”

He lifted her chin and looked into her eyes. She saw mischief and love there. Both scared her.

“Let’s not have this conversation here. Follow me.” He led her off the dance floor and out a side door.

“What about Ella?”

“She’ll be fine. When Dianna came with cake she told me she’d keep an eye on her.”

The trees outside were decorated with white lights, and he led her under the biggest one, keeping his fingers linked with hers.

“Tell me what you’re so afraid of, Corrie.”

She ducked her head. “I’m afraid it won’t work between us, and we’ll break Ella’s heart. Or that you’ll stick it out just to avoid that. I don’t want you to be with me because you think it’s best for Ella. I want you to find love.”

“I have found love.” He leaned down and kissed her, a slow, soul-stirring kiss that dropped all thoughts from her head for several minutes.

“But—”

“When you said you wanted to be friends, I was willing to play along, jump through whatever hoops you asked for. But I was already there, waiting for you to be ready for more. I love you. I love you with everything I have.” He held her gaze, infusing her with the words. “Do you need me to say it again? I love you, Corrie. I don’t want anyone else. No one else is going to come along. I wouldn’t want them to. You are the best person for me, Ella or no Ella.”

She put a hand to her mouth, overwhelmed by emotion, and he kissed it, before pulling her hand away and lifting it into dance position. “Should we finish this dance?”

She nodded and relished in the feel of his hand on her hip, the gentle pressure swaying them side to side. He twirled her in a circle, and her heel stuck in the grass, making her almost fall. She laughed and took her shoes off.

Preston cocked his head, studying her. “So, is this a one-sided thing? You still stringing Vance along?”

She smacked his arm. “What?”

He shrugged, trying not to grin. “I don’t know. I just told you I loved you. What if all I get back is a ‘good for you’ or something.”

She considered being snarky, but his words had changed everything, and he deserved to hear them too. “I love you, Preston. Only you.” Tears were coming and she brushed them away, feeling embarrassed, but also feeling like she could fly.

He fingered a strand of her hair. “Tonight is the start of us, okay?”

She smiled. “The start of us. I like the sound of that.”

Epilogue

“Are you ready, Ella?” Corrie came in to find Ella twirling in front of the mirror in her bedroom. She was wearing the same pink sparkly dress they’d bought for the anniversary party, only today was even more special. “You look beautiful. I think the princess crown is a nice touch.”

Ella turned and curtsied for Corrie. “It’s my adoption day.”

“I know. We’re going down to the courthouse, and the judge is going to make it official. Preston is going to be your forever family.”

Ella smiled like she knew a secret. “So are you, Corrie. You’re going to be part of my forever family too.”

Before Corrie could protest, Ella held out something on the palm of her hand. Something sparkly. Corrie drew closer, wondering what Ella had found and worried that they wouldn’t find its owner. Was it a diamond earring?

No. That was definitely a ring. She picked it up, marveling at the gleaming gold band with the gorgeous circle cut diamond in the middle. Ella looked behind her, and Corrie whirled around to find Preston in the doorway, down on one knee.

“Corrie, we have a question for you.” His eyes were sparkling, and she started to shake. The two most important people in her life wanted her with them always.

She went and knelt in front of Preston, pulling Ella onto her lap.

Preston laughed. “I don’t think that’s how this is supposed to work.”

Corrie tilted her head. “You had a question for me?”

Ella bounced on Corrie’s lap. “Yeah, Preston. Tell her!”

He leaned in, giving Corrie a soft kiss that whispered of more to come later. “I was hoping you would marry me. What do you think?”

Corrie lifted up Ella and stood her next to them, smoothing out the little girl’s dress before leaning into Preston. “I think I love you. And yes, I will most definitely marry you.”

She gave him the ring, and he carefully slid it onto her hand before pulling her into a hug. Ella joined in the fun, jumping on his back in her poufy dress. “Pillow fight!”

“Hey!” Preston complained. “Don’t we have somewhere we need to be, ladies?”

“Oh yeah. Let’s go, guys.” Ella jumped off his back and ran down the hall toward the front door, her little shoes clattering across the tile.

Corrie didn’t waste the opportunity to wrap her arms around Preston and give him a much longer kiss, one that left them both breathless.

“Ella didn’t mind sharing her day?” she asked as she finally pulled away.

He grinned. “She helped me plan it. I even took her with me to the jewelry store to pick out the ring. You’re stuck with us, Corrie, whether you want it or not.”

“How terrible for me.” She smiled up at him and kissed him again, lost in the moment until Ella came back to drag them out the door, her hand in each of theirs.

Her Charming Distraction

_______________________________________

Paige Parker has no time for romance. She’s too busy building up her house-flipping business. But when a charming guy comes between her and the house she wants, Paige is a little more torn than she expected. For a girl who’s always gone with her firm business sense, she’s not sure how to trust her heart.

Chapter 1

Shaun Randall could spot a bad date from a mile away, and this one at a nearby table was obviously not going well. The guy’s first mistake was bringing a girl to a sports bar. He sat where he could watch the game, while his date toyed with her lemonade.

The football game only mildly interested Shaun, and he couldn’t help checking back, more and more certain this was their first or second date, and not a girlfriend/boyfriend situation. There was definitely an awkward newness vibe going on between the two. Plus, she was way too dressed up for a sports bar, while the guy was in cargo shorts and a T-shirt. Watching her date down his third beer and order another one gave Shaun the push he needed.

Thanks to his six foot, four inch height and his bright red hair, Shaun stood out for all the wrong reasons. He was not the best-looking guy there. But he did have one gift, and that was understanding women and how to talk to them. It didn’t always mean he said the right thing. He liked messing with people almost as much as he liked flirting. In this case, he could do both. He took a last sip of his Coke and went to make his move. If things went badly, it would be a fun story for later.

He planted his hands on their table and waited until she noticed him. “Hi, cuz. I’m so glad I found you. Your mom’s been trying to get a hold of you. Is your phone on silent?”

Dark brown eyes framed in long lashes stared at him, her forehead knotting in confusion. She was even more beautiful up close.

“Hey, man, you’re blocking the TV.” Her date weaved his head around him, groaning when the play didn’t go the way he wanted.

“Oh, you’re right.” The girl held up her phone, hiding a slight smile. “I did miss some calls. Jeremy, I need to go. Sorry to cut our date short.”

Jeremy looked at Shaun and then at her, finally paying attention. “Come on. I need you to be my designated driver. And who’s this guy?”

“My … cousin.” She pulled out a couple of bills and dropped them on the table. “Call a cab. It’s on me. Sorry the date didn’t work out.” She strode off, throwing her purse strap over one shoulder, and Shaun had to jog to catch up.

She glanced back at him. “Look, dude. I had it under control. I’d already texted my sister to come pick me up. But it’s nice to know I’m not the only one who thought that blind date wasn’t going well.”

Shaun pushed open the heavy front door of the restaurant and held it open for her. “No prob. Just trying to be helpful.”

She sat down on a cement bench outside and hugged her purse. “Thanks, but I’m good now. My sister is only five minutes away.”

She spoke with confidence, but her hunched shoulders told him she was nervous. The light over the bench flickered, and the guys hanging out for a smoke nearby were potentially worse companions than her blind date.

Shaun cocked his head. “Actually five minutes away or is this your way of telling me you’d rather sit here in the dark by yourself for a half-hour?” She turned to glare at him, and he threw up his hands. “Never mind, I’ll go.” It had been a stupid idea. This girl was not the type to want or need rescuing, and he was no hero.

He turned to head back inside when her deep sigh made him pause at the door.

“Okay. Have a seat.”

Shaun looked back, and she patted the spot next to her. “Come on, cousin. You’re right. My sister doesn’t get off work for another ten minutes, and it’ll take her at least another ten to get here. Come introduce yourself. I know you want to.”

He sat down, making sure to leave ample space between them. She wasn’t exactly the warmest personality he’d ever encountered. “I’m Shaun Randall. I like watching sports but I’m too cheap to pay for the extra cable channels. I used to go to my best friend’s house for the games, but he recently married and has suddenly lost interest in TV. So, here I am. What about you?”

“You’re missing the basketball game.”

He shrugged. “What can I say? I like women more than sports.”

She shook her head. “I gave you a perfect opening to say something sweet, and all you can say is you like women?”

“I’m also unfailingly honest.”

That earned him a laugh.

“Says the guy who claims to be my cousin.”

Shaun wasn’t sure whether to be irritated or intrigued. This girl didn’t give an inch. “So, do I get a name and a story?”

She looked him over before nodding. “Okay. I’m Paige Parker. I let my crazy aunt set me up with her hair dresser’s son, and now I’m going to block his number and go home to put my feet up.”

They grinned at each other. Shaun admired the two dimples in her flawless tan skin, the way her dark hair flowed effortlessly over her shoulders, landing midway down her back. That familiar thrill at meeting someone new still got to him. Though it never ended well or lasted long, what he’d said was true. There was nothing he liked more than women.

***

Paige Parker was relieved to see her sister’s headlights, but she had to admit, talking with Shaun hadn’t been half bad. They hadn’t exchanged numbers, and she’d likely never see him again, so when he gave her a farewell fist bump, she did something she never did. She leaned over and planted one on him. She’d meant to give him a small peck, something to reward him for not trying anything himself, but the moment her lips touched his it turned into something more. His hand slid behind her head and she leaned in closer, reveling in the feeling of his fingers in her hair. Man, this guy could kiss.

Her sister honked, and Paige pulled back, embarrassed at being so forward. “See you, Shaun.”

She ran and got into her sister’s car and slammed the door. “Okay, Ashley. Let’s go.”

Ashley didn’t take her foot off the brake. She crossed her arms, looking annoyed. “You said you were having the worst blind date ever and please, please come. I drove past the dry cleaners, even though they close in five minutes and I need my clothes.”

“Um, that guy’s not my blind date.”

Shaun was watching them from the bench, looking amused, as if he knew exactly what kind of conversation they were having. He waved at Ashley, and she waved back, checking him out.

“So, who is he? And why isn’t he driving you home?”

“Please move. I promise I’ll tell you everything after we leave this parking lot.” Paige willed her eyes to stare straight ahead. Why had she kissed him? That was so not like her. She felt all twisty inside, both insanely proud that she’d done something impulsive, but also filled with anxiety about it.

Ashley finally relented and pulled away, turning down a row towards the exit. She looked in the rearview mirror. “Last chance. Sure you don’t want to go back?”

Paige rested her head against the seat and sighed. “Positive. Oh, and word of advice. Never let Aunt Terrie set you up with anyone.”

“Well, duh. But I don’t want to hear about that. I want to hear about Mr. Park Bench. I’m not really into red-heads, but I’d make an exception for him.”

Paige rubbed her forehead. “It’s no big deal. He saw me having a miserable time and came over to our table, claiming he was my cousin. So, I let him walk me out. That’s pretty much it.”

“And the making out?”

Paige turned to look at Ashley. “It’s just … He didn’t come off as pushy or smarmy or creepy. He was a nice guy trying to help, and I wasn’t nice about it at first. So, I figured, what the heck. I’ll never see him again anyway.”

Ashley rolled her eyes. “I don’t get you. Instead of asking for his number, you are all about this epic moment in time. You’ll never have a real relationship if you keep doing this.”

“Doing what?” Paige took a deep breath, pushing down her annoyance. After all, Ashley had sacrificed a dry cleaning run to come get her.

“Assuming you’re too busy to date. Or too above it. I know you don’t want to end up alone any more than I do. Are you ever gonna call that contractor you worked with last month?”

“That would be unprofessional. I was technically his boss.”

Ashley stopped at a red light after turning out of the parking lot. “You told me the two of you got along great, even when the budget got tight and you disagreed on stuff. You said he was the nicest guy you’d ever met, and kinda hot.”

“I was exaggerating. And… it’s been over a month. I wouldn’t know what to say now. Besides, he has my number too.”

Ashley sniffed. “I think you made my point better than I ever could.” She pulled into a fast food drive-thru line. “Sorry, I’m starving. Do you want anything?”

Paige sat back, letting Ashley’s lecture sink in. “No, I’m fine.”

As tired as she was, gorging on fast food would only make this night worse. She wanted to go home and make something delicious and beautiful, just for her. She wanted to forget about that kiss, though her mind kept replaying it the entire ride home.

Chapter 2

Shaun pulled up to his apartment complex and frowned. He hated this place, but since he was saving up to buy a house, it didn’t make sense to splurge on rent.

And there was definitely nothing splurgy about this place. He jogged up the steps to his second-floor apartment, avoiding a dirty diaper someone had left on the top step, and put his key into the lock. He checked for cats before opening his door and quickly shut it behind him. Mrs. H from next door had about a dozen cats and, if he wasn’t careful, they would sometimes slink between his legs and come into his apartment uninvited.

He should probably report her, considering they weren’t allowed to have pets, but the lady was nice, and poor, and lonely. If hoarding cats made her happy, he didn’t want to interfere. As long as they stayed out of his apartment.

He whistled as he tugged off his T-shirt and wadded it up before launching it across the room into the laundry basket. He needed a shower to get the smell of wing sauce and beer off him, but he’d already missed a call from his boss, and he needed to know what was on the docket for tomorrow. He pulled his phone out of his back pocket and dialed.

“Al, sorry I missed your call. What’s up?”

“I need you to take Jackson and Curt and head over to the Brown Tree office complex tomorrow morning. You’ll be pulling up their decorative tile out front. I’ll email you the specs. Some lady tripped and broke her hip. She’s threatening to sue, so it’s back to plain concrete for them. Keep everything taped off. Don’t even let a pigeon poop on that tile tomorrow.”

“Brown Tree? Who thought up that name?”

“Yeah, they’ve got a lot of problems over there. Make sure we’re not one of them.”

“Will do, sir.”

Shaun hung up and immediately sent out texts to Jackson and Curt before hitting the shower. Afterwards, he sat in his boxers on the couch, flipping through channels and trying not to think about Paige. Paige Parker. It wouldn’t be that hard to find a number for her, though that would be going above and beyond stalky. If she wanted him to have her number, she would’ve given it to him.

And did he really want it? He had this perfect, untainted memory of her. He was better on his own. Women were trouble. Relationships were a lot of hassle for something that would eventually go south. He’d seen enough people go through the dramatic ups and downs to know he wanted no part of that. It wasn’t jaded. It was being smart. If he was going to go to the work of a relationship, it would have to be with THE ONE. And no one could ever know he was holding out for something like that. Especially since if he ever found her, she’d likely want nothing to do with someone like him.

He turned to the sports highlights on the ten o’clock news and warmed up a frozen dinner.

***

Paige lifted the perfectly cooked salmon steak and placed it on a bed of seasoned couscous before taking a few pictures with her camera. The asparagus spears were slightly overcooked, but she could perk up the green in the photo before posting it online.

Why had she even agreed to that stupid date? Ashley could tease all she wanted, but she was right. Paige didn’t have time for dating, especially with random strangers. Between work and the hobbies that supported it, she was never without something to do. Take right now, for instance. It might be way past dinner time, but she needed another recipe post for all her social media followers. The fact that she couldn’t wait to devour it was an added bonus. She’d taken one bite of the chicken wings Jeremy had ordered and put the rest back on her plate. They’d been too greasy, too spicy, and too messy to eat on a date without an industrial-size pile of wet wipes.

But this salmon was to die for. She took slow bites, savoring the flavors and picturing in her mind a different kind of date, somewhere nice, quiet conversation, being waited on by someone without three rings through his nose.

Her fantasy was interrupted by Ashley’s ringtone. Paige forlornly put down her fork and picked up her phone.

“Hey, Ash.”

“Why are you still up? I thought you had some really important walk-through first thing tomorrow morning.”

“I do. And if I’d been asleep, this phone call would’ve woken me up, so your lecture is a little ironic. Besides, it’s only eleven. I’m not eighty years old yet.”

“Let me guess, you’re hand-painting lampshades to look like ancient sketches by Leonardo Da Vinci?”

“So close. I’m eating dinner. What do you need?”

“Who says I need anything?”

Paige picked up her fork and stabbed an asparagus spear. “Well, then I’ll talk to you late—”

“Wait. Okay, I do need something, and remember that you owe me.”

“I’m really hoping this has something to do with dry cleaning.”

“Close,” Ashley said with a nervous laugh. “I need you to hire Reid as a subcontractor. I know I mentioned it already, but he’s short on work right now.”

“Ash, I considered it. I did. I even called his references. You know what they all said? They ended up with a color they didn’t want because he gave them attitude about getting more paint swatches to try out.”

“But homeowners are always like that. They want to look at a hundred shades on their wall before they decide.”

“Maybe so, but in this case, I’d be the homeowner, and I don’t want someone to argue with me. I want my paint done right. Besides, I have plenty of good house painters on call. I’m sorry, I can’t hire your boyfriend.”

“All right.” Ashley sighed, sounding defeated.

“Why are you still dating him? Just because you don’t want to be alone doesn’t mean you need to settle. It’s not your responsibility to find him work.”

“Never mind.” Ashley hung up and Paige put her phone down and rubbed her forehead, willing her appetite to come back. She hated fighting with her sister, and yet she couldn’t help saying mean things when provoked. Things that would make Ashley avoid her for the next few days. Ashley was such a logical person, except when it came to dating. And maybe Paige was just as bad. But the difference was that while Ashley soldiered on in bad relationships, Paige chose confident singlehood. And for the moment, she was totally fine with that.

***

Shaun rented a jackhammer trolley and drove to the Brown Tree office complex. The dumpster had been delivered, and Curt and Jackson had already caution-taped around the tile they’d be demolishing. Everything looked perfect, except for the angry man in scrubs coming out of the building, followed by a lady in a wrap dress and four-inch heels. Great, annoyed tenants.
Shaun jumped out of his truck and jogged to meet up with them, hoping he wouldn’t have to call his boss with problems before they’d even started.

Since the tile they’d be removing went all the way up to the front glass doors, they were blocking off access to the businesses inside. None of the offices were open for the day yet, but the two tenants mistakenly thought it was possible for Shaun and his guys to be done by eight. As crew lead, it was Shaun’s job to fix their assumption.

Jackson retreated, mumbling something about needing tools from his truck. He was the type who avoided conflict whenever possible, despite his huge build. Curt, on the other hand, was unconsciously flexing his fists, ready for a fight. Shaun was pretty sure the little guy dabbled in testosterone injections. He was a muscled mass, all five foot three of him.

Shaun pulled up the job order on his phone and showed the two tenants. “This job was requested by the building owner and we answer to him. I’m sorry, but there is no way we’ll be done by eight. If we’re able to work uninterrupted, we should be done today, and the concrete will be cured enough to walk on by mid-day tomorrow. We’ll put in additives to speed up the process, but I swear that’s the fastest we can do.”

The guy in scrubs nodded, not happy with it, but he walked back inside without further argument.

The lady was a different story. “I want to talk to the person in charge.” She tapped her heel on the pavement.

Curt took a step towards her. “And I want a million dollars, but some things just aren’t going to happen. Now head back to your office and let us do our job.”

The woman’s face turned a scary shade of pink. “Excuse me, I’m a clinical psychologist with a six-month waiting list. Who are you?”

Shaun put a hand to Curt’s chest before he could make this worse. “Curt, go to my truck and get the chisels.”

Curt grunted but did as Shaun asked, shooting the lady a dirty look on his way.

Shaun turned back to the woman, using his most charming smile. He relaxed his stance, trying not to look impatient or stressed. Women wanted to be heard and understood before offering solutions even became a possibility. They wanted to be acknowledged. He could see her body language loosen up a fraction to match his.

And his mother never thought his pickup skills would do him any good. “I’m sorry about that. Curt’s great with a jackhammer, but … not exactly a social genius.”

She looked him over. “You seem like a reasonable person. You have to understand, I’m only at this office two days a week and I’m fully booked for today. Can’t you come back tomorrow and tear things up? It will make very little difference to you, but all the difference to me.”

Shaun nodded, letting his concern show. “I wish we could. But we’ve already rented the equipment and that dumpster. They’re coming back to pick it up at the end of the day whether we fill it or not. Those are costs we can’t just absorb. So, if you’d be willing to let patients in through your back door today, it would really help us out. Put up some signs, put a doorstop out, maybe make a temporary reception desk back there. We’ll send anyone who comes up around to the back, letting them know you’re still open. In fact, I need to let the other tenants know that’s the plan. If you’ll excuse me.”

He headed inside the building, waiting for her to object. But, as he’d hoped, she didn’t. He looked back to see the woman scurrying to her office. Back on schedule.

***

Paige put down her phone and let out a squeal. One of the houses in the neighborhood she’d been eyeing for two years was for sale. The lots were gigantic with mature trees and well-kept lawns. One by one, the homes had been updated except for a few that hadn’t changed hands for decades. This was one of them. And if she had it her way, it would be off the market before anyone else noticed it. She called up her home inspector and scheduled him to go look at it that afternoon. If all went well, she’d put in an offer they couldn’t refuse: cash down, no contingencies.

She wished she had someone to share the good news with, but being pretty much a one-woman operation, she had to be content with congratulating herself. After Ashley’s abrupt phone call the night before, it would seem crass to call and tell her.

Ashley didn’t understand how hard it was to be the boss. It was hard to find reliable and respectful workers to do the renovation projects, and even harder to shake loose of the not so reliable ones. They made costly mistakes that kept her up at night, gritting her teeth.

Speaking of, it was probably a good time to check on the Santa Fe style house that needed to get on the market this week. She got in her pickup truck and drove over, relieved to see Alvino’s work truck in the driveway. That meant the flooring was going in.

She leaned in through the open door. “Is this safe to step on?” she called out. The wood flooring was done and looked amazing.

Alvino peeked his head around the corner and smiled. “Take those weapons off your feet and come have a look.”

Paige slipped off her heels and followed Alvino to the kitchen, where the wood flooring ended. He had the kitchen tile down, and a bucket of grout ready to go.

Manuel came in through the back sliding door and knelt down on his knee pads, taking the bucket from Alvino. “You ready to grout, boss?” he asked Paige with a twinkle in his eye.

Paige shook her head. “I’ll let you guys get back to work. This looks really good. Make sure and lock up everything when you leave.”

She slipped her shoes on at the front door and pulled out her phone. The matching backsplash tile should be ready for pickup, but she needed to call the store and check before she drove all the way over there. She’d put the backsplash in herself tonight. Tiling and grouting the floor was something she knew how to do, but Alvino and Manuel could do it ten times faster and better.

She wasn’t quite HGTV, but people seemed to love the houses she flipped and were eager to buy them. Garnering a social media following helped too. They came to see houses just because they knew she had a hand in them.

Renovations were high risk, high reward, but she also did less time consuming, smaller jobs, like staging and offering advice on DIY projects. Consultations only cost time, and she had a huge storage shed full of furniture and decorations that could work in any house and get used over and over again.

Every night there was something to work on, calls to make, social media to update and respond to. Which was why, hours later, she was sitting on a counter spreading thin-set across a wall. This was a much better use of her time than some lame blind date. That would never happen again, though it was nice to say she’d made the attempt.

Her phone rang and she recognized her home inspection guy’s number. She wiped her hands on a rag and eagerly picked up her phone. “Tell me the good news, Amos.”

He laughed. “You’re lucky I have good news. That whole neighborhood has been riddled with roof rats, but your house looks good. Solid roof, no weird modifications, the plumbing and wiring are fine, and they put in a whole new AC system about five years ago. Plenty of insulation in the attic too.”

“And the bad news?”

“Eh, the usual. The exterior paint is faded. The fixtures and flooring are old. Popcorn ceilings and some discoloration in the den from an old leak. No mold or structural damage though. You’ll want to replace all the windows. There’s a tree with roots pulling up the backyard cement patio.”

“But anything that would be a game changer?”

“Not that I could see. I’ll email you the full report, darling.”

“That’s why I pay you the big bucks.”

She hung up and got back to work, rubbing a sore spot in her back from leaning over the counter for so long. Tomorrow she’d go see the house for herself. She’d need that offer in ASAP.

***

Shaun looked over at the grocery bags in the seat next to him and yawned. He’d finally made it home. He couldn’t remember a longer day. He never wanted to see a jackhammer or chisel again. Hauling away all the old tile was backbreaking work, and then they had to smooth out the surface and pour the concrete, more backbreaking work, before smoothing again. It didn’t help that several tenants had their noses pressed to the windows all day, monitoring their progress.

He’d practically fallen asleep over the shopping cart on his way down the aisle to get milk and eggs, and now he needed to carry them upstairs and put them away.

He stopped feeling sorry for himself and got out of the truck with his groceries. The bag with milk split when he was halfway up the stairs and he caught the jug just in time, feeling more awake with that little shot of adrenaline.

Two cats slinked around his legs as he fumbled to put his key in the lock.

“Muffin, Poppy, you two get back here.” Mrs. H patted her leg from her doorway and clicked her tongue. The cats ran back into her apartment and she gave Shaun an apologetic look. “Sorry about those two. My babies are always looking for trouble.”

“It’s okay.” He gave the woman a tired smile before going inside and easing the grocery bags down on the kitchen counter. Scrambled eggs sounded great, but getting out a bowl and whisking was too much work and required extra dishes to wash. He avoided dirty dishes whenever possible. Shaun grinned at his laziness as he pulled out a pan and turned up the heat. Fried eggs would have to do. He put two pats of butter in and cracked three eggs against the side of the pan.

His phone rang and he quickly washed the goo off his hands when his best friend’s name popped up. Preston called so infrequently these days, being newly married and all. Not that he resented Corrie. She was a good excuse for Preston to be distracted. Their happiness was cute and slightly disgusting. Throw in their adorable adopted daughter and Preston had the whole package.

“Good to know you haven’t forgotten my existence.”

Preston laughed. “Starting with a guilt trip. That’s good, Shaun. Just like calling my mom.”

“I’m sounding a little needy, aren’t I? The next thing you know I’ll be slowly driving past your house in the middle of the night, hoping to catch your light on.”

“Well, it’s been nice knowing you. I’m going to go change my locks now. And trust me, there is no house on my block for sale. That wasn’t why I called.”

Shaun stopped laughing. “There’s a house for sale?”

“Yeah. Across the street and three down from me. The white one with the huge circular driveway. The guy who lived there finally died and his daughter wants to sell it fast. She does not want to be bothered with trying to fix it up. I told her I knew someone who would love to buy it as is. Get your finances together and come tomorrow if you can. She gave me the code to the lockbox.”

He’d have to run by the Brown Tree complex first and see if the concrete had cured enough to take down the caution tape, but he could get away with a long lunch break.

“Shaun, it has a casita in back. I know you hadn’t decided anything about your mom, but that might make things easier.”

“Oh, wow.” Shaun’s hopes jumped just a little bit higher. He was afraid to ask how much they wanted for it. Maybe he’d have to rent out the extra suite for a while before he could afford to move his mom there. Look at him, making plans as if he already had it in the bag.

It was hard not to wish. He knew his mom was miserable living with Donovan and Lindsey. His brother and sister-in-law fought constantly, and Donovan was the stingiest person on the planet, always letting Mom know what a favor he was doing for her.

Shaun didn’t want his mom to feel like a burden. And she wouldn’t agree to move in with him until he had room for her. His one bedroom apartment on the second floor wasn’t exactly ideal for someone recovering from back surgery.

The smell of burnt eggs brought him back to reality, and he pulled the pan off the heat and cringed. Smelly apartment and hungry belly. Impossible to clean pan. This day was getting better and better.

“Preston, I need to go. Tell Corrie and Ella I said hi.”

“I will. Ella wants to see her Uncle Shaun. Maybe you’ll have better luck teaching her to ride a bike.”

“Nope, that is definitely a dad thing. As her honorary uncle, I just get to ply her with candy and hand her back once she starts sugar-raging.”

“Night, loser.”

Chapter 3

Paige eyed the problematic Ash tree in the backyard. It was a shame the roots were warring with the patio cement. It was a beautiful tree. She took a few pictures with her phone and then headed over to the mother-in-law suite. It also had a padlock on the door, but used the same passcode as the house. She was pleasantly surprised when walking in to see that while the fixtures in the main house were dated, this had either been built later or newly renovated. She flipped through her notes, trying to determine which hunch was the truth.

“You checking out the house, too?”

Her papers flipped up in the air and she whirled around, immediately embarrassed for being so startled. “Sorry, I didn’t see you there.”

She couldn’t look at the guy yet. It was easier to kneel down and pick up her papers now scattered around the room and let her heart rate calm back down.

“You can’t make a mess like that in here unless you buy it. But I hope you won’t. I kinda had my heart set on this house already.”

That voice. He was kneeling down with her and she looked up into the gorgeous hazel eyes of the guy she’d kissed outside the restaurant. What was his name? She was so bad with names. They were truly her nemesis.

“Nice to see you again, Paige.” He smiled as he picked up sheets off the floor. He really was charming. But there was no way she’d let him buy this house. It was totally hers.

“Nice to see you, too.”

He held out the stack of papers, but not before looking down at them. “Is this a home inspection?”

She grabbed them out of his hands and put them against her chest. “Maybe. Do you have five hundred dollars?”

He scoffed. “You paid five hundred for a home inspection?” His cheery disposition was starting to wear off against her bad attitude. But she couldn’t help it. The last thing she needed was competition right now, especially this guy.

“When my home inspector drops everything and does it same day and looks for things other guys miss? Yeah, I think it’s a good deal. He’d certainly charge you more.”

He ignored that and started walking around the main room. He ducked into the bathroom and whistled. “Did you see the mold in here?”

“What mold?”

She ran in to look and inspected all the walls and baseboards before consulting her notes. When she finally looked up to ask him what he was talking about, she realized he’d already left. The jerk.

She jogged back to the main house and punched in the code. Out front, a pickup truck that must have been his was parked right behind hers.

He was examining the fireplace when she walked in and she couldn’t help admiring the breadth of his back and shoulders, and the muscles in his arms as he stretched a tape measure across. This was why women watched HGTV.

“How did you get the code to get in here?” she asked. “Only realtors get that.”

“I know the owner. Sort of.”

Shoot. That might mean they’d take his offer before hers. She hoped he was cash poor.

“I hate fireplaces.” He touched the blackened brick and looked over at her. “We’re in Phoenix. It’s only cold for like, two months of the year. Such a waste of space.”

She was about to disagree, but shut her mouth. Anything he didn’t like about the house was a good thing. She was picturing natural stone instead of brick, with a large wood mantle. That fireplace would be the star of the room when she was done with it.

She breezed past him to the kitchen. She’d already taken measurements so she could get an idea on costs for new tile and granite countertops. At least the layout was good. She wouldn’t have to move walls or windows. All in all, it would be a painless reno.

She tucked the home inspection under her arm and flipped open her notebook, adding renovation costs in her head.

A shuffling noise signaled his entrance, and he came up behind her, his breath tickling the back of her neck. She put a hand up to her ponytail and rubbed it against her neck, suddenly feeling nervous. “Quit reading my notes, Shane.”

“It’s Shaun.”

Crap. She turned around, hugging her notes to her chest. “Sorry.”

He shrugged. “Doesn’t bother me. I’m not the one kissing people and not remembering their name two days later.”

Her mouth dropped open and she quickly shut it, hating how well she’d fallen right into that. “I apologize for kissing you. I hope we can still be professional.”

He took a step toward her and she swallowed, willing her face to appear calm. His eyes were the most beautiful shade of blue.

“I thoroughly enjoyed your kisses. I just wish they were magical enough to make you less determined to buy this place. So, you’re a realtor? Are you here for a client?” He snuck a peek at her notebook, and she pulled it out of his reach.

“Yes, technically I’m a realtor. But mostly I’m a house flipper, and this place is a gold mine.” She ducked around him, sorry that she’d let him goad her into saying that. She was supposed to be talking him out of putting in a bid, not encouraging him. She jogged out the front door, eager to get away from him and put her bid in before the owner had time to consider a second one. With Mr. Charm breathing down her neck, quite literally, she’d have to go somewhere else to crunch the numbers.

***

Shaun gritted his teeth. He was about to lose his dream house to a flipper. She’d gut everything in here, make it foofy and girly, and jack up the price out of his reach. He’d never find a place this good again. It was the same every time he heard about a house in his price range. An investor would come along and swoop it out from under him with a cash offer. He just never imagined an investor could be that cute and aggravating, all at the same time.

He only had about ten minutes left before he needed to head back to his job site. After checking out the bedrooms and bathrooms, he called the realtor Preston had recommended. Though the guy hadn’t had the time to come look at the house with him, he assured Preston he’d put in an offer on the house immediately.

There was nothing left to do but try to put it out of his mind until he heard back. It didn’t stop him from calling Preston and complaining though.

“A house flipper beat me there. And worse, she’s this girl I met the other night at a sports bar. Apparently, my charm doesn’t extend to business. She didn’t like my idea of graciously stepping aside so I could have the house.”

Preston laughed. “She’s probably mad you never called her.”

“I didn’t ask for her number.”

“That’s worse.”

“Dude, it was not like that. I’m not even going to try to explain because you won’t believe me.”

“I’m sorry, Shaun. I’d love to have you as my neighbor. Maybe your offer is better than hers. You never know.”

“Let’s hope.” Shaun hung up and got out to unload equipment from his truck. There was no way his offer was better than hers. A phone call from his realtor a few hours later confirmed it. The owner had gotten a better offer and taken it.

The realtor wanted to show him other houses, but Shaun wasn’t interested in any of them. If he was taking on a mortgage, he wanted it to be the right one. How long should he hold out hope before settling on a dream?

When he got home from work, he did a google search for Paige Parker and found her work number, which, if she was like most people, was also her personal cell. And then he stared at it for several minutes, trying to come up with a plan of attack that wouldn’t end with her blocking his number.

Chapter 4

“Paige Parker speaking.”

Even answering the phone, she was so precise and uptight. All business. He pictured her rigid ponytail and black slacks with heels from yesterday. She needed someone to help her lighten up again, let her hair down. He was willing to volunteer for the job.

“Hi, Paige. This is Shane, I mean, Shaun.”

“Ha, ha. So, are you stalking me now? How’d you get this number?”

“This is the twenty-first century so I won’t bother answering that. I guess congratulations are in order. You got the house?”

She didn’t answer right away. “Yes, they accepted my offer. I’m sorry, Shaun.”

“No, you’re not.”

“Well, I’m not sorry for me, but that doesn’t mean I like taking something you clearly want. Why do you want that house so bad, single guy?”

He was not about to discuss his real intentions with her. This was not some dumb reality show where you spilled your family’s hardships to get sympathy points. “Oh, I don’t know. I’m tired of renting. My best friend lives a few houses down from there, so that would be nice.”

“The guy who got married so now you can’t mooch cable off him?” She was probably insanely proud of herself for remembering that little detail.

“Yep. That guy.”

There was a long pause, and he wracked his brain as she said, “Well, I have a lot of work to do—”

“Want to go to dinner tonight? Somewhere not like a sports bar?” Dang, he’d allowed too much nervous desperation into his voice. And she wasn’t answering right away, likely holding back until she could reject him without laughing.

“Like on a date?” she finally asked. “Or is this an attempt to get me to back out of the house deal? Cause that can’t happen. I put in a no contingency offer and I already gave them the down payment.”

“No contingencies? Are you insane?” The woman had to be insane. There were so many ways a person could lose money that way. An uptight risk-taker. That was interesting.

“I’d be insane not to. They took the offer didn’t they?”

“How much was your offer?”

“In your dreams.”

Maybe he could have Preston find out. “So, dinner then?”

She sighed. “I really shouldn’t encourage your stalking tendencies.”

“What if I promise not to talk about the house, and you promise not to throw yourself at me this time.”

“Don’t worry about me. There would be absolutely no kissing of any kind.”

“Well, do you want to give me your address so I can pick you up, or is that too stalkerish?” He couldn’t believe she hadn’t shut him down yet. Sometimes his powers of persuasion surprised even him.

“Why don’t we meet in front of Carmelo’s at eight? I’ll make the reservation.”

“I’ve never heard of that place.”

“Google it,” she said before hanging up.

***

Nothing in his closet prepared him for a night this important. Despite his promise to not talk about the house, this date was definitely about the house. It was a hopeless cause, and yet, he wasn’t ready to give it up.

According to his online research, Carmelo’s was a trendy place frequented by local newscasters and uppity Scottsdale residents. As such, they required a collar and tie to get in. Shaun hadn’t worn a tie since his father’s funeral, and he hadn’t kept that one. He had a vague memory of wrestling it off his neck and throwing it in the garbage, a move that represented how he’d been feeling at the time. He’d worn a rented tux for Preston’s wedding, so nothing was left over from that.

Shaun pressed his dress slacks and white shirt, both from the funeral, and glanced at the clock as he put them on. If he hurried, he could grab a tie at JcPenney’s and get to Carmelo’s a little before eight. He could not be late since they were meeting in front, and he had a hunch Paige would be punctual.

He made it over to the store and searched the men’s section until he came across a circular display of ties, all hideous. What was with the purple diamonds, green shamrocks, and red hearts? It was like the neckwear here was sponsored by Lucky Charms cereal.

“Sweetheart, that’s the clearance display. I doubt you want leftovers from Valentine’s and Saint Patty’s.”

He looked over and smiled at a middle-aged woman holding a stack of white shirts. She motioned to a low table nearby with much better choices. Thanking her, he grabbed up a red striped tie that looked presidential enough and ran to the front of the store. He pulled off the tag and stuck it in his shirt pocket as he stepped to the back of the line to pay. He could tie his own tie with a good mirror and three or four tries, but he didn’t have that kind of time. After throwing it around his neck and trying to remember how to start it, he gave up and looked around for help. A couple was ahead of him and he tapped the woman on the shoulder and held out the tie. “Either of you great at tying one of these?”

She smiled up at him and motioned for him to duck down so she could reach. Her husband looked on with amusement. “You doing the full Windsor, dear?”

“Of course. After raising four boys, I could tie this while wrestling a bear at the same time.” She patted Shaun’s cheek when she finished. “Where are you off to, young man?”

“A date.”

Her eyes lit up. “Well, if all you’re buying is this handsome tie, step ahead of us and be on your way. My clothing stack will take forever.”

The husband nodded in agreement, so Shaun went ahead of them and paid for his tie, fielding questions about where he was going and where he’d met Paige.

They loved the story about him butting in on Paige’s blind date, and by the time he left the store, several people were wishing him luck, including the cashier. It was like a scene out of a cheesy Christmas Hallmark movie. Too bad he and Paige weren’t headed for a magical ever after. Though what they were headed for, he wasn’t quite sure.

***

Paige got out of her pickup and brushed down the folds of her dress, wondering if this was a good idea, despite all the reasons she kept reciting in her head. She’d been holding onto this gift certificate for almost a year and had been wanting to write a post about Carmelo’s food forever. Therefore, this wasn’t technically a date. This was work-related, and nobody went to a nice restaurant alone.

Ashley would as soon eat at Taco Bell, and she always had plans on the weekends with Reid anyway. Everyone always had plans. Except Paige. She only had work plans. Her college friends had all moved on until all they did together was the yearly exchange of Christmas cards, and making new friends did not come naturally to her. The sad fact was, Paige had a lot of acquaintances but no one she felt comfortable calling up and making plans with. She could talk business with the guys she contracted, and she had thousands of followers online, but no one who really knew her.

It was hard to admit that she was looking forward to seeing Shaun again, though he likely flirted like that with everyone. He had a way of disarming her, making her feel comfortable in her own skin. His tendency to say something ridiculous on purpose took away her fear that she might on accident.

And there he was, hands in his pockets, standing waiting for her at the entrance. His hair was gelled, making it a darker auburn color, and his dress shirt only emphasized his broad shoulders. Despite how tall he was, he was a solidly built guy. It was nice to feel petite next to someone, something she didn’t experience very often at five feet eleven. His eyebrows lifted when he recognized her, and the corners of his mouth turned up. He had a great smile, equal parts disarming and dangerous.

“You look beautiful,” he said, coaxing a blush out of her.

They turned to go in, and Paige stepped up to the front desk to mention her reservation. In moments, they were led to their table. Shaun waited until the host had pulled out her chair before sitting down across from her.

“Have you been here before?” he asked.

Paige shook her head, fingering the end of a red rose that was in the vase at their table. “I’ve always wanted to. This place is as gorgeous as I imagined.”

She watched him open up the menu and try to hide his panic as he took in the prices. She put her hand out and covered his wrist. “Shaun. I have a gift certificate from a client. Dinner’s on me.”

She thought he’d be relieved, but he pegged her with a stubborn look. “I asked you out, Paige. I didn’t expect you to foot the bill.”

She reached into her purse and pulled out the hundred dollar certificate, sliding it across the table. “It would be stupid not to use this. I’m the one who suggested the place, therefore, I’m paying. Or actually, the Patrick’s are paying. I staged their home last year and they got ten thousand dollars above asking price after a bidding war.”

She could tell he didn’t want to lose the argument, even if it meant losing a hundred bucks.

He stared at her a long time before finally relaxing and sitting back. “You know this means I have to take you out again, right? I’m shocked you would try to weasel a second date out of me like this, Paige. I’m not into game playing.”

She covered her mouth, hiding a laugh. He was such a tease. So much so, she wasn’t sure if he actually wanted a second date or just liked joking about it. Either way, it didn’t justify a response. Instead, she opened the menu in front of her, excited to see the options. Even the font looked expensive. And the prices… Wow, no wonder Shaun’s eyes had just about popped out of his head. “I don’t know about a second date, Shaun. That hundred dollars might not go very far here. Did you see the cost of a dinner salad?”

A waiter approached, wearing a crisp white uniform like something out of a Tide commercial. “Welcome to Carmelo’s. Have you two had a chance to look at the wine list? Would you like a sample?” He held out a bottle of red wine and started to explain its features, but Paige was distracted by Shaun’s reaction and missed most of what the waiter said.

Shaun looked uncomfortable and declined to try a sample, even after Paige held out her glass and received a small amount.

She set her glass down and crossed her arms in front of her. “You okay?”

“Yeah, I’d just rather have a Coke.”

It seemed like it was more than that, but they barely knew each other, and she didn’t want to pry where it was not welcomed. When their waiter came back, she ordered a Coke along with Shaun. A quarter glass of wine was plenty for her anyway.

***

Shaun reached for a blue cheese steak crostini appetizer but Paige blocked his hand. “Not yet. I have to photograph it first.”

She pulled out her phone, and Shaun rolled his eyes. “Oh, no. You’re one of those.”

“I have a lifestyle blog. There’s a lot of curiosity about this place.” She turned the plate and took a few pictures. Then she adjusted the vase of roses next to it and messed with some setting on her phone. Their beautiful food was about to get cold while she let it sit untasted. When she held up her phone to take more pictures, he leaned his head in and opened his mouth, pretending he was about to devour the whole plate.

“Ugh, stop.” She picked up an appetizer and shoved it into his open mouth.

He would have been shocked, but the amazing flavors took hold and he chewed slowly, savoring it. “Oh wow. That is so good.” He wiped the corner of his mouth where she’d gotten him with blue cheese. “Am I supposed to feed you now? I wouldn’t want you to feel left out. We could link arms and feed each other at the same time. Maybe that waiter over there could take a picture for your blog.”

She leaned back, but not before swiping a crostini off the plate. “I can feed myself, thanks.”

He watched her nibble it, taking her time.

“It’s better if you get it all in one bite, you know, like if someone shoves it in your face without warning.”

She shook her head, holding back a grin. “Your mouth was wide open, Shaun. You looked like some poor starved baby bird and instinct took over.”

He’d just taken a bite and had to throw a hand over his mouth to keep from spewing it as he laughed. “Those darn mothering instincts.”

“My mom will be pleased to hear I have any. She’s turned to bothering me about grandchildren now that my younger sister has a boyfriend.”

“Was your mom the one who set you up on that blind date? No, you said it was your crazy aunt, right?”

“Yes, Aunt Terrie. She’s my mom’s older sister. She has three sons, all married with kids. It’s killing my mom. Her daughters have failed her.”

“And why is she your crazy aunt? She’s managed to raise three boys who’ve all gone on to marry and have children. Isn’t that the dream?”

“Yes, but Terrie also claims she’s best friends with Sandra Bullock and ran track in high school with Bruce Willis. Oh, and she sells bracelets online with magic healing powers. She buys the beads from the craft store. If you question her too much about it, she gets really upset and says you’re disrupting her Chi.”

“I would love to meet this woman.”

Paige eyed him. “I can’t decide if she would love you or hate you.”

“A lot of people feel that way about me. I’m a complicated personality.”

“You’re a dork.” She eyed the last crostini and then looked up at him.

“Go ahead, Paige. I’m saving room for pasta.” He thought she would demur but she picked up the last one and popped it in her mouth. After chewing for a minute, she admitted, “That is good as one big bite.”

***

“I’m so full, but that was amazing.” She rubbed her belly, thinking about how nice it would be to go home and curl up on her couch. On a real date she wouldn’t have eaten all that. Probably.

Shaun laughed at her as they headed toward the exit to the restaurant. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a girl eat as much as you. Sorry, that’s one of those things you shouldn’t say to a date.”

“Never. Even if it’s true.”

He opened the door for her, and they walked outside. Since they’d met there, all that was left was for him to walk her to her car.

“I’m parked over here.” She led the way, not nervous, but admittedly a little sad that they likely wouldn’t see each other again. She wasn’t sure what had prompted him to call her and congratulate her on the house, but she’d had a really good time, not even thinking much about work. She’d almost forgotten to take pictures of dessert, only remembering when Shaun teased her about missing out on the photo opportunity.

She unlocked her pickup truck and turned to say goodnight, afraid to meet his eyes. She would not kiss him again. Not after that first not-exactly-a-peck. She gave him a hug instead, enjoying the scent of his cologne mixed with something that was uniquely Shaun-like.

When she pulled away, he rubbed the back of his neck, looking nervous. “I was hoping you’d break your promise so I could break mine.”

“What promise?” She leaned back on her truck and fiddled with the strap of her purse.

“You know, the one where you promised no kissing, and I promised I wouldn’t talk about the house.”

“Are you saying you want to talk about the house?” She’d started to wonder if maybe the house was an excuse to flirt with her, but apparently, he was more set on the place than she’d realized. That was kind of disappointing.

“Can we?”

“Go ahead. Talk.” She took a deep breath, realizing she was getting testy. There was nothing to be upset about.

“So, let’s say you backed out of your offer, introducing mine instead. You don’t think the owner would give you your money back?”

“I don’t know. You’d have to give her the same offer, the same money down, I suppose. And I’d have to want to back out. You’d have to pay me for the home inspection, too.” Why was she entertaining this train of thought? She didn’t want to back out of the house. She wanted to renovate the old place. It had so much potential, financially and creatively.

“How much did you put down?” He rubbed his shoe into the asphalt. “How much did you offer?”

“Shaun.” She was having a hard time thinking straight with this serious, intense side of him. His eyes were beginning to kindle with hope. Hope she’d put there by allowing this conversation. “I don’t know about all this. Can I think about it?”

“Of course. It’s just, this would be a lot easier if I had hard numbers. I don’t even know if I could take over your offer. I’ve been saving but it may not be enough.”

“How much do you make a year? How much do you have saved? I could tell you if you have enough to consider this.”

They stared at each other, neither willing to give up their financial information.

He tugged his phone out of his back pocket. “How about if we text each other our numbers at the same time?”

She studied him. “How do I know you’ll put the real thing?”

His shoulders dropped. “At some point we have to trust each other, Paige. I feel like I’m in a standoff at the O.K. Corral and neither of us is willing to drop our guns.”

He had a point. She pulled her phone out of her purse. “Okay, we disarm on three.” She typed out the amount of earnest money she’d put down and the offer for the house and glanced up. “Ready to send?”

“Yeah, I guess.” He hit the send button and she did the same, staring at their phones until the messages came across.

He made a decent living for a single guy and had nine thousand dollars saved, a thousand short of her down payment. Theoretically, it could work. He could scrounge up another thousand from somewhere. “What do you do?”

“I’m a construction crew lead.”

“Hmm. And what was your offer on the house?”

He chuckled. “About twenty thousand dollars less than yours. It kind of makes me want to throw up.”

“Shaun, why do you want this house so much? I could help you find something else. I know the market well. You don’t want to bind yourself to something you can’t afford. I plan on dropping another fifty thousand in renovations on the place.”

“Can you find me a house in the same neighborhood with a casita in the back? And even with your bigger bid, it’s still a steal. We both know it’s worth a lot more than that.”

“Why do you need a casita? Are you planning on renting it out or something?”

“Something like that.”

Again, with the evasion. Shaun was more than jokes and flirtation, and before she’d go out on a limb for him, she’d have to know exactly what he was hiding.

Chapter 5

Shaun had not asked how much she made per year, though he had a feeling it was twice his salary. And yes, this was the twenty-first century and he wasn’t supposed to care about that, but it still didn’t make it any easier to discuss finances with her. Jokes were easier.

It was all his fault. He had to end a perfectly awesome date with an interrogation that she’d immediately flipped around on him. What guy wanted his financial status scrutinized on a first date?

As he watched her pull out of her parking spot of the restaurant, he sighed. She might actually let him take the house. It was a miracle. But she was right. He would be financially bound to something that was about all he could afford. Some of that depended on what interest rate he could get. And there would be no big renovations for a while, nothing like her fifty thousand dollar plans.

Before she gave him a final answer, he needed to make sure this was something he really wanted to do. He drove over to Preston’s neighborhood and parked in front of the house, just staring at it. Why do you want that house so bad, single guy?

The grass looked greener at night. Some guys dreaded all the mowing and upkeep, but to have a real yard… He could finally get a dog. And if he had that casita, he and his mom would never have to worry about how long she’d need to live there. They could each have their privacy. She might even like babysitting five-year-old Ella for Preston and Corrie. It would give her something to do.

He remembered a conversation he’d overheard years ago between his parents. His mom had wanted to take a front office job at his elementary school, but his dad had told her not to bother. “You don’t have the skills for that. Don’t take a job you can’t do right.”

At the time, in his little-boy worship of his dad, he’d thought that was good advice. Mom had never worked in an office and it might be embarrassing to have her there if she was just going to get fired.

He wracked his brain, wondering if he might have said as much to her. When his dad died, she hadn’t known what to do with herself. She was terrified of looking for work, creating a resume, and especially interviewing. Yet she needed the money. For insisting on being in charge all the time, his dad sure hadn’t planned their retirement well. To be fair, he hadn’t planned on using it all on his lost battle with cancer either.

His older brother, Donovan, was now the one in charge. But that wasn’t healthy either. He was so much like Dad, only he hadn’t married someone soft and pliable. Lindsey gave back as much as she took. Why did such flawed people get married? What if he was as bad in his own way? What if he ruined someone’s life just by being himself?

“Hey, Shaun!”

Shaun whipped around and looked behind him. Preston was dribbling a ball across the street, jogging towards his truck. “I thought that was you. What are you doing?”

Shaun got out and shut his door. “Thinking. I went out tonight with the girl who has an offer on the house. She might back out so I can take it.”

“Really? What’d you hit her over the head with?”

Shaun stole the ball out of Preston’s hands and dribbled around him. “Maybe I’m just super charming and she likes me.”

Preston followed him back to his house and they immediately began their usual game of one-on-one. It was a little harder in a dress shirt, and the tie immediately got tossed on the back of a plastic chair in the garage. Corrie came out and watched for a few minutes.

“Shaun, you’ll get pit stains on that nice shirt. Hold on and let me get one of Preston’s old T-shirts. And some shorts while I’m at it.” She came back with a set of gym clothes and handed them to him. She’d also changed her clothes as well.

“Oh, ho. Look who’s joining the game. I take it Ella’s asleep?”

“Yes. Don’t make any noise when you go in there,” Corrie warned.

He headed inside and changed right there in the hallway since Corrie had turned all the lights off and he didn’t want to wake Ella while fiddling for a light switch. It was nice to get back into regular clothes, though there was nothing he could do about his black socks and dress shoes.

His new ensemble earned him huge laughs from the couple he was ninety percent sure had been making out right before he came back outside.

Preston whistled. “Looking real nice there, buddy. I can see why this girl is dying to help you out.”

“What girl?” Corrie motioned for Preston to pass the ball and they started a game of Horse. It was much easier to talk between turns and not worry about teams.

Corrie made her shot from behind a cement line in the driveway, and Shaun took his time attempting to copy her. It was her sweet spot, and she often used it to win.

“So, it’s kind of a weird story. I rescued her from a bad date and we sat talking outside for a while, never thinking we’d see each other again. And then I ran into her a few days later at that house down the street. She’s a house flipper.”

“Oh, right. Preston told me that. And you were out with her tonight? Why the uh, tie and slacks and all that?”

Preston lined up behind the line and took his turn, but his shot bounced off the rim. “H for me.”

“We went to a fancy restaurant. Carmelo’s. Have you guys heard of it?”

They both shook their heads.

“Dropped sixty bucks there.” It was Shaun’s turn to pick a shot and he angled himself between the wall and the garbage can, earning him a dirty look from Corrie. Even better, he made the shot.

“Well, that’s not too bad.” Preston took the ball and went to wedge in behind the garbage can. His attempt went wide, really wide, and Corrie clapped in appreciation. Preston’s dribbling and layup skills were much better than his wide shots. Though he usually wasn’t this bad.

“That was after her hundred dollar gift certificate.”

“Wow. What did you have to eat?” Corrie asked.

“Linguini with lobster. It was amazing.” He grinned. “What did you two have for dinner?”

Corrie’s cooking skills were basic at best, though apparently, she’d been trying out new dishes, something Preston was supportive of, but also secretly dreaded. Shaun wasn’t supposed to tease because he wasn’t supposed to know about it.

“I made tuna noodle casserole. It turned out surprisingly good.”

“Yep. So good,” Preston chimed in.

Shaun hid a smile as Corrie threw the ball up from behind the garbage can and epically missed the shot. As he bent over double laughing, he couldn’t help wishing, more than ever, that he could have this all the time.

***

Paige grabbed a breakfast bar and ran out to her truck. She had so much to do today, it was insane. Last night she’d tossed and turned, wondering how she would tell Shaun he couldn’t have the house, but this morning she wondered why she’d gone to all that stress only to change her mind. Other properties would come along, and in the meantime, two more staging jobs had come in, one of them a mansion that had been on the market too long. They wanted her to get started as soon as possible. The house was six thousand square feet and they were paying her to paint the inside, change out all the window dressings, give the cabinets a facelift, in addition to filling it with furniture and décor that would make buyers eager to snap it up.

If Shaun was good for the money, then why not? The way fate treated her lately, if she’d gotten his hopes up only to shut them down again, she’d continue to unexpectedly run into him over and over again, just to teach her a lesson.

On the way out to rent a moving truck, she got a call from Alvino, expecting him to give her a morning update on the Santa Fe house. She’d be busy most of the morning with pulling everything out of a successful staging, and she was counting on Alvino and Manuel to finish up while she was gone.

“Did they deliver the cabinets yet?” she asked.

Alvino coughed into the phone. “You’ll have to ask Manuel. I’m not there. I can’t get out of bed. I hurt all over.” He launched into a long coughing fit as if to demonstrate. Why did people think it made them more credible to overdramatize their illness?

“Fine. Fine. Check in with me tomorrow morning.”

There was no way Manuel could put the new kitchen cabinets in by himself. And she’d been hoping they could change out all the old light fixtures too. They still needed to install ten can lights in the kitchen ceiling, and that meant getting up into the attic and wiring them, and then patching and painting the ceiling where the old fixtures had been.

She immediately called Manuel, who was also coughing but on the job.

“Hi, boss. I had the delivery guys put the cabinets in the garage for now. There’s a chance of rain later today. What do you want me to work on?”

“Change out as many light fixtures as you can. If you get too sick, go home. I don’t want you collapsing in the attic and hurting yourself, okay?”

“Okay. Thanks, Paige.”

Next, she checked in with the mom of the three teenage boys she often hired to move furniture in and out of houses for her. “Hi, Linda. Are your boys ready for me to pick them up?”

“Oh, that was today?”

Paige’s heart sunk. The informal arrangement was great most of the time. It cost too much to pay skilled laborers to lift furniture, and they wanted regular hours. Busy teenagers were happy to work only one or two days a week.

“Tanner’s the only one here. The other two are away at band camp. I could have Tanner ask a friend…”

“No, that’s okay. If Tanner can come, I’ll make some calls and find someone to work with him. Let him know I’ll be there in a half-hour.”

Tanner was the youngest of the three and usually trailed after his brothers, letting them take the lead. She’d need someone responsible to work with him.

Four calls later and she was banging her head against the seat back. The buyers wanted everything out by today.

She wondered if Shaun worked Saturdays. No, she couldn’t ask him to come. Except, if he was taking over the house offer, he’d need money. She hated hiring people last minute. Something always went wrong. But it was call him, or Reid, her sister’s out-of-work boyfriend. That guy would probably trip on purpose and try to sue her. She really wished Ashley would break up with him.

***

Shaun needed money. Going over to Donovan’s house this morning had been an unmitigated disaster, but a necessary one. After getting a call from a collection agency, Donovan had flipped out, wanting to know why their mother was ignoring her medical bills, and why Lindsey hadn’t shown them to him when they came in the mail instead of blindly handing them off to his mother.

Shaun thought he’d paid off everything on the day of her surgery, but the anesthesiologist office had a separate bill, and the late fees mounted while she kept the envelopes unopened under a stack of magazines.

He wanted to be mad about it, but Donovan was mad enough for the both of them, and it wouldn’t do any good. Their father had always handled the bills. It was yet another thing Mom was afraid to handle on her own. So Shaun did what he usually did. He called up and took care of it, though it put him another twenty-five hundred dollars farther away from his house goal.

When Paige called he almost didn’t answer.

“Are you working today?”

He thought about teasing her for launching in without so much as a hello, but his heart wasn’t in it. “Nope. I don’t usually work Saturdays.”

“Great. Want a job? It’s not much. I just need someone to move furniture out of a house without hitting any walls or anything. You could chip away at that fifteen hundred you’re short on the house.”

He rubbed his face. “Actually, it’s four thousand now, but who’s counting?”

“Are you okay? You sound sick. Everyone is sick today. And what do you mean four thousand? You need another thousand as down payment, and five hundred for the home inspection.”

“I blew another twenty-five hundred in online poker last night.”

There was a long pause, which he’d expected.

“I don’t know you well enough to know if that’s a joke. But we’ll stick that on a shelf for later. Can you work today?”

He should be thrilled. She was talking as if the house transfer was a done deal. And she was offering to let him work off the debt it would create. That was a good thing. Hopefully. Either way, moping around his house wouldn’t help.

“Where do I need to be?”

“I’ll text you the address.”

Before she hung up, he added, “I was joking about the online poker thing.”

“I figured.”

He could hear the smile in her voice and it warmed him a little, enough to make him eager to see her again, even though she was technically now his boss.

Chapter 6

Paige picked up Tanner and drove to the sold property. Tanner was a shy kid, and the whole ride there had been in almost complete silence, even though she’d greeted him and asked how school was going. His one response: “Fine.”

It was a relief to see Shaun waiting for them by his truck. He’d even brought a moving dolly.

Backing up a huge moving truck into a driveway was not an easy task, though she’d done it dozens of times, and having Shaun watch made it that much more nerve-wracking. But she managed to get it parked without hitting any mailboxes or marring the front grass.

She climbed out and went to open the back, and Shaun jumped up on the tailgate with her.

“Morning, sunshine.” He showed off his cocky grin, making her blush against her will.

She fumbled with the lock, and he took over, unlatching it for her and throwing it open. Then he hopped down and pulled out the aluminum ramp like it was nothing.

“Is this my moving buddy today?” Shaun turned to look at Tanner who was sitting on the grass watching them.

Tanner didn’t answer, so Paige said, “That’s Tanner. Tanner, this is Shaun.”

Shaun walked over and put a hand out. When Tanner shook it, Shaun boosted him up to a standing position and clapped him on the back. “So, tell me how this works. What goes in the truck first?”

Tanner shrugged, looking uncomfortable. Shaun waited and he finally said, “Um, the heaviest stuff goes in first. Paige has this kitchen hutch that weighs like a thousand pounds. She always uses it.”

Shaun turned and gave her a mock glare. “Why am I not surprised? Let’s go see this monster.”

He let Tanner lead the way and Paige followed after them, shocked that Shaun had gotten Tanner to say more words than she’d ever heard out of the kid’s mouth.

After a quick tour, with the two of them discussing what would go out when, they got to work. Paige ran around stripping linens off of beds and putting table settings away in plastic bins, barely keeping up with what they needed her to clear off.

And all the while, Shaun and Tanner talked about basketball, how Paige tortured them with unnecessarily heavy furniture, and their favorite places to eat.

She’d never been that comfortable around someone she’d just met. Well, except Shaun.

She went down her list, accounting for everything that belonged to her. All that was left was some light vacuuming to make sure they left the place spotless. By the time she finished, Shaun and Tanner were swinging back and forth on the moving truck doors, goofing off now that they’d moved everything out.

She ducked under Shaun’s swinging legs and went to inspect the cargo. Nothing could be falling over or sliding around on the drive back. But it was packed tight, with moving blankets tucked around anything that needed it.

“You guys are going to break those doors off.”

Shaun jumped down, landing right next to her. “I think the words you’re searching for are, “You two are amazing. What a great job.” She glanced away from his twinkling hazel eyes and glared at Tanner, who was still swinging on the other door.

Tanner jumped down, looking sheepish. “He started it.”

“I have no doubt. And, um, thank you. You two did a good job. But let’s get a move on. We still have to get all this back into my storage unit.”

“See, not so hard.” Shaun moved before she could punch him in the arm. “I’ll meet you two there unless you want me to drive the moving truck.”

“I’m driving the moving truck,” Paige insisted.

“She never lets anyone drive it,” Tanner said. “Not even my brother who’s eighteen.”

She was starting to wish Tanner would go back to being mute. Like she would let an eighteen-year-old drive something she’d rented.

She hopped into the driver’s seat and after Tanner got in, carefully pulled out of the driveway and onto the narrow street. They didn’t make neighborhoods wide enough anymore. If a car was parked on each side, she had to inch through, praying she didn’t hit either one. The house Shaun was taking from her was on a nice wide street. Another perk of buying an older home.

“Your boyfriend’s nice,” Tanner said, staring out the window.

“He’s not my boyfriend.”

“Whatever.”

Her mouth dropped open, but she forced herself not to try to argue with a fourteen-year-old. What had given Tanner the impression that Shaun was her boyfriend? They hadn’t been that flirty. Had Shaun said something? Had he told Tanner she’d kissed him? Maybe having Shaun work for her had been a bad idea. She’d have to set ground rules if they ever did this again.

They pulled up to her house and she hopped out to unlock the R.V. gates leading to the backyard. Despite all the consulting she did for other people about landscaping and curb appeal, her house had been purchased for function more than fashion. You couldn’t have a perfect lawn when you were driving a moving truck across it several times a month.

She eased in right next to her storage unit in the backyard and waited for Shaun to park and walk around to join them. He and Tanner got everything moved out of the truck and into the unit while she folded up moving blankets and pulled out the small decorative items in the way. She’d have to pull it all out again soon, but having it in and safely stored always filled her with relief. She checked her phone for the time. Noon. Great. She ought to feed them before dropping Tanner off and heading to the truck rental place.

Shaun came over and leaned against the truck. “You got anything else for me to do, or you ready to get rid of me for the day?”

He was probably ready to go home and shower. He had a thin sheen of sweat across his forehead and his shirt was damp. Even so, the scent of his spicy deodorant was the only thing she smelled coming off of him. Alvino and Manuel were not so pleasant to stand next to after a hard day’s work. Those two also didn’t make her nervous when they stood close by.

“I’m sure you want the rest of your day back.”

He shrugged. “I’m already here. Might as well make use of me.”

“Okay. What else can you do, construction man?”

He grinned. “Concrete, framework, painting, a little bit of electrical, some HVAC, carpet and tile, hmm.” He thought for a minute. “Plumbing, drywall, skip troweling—”

“Skip trowel?” She did have some walls that needed finishing. But she shouldn’t get so excited. A lot of construction guys said they could do those things, yet their work ended up being no better than someone winging it. She needed to stick to the basics. “What about landscaping?”

The landscape rock delivered a few days ago was still sitting in front of the Santa Fe house, ready to be spread out. It was a low priority, but easy enough for Shaun to do, no matter his actual skill level.

“I can do that.” He glanced back at Tanner. “You need to get him dropped off?”

“And this truck. Why don’t you two come inside and we’ll eat something, and then would you mind following me? After I take him home and we get the moving truck returned, I’ll drive back here with you.”

He nodded in agreement, but she realized she still hadn’t discussed payment with him. It shouldn’t be any harder than negotiating with any other subcontractor, and yet, she felt weird bringing it up.

“Shaun. We haven’t worked out what I’m paying you. What do you think is fair?”

He smirked. “Why does everything come back to money with you?”

“Oh, you don’t want to get paid? I’m so glad to hear you like to be compensated with happy feelings and rainbows. That’s much easier for me.”

She started to walk off, and he curled a hand around her waist and tugged her back. Her breath caught, and she looked up at him, knowing he’d just taken the upper hand without saying a word. She nervously tugged a strand of hair behind her ear and tried to get back to the tough girl attitude that usually came so easily with him.

“Shaun, don’t.” It came out a little sharper than she’d intended.

He dropped his hand and took a step back. “Sorry. It’s hard for me to tamp down my inner-flirt sometimes. How about a hundred bucks for the day?”

“I was already planning on paying you a hundred bucks for moving furniture. The landscaping would be extra.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Is that how much you’re paying the kid? How do you make any money? That’s over thirty bucks an hour.”

“Shh. No, that’s not what I’m paying him. You work a lot faster than he and his brothers do, to be honest. Besides, it’s coming off your debt. And if the house transfer doesn’t work out, I’ll pay you cash.”

He held out his hand and they shook on it.

***

The inside of Paige’s house was like something out of a Home and Garden magazine. Everywhere Shaun looked there were throw pillows in bright colors set in comfortable, but modern-looking, easy chairs. Her granite kitchen countertops gleamed, and he took a seat next to Tanner on an iron-backed stool with curved legs.

Paige immediately went to the fridge and took out stuff for sandwiches. Tanner pulled a bag of hoagie rolls towards him and took one out, eating half of it in one bite.

“Can I help?” Shaun asked. He stood, but Paige shooed him back. It was obvious she liked to be in control in all aspects of her life, including her kitchen. Yeah, Shaun wasn’t about to let that go unchallenged.

He walked around the island and started opening drawers, looking for a butter knife.

“What are you doing?” Paige put down a jar of pickles and blocked him from opening another drawer.

He put on a pleasant smile. “I’m sorry. Is there something sinister in that drawer behind you?” Stepping closer, he enjoyed the nervousness he saw in her eyes. She glanced over at Tanner and moved aside. “Go ahead, Shaun. Why don’t you check out my medicine cabinet and look under the beds while you’re at it?”

Shaun held her gaze. “Um, I was only looking for a butter knife, but I can see that’s a problem for you.” He moved to his seat while Paige turned red and returned to the fridge, hiding her face inside long enough to hopefully cool it off.

Shaun took the bag of hoagie rolls out of Tanner’s hands and reserved one for himself and one for Paige before handing them back. The kid grinned and continued eating bread, which turned out to be all he ate.

Paige, on the other hand, was just like Shaun. She threw anything in the fridge into a sandwich, with lots of yellow mustard in between. But after messing with her earlier, he decided to leave off joking about it and eat. Paige was concentrated on her sandwich and finished in record time, despite the tiny bites she took, and he didn’t want to hold her up.

When they were done, Shaun put lids on and slid them across the counter to her, doing his best to help without invading her space as she cleaned up. The situation was complicated enough without her having to fire him for impertinence.

Chapter 7

“Is something wrong?”

Everything was wrong and nothing was wrong. They were on schedule, the truck was returned, and Paige had a landscaper for the afternoon. She just wasn’t sure it should be Shaun. The goof had commandeered the radio, sliding closer so he could scroll through the stations, and then not moving back to his side of the truck after he’d found what he was looking for. He’d settled on a country station, singing along to every song and staring into her eyes, as if the lyrics had been personally written for the two of them. It was not a typical workday with him around.

“Yes. Something’s wrong, Shaun. Tanner got the wrong idea about us and that’s fine. He’s fourteen. But Manuel is one of my regulars, and I don’t want him to see me acting less than professional or anyone treating me as anything but professional on a job site. Does that make sense?”

She thought Shaun would laugh or give her a mock salute, but he nodded, looking as serious as she felt about it. “Absolutely.”

And he was good to his word. She left him with a landscaping rake and the two tons of rock in front of the house, and he got to work, only pausing occasionally for a sip of water. He swept up the sidewalk and put the tools away, and she knew all this because she was painting the window trim, a job that would have gone a lot faster if Shaun wasn’t the view outside. She dipped her brush back in the paint and concentrated on her strokes, since Shaun was about to come inside to report to her, and here she was, spying on him instead of getting anything done herself.

“Who’s the new guy?” Manuel asked, coming into the room with an old light fixture. He dropped it in the box by the door.

“Oh, that’s Shaun. He’s only here for today.”

Manuel nodded, but his eyes held a look of amusement that made her work harder to hold her poker face. “He’s a friend of yours?”

“Yes.” She went back to painting, studying each grain in the wood like it held the answer to this weird problem. It wasn’t just Shaun. It was her too. She was the one giving off not-just-friend vibes. That was an unwelcome revelation.

And then Shaun walked in and smiled at her. “Anything else I can help with?”

There were lots of things. But they would take time to explain, and she wasn’t sure she wanted him and Manuel becoming buddies.

“No, you can go home.”

Manuel gave her a weird look. “You know how to install lights, man? I could use a hand in the kitchen.”

Shaun looked between the two of them, not sure whose direction to follow. Paige gave up and waved them both towards the kitchen. She finished the living room window trim in no time at all and took her ladder into a bedroom that the previous owners had painted a color she’d secretly dubbed urine yellow. She’d decided the extra white paint would go to covering it up. She put down sheets to protect the floor and taped up the light switches before rolling paint down the wall. She could hear Manuel and Shaun in the kitchen, laughing about something as they worked together.

They kept up a steady banter while she finished one wall and started on the next. She was tempted to check on them, but she did that too much. Shaun had already proven he could stay on task and she’d never had to worry about Manuel.

Her back ached, but she was almost finished. She wanted this house ready to sell this week, whether she had done all the improvements she’d initially planned or not. Sometimes these houses became a black hole of never-ending projects in the pursuit of perfection.

In the other room, the sounds changed to banging and power tools. What were they up to? She put down her roller and went to finally look.

Manuel was holding up a section of the new cabinets while Shaun drilled in the screws.

“Did you measure?” she couldn’t help calling out. Alvino was as paranoid as she was about double checking, but he wasn’t there.

Shaun looked back at her and then continued working. “Nah. We thought we’d wing it.” He must have realized that wasn’t the most professional response. He hopped down after screwing in the last spot and picked up her notes. “Eighteen inches above the counters. As asked.” He handed her a level and she took him up on it, coming over to hold it against the wall. It looked perfect.

“Thanks, guys.”

She went back to painting, the whine of a drill in the background never sounding so good. Manuel came in as she was pulling up the drop cloths.

“We’re all done in there. You mind if I get going?”

“See you tomorrow, Manuel. Thanks.”

She heard him leave and waited for Shaun to make an appearance. He came in while she was banging the lid back on a can of paint.

“You can go. I’ll lock up.”

He ignored that, not a surprise, and picked up her paintbrushes, scraping the excess paint back into the tray. “I’ll go clean these out.”

She followed him outside and grabbed a bucket and soap from the back of her truck and brought it to him. The new gravel looked nice. She inspected it while he washed the brushes.

“Any fun plans for tonight?” he asked.

Oh, right. It was a Saturday night. For her, that usually meant catching up on social media posts and going over budgets. Sometimes she’d make a dessert for her blog and eat it while watching a chick flick.

“Nope. What about you?” She didn’t want to assume his question was leading somewhere.

“Want to go dancing?”

“Um.” Go dancing? What exactly did that mean? Like a nightclub? She’d only tried that once, on her twenty-first birthday when her friends talked her into it. She’d had too much to drink and ended up throwing up in the bathroom and letting some strange guy help her into their car while her friends laughed and took pictures. She’d never been back.

“Aren’t you worn-out?” she asked. He was covered in a light dust from head to toe, a mixture of ceiling particles and rock dust.

He shrugged, wiping his face on the inside of his T-shirt. “Yep. But not more than any other day. We could meet up in an hour. I know a great Mexican restaurant that gives Latin dance lessons on Saturday nights.”

“Oh, I don’t know. I’m not really a dancer and I’m kind of tired.” She took the brushes from him and studied them, not wanting to meet his eyes. She had a feeling if she did, he’d talk her into it.

“Paige. Look at me.”

Oh crap. He was on to her. She lifted her eyes and met his mischievous hazel ones. “You have all eternity to rest. Let’s go have some fun.”

Another protest was on her lips, but he didn’t break eye contact and she finally laughed and gave up. “You’ll regret this when you see me on the dance floor.”

“I highly doubt that.” He helped her load up the last of the supplies and they drove off in different directions, agreeing that he’d pick her up at her house in an hour.

***

Paige might claim she wasn’t a dancer, but she sure dressed the part. Shaun tried not to smile too big or stare too long, knowing he’d probably embarrass her. She’d let her dark hair down in styled waves and she was wearing a black silky dress and strappy black heels that only emphasized how gorgeous she really was. The dress hit at the knee and swished around her legs as they walked to his truck.

He swallowed hard and reminded himself this was just like any other date. A chance to live in the moment and enjoy it. And yes, they were kind of financially tied to each other, and that made this more complicated than he wanted, but that was no reason they couldn’t hang out. Extra reasons to be careful didn’t matter. He was always careful with his heart.

“How’s your Spanish?” he asked as he drove out of her neighborhood.

She gave him a wary look. “It’s basic. Alvino and Manuel make fun of me when I try to use it. Why?”

“They don’t speak English at this restaurant. But that’s part of the fun.”

Her eyes widened. “Well, I hope your Spanish is better than mine.”

He’d planned on feigning ignorance, but at the panicked look on her face, he caved. “My Spanish is pretty good. I took classes all through high school and college, and I went on a couple of charity trips to Mexico during my summer breaks.”

She didn’t look convinced, which did not surprise him in the slightest. Paige was a seeing is believing kind of girl.

“¿Tienes alguna idea de lo hermosa que eres? Creo que esta noche tendra que golpear a los muchachos con un palo para alejados de ti.”

She shook her head. “No, none of that saying whatever you want because I can’t understand you.”

“Did you understand any of it?”

“Say it again a little slower.”

He turned and gave her his most smoldering look and repeated the words, liking the blush and smile that crossed her face, though he could tell she was fighting it.

“Um, I know hermosa means beautiful. Esta noche means tonight. And something about ‘guys with a stick’?”

He grinned. “Yes. I’ll have to beat the guys off you with a stick. But only if you want me to.”

She rolled her eyes. “Don’t let this go to your head, but I only want to dance with you tonight. Don’t ditch me for some girl who understands your Spanish pickup lines, okay?”

He patted her hand, but then pulled away. They weren’t at a holding hands in the car kind of place yet. “I’m all yours tonight.”

Chapter 8

Spanish music blared from the restaurant and into the parking lot. Inside, bright tiles and colorful décor fought for her attention along with the flashing lights from the stage. They’d already cleared half the tables to make way for the dance floor, so if they wanted to eat first, they’d have to do it at the bar.

Shaun led her over to two available bar stools and they watched the dancing while munching on chips and sipping sodas.

He leaned over and spoke into her ear, but even then, he had to practically shout. “Let me know when you’re ready to jump in.”

“If you wait for that,” she yelled back, “We’ll be sitting here all night.”

He took that as permission to grab her hands and pull her out onto the dance floor. She should have told him she needed a few minutes, which she could have easily stretched out into more excuses to delay. Did he really expect her to start dancing just like that?

“I thought you said they gave lessons.”

He cupped his hands around her ear, and she held in a shiver as his lips brushed against her skin. “I think we missed them. Hold onto me and move your hips. You’ll be fine.”

She was about to tell him he was crazy, but he put a firm hand to her back and spun her out and back before pulling her close.

“Step left, right, left, right with me,” he shouted. “A basic Merengue. Like this.”

She watched his hips move in sync with the music and tried not to let her eyes bug out. The guy could dance. He made it look easy, and she was grateful to find that when she tried it, she could follow him. He took her hands and maneuvered them deeper into the dance floor, weaving them around people. She didn’t have to think too much about which way to move because he took her there. It was a novel experience. She’d never partnered with a guy who led with confidence.

She couldn’t help grinning.

“You’re having fun,” he accused.

“Maybe.”

All around them, couples danced, shouting and laughing. No one paid them any attention, or so she thought, until the song ended and a guy with slicked-back dark hair cut between them. He put his hands on her waist as another song started.

“No, no. Mi amigo … necesito …” Her Spanish was terrible, made worse by being flustered.

The guy only laughed. “¿Tu amigo, eh? Èl esperará.” He pulled her much closer than Shaun ever had, and though she wasn’t afraid of the guy, she was hugely irritated by the liberties he was taking with her personal space.

She put her finger in his face. “No.”

“¿No?”

Shaun cut in right then, and the guy let him, giving her an apologetic smile. She waved to him, letting him know there were no hard feelings, and then clutched Shaun’s arms. “Don’t let me go again.”

“I won’t. I’m sorry I didn’t see him coming. Do you want to leave?”

She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Not yet.”

They swayed together for a few more songs, and she let herself enjoy it, though she had to cling to Shaun more than she should. Everything was fine until she looked up into his face and found him watching her. Up until that moment, holding onto him had been for preservation, but now it felt different. His eyes dipped to her lips before meeting her gaze, studying her, maybe asking for permission.

His hand brushed her hair back from her shoulder and he leaned in.

What was she doing? She owed him money, and if they met with the homeowners on Monday, it could flip, with him owing her money. This was a bad idea. She pulled away, though still keeping ahold of him.

“I think I’m ready to go, Shaun.”

He nodded and took her hand, leading her out of the restaurant. He dropped her hand as soon as they were free of the crowds.

The drive was quiet. When they were only a minute away from her house she said, “I’ll set up a meeting with the homeowner on Monday, though I’m not sure what she’ll say about it.”

“Okay.”

Shaun hopped out and walked her to her door, casual, but distant. He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and jogged back to his truck.

He was so much harder to read than any guy she’d dated before. Not that they were dating.

***

On Sunday, Shaun picked his mother up for church and their usual lunch date afterward. For years, she’d attended church alone, her one spark of independence. Shaun and Donovan had always looked forward to Sundays as kids. Their dad would take them fishing, or to the movies, or he’d order pizza and let them watch TV all day. All those memories were tainted now that Shaun understood what had really been going on. Why go to church with Mom when there was something a lot more fun as an option? How could someone he’d loved so much be such a jerk?

Shaun didn’t especially enjoy church now, though he believed in God. But that first week attending with Mom had delighted her so much that he’d made it a regular thing.

She was ready for him in her flowered dress and pumps when he walked up to the door. He led her back to his truck, opening the passenger side door for her and then went around to his side.

She looked him over when he got in. “One of these days I’m making you wear a tie,” she said with a smile.

“I don’t believe in ties,” he answered. She was lucky he’d worn a button-down shirt. He didn’t dare mention that he’d bought a tie for his first date with Paige, but then again, he also wasn’t ever planning to give it another wear. First date. He’d been on two dates with Paige. Mom would be proud, not that he was ever mentioning Paige to her.

Mom’s hands twisted in her lap. “I’m sorry about yesterday morning. I never meant for you to pay all that. And Donovan was so mad. The worst I’ve seen him in a while.”

“Let’s not talk about it. What’s done is done.” Shaun didn’t want her to promise to pay him back when they both knew that wasn’t possible. If he didn’t need the money so badly, he wouldn’t care at all. Medical bills weren’t exactly a splurge. In fact, she’d let her hair turn back to gray when she used to go get it dyed a nice ash blonde. It was a little longer than she usually wore it, too.

“Do you need to run any errands afterward?” he asked.

“Not that I can think of.”

“What about that salon you used to go to? Do they accept walk-ins?”

She touched her hair and smiled. “That’s nice of you to offer, but I don’t think it’s the best idea when Donovan’s so mad at me right now.”

He hit the brakes a little stronger than he intended as the turn into the church parking lot came up. “Why does he have a say in this?”

“I thought we weren’t going to talk about it.” She sighed and put her purse strap up on her shoulder as he pulled into a parking spot.

“Hold on a minute. At least call the salon and see if they have an opening this afternoon.” Shaun felt so torn. Even doing nice things for her had turned into a tug-o-war with someone always telling her what to do, for good or ill. He hated that she immediately accepted his phone and started looking up the number.

But her face lit up after talking with them and making an appointment for later that afternoon.

They went in and found their usual pew. His mother turned and chatted with the couple behind them, and he glanced around, looking for new faces. Women liked to meet men at church, although he had to be careful. They tended to be the clingy and jealous types who thought he’d be proposing marriage after one date.

“She’s not here,” Mom whispered.

“Who?” Paige’s face immediately came to mind, but that was ridiculous. He’d never brought her up.

“Alicia.”

Speaking of clingy. Alicia had sent flowers to his work the day after their first date. Red, long-stemmed roses, to be exact. Al and the guys had never let him live it down. “That’s a relief.”

“But she was so sweet. I thought you liked her.”

“I liked her until she turned crazy. But then, they all do.” He turned to look at his mother, expecting her disapproving frown, but she looked sad.

“I screwed up your childhood, didn’t I? This is my fault.”

“What’s your fault?”

She patted his leg. “You mistake interest for lunacy. Where can a relationship go when you’re looking for someone else after five minutes?”

He didn’t answer, because he was thinking she was the last person in the world who should be giving him dating advice. She assumed he was the stereotypical player, just like everyone else did. Was there anything worse than being a cliché? Shaun didn’t play games with women. He didn’t purposely toy with their emotions or manipulate. He just made sure things never got serious. There was a difference, wasn’t there?

The minister stood and welcomed everyone, and they didn’t speak on it again, though his mind dwelled on it longer than he cared to.

***

A small part of her had hoped the homeowner would outright refuse to make the switch, but Ally, the woman who owned the house Shaun wanted, was fine with changing the paperwork and accepting a different buyer.

Paige mentally let go of the house once and for all, though she considered things she could suggest that would make a huge difference. Small renovation projects she could help him with. No, she couldn’t think that way. After this deal went through, she and Shaun would part ways. He was fun to be around, and she enjoyed how comfortable she was with him, but she was not stupid. He held himself back, putting out the fun-loving flirty side while keeping the rest of his feelings detached. Any relationship expert would tell her to run. Except Paige wasn’t really looking for a relationship any more than Shaun was. Or at least that’s what she’d been telling herself for years. It was easier to say you didn’t want a relationship when there were no decent prospects. And she wasn’t sure whether Shaun was a decent prospect or not.

She sent him a text and set her phone down next to her computer. They want a meeting at 9am tomorrow. Can u get off work?

He answered right away. Yep. What should I bring?

Be prepared to turn over the $10,000. I’ll text you the address.

Let me call my worthless realtor and see if he can be there.

She went back to typing up her latest blog post until her phone pinged again.

We’ll be there. Thanks for doing this.

Her doorbell rang, and Paige got up, steeling herself for seeing Ashley and Reid. Ashley had called earlier, saying they had news and wanted to come by.

News. Paige hoped they were coming to tell her about their breakup, but alas, she knew in her heart it would be the opposite. How do you put on your congratulations face for something you’re not happy about? She couldn’t help reviewing the conversation she’d had with Ashley about not settling for him. They’d talked since then and smoothed things over, but those weren’t exactly words you could take back.

Paige opened the door, and Ashley immediately accosted her with a huge hug. Her face was radiant with excitement, making her more beautiful than normal. People used to mistake them for twins when they were younger, but the truth was, Paige was a distant second to Ashley in looks. And while beauty shouldn’t matter, it made her wonder, yet again, what Ashley was doing with someone like Reid. He wasn’t bad looking, with his full head of black hair and steel blue eyes, but to Paige, he always seemed twitchy, like he was uncomfortable in his own skin. It made her wonder what he was hiding.

Ashley pulled back from the hug and breezed past Paige, pulling Reid along with her. “Have you been cooking, sis? Something smells good in here.”

Paige motioned for them to follow her into the kitchen. Any news they brought would be better with cherry hand pies. Each little tart was probably a thousand calories each, but oh, they tasted good. The little sugar granules gracing the top turned out so nice in the pictures.

Ashley took three bites of one before she quickly swallowed and turned to Paige. “So … Reid and I went out to dinner tonight and when we got back to my house, he got down on one knee, right there in my living room, and asked me to marry him.” She squealed and held out her hand, showing off a small diamond solitaire.

Paige’s eyes briefly turned to Reid. He was awfully unemotional about the whole thing, though he kept his arm around Ashley, a stiff smile in place. Paige should have put in more effort to be nice to him in the beginning. But she hadn’t thought there’d be a reason to.

“I’m happy for you,” Paige lied. “Have you told Mom and Dad yet?”

Ashley wiped a crumb from the corner of her mouth. “We’re headed over there next.”

They each took a bite of their pie, and the silence stretched out until Paige knew she had to fill it. “Have you set a date yet?”

Ashley glanced at Reid. “Not yet. I mean, it just happened so we’ll have a lot to think about.”

“Of course.”

Paige pulled the milk out of the fridge and got out three glasses, pouring for each of them. Playing hostess she could do. Chit chat, not so much. Did Reid feel as awkward around her as she did around him? She suddenly wished for Shaun, knowing he would know how to smooth things over where she could only make a lame attempt.

“Does your family live around here, Reid?” Paige knew little about him, except that he was an under-employed house painter. Ashley usually couldn’t shut up about her boyfriends, but she’d said very little about this one. Well, fiancé now.

“No. They’re in Oregon.”

“It’s pretty there. Is that where you grew up?”

He nodded, then took a drink, finishing off his milk. “So, uh, we should get going, Ash. Your mom’s probably freaking out right now.”

Ashely smiled. “So true. I told her I had big news and she started screaming. It was so funny.”

“I’ll bet.” Paige gave her best amused smile in return. She hoped Dad would grill Reid a little. Dad was a traditional guy, and from the sounds of things, Reid hadn’t gone to him for his blessing first.

She sighed in relief when she closed the door on them and sank into a chair, pulling the throw pillow out from behind her and hugging it.

Maybe she was being a paranoid buzzkill and everything would be fine. If they made each other happy, who was she to judge? And yet, because Ashley had asked if Paige would hire him, she’d checked on those references. References who didn’t seem too keen on recommending him. A strong work ethic was important to her. Paige couldn’t imagine tying herself to someone who couldn’t be dependable. But everyone had their own list. Maybe Ashley’s list just had different priorities.

Chapter 9

Shaun had the cashier’s check in hand, using practically every dime from his last paycheck, plus his savings. He’d be charging anything else that came along this month, including groceries, but hopefully it would all be worth it.

He sat in his car waiting for Paige and his realtor to show up. They were meeting at the owner’s work office, a life insurance place with a big fake palm tree in the window. Paige pulled in next to him, and he smiled over at her.

She was back to pulled-up hair and a conservative blouse, but nothing could hide her natural beauty. He liked her in anything she wore. His thoughts drifted back to the crowded dance floor on Saturday night. Paige’s arms draped around his neck, her hips moving in rhythm with his. Her face turning up to meet his. He immediately got out and let the cool morning air hit him in the face.

After this, there would be no need to see each other hardly at all. He’d finish paying off the five-hundred he owed her, and then there would be no going out with anyone. He wouldn’t be able to afford it. His new mortgage payment, at least according to all the online calculators he’d checked, would cost him double what he was currently paying in rent every month. Not to mention the electricity bill, water, garbage, internet. His stomach clenched at the thought.

He pushed aside the worries and pictured his mom with her new hairstyle, beaming until Donovan’s stare met them at the door Sunday afternoon. Shaun was buying this house. He’d find a way to pay for it. She could move into the main house with him and they’d find a renter for the casita.

“Ready for this?” Paige asked, interrupting his thoughts.

“Yep.” He pulled the glass door open and held it for her while she walked in.

The homeowner, Ally, led them back to a small conference table and offered them water or coffee while they waited for Shaun’s realtor.

“Why’d you call your realtor worthless?” Paige murmured to him.

Shaun shrugged. “He always acts like I’m a waste of his time. If I was a realtor, I’d make it part of my slogan. ‘I’ll treat you like you’re my most important client.’”

Ally got a pensive look on her face and pulled a pad of paper toward her. “You mind if I steal that? I need something to go at the bottom of all my work emails, above my contact info. That would be perfect.”

He shrugged. “Sure.”

And then the man of the hour showed up, checking his watch as he sat down, before greeting Shaun.

Ally cleared her throat. “Let’s get started. So, Paige tells me you would like the house, under the same terms. If you’re approved for the loan, I don’t have a problem with it.”

Shaun’s realtor took over at that point, handing over Shaun’s preauthorization paperwork and discussing terms. The only thing Shaun caught was how the cost of the paperwork under Paige’s name would be rolled into his loan. Yay, another expense added.

Shaun handed over the check for the ten thousand dollars. His realtor promised to be in touch on a closing date when Shaun could come sign his life away, and the meeting was over. Shaun rubbed his temples and took a drink from the complimentary water bottle before following Paige out.

She was watching him with a worried expression, so he relaxed his face and gave her a small smile. He didn’t regret this decision. Not for one minute. But it didn’t mean it didn’t scare him.

“Shaun.” Paige stepped over to him and tucked something into his jacket pocket. “Let’s forget the home inspection. It’s a research expense I sink into projects whether I take them on or not. So here’s the two hundred I owe you for Saturday.”

He took hold of her hand before she could pull it back and tucked his other arm around her waist, pulling her close. He needed to stop doing this. The feel of her and the scent of her hair immediately overwhelmed his senses. It was more than physical attraction now. Her scrappy personality with the soft caramel center made him want to see how much more he could soften her. He liked the challenge of getting close to a woman who rarely let someone in. And that was wrong. More than anyone he’d ever met before, he didn’t want to hurt Paige with a brush off. Spending more time with her would be dangerous.

He let go of her and pulled the money out of his pocket. “I will get you the other three hundred. Don’t you dare try to take pity on me. I wanted this, and I’ll be strapped for a while, but I’m going to rent out the casita, and slowly fix up the main house. This is a happy day.” He smiled wide as if to demonstrate, and she stared back, not totally convinced, although she took back the money.

“Okay. Well, I guess I’ll see you when I see you.” She walked over to the driver’s side of her truck and got in.

“Goodbye,” Shaun whispered, watching her back out.

***

Paige was in the middle of a consult with the most stubborn woman she’d ever met when her phone vibrated several times. Thank goodness she’d put it on silent. Paige explained what she’d envisioned for staging the living and dining rooms and then listened while Mrs. Vankirk suggested changes to almost everything Paige had just said. Mrs. Vankirk’s jewelry jingled as she waved her hands around, explaining how much it had cost them to renovate it the first time. And they’d made a lot of changes, taking a 1960s house to a tacky 1980s style. Paige would have to walk the careful line between making sure the house sold and stroking Mrs. Vankirk’s ego.

The house had been vacant for over a year, but Mrs. Vankirk was still attached to the paint colors and flooring she’d originally put in. She wanted Paige to find furnishings to match, rather than repainting everything in neutral colors and staging so as to appeal to the widest audience. When Paige had met with her husband, she thought she’d have total control over the project. Now she wished she’d never agreed to it.

Paige put aside her notes. “What if we keep this focus wall the deep burgundy, but the rest of the rooms go to cream?” Her phone vibrated again and she resisted the urge to kick her purse. What was so urgent?

“And get rid of the forest green dining room? I got so many compliments on it.”

Sure she did, back in 1984. “The deep colors would be fine if you were asking me to decorate this house for your taste, Mrs. Vankirk. But we’re trying to sell it. The house has already been on the market for ten months. I can’t bring in potential buyers if we don’t make any changes. I understand how you feel. Homeowners have a hard time emotionally distancing themselves, and that’s where I step in.”

Mrs. Vankirk pouted for a moment, and then turned and gave her a shrewd look. “And you can guarantee a buyer at the current price?”

Ugh, Paige hated when people cornered her like this. The current price was overly optimistic. Not impossible, but not something she wanted to promise as a done deal, especially when this neighborhood was not getting any nicer. Houses that had once been showpieces now had unkempt yards.

“I will sell this as fast as possible at the highest price possible.” Paige hoped that was good enough, but Mrs. Vankirk was not someone easily placated.

“I’m not paying what my husband promised you if we have to lower the selling price again. Do I make myself clear?”

Oh, it was on. Paige took a cleansing breath. “If that’s the case, I need total control of the project. I’m repainting this whole place and putting in furniture as I see fit. I will not tolerate any interference or I will quit and bill you for what I’ve already put into it.”

Paige waited to be asked to leave. Better now than after she’d sunk time and money into this thing. Bullies tended to overestimate how much social influence they had. She was not afraid of being bad-mouthed.

Mrs. Vankirk sniffed. “Fine. I’m too busy to deal with all this anyway.” She pretended to check the time on her expensive gold watch. “I have to be at another meeting in thirty minutes. Please lock up on your way out. Oh, and I want this house back up on the market by the end of the week.”

Paige waited until she heard the door close and sank back into the chair, exhausted. This was why she preferred to buy houses outright. Dealing with people was not her favorite thing.

And speaking of … She pulled out her phone. One call from Alvino and three from her mother, along with three voice messages.

Paige checked in with Alvino and then read through the garbled phone message transcripts from her mother, rather than listen to all three.

Page you have to call me. Its about Ashley’s weeding. I want to have dinner for (indecipherable) I need to pick a night. Call me back.

Ashley was hoping for Friday night, but ant Terry wants Thursday. (indecipherable) with your cousins now.

I need you to call me so we can plan this. Love you. What are your thoughts on app teasers?

Ack, it was already starting. She should have known her mom would immediately go into wedding planning mode. An engagement dinner. Cousins. Who else had she already invited? Paige gathered up the sketches she’d made and started on a new one for the kitchen before calling back. Sketching helped her relax, even if the effort was for a controlling deal maker like Mrs. Vankirk.

“Hi, Mom. Sorry I missed your call. Well, calls.”

“I know you’re busy, I’m just trying to set up a nice dinner as a little congratulations to the happy couple. Ashley refuses to start making wedding plans yet, but I thought this would be a nice ‘welcome to the family’ gesture for Reid. You know?”

“Of course. What have you decided?”

“Does Thursday night work for you? It shouldn’t be too big a group. Ashley and Reid, Dad and I, Your Aunt Terrie and Uncle Greer, their three boys and their wives. Oh, and Ashley’s best friend, Laurie, and her husband, Blake. And you, of course.”

Paige’s strokes on the page deepened as she started adding shadows and cobwebs while her mom talked on. Paige did not need a relationship right now, but sometimes, it would be nice to not make an odd number for stupid events like this.

After promising to come on time, Paige hung up and stalked out to her truck. She got out plastic sheeting, paint rollers, and a bucket of wall primer. She always kept a set of overalls in her truck, in cases like this where she might go from business meeting to messy construction. She changed in the house and then got to work, taking great satisfaction in covering up both the burgundy and forest green walls.

***

Shaun waited until the closing was over and he had the keys in hand to accept that this was truly happening. He’d been afraid to tell anyone or make any plans. But once it was a reality, he got to work. With a rented moving truck, he drove straight to the storage facility where all of Mom and Dad’s furniture and scrapbooks and well … everything had been sitting. Preston was able to get away from work for a few hours, a perk of owning his own business, and he helped Shaun load it all up and take it back to the house.

Shaun had been paying the storage fees for almost two years, just to keep Donovan from dumping it all off at a thrift store. Now there would be no more storage fees. Look at that, a new bonus to home ownership had appeared already. He and Mom could now take the time to go through it and decide what to keep without the drama that would ensue if Donovan were involved in the process.

Heck, they could have a yard sale because now they had a yard!

He had no idea how Donovan and Lindsey would react to Mom moving out, so he didn’t plan on asking. It was all part of the fun. And after the stress of closing on the house, he could use a little fun.

He drove to their house and rang the doorbell. Lindsey answered, giving him her characteristic glare, a mix of boredom and irritation that only she could pull off.

“Is my mom here?”

“Where else would she be?” Lindsey gestured for him to come in, and he went down the hall to his mother’s bedroom and knocked.

It was like walking into a time warp. Donovan and Lindsey’s furniture and decorations were thoroughly modern and artsy. His mother’s bedroom was wall-to-wall family photos, and every other surface was covered with crochet projects: afghans and doilies like his mother was eighty instead of fifty-five. Yeah, it was time for her to get a life.

“Shaun! What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at work?”

“I took the day off. Can we talk for a minute?” He closed the door behind him and sat down in an armchair by the window. She sat on the bed and stared at him, looking puzzled.

“I bought a house and I’d like you to move in with me.”

“Oh, I don’t know.” She glanced around, as if leaving this tiny room would be some kind of sacrifice.

“We’ll talk about it on the way. Grab whatever you might need for the day and let’s go look at it.”

“Right now?” She looked over at her unfinished crossword puzzle and then back at him.

“Mom. I took off work for this. Come on, let’s go. The Price is Right will be on tomorrow.”

She stood and brushed off her pants. “You don’t have to be sassy about it. And for your information, I haven’t watched that show since Bob Barker retired.”

Shaun grinned. Any sign of spunk from her was a good thing.

He picked up a tote bag she kept yarn in and stuffed a few paperbacks in before moving over to her chest of drawers. Her jewelry box fit snugly on top, using up the rest of the room in the bag. He pulled a suitcase out from under her bed and put a few shirts and pants inside, not sure what would be best, but knowing if they were on top of the stacks, they probably got worn regularly.

“I haven’t said I’m moving in with you yet,” she said, taking over and adding underwear and socks. The look she gave him was one of wary hope. He couldn’t say he blamed her. She went across the hall to the bathroom and came back with an armful of toiletries and stuffed them in her purse.

They silently headed down the hall and he eased open the front door. Lindsey was nowhere in sight. Instinctively, Shaun knew that as much as they complained about Mom living there, they would make a fuss about her leaving, if for no other reason, because it was not something Donovan had initiated. The longer the control freaks went without knowing, the better.

“Do you need anything else?” Shaun asked as he put everything in the back seat.

She shook her head and he gunned it out of the neighborhood.

“Shaun,” she put a hand on his arm.

“I know, I know. I drive too fast.”

“No, I was about to say that I’m sorry, about everything. I’m sorry we didn’t keep up on Dad’s life insurance payments and I’m sorry it’s caused a rift between you and Donovan.”

Shaun shook his head. “Dad really thought he’d beat the cancer, stubborn cuss. Though secretly putting a third mortgage on your house to pay for alternative treatments kind of goes above and beyond selfish. As for Donovan and me, that rift’s been there since fourth grade, when he used to beat me up at the bus stop and laugh.”

She winced and he regretted adding that little anecdote. Thankfully, that was also the year Wade Hagerman moved in, and the big kid developed an instant dislike for Donovan’s bullying. Shaun paid for Wade’s protection in homemade cookies from his lunch box, so in a way, his mother had helped put a stop to it after all.

He pulled onto his new street and watched his mother’s face as they reached the house.

“This is it?” She turned to him, her eyes wide. “It’s beautiful.”

“Yep, and Preston and Corrie live in that one over there.” He pointed across and down the street to their tan-colored ranch house.

“How can you afford this?” She immediately looked repentant, but it was a fair question. Not asking about finances in her own marriage had left her with nothing.

“It’s a fixer-upper and I bought it as-is. But yeah, we need to find a renter for the casita in the back. That’s next on my list.”

He helped her gather her things and bring them inside. She passed the den, packed wall-to-wall with furniture and froze.

“No use paying for a storage unit when I have room here.”

She turned around and hugged him, pressing her face into his ribs. He hadn’t gotten his height from her side of the family.

“You could’ve just stuck the couch in the living room,” she murmured, “rather than wedging it in here.”

He laughed. “No offense, but I hate that couch. My leather one from my apartment is going in the living room.”

She released him and smoothed out his shirt. “I kind of hate it too, now that I think about it.”

“Well, look at that, one thing already added to the yard sale pile.”

***

Paige pushed the for-sale sign deep into the new grass and gave a contented sigh. She’d done everything she could for this Santa Fe house and now it was time to see if all her hard work would pay off.

She went to stand behind her tripod and looked through the camera lens, checking to see that everything was perfect.

One shriveled lemon marred the beautiful expanse of lawn, and she ran and plucked it up and threw it in the neighbors’ garbage can. She moved their can farther out of the way for good measure.

Anything else? She kicked a few gravel rocks back in place before checking the view through the lens again. The shot looked perfect, and she took enough pictures to console her perfectionist heart.

She drove home and organized them all, scrolling through the ones she’d taken of the interior. It was always fun to stage a house she’d be personally selling. After listing the house for sale on all the major sites, she turned to social media.

Another house on the market from Paige Parker. This one will break my heart to part with.

She added a photo of the front of the house and one of the gorgeous new kitchen, and then it was time to see if all her followers would pay attention.

Within minutes, people were requesting showings and tagging their friends who might be interested. Paige twirled in her chair and tapped a happy rhythm with her feet before diving back in and responding with times they could come by for a tour.

She wished she could use it as an excuse to skip the engagement party tonight, but that would not fly with her mother, nor would it be a nice thing to do to Ashley.

All week long she’d been hoping Shaun would call or text, giving her a casual way to bring up how she might need a plus one for tonight. She couldn’t think of anyone else she’d want to bring to a family event, seeing as how Shaun already knew about her crazy aunt. But time was running out, and it was go alone or ask. It didn’t have to be a date. They could go their separate ways, again, once tonight was over. And if Shaun said no she was no worse off.

She decided to test the waters with a text. Busy tonight?

There would probably be no time to prepare between showings and the party, so Paige freshened up her hair and makeup, and changed into a navy dress with cute little pearl buttons all down the front. She had adorable peep-toe wedges to match, but her feet would be dying if she wore them all day, so she threw them in her duffle bag and put on a pair of flats.

Her phone pinged and she raced back to it, glad no one could see her desperate climb over the couch.

Just moving stuff. What’s up?

I need a plus-one for my sister’s engagement party tonight. Still want to meet my Aunt Terrie?

I’d love to meet your aunt. What do I wear and what’s my backstory?

She laughed, somehow not surprised that Shaun would pick up right where they’d left off, with no awkward ‘how’ve-you-been’ type small talk. What do you mean by backstory, Shaun?

You know. Am I going as your super-hot billionaire boyfriend? Your might-be-more-than-friends co-worker? Fake fiancé?

Um, you’ll be going as the polite, quiet version of yourself.

That doesn’t exist. Pick one of the above.

Paige gathered up her things and headed to her truck. She didn’t have time for these shenanigans. She had a house to sell and a mother to call, letting her know she’d be bringing someone. But as goofy as he was being about it, he had a point. What was she introducing him as? Her date. Just as her date. You’re my date. Wear a tie. Can I pick you up at 6:30?

So demanding. At the new house. See you at 6:30.

Chapter 10

“What are you smiling at?”

Shaun looked up from his phone, suddenly aware that he’d been sporting a big grin while texting back and forth with Paige.

Having Mom live here meant sharing where he went and who with. Something he hadn’t had to do in a long time.

“Oh, I have dinner plans with a friend tonight. Do you want to go back to Donovan and Lindsey’s or are you okay here?”

“I’m happy to keep unpacking here. I’d like to finish with the dishes and pantry.”

They shared a knowing smile. Donovan had already called and chewed out Shaun for not letting him know, but then demanded that they come get the rest of her things immediately, which they did.

“How’s your back feeling, Mom? I forgot to ask.”

She waved him off. “It’s fine. I do my daily stretches, and the doctor said I’m off of any physical restrictions.”

That was a relief. No restrictions. She could do anything she wanted to, if she’d let herself. “You could go out too, you know.” Shaun sat down next to her at the table and waited until she stopped stacking kitchen towels and looked up at him. “Mom, it’s time for you to get back to living your own life. You don’t have your own cell phone anymore. You don’t have a car. There’s no need to transfer what you did with your time over at Donovan’s house to here. You don’t have to stay in your room with the door closed or not have any say in things. And I want to help you get a job.”

As he’d feared, her expression became wooden, like she was closing herself off from the stress caused by his words.

“We’ll take it one thing at a time. I’m not mad at you.”

She nodded, going back to folding towels.

He was filled with that familiar helplessness he always felt when trying to change the unchangeable. A lot of anger was pointed at his dad and Donovan, but despite what he’d said, there was a little anger at Mom, too. Dad had been gone for two years and she was still acting like she needed his permission for everything. Shaun felt like he was trying to liberate a person who didn’t understand freedom.

“I’m going back to my apartment to get some more of my things. If you need me, head over to Corrie’s and use their house phone. The garage code is 5252. They already said it was okay.”

Shaun checked in with Preston, and since he was finishing an air conditioning job nearby, they met up at the apartment to try to move the big items.

“Hey, neighbor.” Preston got out of his truck and stretched out his back. “I have to get some kind of orthopedic seat doodad in here. I must be getting old. My back is killing me.”

“Says the guy about to move a couch and a bed down a flight of stairs.” Shaun opened the back of the moving truck and pulled down the ramp. A guy swerved around the truck in a little Jetta and blared his horn, letting them know what he thought of them half-blocking the parking lot.

“Jerk. I can’t wait to be out of this dump.”

Preston laughed. “We have one of those guys in our neighborhood, only he drives a yellow Fiat. Corrie yelled at him the other day because he raced around Ella on her bike like she was just another car.”

They took the steps up to the apartment two at a time and got to work pulling out the mattresses and taking them down, one at a time, and then moving onto the leather couch.

“I don’t recall you being this focused when we moved Corrie,” Preston said, holding his chest as he attempted to get his breathing back to normal. “I need a second here, before we move out the chest of drawers.”

Shaun smiled. “Oh, right. I stopped to talk to that girl in the yoga pants. She had a boyfriend, or so she claimed.”

“You need to stop trolling and actually date someone for a change.” Preston grabbed a water bottle out of the ice chest in his truck and took a long drink.

“Let’s say for theory’s sake that I took your advice and forged ahead with someone when I knew it wasn’t going to work out. How is that better?”

Preston put the water down on top of his toolbox and started up the stairs. “Because you tried.”

Shaun followed two steps behind. “So I break the girl’s heart?”

“And yours. But then you know why it didn’t work, and you’re wiser the next time around.”

They approached each side of the chest of drawers, and Shaun nodded that he was ready. They lifted the two ends and slowly started to move. It took some finagling to get it through the door, but they finally got it downstairs and up into the moving truck.

The nice thing about Preston was that they could leave that conversation just where it was, and continue it later.

“So, only the desk is left?” Preston asked.

“Yes. Sorry to make you come and do this.”

“No worries. You and your mom want to come over for dinner tonight? Corrie’s attempting shepherd’s pie.”

“Oh, that sounds terrible.”

“Hey now.”

“I love Corrie. I just don’t love her cooking, and I don’t have to pretend I do because I’m not married to her.”

“Fair enough. You could pre-eat and come anyway.”

“Can’t. I have plans.” Did he dare admit this was a third date with Paige? It didn’t feel like a third date. He didn’t feel the buildup of expectation from her like he got from other girls when they’d been out a few times. But he didn’t want to feel that expectation from anyone else either by telling them about it.

“You’re not going to elaborate?”

“It’s a date. If anything exciting comes of it, you’ll be the first to know.”

***

Paige sped over to Shaun’s house, a half-hour late, but for a very good reason. After that last showing, she now had two tentative offers on the house and she couldn’t wait to see who else jumped in over the next few days.

Shaun came out of his house right when she pulled up and got in. He was wearing the same tie he wore to the restaurant. She suspected it was the only one he owned.

“I thought for a minute you’d changed your mind about taking me.”

“I know, I know. Sorry. But I was showing that house you worked on and the last couple who walked through is planning to put in an offer first thing in the morning.”

“Already? Wow. That’s amazing.”

She turned to see if he was mocking or humoring her, but he seemed genuinely pleased. She hadn’t had anyone show excitement in her accomplishments in a long time. Her mom thought she worked too much, and her dad was somewhat indifferent to the whole thing.

“Thanks.”

He rubbed his hands together. “So, who am I meeting tonight?”

“You are way too thrilled about meeting my crazy family and that kind of freaks me out. I think I’d rather have you go in blind.”

“Okay, but are there any taboo subjects? Things I shouldn’t stare at too long, like your aunt’s glass eye or the urn on the mantle with the ashes from your mother’s favorite cat?”

She laughed. “Bringing you along was the worst idea ever.”

“No, Paige. This was your best idea ever. We’re going to have fun tonight, okay? He grabbed her hand and squeezed before letting go a moment later. She put her hand firmly back on the steering wheel and tried to tamp down her budding feelings for him.

She should be worrying about what her family would think of her bringing him or what they might ask. But instead, she was thinking how risky it would be to fall for someone like Shaun. He hadn’t given any indication that he liked her beyond someone to hang out with. And she had an inkling he kept that kind of emotional separation with other girls, too.

“How do you like your new house?”

“Liking it pretty well for day one. There’s stuff everywhere and I still have to set up my TV, but yeah, it’s nice to be doing something different. I was in my last apartment for five years. Mrs. H brought me cookies and gave me a hug before I left.”

“Your neighbor?”

“Yeah. I won’t miss all her cats hanging out at my door, but she was a nice old lady.”

“What does the H stand for?”

“No idea. That’s just how she introduced herself.”

They were almost to her parents’ house, and Paige started to get nervous. “Shaun, you’re not really going to pretend to be my billionaire boyfriend are you?”

He laughed. “I think I’d need blinged-out jeans and a teacup dog to pull off that look.”

“And trendy hair.”

He touched the top of his head. “Hey, be nice to the ginger.”

“I’m not talking about the color. I’m talking about the cut. You know, super short on the sides, long and gelled on top.”

“You have a Pinterest board you can show me? Paige’s ideal boyfriend hair?”

“Shut up.”

He turned in his seat to face her. “You know, my friend Preston actually did what I teased you about. He went to meet his wife’s family before they started dating and introduced himself as her boyfriend. She was not happy about it.”

“Did she play along?”

“Yes. But she’s not you. I have a feeling if I tried that, you’d shove me outside and tell everyone I’d been drinking.”

“Possibly.” She pulled up in front of her parents’ house, her heart sinking as she realized pretty much everyone else was already inside, based on the cars parked out front. “Ready to make our grand entrance?”

He got out and got her door. “Let’s do this.”

She stepped out and walked up with him, taking a deep breath before ringing the doorbell. “So you’re not planning anything crazy?”

“You almost sound disappointed.” He put his arm around her just as the door opened. “Polite date,” he murmured. “That’s me.”

“Paige, my baby.” Her mom pulled her into a hug like they hadn’t seen each other in years. “You look great. And this must be your friend, Shaun.” She turned and opened her arms to him, and Paige tried not to laugh as Shaun enthusiastically hugged her back like it wasn’t weird.

“Your friend, Shaun?” he whispered as they stood in the foyer. “Somehow I feel like I’ve been downgraded.”

“From what?” She raised an eyebrow at him and he shrugged. They were so not having that conversation tonight, in jest or otherwise.

Aunt Terrie came up, looking overly curious. She’d dyed her hair jet black since the last time Paige had seen her. Paired with her blue eyeshadow and generous red lipstick, she was a sight to behold.

“Aunt Terrie, this is my friend, Shaun.”

“So nice to meet you.” She gripped both his hands, then pulled them up so she could look at his palms.

Oh, not this right now. Paige resisted the urge to pull his hands away from her.

Terrie ran her thumbs down the lines of his hands, her face full of concentration. “A kindred spirit. How interesting.”

“They’re a little calloused from work.” Shaun’s eyes flitted to Paige and she knew he was trying his best to remain serious.

“Well, come meet Greer. My lump of a husband won’t leave the couch while his show is on. I’ve explained the DVR thing to him, but he refuses to wait.” She led him over to Uncle Greer, who was intent on a political commentary show, his eyes barely leaving the TV long enough to nod to Shaun. But that was nothing out of the ordinary. There could be no couple more polar opposite than Terrie and Greer.

Paige looked around for her sister and finally spotted her on Reid’s lap in a chair in the corner. They did look cute together. Paige rescued Shaun from Aunt Terrie and linked her arm with his.

“Ready to jump out a window yet?”

“Are you kidding? Your Aunt Terrie is a hoot. Look what she gave me.” He held up his wrist, showing off an orange beaded bracelet. “It’s to help with my negative thoughts.”

“I could probably use some help with that right now.” She motioned to Ashley and Reid. “Ready to meet the future bride and groom?”

Shaun looked over and then really stared, his eyebrows furrowing. “Your sister’s marrying Reid Kelley?”

“You know him?”

He turned to face her, looking serious. “Yeah. She can’t marry him.”

Paige hit him in the arm but his face didn’t curl into a smile.

“I’m not kidding, Paige.”

“What?” She dragged him down the hall and into Ashley’s old bedroom, which had been converted into overflowing craft storage, and closed the door. “Please explain.”

He stepped closer, so as not to knock into the ironing board behind him, and her breath hitched when he held onto each of her arms for balance. In the semi-darkness, she couldn’t see much beyond his face right in front of her. His breath smelled like peppermint. Could he tell how fast her heart was beating? She fumbled for the light switch, but finally gave up when she couldn’t find it behind a stack of crates. Thankfully, her mother was only a hoarder when it came to craft projects.

“Reid Kelley was my least favorite roommate in college. I can’t stand him.”

Paige gave a sigh. “Is that all? I thought you were about to say he’s a serial killer, or already married. Something horrible.”

“He is horrible. He controlled the girls he dated. Made them feel like crap. And he turned even meaner after they broke up. Maybe he’s grown up since then, but I doubt it.” He looked to her to confirm or deny it.

“I don’t know. Ashley rarely talks about him or brings him by.”

Shaun frowned. “That’s actually a bad sign. You can’t let your sister marry someone like him. She’ll be miserable. Trust me, I know.”

“You know?”

He paused, like he might answer that, but shook his head instead. “He’s a liar, too. He’d lie about the dumbest things. Like we’d catch him drinking milk right out of the carton and then he’d deny doing it five minutes later. Sorry, am I stressing you out right now?” He touched her cheek with his hand, his thumb rubbing across to her ear.

It made it difficult to concentrate on the conversation at hand, and she really wanted to know why he said he knew all about misery in relationships. There was so much about him she didn’t know.

“I don’t like Reid much either, but Ashley will never listen to me. She thinks I just hate all guys.”

He smiled. “Why does she think that?”

“Cause my last boyfriend was four years ago.” Okay, maybe she shouldn’t have been that honest.

“I find that hard to believe. That guy at the restaurant the other night didn’t cut in because he thinks you have a sweet personality.” He fingered a strand of her hair and she closed her eyes.

“Shaun, let’s focus here.”

“Okay. Sorry. We should go out and meet them, regardless. I’ll act normal. He might not even remember me.”

She stared up at him. “Somehow I doubt that.”

***

Shaun did not want to leave the room and go back to the party. He wanted to stay whispering in the dark with Paige. He wanted to kiss her again. That first time had been so surprising. He wanted an encore, letting the natural chemistry between them go to work. But that wasn’t fair to either of them. He was supposed to be pulling away, putting up some distance so she wouldn’t be upset when he didn’t call again. That was what he did when flirting turned to something more serious. He made sure he never reached that point, but he felt like he’d already passed it with Paige.

He thought of Preston’s advice, about going for it and trying, even if the relationship was almost sure to fail. That advice sounded better when applied to someone theoretical. The last thing he wanted was to make Paige his commitment guinea pig. She deserved so much better than that.

Which was why he dropped his hands and pulled open the door. One of Aunt Terrie’s sons was coming out of the bathroom across the hall. He looked over at them and smirked.

Yeah, the whole, ‘my friend, Shaun’ thing was not likely to hold up now.

To her credit, Paige lifted her chin and walked out like she had nothing to hide, so Shaun followed, keeping his poker face on as they reentered the living room and approached Paige’s sister and Reid.

“Ashley, this is my friend, Shaun Randall. And this is Reid Kelley, her fiancé.”

Reid reached out a hand. “Hey, Shaun. Long time no see.”

Ashley’s eyes lit up. “You two know each other?” She looked a lot like Paige, with the same dark eyes and hair, and smooth tan skin.

“College roommates,” Reid answered. “Though I ended up dropping out and working with my dad. You still play basketball?” His eyes held a hint of mockery, probably hoping it was still a touchy subject for Shaun. Shaun had made it onto the team as a walk-on player but rarely got any playing time.

“Only for fun.”

Reid looked the same as before, weasel eyes in a fairly good-looking face.

“Dinner’s ready,” Paige’s mom announced. “Everyone come in.”

Ashley unfolded herself from Reid’s lap and went to stand by Paige. “Blind date guy, right?”

Paige glanced over at him, so Shaun pretended he hadn’t overheard.

“Mm, hmm.”

“I thought you two didn’t exchange numbers.”

“We ran into each other again.”

“How fortuitous.”

“Shh.”

Paige moved away from her and stood by Shaun, letting everyone else walk around the table looking for their name cards. As they all sat down in couples, Shaun better understood why Paige had asked him along.

They sat in the two remaining seats and Shaun picked up the card with his name on it. He’d never been to an event fancy enough to assign him a seat at dinner. Would Paige want him along for the rest of it? The rehearsal dinner, wedding, and reception?

No, he wouldn’t have to worry about that. Because there was no way her sister could marry Reid Kelley. He and Paige would make sure of it.

Chapter 11

“Here’s to the happy couple.”

Everyone raised their glasses, and Paige looked from face to face, wondering who meant it, and who agreed with her and Shaun that this was all a bit rushed. I mean, had her parents even spent time with Reid before tonight? How could they be excited about this? Laurie should know better too. Ashley’s best friend was not the most mature person ever, but she’d married a good man. She was probably the one person that could talk sense into Ashley when it came to guys. However, she was also highly distracted right now, as she was expecting her first baby any day.

Someone had to do something besides throw parties and congratulate them. When did a wedding become more important than a solid marriage? Paige was pretty sure if she came tonight and announced she was engaged to Justin Bieber, her mother would still be excited about it.

Paige dug back into her salad and received a nudge from Shaun. She looked up, just in time to see Reid block Ashley from taking a cucumber off his plate, even though he’d pushed all his to the side, uneaten.

Reid continued chatting with Uncle Greer like it hadn’t happened, but Ashley looked up and caught Shaun and Paige watching. She dropped her head and went back to eating her own salad.

“That’s weird, right?” Shaun whispered.

“Maybe he’s a germophobe.”

“Um, no. He used to steal everyone else’s leftovers all the time. It didn’t matter if we wrote our names on the containers in Sharpie or threatened death. My roommate Ed bought him a tube of toothpaste so he’d stop using his. Same thing with our shaving razors.”

“Okay, okay.” She patted his leg. “Calm it down. Jett’s looking at us funny.”

“Who’s Jett?”

“My cousin.” She turned and smiled at Jett. “How’s the baby?”

Jett and his wife beamed, and Jett pulled out his phone to show off pictures of the little cherub. Shaun leaned over and put his arm around Paige’s shoulder so he could see too.

“Everyone should go around and tell the story of how they met,” Aunt Terrie announced, putting down her glass. “Starting with the newly engaged couple.”

“Oh, great idea, Terrie,” Jett’s wife gushed.

Everyone looked to Ashley and Reid, and the silence stretched out.

“Oh, well…” Ashley smiled at Reid and cleared her throat. “I was reading on a park bench, and Reid came up and asked if I could help him look for his lost dog.”

Shaun snorted. “Did he offer you candy if you came to his van?”

“Shaun!” Paige hissed.

Laurie’s husband roared with laughter and slapped the table. “Well, I guess it ended well and that’s what matters.”

“I really was missing my dog,” Reid said, eyeing Shaun like he wanted to strangle him.

“I’m sure you were,” Aunt Terrie said, giving him a sympathetic smile. “Who’s next? Jett?”

Jett smiled at his wife and put his arm around her. “Ours isn’t very exciting. We met at church. Cutest girl in the choir. I asked her out as soon as I got someone to introduce us.”

“Awe, that’s so sweet.” Laurie rubbed a hand across her belly and looked to her husband. “We met in the line for Burger King on ASU’s campus. He bought me a Whopper meal, and well, the rest is history.”

They continued going around the table, and while Aunt Terrie was telling her fifteen-minute story, Uncle Greer not paying attention to any of it, Paige leaned over to whisper to Shaun.

“We can’t mention the blind date. Aunt Terrie still thinks that went well.”

Shaun stared at her in exaggerated surprise. “You lied to your aunt?”

Paige rolled her eyes. “I put a positive spin on it.”

“Okay, then how did we meet?” he whispered.

“Paige?” Aunt Terrie was staring at them, along with everyone else. “It’s your turn. Tell us how you met Shaun.”

Paige bit her lip. “Well, we’re not really a couple. You can skip us.”

“Nonsense. You can still participate.” Aunt Terrie leaned forward, her chin on her hands.

Ashley was smirking at them. Paige had forgotten about her sister knowing the truth.

“Well, he held open the door for me when I was leaving a restaurant, and then we talked outside for a few minutes.”

“They were still … ahem … ‘talking’ when I pulled up to give Paige a ride home.” Ashley laughed at her own joke, getting various reactions.

“Ashley, that was uncalled for.” Their mother frowned at her.

“Well, Shaun insinuated Reid was a kidnapper when I told my story!”

“What’s wrong with them talking?” Aunt Terrie asked, looking confused.

Uncle Greer leaned over to her. “Ashley was inferring that they were talking with their lips attached to each other.”

Laurie snorted, holding onto her belly for support as she burst into giggles. “Sounds romantic to me.”

“Ashley, apologize.” Reid’s quiet command was almost lost among all the other voices talking, but Paige knew Shaun heard it by the way he stiffened next to her.

“Sorry, Paige,” Ashley said, her expression losing most of its joy.

Why had she just done that? Paige had been embarrassed, yes. But as sisters close in age, they’d been ribbing each other since they were old enough to talk. Everyone else around the table was still laughing about it.

Shaun found Paige’s hand under the table and squeezed. Somehow, the gesture made her want to cry.

***

“Still not a drinker. Good for you.” Reid lifted his glass in salute, and everyone looked at Shaun and his untouched wine glass.

Another reason to hate the guy. Shaun had no problem with people drinking around him, he just didn’t like to be asked about why he didn’t. He’d made the mistake of explaining his family’s history with alcohol to Reid in college, and for whatever reason, the detail must have stuck, or at least Shaun’s embarrassment about it.

“Me either,” Laurie said, holding up her water glass with a laugh. He held his water glass up to hers in solidarity before taking a sip.

“What’s for dessert?” Paige asked her mom, clearly wanting to change the subject.

“Chocolate mousse. But we can have that in the living room in a few minutes. I’ll bring it out to everybody.”

“I’ll help.” Paige stood and picked up her plate. Shaun took his and followed, not wanting to be left at the table.

“He seems a lot chattier with you around,” Paige murmured when they’d reached the kitchen.

“He doesn’t like to be challenged. Never has.” Shaun rinsed their plates in the sink and stuck them in the dishwasher.

“What are we going to do?” she whispered. Shaun hated how worried she sounded, like she was on the verge of tears. And he’d put that worry there.

He dried his hands and took one of hers, leading her into the living room. The loveseat had not been claimed and he sat down and pulled her in close to him. It was a gesture of comfort, but oh, how nice it felt to be close to her. Just for a moment, he imagined what it would be like to be curled up with Paige every night.

She tucked her head into the crook of his neck and sighed. They were getting looks from her family, but he couldn’t bring himself to care.

“Have you ever played the game where you add a phrase to the end of what everyone says?” he whispered.

“Like with fortune cookies?” She lifted her head to look at him, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah, like that. How about, ‘and that’s when Jerry Springer called.’

Paige snorted. “Ashley and I used to sneak and watch his show all the time. My mom got so mad. She walked in and caught us right when this guy in a mullet was throwing his chair, and his pants fell down, and the camera had to blur out his plumber’s crack. Ashley and I couldn’t stop laughing even while my mom was grounding us for life.”

“This party could use a little chair throwing.”

She was silent, and he feared he’d offended her. “I like your family, Paige. They seem really normal. That’s a blessing.”

“Is your family normal?”

“No.” He almost elaborated, but let the moment pass.

They turned to take in the conversations around them, laughing when Aunt Terrie loudly proclaimed that she’d sold a bracelet to the refrigerator repairman the other day, and he’d returned to tell her he’d never felt more at peace.

“And that’s when Jerry Springer called,” Shaun whispered. Paige’s shoulders shook with laughter against his chest.

He allowed himself a few perfect minutes, just the two of them, before nudging Paige with his chin. “We’re being anti-social. I’m going to stay away from Reid, but you should spend some time with your sister. She needs you.”

Across the room, most of her family was chatting in a big group. He reluctantly released her and Paige stood, squaring her shoulders as if prepping for a difficult task.

As soon as she left, Uncle Greer took the vacant seat, giving Shaun a half-hearted nod. He pulled his glasses out of his shirt pocket and put them on so he could read the news on his phone. Poor guy. He must hate parties, and his wife probably dragged him to a lot of them. She seemed to have a radar for where he was at any given moment. Her face brightened when she saw Shaun sitting next to him, and she headed their direction.

“Is the bracelet helping? Have you noticed a difference?” she asked.

Shaun twisted it around his wrist, not sure whether to outright lie or hedge. “I don’t feel any different yet, but I’m open to the possibilities.”

“That’s good.” Aunt Terrie glanced back at Paige. “I should warn you, it can also increase romantic feelings. A nice little side effect.”

“That’s why she keeps trying to get me to wear one,” Uncle Greer said drily, never looking up from his phone.

“And yet he refuses.”

“Not my color,” he responded, looking up and giving her a wink.

She blushed and patted him on the hand before heading off to chat with someone else.

An interesting relationship those two had.

***

Paige’s feet were killing her, and she slipped off her heels as soon as they left the house.

“You gonna drive barefoot?” Shaun asked.

She shrugged. “I’ve done it before, but no.” She unlocked her truck and jumped up as best she could in her dress, putting her heels back on before pulling her legs all the way in.

Shaun got in on the passenger side. “Sorry, I should have offered to drive and picked you up like a proper date.”

“I was showing a house right up until this thing. It worked out better to pick you up on the way. And thank you for coming with me.” She looked over at him as she pulled away from the curb. “I know you probably had other things you’d rather be doing, you know, like filing your taxes or getting a root canal.”

Shaun’s laughter washed over her and her heart gave a little squeeze. What were they to each other? Friends who liked to flirt? Acquaintances tied together by circumstance? She couldn’t call him again. It was his turn to make the next move. She hoped he would.

“I saw you talking to your sister for quite a while. How did that go?”

She sighed. “It went okay. Reid stayed close by, listening, but not saying much. Now that he’s on my radar, I don’t know how much is my paranoia and how much is actual things to worry about.”

“Stay as close to her as you can. You’ll have to be sneaky. If she suspects your disapproval or suspicions, she’ll close up tighter than a tin can.”

“How do you know all this?” She regretted it as soon as it was out of her mouth. Maybe he was just a know-it-all who liked to give advice. But somehow, she knew it was more than that. This was personal to him.

“I … I watched my parents go through it my whole life. My mom, she’s recently widowed, and she doesn’t quite know what to do with herself now that she doesn’t have someone giving orders.” He rubbed his hands down his jeans, looking as nervous as a caged cat. “And I don’t drink because my dad’s parents were alcoholics and he basically raised himself. He didn’t turn out so well.”

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”

She pulled to the curb in front of his new house, expecting him to bolt. Instead, he sat there staring out the window.

“I know Reid’s not my dad, but I see flashes of it in him.” He took his seatbelt off and turned to look at her. “Ashley deserves better than that. So do you.”

With that, he got out and walked slowly up to his house, hands in his pockets.

Chapter 12

The kitchen wallpaper mocked him with its tacky cheeriness. Who would combine yellow stripes and red cherries? It had to go. Shaun ate the last of his cereal and finished getting ready for work. He’d purchase supplies on his way home tonight and strip that crap off his kitchen wall, right after he interviewed a guy who wanted to see the casita. Finally. Shaun had feared he’d have to drop the rental price and try again.

His mom was still in bed when he left. An independent choice, but probably not a healthy one. She’d gone from robotic obedience at Donovan’s house, to doing practically nothing at Shaun’s. Yes, she cleaned up and did his laundry, though he told her she didn’t need to, but what was she doing for herself?

A week had gone by since that dinner party with Paige. He thought about calling or texting her on an hourly basis, sometimes even typing a funny greeting out before erasing it. Paige was everything he wanted to see in his mom. Confident, career-minded, tough but fair, self-reliant. Which was why he couldn’t call, especially not while he still owed her money. Why would Paige be interested in a broke guy with a dead-beat parent roommate? He’d shared a little bit with her, but even that little bit had been hard.

His mom needed help. More than he could give. He’d thought about calling her pastor, but Sunday was the one day she seemed to perk up, wanting to leave the house. If she found out he’d called, she might give that up too. He’d talked to Preston and Corrie, seeking advice. They’d given him the name and number of their former therapist. When Preston had been overwhelmed with the sudden custody of his niece, Ella, therapy had helped them adjust. Maybe it could help his mom too. Well, it might if he could get her to go with him.

On his lunch break, he hid in his truck and called the therapist’s office. The receptionist said their office mostly worked with children, but she recommended a few others he could try.

Great, more calls. He procrastinated by Googling each therapist’s name and reading reviews while munching on peanuts. People seemed to either gush or rant. The nature of the business, he guessed.

Five minutes left. No more putting it off. He called the first suggested name and made an appointment for Monday night. Between now and then he’d come up with a strategy to get her there.

Al tapped on Shaun’s window and waited for him to lower it. “Curt’s coming with the rented boom truck. Make sure you guys tape off an area so he can park it. And watch that idiot. The truck’s twenty feet tall, so don’t let Curt rip off a roof or anything, or you’re all fired.”

“Will do, sir.” Al threatened to fire all of them on a daily basis, though he probably meant it when he yelled at Curt. The little guy with the big muscles ran his mouth at the worst times.

Lunch break over, Shaun got out with his huge roll of caution tape and started prepping the area they’d be working in. People were never happy to find out half the parking lot was suddenly unavailable, but it was better to keep them away than try to get them to move. He pushed all thoughts of Paige or his troubles at home to the back of his mind until he was off the clock, though the second he returned to his truck, he saw the notes on the console with the various therapist’s phone numbers and the stress came flooding back.

Every time he mentioned a new hobby or possible job, his mom retreated deeper into herself. He was her son, with no authority over her, even if he wanted it.

He scrolled down to Preston’s name and hit send. Preston was the one person he could fully confide in, though Shaun hated to rely on anyone.

“You still working?” Shaun asked.

“Yep. On my way to my last call. What about you?”

“I’m headed to the hardware store to get something to strip my kitchen wallpaper off.”

“Nope. Not helping with that one.”

“Oh, please. I wasn’t calling about that.”

“Good. I mean, if you really need help I’ll come, but it would be under protest. It took me three days to get the flowery paper of death off my living room walls. Everyone in this neighborhood must have wallpapered their houses back in the eighties.”

“Do you know if Corrie checked in on my mom today?”

“Yep. She and Ella stopped by after school. Your mom invited them in for cookies and milk. Ella loves her.”

“Tell them thank you. It means a lot.” Shaun squeezed the steering wheel, trying to keep his emotions in check. What was wrong with him? It must be the stress.

“Will do. And we’ll take her up on babysitting some night. My mother’s started dating someone and she’s suddenly a lot less available to watch Ella on the weekends.”

“Jean is dating? How do you feel about that?”

Preston grunted. “I feel like I’d rather not think about it. I’m happy for her in that theoretical, as-long-as-I-don’t-have-to-see-it way.”

“Thankfully, I can only imagine. I’ll talk to you later.” Shaun parked and got out of his truck. He had a list ready after reading about several different methods of removing wallpaper. He was going with a couple bottles of cheap wallpaper stripper and a scoring tool.

A store employee directed him to the right aisle. “Good luck, dude. You’ll want a face mask, too. I’ve heard that stuff is awesome, but smells like cat urine.”

“Good to know.” Shaun grabbed two bottles and headed to the register. He had face masks at home. He needed to hurry if he wanted to be there before his potential renter.

***

Paige left the bank feeling like she could float on air. The Santa Fe house had sold for thirty thousand above her asking price. She’d likely never top that, and it wouldn’t be healthy to try. So she was enjoying the moment and squirreling the money away. In her business, she’d definitely need it some rainy day when things got hard and expenses spiraled out of control. Everything she did was for her future.

Would that future ever involve someone else? Spending time with Shaun had spoiled her. Her nights suddenly felt quiet and dull. She missed the touch of his hand, his playful jokes. She’d even toyed with the idea of signing up for one of those business lunch dating services, reading everything they had on their website before declaring herself pathetic and closing the window. There was nothing wrong with being single. She was just bored. Time for some hobbies that didn’t involve sitting at home on her computer or being alone in her kitchen.

Maybe tonight would be a good night to spend time with Ashley. Paige got out her phone as she eased up to a red light.

“Hi, Ash.”

“Hey, Paige. How are things?”

“Good. So, I was thinking about trying Zumba. Want to join a gym with me? I don’t think I’d go on my own.” Paige crossed her fingers. She was lying about the not going on her own part, but that didn’t mean she didn’t want Ashley there.

“Oh, I don’t know. Reid and I are trying to save money right now and I’m pretty busy planning the wedding with Mom. She wants everything big and flowery.”

“Well, what about one class? They offer a free introductory one. You could come with me to try it out tonight, help me decide if I want to go back.”

“Zumba? You know we both have two left feet. I can’t picture you Latin dancing, even aerobic style.”

Paige smiled, thinking of Shaun and how much fun he’d made it. “That’s why I need you there, Ash. You’d make me look good.”

Ashley made a fuss at the teasing insult, just as Paige hoped. “I can’t tonight though. Reid wants us to watch the game together.”

“Oh, what game?” Paige kept her voice light. There was no sports team that Ashley had ever been excited about. She wouldn’t even watch the Olympics.

“The Suns are playing the Cleveland Cavalries.”

“The Cavalries? Do you mean the Cavaliers?”

Ashley groaned. “Shoot. I’m trying to keep all the teams straight so I don’t sound stupid again in front of Reid’s friends.”

“Ash, if you don’t want to watch the games, I’m sure Reid will understand.”

“No, I promised him. I’m being supportive.”

“Supportive is good. Happy is good, too.” Dang, that had sounded snarky.

“I am happy. Why would you say I’m not happy?”

“Calm down, Ash. I only meant that you’ve always hated sports. That’s all.”

“Well, yeah. But I should try to do better. I mean, even you know who the Cavaliers are.”

“Kind of. I don’t follow sports either. So, is there another night we could do something together? It doesn’t have to be Zumba.”

“No, I’ll go with you. Just for laughs. We’ll find a couple spots in the back. Do they have the classes every night?”

“Tuesday through Friday.”

“Okay, we’ll do that tomorrow night. Reid will be working anyway. He has a painting job. Jett recommended him to someone and he’s repainting their living room.”

Paige felt the underlying sting in the words, a small reminder that their cousin, Jett, had been nice enough to help Reid find work when Paige wouldn’t.

“How are things with Shaun?” Ashley asked.

“They’re fine.” It did not have to be a sore subject. Shaun was not her boyfriend, and she didn’t have to be embarrassed that he hadn’t called her since the family party.

“Okay, but if you ever want to talk about it, I’m here.”

“Thanks.”

Paige hung up and put her phone to her forehead. She was trying her best. Loving someone who also frustrated you to death was its own kind of torture.

***

The man who came to the door was not what Shaun expected. He looked to be in his sixties, with leathery tan skin and a kind smile. Neon-colored running shoes went with khakis and a plaid button-up shirt that he’d probably been washing and wearing for decades.

“I’m Craig Thomas. Pleased to meet you.”

Shaun shook his hand, looking behind him at the old Toyota Corolla parked at the curb. “Why don’t we go around back and look at the casita.”

Craig followed him, admiring the trees in the yard and the long expanse of grass. “This is really nice.”

“Thank you.” Shaun unlocked the door and showed him the place. He’d added a twin bed, a couch, and a fridge he’d bought used. It was not up to Paige’s staging standards, by any stretch of the imagination, but hopefully, Craig still wanted it and could afford it.

He waited for Craig to check out the bathroom and then they headed back outside.

“It’s perfect. Do you have some kind of contract for me to sign?”

“Yes. Um, I’m going to need some kind of proof of employment and a five hundred dollar deposit. And I’ll be doing a background check. I’ll call you when that comes back.”

“Seems reasonable.” Craig ran a hand through his thinning hair. “I started back with the U.S. postal service last week. They gave me a decent mail route not far from here. I don’t think I could stand at a counter all day anymore.”

“Did you move to Phoenix recently?”

“Yup. To be honest, the background check you run will look a little strange without an explanation, so here goes. My wife died two years ago after a long battle with breast cancer. I was so beaten down by the loss of her, plus the time we lost together just watchin’ her be sick. I couldn’t stay. I sold everything. The house, the cars. Bought a one-way ticket to London and took the time to be alone, see everything I’d ever wanted to see. Traveled for over a year. But then I got pneumonia and spent a month in a hospital in Hong Kong. My kids were worried sick. I’d forgotten…” Craig paused and cleared his throat, the emotion evident in his face. “I’d forgotten they’d lost her too and they were afraid of losing me. I’d missed the birth of two grandkids. So now I’m here, starting over. I can’t promise I’ll stay for more than a year. I’d like to eventually buy a little place of my own. But I’ll pay rent on time, take good care of the place. I’ll give you plenty of notice when I’m ready to move on.”

“Sounds fair. You should know my mother lives in the main house with me.”

“Okay. I won’t be bothering you none. Though, if it’s alright with you, I do like to garden. Could I use that empty plot over there?”

Shaun looked over at a bare spot next to the Casita. It had been on his list of things to take care of, either filling it in with grass seed or putting down gravel. But a garden was just as good. “Sure.”

Craig reached into his pocket and pulled out a billfold, taking out several hundreds. “I’d like to pay the deposit now if you don’t mind. So you know I’m serious in wanting the place. Do you have other candidates coming to look at it?”

Shaun shook his head. He doubted anyone else would come along who would be as ideal as Craig. “Unless the background check reveals you’re wanted by the FBI or something, it’s all yours. And if that’s the case, I’d refund your money. Come inside and let me get your information, and I’ll write out a receipt for it.”

His mom’s bedroom door was closed when they came inside. He thought about knocking and trying to get her to come out and introduce herself, but he had a feeling it would embarrass everyone involved. But as he waved goodbye to Craig with five hundred dollars in his pocket, he felt a huge weight lifted off his chest. Now he could pay back Paige.

Chapter 13

Her phone dinged from across the room, indicating a text message, and Paige wiped her hands on a cloth and went to go see who it was.

Mrs. Vankirk’s house would be ready to go back on the market within a day or two, and she fully expected the woman to nag her until it was sold. The funny thing was, Mrs. Vankirk had absolutely loved the repainted rooms. She’d gushed about all the extra natural light it brought in, as if it wasn’t something she’d fought against from the very beginning.

But it wasn’t Mrs. Vankirk. It was a text message from Shaun.

Hello, beautiful. I’m ready to pay off my debt. Can I drop by?

Suddenly it seemed silly to have been freaking out about the week gone by. A week wasn’t that long to go without talking to someone. Even if it had felt like an eternity without his smiles and jokes to brighten up her day.

Sure. Wild stuff going on. I’m doing dishes in my pajamas. Then I might vacuum.

Count me in. Why are you in your pajamas already? It’s 7:00 p.m.

Because I’ve been in heels and dress slacks all day. Flannel pants and a ratty t-shirt are like comfort food after eating nothing but tofu and spinach.

Can’t argue with that. Be there in 10.

Paige put her phone down, not able to hold back the dumb grin on her face. Since she’d mentioned the pajamas, she couldn’t change now, but it didn’t stop her from fixing her hair and checking her makeup.

She finished the dishes and tidied up the living room, putting away her work notes and closing her computer. For the first time in a while, she didn’t want to think about work.

Shaun knocked and she let him in, smiling at his flannel pants and waffle knit shirt. “Decided to join me in the pajamas revolt?”

“It’s a cause I’m happy to support.” He pulled out three hundred dollar bills and set them on the coffee table before sinking into a chair. “Finally got a renter. If all goes well, he’ll move in this weekend.”

“That’s great.” Paige picked the money up off the coffee table and put it away. She didn’t want it sitting there all night reminding them of his money issues. Hopefully, having a renter would make things less tight. And while she was totally serious when she’d told him he didn’t have to pay it, she respected him more for insisting.

“Are you hungry?” she asked. This hanging out without formal plans was throwing off their usual easy chemistry.

Shaun got up and followed her into the kitchen. “I went to your blog the other day. It made me hungry, and then I went online to buy some throw pillows in colors that would brighten up my living room. You probably make housewives everywhere insecure about their homemaking skills.”

“No!” Paige gave him a soft punch to the middle. “The last thing I want is to make anyone insecure. My posts are meant to inspire.”

Shaun wrapped his arms around her, filling her insides with nervous butterflies. “You do inspire people. Hence my throw pillows … and the trip to Dunkin’ Donuts since I can’t bake cherry tartlets. You don’t happen to have any of those around do you?”

“No. We could make cookies though.”

Shaun surveyed the kitchen. “Am I allowed to help this time, or do I have to sit back down and promise not to touch anything?”

She remembered their skirmish over the silverware drawer and blushed. “That was different. I’m a no-nonsense girl when it comes to work. I didn’t want Tanner getting the wrong idea about us.”

Shaun smiled, but she also saw a change in his face, matched by his body language. His arms loosened from around her waist and he moved to lean against the counter.

***

Oh, he was such a jerk. Shaun could not do this to her, being hot one moment and cold the next. What other idea could she possibly get about them when he had his arms wrapped around her? He needed to make up his mind. Was he in this or not? He liked Paige so much. More than anyone else he’d ever met. And it terrified him.

“Paige.” He held onto the counter for support. He could do this. She deserved to know what a messed up head he had. “I’m not ready to be in a relationship right now. I’m not sure I know how. I don’t even know if that’s what you want either. I just … the last thing I want to do is lead you on and hurt you.”

He expected awkward silence, maybe an invitation to leave. Instead, he saw concern.

“Unless you came over here in those pajamas hoping to stay over, I think we’re good.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. But if you decide to ‘not be in a relationship’ with any other girl, I’d like to know.”

He smiled, full of relief, but also filled with awe. Her ability to lay down the ground rules, just like that, was something to be admired.

They stared at each other. He didn’t know how to move on from that conversation.

“Are we going to make cookies now, or what?” she asked. The cute dimples in her cheeks appeared as she smiled, and he resisted the urge to run his thumb over one.

“Yes, ma’am.”

She got out a bowl and put it down in front of him. He watched her get out eggs from the fridge and an elegant butter crock from a cupboard.

“You don’t refrigerate your butter?”

“The rest of it, yeah. But most baking recipes call for softened butter, so I keep some at room temperature.”

“I always try the microwave ‘soften’ feature and then get impatient and end up with liquid.”

She raised an eyebrow. “And how do your cookies turn out?”

“Edible. Mostly.”

“Uh, huh.” She turned away from him and reached on her tippy toes to get a plastic tub of sugar down from a shelf. He couldn’t resist reaching around her and getting it before she dropped the thing on her head. His arm brushed against hers and the next thing he knew they were kissing. The sugar clattered to the counter, and he took her face in his hands, wanting nothing more than the softness of her lips for the rest of his life. He put a hand to the small of her back and pulled her closer.

“Shaun,” she whispered. He answered with another soft kiss, moving to her jawline. “What?”

“We should make cookies.”

“Okay.” He kissed the spot right below her ear and forced himself to stop and meet her eyes. She was flushed all over, and he couldn’t help grinning. He left one last kiss on her forehead and backed up. “So, sugar and butter mixed together first, right?”

“Right.” She rubbed her arms as if she was cold and turned to pull out the rest of the ingredients.

Shaun took several slow breaths, trying to get his heart rate back to normal. He was in so much trouble. The good kind. He was so not acting like a guy ready to walk away, but he reminded himself that she knew about it. They could take things as they came, no need to figure it all out now.

One thing he knew, being here was way better than stripping old wallpaper off a wall. He’d save that for another night.

He made sure to keep an arm’s length between them while he stirred. His senses were on hyper alert, aware of the swish of her hair as she moved, the scent of her perfume, the sparkle in her eyes when she occasionally glanced up at him. Once the cookies were in the oven, they took turns washing their hands and then she practically ran to the living room and flipped on the TV.

***

Shaun would be the death of her. That man. She glanced back at him and plopped on the couch, pulling her legs up and wrapping her arms around them. There had to be something on that would kill the hormones charging through the room.

She should make him leave right now, but that would be a little weird with the cookies in the oven. They still needed ten minutes to bake. It was okay that Shaun didn’t know what he wanted. She wasn’t sure either. Her last relationship had dragged on, even after they both knew it wasn’t working. It was emotionally exhausting, and for quite a while after, she’d enjoyed being on her own. Choosing what she wanted to do with her time and not worrying about what her boyfriend might think of her outfit or whether the joke she told was funny to him. In a way, he’d been like Reid. Only rather than controlling, he was just needy.

Four years was a long time to revolt against a bad relationship. Well, against the only serious relationship she’d ever had. The boyfriend before that wanted to ‘date other people’ and the guys she’d dated in high school had been anything but serious. She smiled to herself, remembering the football game streaking incident where Aiden held up a sign saying, “Paige, how about Prom?”

“I didn’t know you found the nature channel so funny.” Shaun slid in next to her, and she focused on the TV for the first time since she’d turned it on. She’d been goofily smiling while a weasel ate eggs out of a duck’s nest. Gross.

“Sorry, got lost in thought. What do you like to watch?”

“I’m good with whatever.”

Paige couldn’t help thinking of Ashley, sitting somewhere else, stressing out over a basketball game. She turned to a rerun of Psych and set the remote down between them. She needed the space. Well, the logical side of her needed the space.

Shaun took the hint and stayed on his side of the couch. She paused the show when the timer dinged and went in the kitchen to pull out the cookies. The sugary, buttery, chocolatey scent filled the kitchen as soon as she opened the oven. Yeah, starting Zumba was a great idea.

Shaun came in and got a carton of milk out of the fridge. “Best dinner ever.”

“You haven’t had dinner?” When he’d asked about the cherry tartlets, she’d assumed he’d already eaten and wanted dessert. She tried to pass him to get into the fridge, and he put his arms around her, pulling her into a hug instead.

“That was not a hint to try to get you to feed me,” he murmured into her hair. “You don’t need to make anything else.”

She looked up into his face. “You can’t eat cookies for dinner.”

“Oh, yeah? Watch me.” He reached out with one hand and pulled a cookie off the tray. Only half came off, and he yelped as the tray burned his hand.

Paige ducked her head, laughing. “That was smooth, Shaun.”

He ate the cookie shard and sucked on his burned fingers before moving to the sink to run them under the water. She got out a spatula and lifted the rest of the cookies, one-by-one, off the tray and onto a plate. Then they took them back to the couch and laughed over Psych for the next hour, slowly moving closer to each other until Shaun took her hand and laced it through his. She stared down at their entwined hands, feeling the importance of it. It felt more final than any kiss she’d ever shared with him or anyone else. She was taking a risk on him, and however it turned out, she’d see it through.

Chapter 14

Music blared out of the studio speakers, and Ashley gave Paige an alarmed look. “I don’t know about this, Paige.”

Paige had expected that reaction and only smiled. She left the check-in desk and walked straight in and to the back, putting down her water bottle against the wall. Ashley reluctantly followed.

Around them, women young and old were laughing and talking, some of them already sashaying to the music. It looked like a fun, encouraging place, though it smelled a bit like gym socks and bad perfume.

“All right ladies! Are we ready to dance?”

Everyone cheered and Paige joined in, holding up Ashley’s wrist and shaking it.

“You are nuts,” Ashley said, laughing. “What happened to my no-nonsense sister?”

“She decided to get in shape. I had eight chocolate chip cookies last night and I need to work them off before they try to permanently reside on my thighs.”

They followed the instructor in stretches, and then the first routine began. At first, Paige watched herself in the mirror, feeling self-conscious. But after a few minutes, she decided she didn’t want to know exactly how goofy she looked and focused all her attention on the instructor.

Winded, but feeling great, she glanced over at Ashley. “What do you think?”

Ashley gave her a pained smiled. “I think I’ll stick with Pilates videos. You’re coming back, though, aren’t you?”

Paige laughed. Yes, she was. She’d practice shaking her hips until she looked like a backup dancer and not a hose whipping around with too much water pressure.

After class, they headed over to the strategically placed smoothie shop next door and took way too long obsessing over the flavor combinations. Paige finally decided on a carrot, banana, and strawberry concoction while Ashley ordered a chocolate, peanut butter, and banana shake.

“So, how is the wedding planning going?”

Ashley took a long sip. “It’s fine. Do you want to go dress shopping with me next week? I know you’ll want to have some say on the bridesmaid’s dresses.”

“I’d love to, although your fashion sense is better than mine. I’m not worried about you putting me in something that looks like a junior high choir dress.”

“Oh, like the one Laurie made me wear to her wedding? I should do payback, but she’ll be obsessing about her post-baby body, and I want her to feel beautiful.”

“You’ve decided on a date then?”

Ashley nodded. “May fourteenth. We wanted to have it before it gets too hot.”

“That’s less than three months away. Are you sure? You could just wait until fall.”

Ashley stared out the window. “I thought it was fast, too. But Reid can’t wait to get married. I think it’s sweet.”

Paige smiled, though her insides were churning. “That’s a lot to decide between now and then. Whose apartment are you keeping? Or are you finding somewhere new?”

Ashley groaned. “Keeping mine. That’s already been a huge pain in the butt. Reid’s landlord didn’t want to let him out of his contract. We had to pay this stupid fine.”

We had to pay? “That stinks. But at least you’ll be all prepared for May.”

“Yeah.” Ashley concentrated on her drink. Her phone buzzed in her bag and she pulled it out, carefully pressing the button, as her screen had several large spidering cracks across it.

“Hi, babe.” She glanced at Paige, looking apologetic. “Yeah, I’ll be home soon. I went to a Zumba class with Paige. It was hilar—” She abruptly cut off, listening to whatever Reid was saying, only answering with “mmhm” any time there was a pause. After she hung up, she stood, putting her bag on her shoulder. “Sorry, I gotta go.”

Things started to click in Paige’s mind all at once. “He already moved into your apartment?”

Ashley’s chin raised a fraction and her non-answer spoke volumes.

“Ashley, you said you’d never live with a guy. You said if he wanted to do that he’d have to marry you first.”

“That was a long time ago. And if you remember, I also said I wouldn’t judge anyone who did. We’re trying to save money. We’re engaged. It’s practically the same thing.”

It hadn’t been the same thing to her back when she’d said it. Mostly it bothered Paige because it hadn’t been Ashley’s idea. She was ninety-nine percent certain of it. Shaun’s words of caution ran through her head. Paige’s protective nature wanted to pick up her little sister and lock her away somewhere safe until she came to her senses, but she couldn’t intrude. At least, not now.

“I love you, Ash. I didn’t mean to get all judgmental.”

“It’s fine.”

“What happened to your phone?” Ashley still had it clenched in her hand.

“Oh, I … dropped it on the tile. I’m babying it until I can go in and get a new one. I’ve been meaning to update it anyway.” Ashley gave her a wooden smile. “I’ll see you later. Love you too.”

Paige set down her drink, her appetite for it completely ruined. She watched Ashley get in her car and drive away. Even if she liked and trusted Reid, Paige would have still noticed the change in Ashley’s demeanor. Something was off. She wasn’t as happy as she used to be.

Paige drummed the table with her fingers, going over everything in her mind. Every clue. Then she got out her phone and Googled ‘abusive relationships.’ She didn’t like what she read. It seemed to go hand-in-hand with what Shaun had told her. Providing a listening and non-judgmental ear was pretty much all she could do. It would be up to Ashley to take herself out of it. But would she?

***

Shaun’s phone lit up with an incoming text, and he put down his scoring tool. Tackling this project alone on a Friday night was not something he was looking forward to. Even his mom decided ironing the new curtains sounded like a better activity. But then, she loved ironing. She’d ironed almost everything in the house, including his T-shirts and jeans.

Tell me something funny.

He smiled. He and Paige had exchanged a few texts that morning, and he was already missing her again. Talk about a sap. He pushed aside the fear always lingering in the back of his mind, knowing he was starting to care about her more than he’d ever cared about anyone. Loving someone meant taking part in their happiness … or misery, and also letting them take part in yours.

Something funny? Well, that kind of puts a guy on the spot.

Tell me something good that happened today.

I’m scoring the wallpaper in my kitchen and about to apply a product that smells like cat pee, so give me a sec. I’m coming up blank right now. He wasn’t sure if his sarcasm came across right in a text or if it just made him sound snippy.

Want help? I could strip in my sleep.

He burst out laughing. Three little dots popped up, indicating she was crafting an immediate follow up to that little flub. Man, he wished he could see her face right now. Unsend! Look away, Shaun.

Well, Paige. There’s your something funny.

Thanks. Thanks a lot.

And yes, I’m happy to have the help and the company. He could only imagine the number of walls she’d recovered from their wallpaper prison. What was one more?

Great. I have to run home and change. I’m in exercise clothes.

Even better.

Nope. See you in thirty mins.

He put his phone down and went back to scoring, whistling to himself.

“Shaun?” He turned to see his mom standing there, holding up the first curtain she’d ironed. “Could you help me get this back up on the curtain rod?”

“Of course.” He picked up the ladder he’d been using and brought it into the living room, setting it in front of the window. He hadn’t considered what it would mean to have Paige over. She’d be meeting his mom.

He was almost tempted to call her and tell her not to come. But that was stupid. This was his life.

Shaun watched for her through the window after he put up both curtains. They did look a lot better now without the creases from the packaging.

When Paige finally pulled up, he met her out on the front porch and asked her to sit down with him for a minute. She looked cute in white shorts that showed off her tan legs. He had to mentally shake himself to get back his focus.

“There’s something I didn’t tell you.”

Her eyebrows raised, but she didn’t say anything.

“My mom lives with me. I moved her in when I got the house.”

She nodded slowly. “The mother-in-law suite. That’s why you were looking for a house with one.”

“Yeah. Hopefully in the future she can have it. But for now, the renter’s helping to pay the mortgage.”

Paige’s eyes turned playful. “Okay, well, before I meet her, are there any taboo subjects? Things I shouldn’t stare at too long, like her glass eye or the urn on the mantle with the ashes from her favorite cat?”

Shaun threw back his head and laughed. “Okay, I totally deserved that.” He loved how she let him reveal things about himself without making it a big deal. “No urns. There are some things, but let’s save that for another day.”

He stood and held out his hand, giving her a boost up. Then he couldn’t quite let go of her hand. He kept it and led her into the house.

He thought his mom would be back in the laundry or hiding away in her room, but she was standing right there, adjusting the curtains. Her eyes widened when she saw the two of them and Shaun instinctively dropped Paige’s hand.

Paige punched him in the arm, and he turned to give her an apologetic look. “Um, Mom, this is my … friend, Paige. Paige, this is my mom, Annie.”

Paige smiled and moved to shake his mom’s hand. “So nice to meet you.”

“Paige is going to help me remove the kitchen wallpaper.”

His mom smiled. “How did he rope you into doing that? I remember trying to steam it off the wall in our first house. It was such a mess.”

“I don’t mind. I renovate houses for a living so I’m used to it.”

“Well, good for you. You two don’t mind me. I have a novel I’m dying to get back to.” She began to retreat and Paige widened her eyes at him.

“Mom, wait. You don’t have to stay out of the way.”

Paige nodded. “I’d love to hear some embarrassing stories about Shaun if you have any.”

He fully expected her to turn them down, but she surprised him by following them into the kitchen and taking a seat at the table. Apparently, her curiosity about Paige had overcome her habit of retreating when anything out of her comfort zone presented itself.

“Does Shaun have any brothers or sisters?” Paige asked as she examined Shaun’s scoring job.

“An older brother,” Shaun answered, glancing at his mom. He’d told Paige bits and pieces, which she was probably mentally sorting through now, but he’d never mentioned his brother or the fact that his mom had just escaped from there. She thought her family was weird. She had no idea.

“Do you have any fabric softener?” Paige asked. “Never mind, I think I have some in the back of my truck. I’ll be right back.”

“What?”

She threw a dismissive hand at his removal product. “Fabric softener and hot water will work much better. We’ll also need some dish detergent to get the residue off.”

His mother eyed him after Paige left. “She’s beautiful.”

“Mm-hmm.” Shaun took out a glass measuring cup and filled it with water from the sink before sticking it in the microwave.

“All I get is a mm-hmm?”

Shaun could easily turn the question on her, considering all her non-answers when he asked about her life. But anything that brought his mom back to interacting was a good thing. “What do you want me to say?”

“When did you two meet? You’ve never mentioned her before.”

Shaun calculated it out in his head. “About three weeks ago.” Less than that, actually. Wow, it felt like he’d known her much longer.

Paige walked back in, her hands full of supplies. He grabbed the two empty spray bottles from her, and she put down the dish detergent and fabric softener.

“I microwaved some water. Is it hot enough?” He handed the measuring cup over and Paige dipped her finger in.

“Yep. You mix half hot water, half fabric softener, but since the water will cool fairly quickly, we’ll only make a small batch.”

She mixed the two in one of the empty spray bottles and saturated a section of the wall with it. Then they worked together, pulling sections of the wallpaper up and using the putty knife on places that didn’t want to cooperate.

Paige dropped another piece on the floor. “I can’t believe there’s only one layer here. Usually, there’s at least one more pattern underneath.”

“I had the same thought,” Shaun’s mom said. She stood and refilled the measuring cup, before sticking it in the microwave. “Like glimpsing tacky history layer by layer.”

“I did a blog post on it. I’ll have to show you the pictures. One house I renovated had seven different layers before we reached the bare wall.”

Shaun stayed quiet, watching the two interact. He stepped back when his mom came up with the newly mixed spray. “Go ahead, Mom.”

While she sprayed, he filled a bucket with hot soapy water so they could wash the glue off the exposed wall. With the three of them working together, they had the whole thing stripped in less than an hour, and all that was left was the endless scrubbing so they could eventually paint the wall.

“Do you want to see some pictures of Shaun when he was little?” his mom asked, after relating his most embarrassing moments, including the time during his kindergarten play when he’d fallen off the stage, dusted himself off, and climbed back up to announce, ‘I’m okay!’ There was a VHS tape of it somewhere which would never see the light.

“Of course.” Paige dropped her rag in the bucket.

“Ah, come on.” Shaun looked between the two of them. His mom was already drying her hands on a towel. They were going to ditch him just so they could make fun of him.

“We’ll be back in a minute.” His mom smiled at him and turned to Paige. “Shaun was so adorable. They fixed the gap in his front teeth when he got braces. I kind of miss it.”

Shaun continued to scrub the wall. “Keep in mind, I went through an awkward phase, you know, between the ages of six and … nineteen or twenty.”

Paige came up behind him and hugged his middle. “You’re assuming you came out of it?”

He reached back and poked her side. “We can’t all be model gorgeous like you, Paige.”

She ducked out of reach and went to stand beside his mom. For a moment there he’d forgotten they had an audience. The satisfied smile on his mom’s face was stressing him out. He went back to scrubbing, occasionally hearing a peal of laughter, most likely while flipping through his hideous elementary school pictures. Maybe he should have let Donovan throw all that junk out.

***

Shaun had been super cute as a kid, with stick-straight red hair, freckles, chubby cheeks, and a little gap in his front teeth. But the adult version was in the kitchen scrubbing a sticky wall and probably not thrilled about her getting all chummy with his mom without him. She’d been acting like a girlfriend, and that was something he’d said he wasn’t totally comfortable with. With reluctance, she closed the scrapbook on her lap and handed it back.

“I should go help him.”

“I’ll leave you two to it. I really do want to get back to the book I was reading.” Annie left the scrapbooks on the coffee table and went straight to her room before Paige could talk her out of it.

Paige had wanted some time alone with him to talk about Ashley and Reid anyway. She went in the kitchen and changed out the bucket of water, refilling it with hot water from the sink and adding liquid dish soap.

Shaun dunked his rag in the new water, looking entirely too serious. “You work at this all day, Paige. You shouldn’t have to do it after work too.”

She shrugged. “I don’t mind. Though if you want me to go, I can take a hint.”

“No, that’s not what I meant.” He sighed. “I like having you here.”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing.” She meant it as a joke, but he put his rag down, rubbed his hands on a towel, and sat down, pulling her onto his lap. He rested his head against her shoulder. She wasn’t sure if his change in mood was because of something she’d done or just his uncertainty about the two of them.

“I’m worried about my mom.”

“How come?” she whispered. “She seems nice.”

“She is nice. Did she go back to her room and close the door?”

“Yeah.”

“She does that a lot. She hides in there. I really thought she’d stop doing it after she moved in with me. But so far, old habits die hard.”

Paige rubbed along his hairline with her fingers. “She’s only been here a week or so, Shaun.” What kind of marriage must she have endured to be in the habit of hiding all the time? “How long has it been since your dad died?”

“Two years.”

“Did she live alone up till now? I can understand wanting to do her own thing.”

Shaun put his head up, touching his forehead to hers. “She’s been living with my brother. After my dad died, the bank took the house. He hadn’t been keeping up with the payments. So she moved in with Donovan. He’s a lot like my dad. She got used to staying out of the way because that’s what he and my sister-in-law preferred.” He ran his hands down her arms. “And that’s probably more than you wanted to know.”

She took his face in her hands, loving the feel of his scruff against her fingers. “I like you, Shaun Randall. Not sure why, but I do.”

His sad eyes regained their sparkle. “Can’t come up with even one good reason?”

She put both thumbs to his temples and began to rub. “Nope. Nothing’s coming to me.”

He closed his eyes. “You’re making it hard to think about going back to scrubbing the wall.”

“We’ll go back to work in a minute.”

“Mm-hmm.” He opened his eyes, and his gaze went to her lips. One small kiss wouldn’t hurt. She closed the distance and then backed away slightly, earning her a groan. He put his arms around her and kissed her softly, taking his time.

“Reid moved in with Ashley,” she said against his lips.

He pulled back and frowned. “Talk about a mood killer.”

She gave him a sad smile. “Sorry. When I texted earlier, asking you to tell me something funny, it was because I was trying not to think about it.”

“Ahh, that makes more sense. I initially thought you were just demanding jokes, like ‘hey, funny person.’” He snapped his fingers. “Perform.”

“Like you’re my trained monkey?”

He grinned. “Something like that.”

She stood and pulled her rag out of the bucket, squeezing out the excess water. He followed and they started working again.

“So, are you upset about it on financial or moral grounds?”

She looked over. “Both, I guess. Ashley keeps talking about how they need to save money, as if everything she has is already his. And I know she’s an adult and she’s allowed to change her mind on things. It’s just, I remember her saying, ‘If we’re committed enough to move in together then we should be committed enough to get married.’ Of course, back then she was talking about a hypothetical person.”

“They are getting married.”

She scrubbed a stubborn spot on the wall with more vigor than was necessary. “But they aren’t yet, are they?”

“Paige.” Shaun stopped working and turned her to face him. “What’s bothering you the most about it?”

She gritted her teeth. “He called, while we were sitting there drinking smoothies, and pretty much demanded that she come home. And she did. She got up and left.”

Shaun shook his head, looking grim. “You have time to talk her out of this. Keep close to her.”

“I’ll try, but I have less than three months. She’ll be married before we hit triple digit heat.”

Chapter 15

Shaun fell asleep to the memory of Paige’s fingers in his hair. He’d never told any other girl he’d dated about his family. There had never been a need.

He texted her in the morning, but she was busy showing a house to potential buyers. Before she’d left the night before, Paige had told him all about Mrs. Vankirk and her demands about the sale price. The house would not be an easy turnover. Its square-footage was monstrous and the whole thing dated, despite the updates she’d made.

He wished her luck and went back to sorting through the storage mess he’d stuffed in the den. It was a good excuse to get his mom out of her room. One box clanked as he moved it, and he pulled it open.

“Can we donate all this glassware?” he asked. “We don’t need it.”

His mom pulled a glass out of the box and studied it. “Okay.”

He slid the box out into the entryway and ripped the tape off another one. Inside were various mismatched Tupperware. This is what he’d been paying to hold onto every month? It went next to the box of glassware.

“So, our renter is moving in today after he gets off work. He’s a mailman. Would you like to meet him?”

She shrugged. “Is he nice?”

“I think so. I doubt we’ll see too much of him, though he did want to plant a garden in the backyard.”

She looked interested in that little tidbit, and he tucked the information away for later, under potential hobbies.

More boxes were hidden behind a side table, and he pulled the table out of the way and dusted it off.

“Do you want to find a good place for this table?”

While she was trying it out in various locations, he went to get something from his room. He came back with it tucked in his back pocket.

“Mom, I have something for you.” He pulled out a cell phone and handed it to her. “This is the phone I had before I upgraded. I had them put it on my plan so it’s all ready to go.”

She cradled it in her hands like she might break it. “Are you sure, Shaun? We can get a house phone like we’d talked about.”

“Mom, you’d still need a cell phone for when you go places. Oh, and here’s your new number.” He pulled a slip of paper out of his pocket and handed it over. “I already programmed my cell number and Donovan’s in there. And the pastor’s number, in case you need to reach him.”

He was dropping too many hints. But she didn’t seem to notice. She looked … happy. If he had any extra money, he’d go out and buy her a car today. But even a clunker for a couple thousand was out of his reach. If she would just get a job, something that could help cover monthly car payments … anything that might help her leave the house once in a while.

First things first. He needed to get her to the counselor’s office on Monday night. He still hadn’t figured out how to bring it up.

They sorted through the last box around lunchtime and rewarded themselves with ham sandwiches and chips.

Shaun’s phone alerted him of a new text, and he left the second sandwich he was making to check it.

Still on for the movie tonight?

It took Shaun a minute to remember what Preston was talking about. Preston and Corrie had planned it weeks ago, so they could all see the new Star Wars movie. So much had happened since then. Spending money at a movie theater seemed extravagant now, although he did still have that gift card from Christmas.

Sure thing. What time?

We’ll pick you up at six. Unless you have a date.

I’ll get back to you on that.

He knew he wanted Paige along, though if they went out tonight, that would be three nights in a row spent together. He might as well admit they were a couple, by default. He sent the text.

Are you free tonight?

I so wish I was. I have a consultation at six. It usually runs a few hours. I’ll call you when I get done.

Sounds good.

So, no date. He sent off a quick text to Preston, letting him know he’d be the sad third wheel, and put his phone away. His mom was staring off in space. He should invite her along, as weird as that might be.

“Do you want to run any errands today? We need milk, so I was thinking of heading to the grocery store in a bit.”

She picked up his empty plate and took it to the sink. “I’m fine. You go. We’re running low on bread so grab a loaf while you’re there.”

“You sure you don’t want to come?”

She looked irritated for a fraction of a second, and then her face smoothed out. “I’ll be fine. I thought I’d vacuum.”

“Okay.” He grabbed his keys and left, feeling frustrated. They’d always gotten along before this. He’d been her means of temporary escape, where she could be herself for a little while. But now, she seemed wooden and depressed. How was living here making her worse?

He picked up groceries from the store and headed back home, just in time to see Craig pulling in. The driveway was big enough for Craig to park off to the side, leaving room for Shaun’s truck, and another car when his mom was ready for one.

“Do you need help with anything?” Shaun asked.

Craig shook his head. “Don’t have much. Having the place furnished is what drew me to it.”

All Shaun had added was the twin bed and their old couch, but he was happy it all worked out. He picked up all the grocery bags and headed for the front door.

His mom came out, saving him from having to knock with his head. “Shaun, I’m glad you’re back. One of the lights in the bathroom is buzzing.” She looked over and caught sight of Craig. “Oh, hello.”

Craig took off his blue postal service bucket hat and smoothed down his hair. “Nice to meet you, ma’am. It’s a lovely place you have here.”

She smiled back and turned to go inside, probably embarrassed that he assumed the house belonged to her. Shaun followed her to the kitchen where they worked together putting the groceries away.

“Will we see more of Paige?” She glanced at the blank wall they’d successfully stripped clean. “She’s such a nice girl.”

“Um, yeah.”

“That’s good.” She moved to stand next to him. “Shaun, I know you’re disappointed in me and I’m sorry. I don’t have a job. I’m just this mooch who’s not very good company.” She said it so matter-of-fact.

Shaun frowned. “You’re not a mooch. Is that what Donovan called you?”

She stared at the floor. “Not to my face. But he said it all the time to Lindsey. I tried to help out like I do here. Doing laundry and dishes, but I ended up getting in the way. Things were better when they forgot I was there.”

“Mom, I don’t want to forget you’re here and you don’t owe me anything. That’s not why I said I wanted to help you get a job. I want you to be happy and have choices in what you want to do with your life.”

“I know. And that’s what makes disappointing you so hard. I don’t know how to be the person you want me to be.”

He put a hand on her shoulder, and she crumpled into him. It felt awkward, and yet he knew it was what she needed. He hugged her while she sniffled into his shirt. He thought back on all the nice things she’d done around the house this week and all the times she’d retreated to her room, trying to be invisible. She’d assumed his disapproval of it stemmed from her not doing enough, when all he wanted was for her to not feel like she had to do those things.

“Mom, I appreciate you. There is nothing you need to do to try to please me. But there is something I’m going to ask you to do. It’s really important to me.”

She looked up at him with wary eyes.

“I made an appointment for us to talk to a counselor on Monday night. It might help us get along better and deal with some of the junk we carry around. Would you come with me?”

He’d made it sound as if the appointment was as much for him as it was for her. But he would be there, so it wasn’t a total lie.

“Okay, Shaun. I’ll go.”

Chapter 16

“You sure you don’t want to come?” Shaun asked as he stuck his wallet in his back pocket. Preston had just honked, letting him know they were ready to go.

His mom shook her head. “I really don’t. I’m not a fan of space movies. And to be honest, I’m looking forward to getting back on Facebook. It’s been a couple years but my account is still there.” She shook her new phone back and forth.

“That is a lot of notifications to go through.” He smiled at her, glad he finally understood what had been going on in her head. Hopefully, she felt a little less fearful now about the future. “Lock the door behind me.”

He ran out to Preston’s truck and climbed in the backseat. “I wore my big jeans. My pockets are stuffed with candy.”

Preston and Corrie turned to give him twin exasperated expressions.

“What? I’m on a budget.”

Corrie shook her head. “You’ll get us kicked out. I could hear the wrappers crinkling when you got in.”

“Do you have your big purse with you?” he asked. He knew she did. She always snuck a water bottle in so she wouldn’t have to pay four dollars for one.

She sighed and passed back the purse. “Stick it all in the zipper section.”

“I can’t believe you two.” Preston reached out and took his wife’s hand. “I’m buying a huge soda and an industrial size box of popcorn, and I’m not sharing.”

“You gave up your right to not share when you married me. It’s in the contract.”

He kissed her hand. “I never assumed you wouldn’t steal my popcorn, dear.”

Shaun put his head back against the headrest. “You two are so … married.”

Preston glanced at him in the rearview mirror. “You should try it sometime.”

“Yeah, I’ll get right on that.” Shaun closed his eyes and took a little snooze the rest of the way. Car trips always made him tired unless he was the driver.

“Hey, Shaun.” Preston nudged him and Shaun looked out into the parking lot of the movie theater. “Let’s go, man.”

Shaun walked up to the entrance with them and got in line for tickets. Corrie was peering around as if looking for someone, and then she whispered something to Preston, and they both turned to look at him.

“What?” He glanced down and checked his zipper.

Corrie rolled her eyes. “Preston, I swear. This was the dumbest idea. You tell him.”

“Corrie brought you a date.”

They would never. He glanced around and locked eyes with a girl making her way toward them. She had dark brown hair, bobbed short, and she walked like she knew the effect her curvy, athletic body had on the male species. Three weeks ago he would have been okay with this surprise blind date. Irritated, but intrigued. Now he only wanted to hide somewhere.

He only had a few seconds before she’d be in hearing range. “You two are so dead. I can’t believe you set me—”

“Hi, Lina!” Corrie gave her friend a hug as she walked up, before turning and introducing him.

Lina craned her neck and looked up at Shaun, her own little height joke, and sidled up next to him, tucking herself under his arm. “You brought me a tall guy, huh?”

He didn’t move his arm from around her shoulder, though he wanted to. It would have meant shrugging off the hand she had resting on his wrist. Lina was definitely a free-spirit, unintimidated by the situation. And normally that was his favorite type.

Preston stared at him, looking part worried, part confused. The panic must be showing. Shaun tried to smile, but he wasn’t sure it was a better look. The people ahead of them in line moved up, and they did too.

He should say something, though what, he wasn’t sure.

The door to the movie theater opened, and a couple came out. Ashley and Reid. Shaun flipped around, dragging Lina with him. “Did you see they have a new horror movie coming out?” He pointed to a poster of a clawed shadow reaching around a door.

“I love scary movies,” Lina said. “But only at a movie theater. I won’t watch them in my apartment or I can’t sleep.”

“What’s your favorite horror movie?” he asked. He never watched them, so he didn’t much care what she answered.

“Shaun of the Dead.”

“That’s not horror. That’s comedy.”

“It’s both.” She smiled at him as they reached the ticket counter and he dutifully paid for both of them with his gift card.

Preston went to the concession counter and Shaun followed, glad to get away from her. He realized he hadn’t asked if she wanted anything, but the girls had already gone ahead. He used the last two dollars on his gift card towards a cold water bottle and a small bag of popcorn, paying for the remainder with cash.

“Are you okay?” Preston asked. “I’ve been trying to talk Corrie into setting you up with Lina for a long time, but she’s very protective of her. She gave in when Lina called about going to the movies, and we’d already made plans with you.”

Shaun stole a piece of popcorn out of Preston’s gigantic box. “Thanks for the warning. I guess it’s a good thing my mom turned me down, or she’d be along for this fun double date.”

Preston laughed. “I’m sorry. I promise I will never spring something on you like this again.”

He should tell him about Paige, but the situation was already awkward enough. They headed into the auditorium, where the girls were saving them seats. He sat down next to Lina and handed her the popcorn and drink. This was so embarrassing. He should ask if she wanted anything else, but instead, he stared at the ad reel, keeping his hands in his lap.

When he looked over, Lina was whispering with Corrie. She turned back to him. “So, Shaun. Corrie has told me a lot about you, and none of it is matching this.” She ran her hand in a circle in front of him. “I have a couple of theories, and feel free to be honest.”

He smiled, starting to understand why Preston had always wanted to set them up. “Okay, shoot.”

“You are feeling sick to your stomach, but don’t want to say anything because you’ve been dying to see this movie.”

He shook his head. “No, feeling just fine.”

Preston leaned over Corrie so they could both witness this date interrogation.

“I remind you of someone repulsive, like a crazy ex-girlfriend.”

He shook his head.

“Okay, well, ruling that out, I’m going with what I initially thought. “You’re secretly dating someone and haven’t told Preston and Corrie about her.”

His eyes bugged out, and she clapped in delight. “I knew it!”

“She’s right?” Preston glanced from Lina to Shaun. “Who? The real estate girl?”

Lina turned to Corrie. “It was the way he looked at me as I walked up. When a guy is both attracted to me and also terrified of that fact, there’s generally a good reason for it. Whoever she is, he’s got it bad.”

Shaun put his hands up in defense. “It’s new. I didn’t want to say anything and get a bunch of curiosity, you know, like this.”

Thankfully, the movie previews were starting and everyone sat back and watched. At least now he didn’t have to worry about her expectations and could enjoy the movie. Corrie divvied out the candy, and Preston passed around his popcorn, despite his threats to keep it to himself.

***

Paige rapped on a wall in the couple’s kitchen. “I’d remove this, giving you a straight shot into the living room. It’ll make the dining area less cramped, too.

“And how much do you think that will cost?” The husband glanced around to the other side, in an attempt to picture what the room would look like without the wall.

“You’ll want it inspected to make sure it’s not load-bearing. When a contractor gives you a free estimate, they’ll tell you. I’d say, less than five hundred dollars if there aren’t any complications. If they quote you more, keep looking.”

He wrote the information down in his notes, and they moved on. Her phone buzzed again in her pocket, but she didn’t check it until she was done going through the house with them. They had a twenty thousand dollar renovation budget, and her job, for the two hundred they were paying her, was to help them get the most bang for their buck before they tried to flip it.

She read Ashley’s text message as she was leaving. Call me as soon as you get this.

Paige dialed as soon as she got in her car, running possible scenarios through her head.

“Hey, Paige.” Even Ashley’s greeting sounded foreboding.

“What’s wrong? Is everything okay?”

“Oh, I’m fine. I was just wondering. Are you still dating Shaun?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Are you two exclusive?”

Paige didn’t know how to answer that. Technically yes, but technically they weren’t dating either.

“Okay, well, either way, I thought you’d want to know he was at the movies tonight with some other girl. He had his arm around her like they were a couple. I saw them when I was walking out.”

“And you’re sure it was him?”

“Paige, I am a hundred percent sure or I wouldn’t be calling you.”

“Okay. Thanks.” Paige felt like an idiot. It shouldn’t be a betrayal. After all, he had tried to ask her out for tonight first. They weren’t really dating. But she’d told him to tell her if there was someone else. She pictured sitting on his lap in his kitchen, but the perfect memory was now bittersweet.

“Paige, honey. Are you okay?”

She’d momentarily forgotten she was still on the phone. Ashley needed reassurance that everything was okay, though it totally wasn’t. Paige did not want to talk about it with Ashley. They’d always been there for each other after breakups. Well, mostly for Ashley’s, since she dated more. But Paige couldn’t share this. “I’m fine.”

“Paige, if it makes you feel any better, Reid said Shaun was like this in college. Flirted with anything in a skirt until they showed some interest, and then he ran the other direction as fast as he could. He hit on all of Reid’s girlfriends too. I wanted to give Shaun the benefit of the doubt, for your sake, but I think you’re better off without this one.”

That did not make her feel better. Paige pulled out onto the street, her eyes blurry. Tears were coming fast, and she didn’t want her clients to see her sitting in front of their house like that. She calmed herself down enough to respond. This was her opening. A crappy one, but an opening nonetheless.

“Ashley, Shaun had some things to say about Reid as well. And I know it’s hard to hear, but I think you should know. Maybe we’re both better off without them.” Ashley started to protest, so Paige continued before she could shut her down. “He said Reid was not nice to his girlfriends, and controlling. He said Reid was mean when they broke up. And Shaun said he sees symptoms of it in the way Reid treats you.”

Ashley scoffed. “That’s because Shaun’s never been in a real relationship, so obviously he wouldn’t know anything about how hard breakups are, or what it’s like to have a real argument with someone you love. He’s never seen the ups and downs. He leaves when he gets bored, so how would he know how to get through hard times? Reid is committed to me.”

Paige focused on her driving, her brain feeling like mush. What Ashley said made sense, in its own twisted way. She wasn’t sure which way was up or down anymore. “I love you, Ash. We both have to take what we heard and figure out what’s best. I’ll support you in whatever you want to do.”

“I appreciate that. Love you, Paige.”

“Love you, too.” Paige hung up and let herself have a good cry.

Chapter 17

Shaun got up on Sunday morning and made breakfast. He and his mom both liked their pancakes as thin as possible, almost crepe-like, but with crispy edges. Every time he made them it was in the pursuit of the perfect consistency.

He smiled as he thought about Preston and Corrie’s shock at hearing about Paige. He thought telling them about her would make him feel cornered and pressured, but instead, he felt free. They were good enough friends that he could take their endless advice for what it was, excitement for him. He didn’t plan on doing anything different, except maybe calling Paige after church rather than waiting for her to call him. Paige must’ve had a busy night since she never did check in after work.

“Ooh, pancakes.” His mom peered around him and then started setting the table for two. She was already dressed in a skirt and blouse, and her hair was done.

“Preston and Corrie wanted me to ask you if you’d like to babysit Ella this Friday night. Don’t feel obligated. They have a regular sitter, but she’s going to her school carnival Friday night, so she’s not available.”

“Oh, I’d love to.” She grabbed the syrup from the pantry and they sat down to breakfast.

Things felt easier between them. He didn’t protest when she helped or when she retreated, and he put in more effort to make her feel appreciated regardless. He drove them to church, and later they ate lunch at their favorite café.

When they returned home, Craig was out digging in the plot next to the casita. Shaun wasn’t sure how the guy would turn the dry, crusty dirt into usable garden soil, but then again, Shaun had never attempted gardening at all.

They chatted for a few minutes and then Shaun excused himself. He was ready to go inside and veg in front of the TV for a while. He was also itching to call Paige. He’d take on the popcorn ceilings if it meant an excuse to have her over.

He flipped through the channels and pressed on her name from his last calls.

“Hi, Shaun,” Paige said.

“Hey, how did last night go?”

She gave a little sigh. “I think people like to view that house for the fun of it. None of them were motivated to buy.”

“Sorry. That stinks.”

There was a weird pause, made stranger because they had never been awkward around each other. He couldn’t put his finger on why. Maybe she was just really stressed about the house. She did seem to hyper-focus when it came to work.

“So, would you like to meet my friends, Preston and Corrie? They were hoping we could come over for dinner sometime during the week.”

“Oh, I don’t know. I’ll have to check my schedule.”

Yep. Something was definitely off. “Paige, are you okay? We can talk later if this is a bad time.”

“Yeah, later would be good.” But she didn’t hang up and neither did he. Finally, she said, “I think maybe we should just, I don’t know, not do this, Shaun. You were right. Neither of us is ready for a relationship.”

He swallowed, hard, his heart tearing into pieces that scattered to the floor like confetti. The feeling wasn’t pleasant. It made him angry for ever letting himself be this vulnerable. “Okay. If that’s what you want.”

He hung up and chucked his phone into the corner of the couch where it fell down the crack. Oh well. He’d fish it out later. His mom came in and he sunk down, pretending to be engrossed in the Geico commercial on TV. She walked right past him and went to her room, closing the door behind her. For the first time, he was relieved.

***

Her ugly cry face was really … ugly. Paige pulled her eyes away from the mirror before jumping in the shower and letting the hot water mingle with her hot tears. She needed to get over this. It was Monday morning, and she had work to do. It hadn’t been that serious. A few dates, a few kisses. She’d felt relieved after every breakup before this one, even when it was the guy doing the dumping. But this … oh man. How had her heart sneakily fallen for Shaun without her permission?

She’d hurt him. Yeah, maybe he’d gone out with someone else, but that someone else probably didn’t know about his good heart, about his worries for his mom. She toyed with the idea of calling him and trying to take it all back, but she stayed in the shower until the impulse went away. It was better to end the relationship now, rather than after investing more into it. Shaun was not long-term material. She’d known that from the very beginning.

Paige got out, got dressed, and went back to trying to think of ways to sell that stupid house. It was such a novelty, a gargantuan mess. She should never have taken it on. Even with her social media reach, nobody seriously wanted it.

Ashley called, and Paige stared at her ringing phone. Despite her anger at Shaun, she couldn’t discount his advice. Avoiding Ashley would be wrong right now. She dropped on the couch and answered the call.

“Hi, Ash.”

“Hey, how are you? Have you gone back to Zumba?”

Paige had never been more grateful for a conversation crumb. “I’m going back tomorrow night. You coming with?”

“No way. Sorry, sis. You’re on your own.”

“That’s okay. I’ll have all new Zumba friends and we’ll high-five each other between routines.”

Ashley laughed. “You were already doing that on Friday. I saw you.”

“I need the stress relief. This house I’m trying to sell is killing me.”

“Oh, I think I saw it on Facebook. The squatty-looking mansion up on the hill?”

Paige groaned. “I’m never going to sell it.”

“Well, it’s not exactly a normal family home. There are maybe three people in Arizona eccentric and rich enough to consider buying it, and you have to find them and convince one of them they need it. The owners would be better off renting it out for corporate gigs or something.”

Paige hopped up from the couch and bounced on her toes. “Ashley, you’re a genius.”

“I am?”

“Yes. I have it staged all wrong. I’ve been focusing on stuffy old ladies like Mrs. Vankirk. It needs a pool table, and a ping-pong table, and a long ranch style kitchen table that seats thirty. It needs to show off how many people you could stuff in there. I should be marketing this thing as a destination house, an investment property for vacation rentals. It’s close to the airport, hiking…” Her mind buzzed with possibilities.

“Sounds like you’ll need a lot of help putting in all those tables. Reid’s free today if you’re looking for people to hire—” There was a scrambling, scratchy noise and then Ashley’s voice sounded farther away. “Hon, I thought—No, I was trying to help. I’m sorry.”

Reid’s voice was sharp in response, though Paige couldn’t catch what he was saying. She bit into her lip and sank back to the couch, waiting.

Finally, Ashley came back on. “Sorry about that. I guess Reid’s busy today. But I’m sure you have it all covered.”

“Yeah, I’ll be fine.”

“Well, I better go. I have to be at work in a half hour.” The amount of effort Ashley was putting into sounding normal made Paige sad.

“Okay. If you ever want to talk about anything or need help, you can call or come over anytime. Any time. Love you, Ash.” She hung up and mulled the situation over in her mind, not sure what to do. She felt so helpless. Telling their parents might just alienate Ashley from the family. She was as stubborn as they came. There was only one person who could tell Ashley she was being foolish, and that was Ashley.

Paige stared off into space, forcibly pushing thoughts of Ashley and Shaun to the back of her mind. Today, work would be a reprieve. She called up Tanner’s mom and had all three boys ready to go for moving things right after school. They were going to hate her. The twenty-foot farmhouse table would be a nightmare. She kept it in the back of the trailer and only pulled it out for gigantic dining areas. And how much did a nice pool table weigh?

Five minutes of browsing through party rental places told her she’d have to buy and later resell a pool table instead of renting. The rentals were super ugly. That was nothing new. She bought and sold used pieces all the time. It was just easier. But she’d have to find one in the next six hours.

***

Work seemed to drag. Shaun’s mom had asked about Paige again, so he told her it hadn’t worked out. It was easier to let her think he’d instigated the end of things. It was what normally happened. He hoped all the girls he’d brushed off, in the casual way Paige had, didn’t feel the way he did right now.

This was karma giving him a swift kick to the rear. If Jackson and Curt noticed his bad mood, they didn’t comment on it. Nobody was particularly happy today. They’d hit a water line, and trenching through the mud to fix it wasn’t anyone’s favorite activity.

He ignored a call from Preston. Not that he could stop and talk anyway. But when Preston called again on the drive home, Shaun answered, knowing why he was calling.

“So, did you and Paige decide on a night to come over for dinner?”

Shaun let out a long sigh. “No, we did not. She’s not interested in seeing me anymore.”

“Why?”

“I have no idea.” Shaun ran his hands through his hair, coming out with several pieces of dried mud. “I did what you said I should, Preston. I tried. I didn’t even mean to. And surprise, it didn’t work out.”

“You’re giving up? Just like that? You should find out why she said it.”

“She doesn’t want to be with me. I think it’s fairly simple.”

“Uh, we’re talking about women here. Nothing they decide is ever fairly simple. You should give it one more try. You already feel like crap. What’s one more stab at it?”

Shaun told him he’d consider it, but he had no intention of setting himself up to get shut down again. He’d watched Preston admirably go through it in past relationships, trying to patch up hurt feelings or going the extra mile to make someone happy, when they clearly did not want happiness. Not that he felt like Paige fit in either category, but then again, he hadn’t expected her to just ditch him either.

He went home muddy and irritable, but determined to not feel that way for much longer. His mom had dinner ready, and after cleaning up, they drove to the counselor’s office, neither saying much. He wasn’t sure what to expect, and he was sure his mom felt the same way.

The receptionist greeted them, and he sat reading magazines while his mom filled out paperwork. It was a cash-only office, and he’d already paid ahead of time, instructing them not to include the financial pages which usually came with the welcome packet.

His mom wasn’t dumb. He was sure she knew he was paying for it, but he’d rather avoid drawing attention to it or making her feel more obligated to him than she already did.

The counselor, Jamie, came out and invited her in. Shaun pulled out his phone and opened a game, knowing if left with nothing to do but think, he’d go back to dwelling on what Paige had said yesterday.

Forty minutes later, Jamie came back out and invited him to join her. His mom sat down in the waiting area. Her eyes were rimmed with red and she was clutching a tissue in one hand, but she gave him a reassuring smile. Shaun followed Jamie into her office and sat on the couch across from her desk. A diffuser in the corner misted out a mild flowery scent, something meant to soothe frayed nerves. Like his.

Jamie laced her fingers together on her lap and leaned forward. “First off, I want to thank you for caring for your mom and getting her to come in. She said the only reason she did is because she knew you wanted it.”

He nodded, slightly embarrassed by the praise.

“I’d like Annie to come back every week for the next month. We’ll be working on some of her negative thought patterns that have been holding her back, and we’ll also talk about some of her fears about the future. I have a few suggestions, right off the bat. She mentioned you had hoped she could find a job, something to do with her time. And she wants a job, but I think she needs to get that help from an outside source. I have a couple of agencies here which often work with battered women.”

She handed him a pamphlet, and he stared at it. Battered women? Did his mom fit in that category?

Jamie must have caught onto his hesitation. “What I mean is that they’re used to working with people who are starting over, who might not think they have much to offer. They’ll help with resumes, interviewing, and finding supportive businesses that would be a good match.”

“Okay, that makes sense.”

“We talked a little bit about making friends at church, and I think it would be very helpful. Shaun, chances are, these other women will be eager to play matchmaker. If you could kindly let them know she’ll need a little time before she’s ready for that. Annie needs to take some time to get a good sense of self before she’ll be ready for dating.”

Now that, he could agree with. “No problem.”

She pulled her laptop off the desk and they set up the next few appointments.

Thinking they were done, Shaun stood and moved to the door.

“Before you go, there’s one more thing. Annie told me she’s worried about your attitude towards romantic relationships. She blames herself, thinks that because of her marriage, you hold a negative view about dating and especially marriage. Is that something you want to talk about?”

Two weeks ago, he would have said no without a thought. It would have been a firm, never, not in a million years, just stick to counseling my mom.

Jamie seemed nice. She wore too much makeup and jewelry, including an absurdly large wedding ring, but she got right to the point, which he appreciated. And so far she hadn’t suggested anything he couldn’t agree with. But opening up to her, about himself?

He stood in silence for several seconds and Jamie just waited.

Taking a deep breath, he went back to the couch and sat down. He ran a restless hand through his hair. “I met someone. Her name is Paige.”

Chapter 18

Paige was exhausted. She pulled onto the boys’ street and parked the rental truck in front of their house. It was a tight squeeze in the cab with the four of them, and her head was pounding from a lack of water and an overabundance of teenage noise.

Things had taken way longer than she’d estimated. She usually didn’t keep them out this late on school nights. Their mother would not be thrilled, no matter how nicely she’d responded to Paige’s text letting her know they were on their way.

“How come your boyfriend, Shaun, didn’t come?” Tanner asked, glancing over to get her reaction.

Paige wanted to hit something. She’d gone the whole time wondering if Tanner would bring it up and he had to wait until the last second.

“Shaun’s not my boyfriend, and he has a job. The last move was on a Saturday, and he was picking up extra work. Today is Monday.”

“Who’s Shaun?” Kasen asked, looking disgruntled. The oldest at eighteen, he hadn’t worked very hard at hiding the fact that he liked her. Though Paige worked very hard at pretending not to notice.

“I paid all of you, and I have to get this truck returned. Go. Your mom’s waiting for you.” She shooed them all out, cringing as Tanner continued to explain who Shaun was to the other two. Tanner had not gone back into his shell after working with Shaun. Now he was as much of a motor mouth around her as his brothers.

Checking her mirrors carefully, Paige pulled away from the curb and drove out of the neighborhood. The rental place had been nice enough to drop off the truck to her that morning, but that didn’t provide her a way home after she returned it. Paige considered calling an Uber, but it was as good an excuse as any to talk to Ashley again, so she called her first.

“Let me guess, you need me to pick you up from the dirty truck rental place again?”

“How’d you know?”

“Lucky guess. You need to invest in your own truck.”

“It’s on my list. I’m aware. So, can you? In like ten minutes?”

Ashley laughed. “Yeah, yeah, see you in a few.”

Paige put her phone away and pulled into the lot, parking carefully next to the other rentals. Her thoughts turned to Shaun, as they always did if she didn’t focus on something else. He’d accepted her request that they stop seeing each other without question, without a fight. Did he really not care?

She got out and went inside to give the store manager the keys. By the time they’d inspected the truck and printed out her receipt, Ashley was pulling up. Paige got into the passenger seat and stretched her legs out.

“I can’t believe I moved almost everything out that I’d already put in. I hope it’s worth it. I hurt all over.”

“What does the house look like now?” Ashley asked.

Paige pulled out her camera and showed Ashley the photos she’d taken before they left Mrs. Vankirk’s house. When Paige got home, she’d probably stay up all night updating the listing.

“Looks great. I bet you’ll sell it in no time.”

“Even if I do, this will have been a complete time and money drain. I’m ready to find a new house to flip. Something small and charming.”

“You still up for dress shopping with me on Thursday? I’m leaving work early.”

“Sure.”

“I’m thinking aqua-colored bridesmaid dresses. Or mint. It will depend on what they have.”

“Long or short?”

“Hmm. Tea length?”

Paige yawned. “I’m going to pretend I know what that is.”

“Paige, how can you be a decorating guru but know nothing about fashion?”

“Okay, I’ve heard of tea length, I’m just trying to picture it.”

Ashley rattled on until Paige was ready to ban the words tea length. They pulled up to her house, and Paige groaned as she got out. “Thanks a million. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“See ya.”

Paige closed the passenger door and watched her sister drive away, realizing it was the first normal conversation they’d had since Ashley had gotten engaged. The front door beckoned, and Paige went in, collapsing on the couch and kicking off her running shoes. Her head ached from her ponytail, and she pulled her hair free, though it only radiated the pain out further.

All the work she’d done today and the money she’d spent would go to waste if she didn’t show it off. Paige waited for her laptop to warm up and ate a full-size Snickers, not the least bit sorry for indulging in some chocolate therapy.

She transferred the photos from her camera, and then scrolled through them, debating which ones would be best to use and what order to put them in on the listing.

Her phone rang, and she picked it up and swiped, only realizing a half second later it was Shaun’s name on the caller I.D.

“Shaun?”

“Hi, Paige. Um, I’m sorry for calling. I promise I’ll leave you alone after this. But would you please explain to me first why you think it can’t work out between us?”

Paige pushed her laptop aside and got up, walking around the room to expel some of her sudden nervous energy. She’d missed him. So much. And here he was, no jokes, no swagger, just an honest plea for some answers. Maybe he’d missed her too. “I don’t know how to say this without sounding like a super jealous, crazy girlfriend. Because we agreed I was not your girlfriend, and you’re not a fan of those types of girls.”

***

He wanted to hug her right through the phone. This was his fault. He’d told her he didn’t want a relationship, so of course, she didn’t know how to ask for what she thought he didn’t want. Once again, he felt like such a jerk. To think he’d been too proud to try to fix this.

“Go ahead, Paige. Give me your best crazy girlfriend. I’ll let you know if you reach stalker, slashing-tires status.”

“Shaun,” she warned.

“Sorry, I’ll be serious. Please tell me what I did wrong.”

“Ashley saw you at the movies Saturday night with someone else.”

Of course. And naturally, she’d immediately called Paige to tell her. “I was at the movies with someone else. When I told Preston and Corrie I wasn’t bringing a date, they set me up on a surprise blind date with their friend. And that’s my fault because I hadn’t told them about you.”

“But now they know. And that’s why they wanted me to come to dinner?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm.”

There was a long pause, while Shaun squirmed. Something else was bothering her. “Paige, what is it?”

“What’s what?”

A sudden thought occurred to him. “Are you working? You’re totally distracted.”

“No.” She started laughing. “Okay, I am editing pictures right now. I’m trying to get this done before I pass out.”

“I can’t believe you. I’m coming over.”

She laughed harder. “Don’t. I look terrible, and I’m too tired to do anything about it.”

“Don’t do a thing. Stay as you are.”

“Shaun, what is wrong with you?”

“I just want one kiss, and then I’ll leave.”

She gave an exaggerated sigh. “That means I have to get up and go brush my teeth right now, doesn’t it?”

“Pucker up, babe.” He hung up and changed his shirt, after which, he immediately brushed his teeth and swished with mouthwash.

***

The doorbell rang and Paige jumped up from her chair. Dang it. She’d promised herself one more photo edit before going to make herself presentable, which meant she never left her desk. That didn’t end up being the best idea.

She let Shaun in and immediately retreated to the bathroom. Her hair, out of its ponytail, looked like one of those umbrella birds on the nature channel, and she grabbed it up and put it back in a messy bun. But not before Shaun saw.

His eyes twinkled at her in the mirror’s reflection. “I can see your true boyfriend is your work.”

She yawned and reached for her toothbrush. “Are you insinuating that you’re vying for the position?”

She caught the panic in his expression before he hid it. Yep, he was still uncomfortable with the idea of a committed relationship, with the title of boyfriend and all it entailed. Why was he trying so hard then? She finished brushing her teeth and left the bathroom. He trailed behind her.

She sat back down at her desk and he leaned over, leaving a light kiss on her neck. She shivered at the contact. Half of her wanted to ignore him, the other half wanted to shut down all thought and live in the moment.

But if he really wanted to be with her, he’d have to explain some things. She continued to adjust the brightness on the picture she was working on.

“Ashley passed along Reid’s opinion of you. He told her what you were like in college.”

“Oh, yeah?” He moved to the couch and stretched his arms. They were long enough to almost reach across the whole length of it.

“Yeah,” she continued, knowing if she didn’t get this all out in the open it would fester inside of her. She trusted Reid about as far as she could throw him, but that didn’t mean she didn’t want to hear Shaun’s side of it. “He said you chased anything in a skirt, but the second they showed interest, you bailed. He also said you flirted with his girlfriends.”

Shaun didn’t answer, and she turned to look at him. His eyes were intense. They beckoned her to come over and get lost in them for a while. She left her chair and perched on the edge of the couch, far enough away that she wouldn’t be tempted to sink into him.

“He’s right. I did flirt with all his girlfriends. It was my immature way of getting under his skin. I also wanted to remind them Reid wasn’t the only guy on the planet, and they could do better than him.”

He reached out for her hand, and she let him pull her in next to him. He kissed her forehead and left his lips there for several seconds. “Paige, I don’t get bored with relationships. I get scared. And right now, I’m terrified.”

Chapter 19

Paige sat on a cushioned bench inside the bridal salon and checked her phone again, in case she’d missed the ding of a text message. Ashley was supposed to meet her here a half-hour ago, and she wasn’t answering her phone.

There was a gorgeous, lacy, ivory dress right across from her on a mannequin, and Paige toyed with the idea of trying it on, just for fun. But it would inevitably lead to lying about why she wanted to try it on, and she did not want to make up a non-existent fiancé so she could see if her chest looked right against all that lace. It was the type of dress that would look amazing on one person, leaving ninety-nine other women with an odd fit.

“Has anyone helped you, miss?”

Paige reassured yet another sales clerk she was fine and got up to look out the window. Finally. Ashley’s car was pulling into the lot. Paige sat back down and checked her email. A few people had requested to view the Vankirk’s house. She quickly emailed back with possible times, hoping these people would actually be serious buyers.

A text message popped up. How’s your day?

Shaun’s simple message had her smiling from ear to ear. He’d been true to his word, leaving her on Monday night to get her work done, but not before a toe-curling kiss she’d been reliving in her mind ever since. And then there was Tuesday night, and Wednesday night, which had been just as awesome. Continuing their quasi-relationship, extending him a little faith, whether he deserved it or not, was something she’d decided was worth the heartache that might come later.

Good so far.

“You seem happy.”

Paige looked up from her phone. Ashley stood with her hands in her pockets. She looked beautiful as always, but even makeup couldn’t hide a split marring her lower lip.

“What happened?” Paige stood to get a closer look and Ashley stepped back.

“It’s nothing. I just … fell.”

“You fell? How?”

Ashley turned her head away, and a tear escaped, slowly making its way down her cheek.

“Oh, Ash. Please tell me the truth.”

“You won’t understand.”

“Probably not, but I still want to help.” Paige walked out of the salon and over to her truck. The last thing they needed was an audience for this. Thankfully, Ashley followed, getting in on the passenger side.

“Did Reid do that?”

“It was an accident.”

Paige steeled herself, holding back all the anger and impulsive words which wouldn’t help. “Ash, are you ready to go in there and try on beautiful dresses for a man who treats you this way? Accident or not, it’s his job to protect you, to cherish you. That’s what you deserve.”

“I … don’t know.” Ashley’s tears turned to sobs and Paige waited, wishing she could take this hurt away.

Ashley’s hands twisted in her lap. “It happened last night. He’s never hit me before this, I promise. You can’t tell Mom and Dad.”

That wasn’t an easy promise to make. “I promise I won’t tell them, but you have to come home with me.” At Ashley’s shocked expression, Paige continued on. “Just for a little while. He needs to know that kind of behavior is not acceptable.”

Ashley nodded. “Okay, that makes sense.”

“You promise you’ll follow me?”

Ashley nodded and got out. Paige waited until Ashley’s car was right behind her and then drove home, checking to make sure her sister followed her the whole way. Paige’s thoughts were a jumbled mess. Mostly fear. Fear that Ashley would go back to him. Fear that he’d come looking for her and there’d be a confrontation.

Paige had thought he was a bad boyfriend, leeching off Ashley’s money and telling her what to do. She had not expected this. Shaun had never mentioned physical violence.

She texted Shaun after pulling in the garage.

Did Reid ever hit his girlfriends?

I’ll kill him. Where’s Ashley?

With me. Just stay close to your phone for now. She tucked her phone in her purse and got out. Ashley was pulling into the driveway, and Paige went up to her window. “Pull into the garage next to me. I don’t want your car left out.”

“Reid’s not going to…” Paige gave her a look, and Ashley’s shoulders dropped. “Okay, it’s probably better in there.”

They went inside, and Paige flipped on the TV and went in the kitchen to make a quick smoothie. Ashley needed a distraction, and Paige needed time to formulate a plan. She canceled the two house showings she had scheduled for that night, telling them a family emergency had come up. It was better not to appear too eager anyway.

“What’s in this?” Ashley asked after taking a sip of smoothie. “It’s amazing. Way better than the place we went to after Zumba.”

“Frozen mango, peach, and strawberries, blended with milk.” Paige sat down with her smoothie and stared at the TV, but she couldn’t register anything on the screen. Her thoughts were elsewhere. Ashley would need to call in sick to work tomorrow. Reid would go looking for her there and cause a scene, possibly getting Ashley fired and definitely making things awkward with her co-workers. Ashley had a good job at an auto insurance company. She had friends there. She didn’t need Reid screwing up everything good in her life.

More important though, was getting Reid out of Ashley’s apartment. But that would take Ashley admitting the relationship was over, and possibly going to the police, especially if Reid didn’t take it well. They should call the police right now, but Paige doubted Ashley would agree to it.

“I need to tell him where I am.” Ashley pulled out her phone, and Paige lunged for it. Ashley held it out of reach. “I just need to tell him I’m spending the night here so he doesn’t worry.”

“I’ll tell him. What’s his number?”

Ashley’s face turned stubborn. “Why?”

“I’ll let you look at the text first.”

“Fine.”

Paige pulled out her phone and typed it out. Ashley’s spending the night at my house. Don’t come over or I’ll call the police.

She showed her phone to Ashley.

“You can’t send that.”

“But if he does come over, I’m not letting him in. Don’t you think he deserves a warning before he drives all the way over here?”

“Then tell him if he comes over you won’t let him in. Leave the police out of this. I mean it, Paige.”

“Fine.” Paige changed her message and sent it. Then she texted Shaun with the update.

***

Bringing Preston into this would probably dredge up all sorts of unpleasant memories, considering he’d moved his sister to Phoenix from Albuquerque, only to watch her return to her abusive boyfriend, but Shaun called him anyway. He had a feeling they’d be paying Reid a visit tonight to let him know he’d have to find a new place to live. Two guys bigger and tougher than Reid were better than one.

What kind of lowlife would hit the person who loved him the most in this world?

They drove to Paige’s house and rang the doorbell. He started to text Paige a heads up, realizing she’d likely assume it was Reid at the door.

“Go away! I have mace,” Paige called out.

Preston looked at Shaun. “Get that girl a gun and teach her how to use it.”

“I’ll put it on my to-do list.” Shaun stepped in front of the peephole. “Paige, it’s Shaun. Preston’s with me.”

She answered and let them in, locking the door behind them.

Ashley sat on the couch with her arms crossed, frowning. “I thought you broke up with him.”

“We worked it out.” Paige frowned at Shaun and shook her head.

Yeah, coming over had been an impulsive move, but tomorrow they’d all go back to work, and Ashley would probably return to Reid. Some things needed to happen tonight. He had no intention of sitting tight and waiting.

Ashley eyed him warily. “So, who was the girl at the movie theater then?”

Every time Shaun looked at Ashley all his eyes saw was her busted lip, but he forced himself not to stare at it. “A blind date.”

“It’s my fault,” Preston added. “He was the third wheel with me and my wife, so we invited a friend. We couldn’t understand at first why Shaun was so uncomfortable with her.”

“He didn’t look uncomfortable when I saw him.”

Shaun wasn’t sure what Ashley’s obsession with this was, except maybe it was easier to be protective of Paige than the other way around. He turned to Preston. “Call her.”

“Call who?”

“Lina. Tell her to come over here so we can settle this once and for all.”

“Really? Um, I guess I can have Corrie text me the number.”

Shaun sat down across from Ashley. “I know you don’t like me, and that’s fine. But I’m here because I care.”

Ashley looked away from his gaze. “I can’t believe you told him, Paige.”

“Sorry, but it’s him or Dad taking out his shotgun to go confront Reid.”

Ashley put her hands over her face. “This is so out of control. No one needs to confront Reid. I should go home.”

Paige came to sit on the couch next to her. “You promised you’d stay tonight.”

Ashley’s phone pinged and she glanced at the incoming text message before turning her phone over. Two more messages followed.

“What did he say?” Paige whispered.

Ashley glanced at her phone again and reluctantly handed it over. Her face looked defeated.

Paige read the messages and then rested her head on Ashley’s shoulder. “I know you love him, but nobody, not even Reid, has the right to threaten you. Or call your sister that.”

Shaun wanted to jump out of his chair and see for himself, but he waited. He and Preston couldn’t go pull him out without Ashley’s permission. It was her apartment, but more importantly, her life.

“Did you add his name to the lease?” Paige asked.

Ashley shook her head. “It’s still in my name.” She looked up at Shaun and Preston. “He’s not going to leave because you two knuckleheads tell him to. He’ll have to hear it from me. And he deserves to hear it from me. I’ll drive over there with you two. That way I can get my pajamas, and toothbrush, and clothes for tomorrow. I’m not kicking him out tonight.”

Paige was about to protest, but Shaun gave her a look. He had to admit, it was a very kind and brave thing for Ashley to decide. He’d expected far worse.

Ashley led the way, and he and Preston followed. He felt Paige’s hand slide into his before he reached the front door. He turned and gave her a quick, fierce kiss.

“Be careful, Shaun.”

“We’ll keep her safe.”

“You be safe too.”

Chapter 20

They approached Ashley’s apartment door, and she stepped in front of them. “I appreciate you guys being here with me. But please let me talk to him first.”

She unlocked the door with her key, which made Shaun insanely nervous, not knowing where Reid was on the other side. He’d never known Reid to be a violent guy, but Ashley didn’t get a busted lip from thin air.

“It’s about time you came home. What did you tell Paige?” Reid stalked into the entryway and glanced up at the two guys standing behind her. His face instantly turned up into a smile. “Hey, Shaun. Thanks for bringing her home.”

Preston put a steadying hand on Shaun’s arm, and they waited. Ashley pulled her ring off and held it out to Reid. “I need to return this.”

He didn’t take it. He just stood there, staring at it, probably calculating what he could say or do to fix this. Shaun had witnessed Reid head off a hesitant breakup attempt by turning sweet before, and tonight was no different. His expression turned to complete devastation. It was amazing that after almost ten years, he was still using the same tactics.

“Ashley, please don’t do this. I love you.” He put a hand to his head. “Do we have to do this in front of them?” Had Shaun walked in on this scene blind, he might have genuinely felt for the guy. Reid’s eyes welled up and he reached out a shaking hand, finally taking the ring from her.

Shaun’s gut clenched, waiting for Ashley to fall for it.

Ashley stood up straighter. “No, I’m really breaking up with you this time. I need you to pack up and go. Take all your stuff in the morning. Don’t leave anything behind, and don’t take or destroy anything of mine. Shaun’s going to sleep here tonight on the couch to make sure that happens. He’ll also help you move out tomorrow.”

She turned scrutinizing and pleading eyes to Shaun. “If you care about my sister the way you claim to, then I know I can trust you with this. Don’t kill each other.” She pushed past an astonished Reid into the apartment and started gathering her things. Preston helped her carry them down to the truck while Shaun and Reid sized each other up.

Shaun wasn’t sure where Paige and Ashley had gotten all their tough, can-do grit from, but at the moment, he was extremely thankful for it. He texted Paige, asking if she could drive over and pick up Ashley and Preston from the apartment parking lot ASAP. Then he called his boss, and while glaring at Reid, explained that he was, unfortunately, coming in several hours late tomorrow so he could take care of a personal matter. Al chewed him out, threatened his job, and told him he better be in as soon as possible. None of which was unexpected.

***

Paige couldn’t have been more relieved to see Ashley waiting for her in the parking lot, holding a suitcase. Though that was only one worry resolved. She was freaked out at the idea of Shaun having a sleepover with the one guy he despised most in the world. It had only been ten minutes, but she couldn’t help checking in with him again.

You’re sure about this?

No. Ashley must really hate me. And yet I’m also insanely proud of her. Don’t tell her or she might change her mind out of spite.

My lips are sealed. Please be careful.

Don’t worry. I’ll live to bug you another day.

Ashley got in the passenger seat, and Preston climbed in back, putting the suitcase next to him.

Paige turned to look at him. “Thank you, Preston.” He was practically a stranger to both of them, but it hadn’t stopped him from stepping in to help.

He shrugged. “Glad I could help. So, um, Lina said she’d be happy to come over after her Zumba class, whatever that is.”

Ashley snorted. “Does everyone go to Zumba?”

“She doesn’t have to come over. This is ridiculous.” Paige did not want to confront some poor girl about possibly flirting with a guy she didn’t know was taken. Sort of taken.

Ashley shrugged. “I just broke off my engagement. A distraction would be nice.”

“A distraction? We could make brownies and watch The Goonies for the millionth time. That’s a distraction. Pestering someone about their blind date is just dumb. And for the record, I could have been at Zumba tonight.”

“I’ll be nice to her. I promise.”

Paige gave up on winning this one and pulled into her garage, thanking Preston once again as he got out and left in his truck. Then she walked straight past Ashley in the entryway and headed to the kitchen to preheat the oven. She got out a brownie mix and turned on The Goonies.

There was a knock at the door just as Chunk was doing the truffle shuffle, and the brownies in the oven were starting to give off a delicious chocolatey smell.

Ashley paused the movie and went to check the peephole.

“Is it her?” Paige asked.

“Yup.” Ashley opened the door and welcomed Lina in, as if it was totally normal for her to be there.

Lina’s eyes lit up when she spied Paige sitting on the couch. “Okay, I saw you two at Zumba last week. Are you coming back?”

“She is,” Ashley said.

Paige remembered Lina too. She was the gorgeous girl in the front, putting them all to shame with her dance moves. What a strange coincidence to have her here now.

“So,” Lina clapped her hands together. “Preston said something about an overprotective sister of Shaun’s girlfriend. Which one is which?”

Ashley laughed. “I’m the overprotective sister. She’s the girlfriend.”

Lina sat down next to Paige. “Hmm. According to Corrie, you’re the white unicorn. She never thought Shaun would fall in love with anyone.”

“Well, we haven’t said those three words to each other yet.”

Lina waved her hand in the air. “Trust me, sometimes it’s not the best way of demonstrating the feeling. Sometimes guys say it just to set the mood.”

Ashley came and sat down with them. “Or they say it as if it excuses them for anything else they’ve done.”

Lina nodded. “Exactly.”

The state of her relationship with Shaun was not exactly Paige’s favorite topic of conversation, but wow, that was the closest Ashley had ever come to admitting Reid wasn’t the great guy she’d always insisted he was.

“So, anyway,” Lina said. “I guess my job here is to reassure you that whatever you saw was totally innocent on Shaun’s part. What did you see? It’s not like I kissed him.”

Ashley shrugged. “The two of you had your arms around each other. You looked like a couple.”

The timer for the brownies went off and Paige jumped up to pull them out. This situation was so odd. And while Lina seemed totally unfazed by it, Paige didn’t like the fact that this was going on while Shaun was ten times more uncomfortable.

“That was all me. I don’t like blind dates to be weird so I immediately cozy up to the guy. From what Corrie had told me, I was expecting him to flirt right back. He acted super awkward though, and it didn’t take me long to figure out he was thinking about someone else.” Lina glanced back at Paige. “So, do I get a brownie before I go?”

“Of course.” Paige cut one out and brought it to her on a napkin.

Lina took a bite. “I so deserve this after all the calories I burned today.” She got up from the couch and went to the door. “See you at Zumba. Have a nice night, girls.”

Paige glanced at Ashley after she left. “Okay, you have to admit she was way nicer about it than she had to be.”

“I’m satisfied. Shaun obviously likes you. I still don’t know if he deserves you, but I formally apologize for not believing him the first time.”

“Apology accepted.”

They watched the rest of the movie and ate most of the brownies in the pan. Paige kept her phone out, just in case Shaun texted, but he only wrote once to ask for a list of what belonged to Ashley, things like the toaster or blender, dishes, etc.

Paige waited until the movie was over to ask Ashley about it, texting the list to Shaun as they brushed their teeth and got ready for bed. Paige fell asleep to the sound of Ashley’s crying in the other bedroom.

***

Sleeping was the one thing Shaun wouldn’t be doing. There was no way he’d turn his back on Reid after bringing his fiancée over to break up with him. He sat in the corner and watched Reid eat Doritos and lounge on the couch for a three-hour video game session. Packing would have been more productive, but Shaun was sure Reid was purposefully making the situation as difficult as possible. Starting with not packing anything until he absolutely had to.

Even after he could hear Reid’s snores, Shaun kept himself awake by doing pushups in sets of ten between reading chapters of a book series he had on his phone. It was mindless entertainment, a World War III trilogy where half the world was over-run with zombies. By the second book he was rooting for the zombies.

Reid’s video game marathon had been the perfect excuse to give his mom. He’d texted her earlier in the night, letting her know he was having an all-night video game tournament with a friend. It was much less worrisome than the truth, and unfortunately, more believable.

But after this, it was time to grow up. Shaun realized he wanted to be responsible. He wanted to be the kind of guy Paige could be proud to claim. And if doing this for her sister was the start of that, so be it.

The next morning, though he wanted to collapse on the carpet and never get up, he went to rouse Reid from his bed.

He was tempted to roll him onto the floor, but Shaun settled for a good shoulder shake.

“Get up, loser.”

Reid squinted up at him and then looked at the alarm clock on the bedside table. “Give me an hour.”

Shaun folded his arms across his chest. “I don’t think I made myself clear. You have ten minutes to get up and dressed or I’m calling the cops and informing them of your squatter status.”

His threat got Reid moving, albeit slowly.

“Where are we taking your stuff?”

Reid pulled on a pair of pants. “To my brother’s apartment. The most important thing is my eighty-inch TV. You break it, you buy it.”

“You’ll have to help me take it down to my truck. Any of these blankets yours?”

Motivated by the love of his large screen TV, Reid threw on a shirt and pulled a couple of tan blankets down from the closet. He took them downstairs and laid them across the bottom of Shaun’s truck bed. Then together they brought down the TV and placed it on the blankets.

“Get all your clothes and put them on top.”

“Fine, but stay here and make sure no one steals this while I’m upstairs.”

Shaun pretended to care and waited for him to return.

Fifteen minutes later, Reid came down with a laundry basket overflowing with clothes. He slid it in next to the TV and went back up. The fleeting look on his face before he masked it was one of mischievous contentment. It had Shaun searching through the pile while he was gone. Sure enough, he found several pairs of women’s jeans in the middle of the stack. More digging revealed a gold bracelet and a Fit Bit in the pockets of Reid’s sweatpants.

Shaun held up a pair of the jeans when Reid came back down with another load. “I didn’t know you were into rhinestones on the butt pockets. That’s a courageous look for you.”

Reid glared at him and said nothing.

“We’re going back upstairs together, so you better hope the neighbors aren’t the thieves you are. And if I find you trying to take off with anything else of Ashley’s, I’ll ‘accidentally’ drop my end of the TV on the way into your brother’s place. Good luck getting me to pay for it.”

Thankfully, there wasn’t much else to grab. Reid grumbled about how he’d sold all his furniture after moving in, and they awkwardly rode together for the half hour it took to get to his brother’s apartment. Not one word was spoken the whole way.

Shaun had never been so glad to be rid of someone. He’d skipped dinner and breakfast and could barely keep his eyes open, but more than those two things, he just wanted to see Paige again. For now, he’d settle on calling her with an update. He needed to be responsible, and the responsible thing to do was head straight home, eat, get an hour or two of sleep, and head into work. Shaun wanted to be as unlike Reid as possible, starting with still being employed.

As soon as he was back in his truck, he called Paige.

“Shaun! Is everything okay?”

“Yes. One worthless piece of trash has been removed from the apartment. And yes, he did try to steal stuff. Let Ashley know she won’t have to go shopping for new jeans after all.”

“What a rat.”

“So, I’m going home to sleep for a few hours and then heading into work before I get fired.”

“Will you stop by first? I made French toast.”

French toast and Paige fussing over him sounded like heaven. He’d never want to leave. “I’d better not. I’ll call you as soon as I get off, okay?”

Chapter 21

Paige put her phone down and sighed. Reid was gone, thank goodness. But she hoped the price they paid wasn’t making Shaun feel used and tired of the whole situation. Her sister had manipulated him into more than he’d bargained for. Maybe it was too much. After all, he was already taking care of his family’s messes. He didn’t need any extra.

She passed on the good news to Ashley, and the not-so-good news, that Reid had tried to steal her jeans. Ashley nodded and returned to the guest bedroom, closing the door behind her. She’d never been much of a crier, and she clearly still didn’t like to lose it in front of people, even her own sister.

Thankfully, she came out a few minutes later and joined Paige in the kitchen for breakfast. Her eyes looked tired from lack of sleep and red-rimmed from crying. She toyed with a piece of French toast.

“Tell Shaun thank you for me.”

“I will.”

“He can leave my key with you when you see him next.”

“Okay.” Paige dropped the spatula she’d been holding. “Did you get Reid’s key?”

“No.”

They stared at each other, and Paige put her hand out to cover Ashley’s. “It’s probably best to get the place re-keyed anyway. I’ll happily pay for it.”

“You’re doing too much.”

When it came to Ashley’s safety, there was no such thing as too much. “What if you moved out too, Ash? I have plenty of room here. Come live with me for a while until we can’t stand each other. It would be better than worrying about you constantly.”

“Not for free.”

“Well, duh. I’d charge you rent.”

Ashley smiled. “That’s the sister I know and love.”

“So, you will?”

“Yeah. Okay. But we have to make a pact. If one of us hates it, we have to tell the other person.”

Paige smiled. “I can’t be worse than your last roommate.”

Ashley glared.

“Too soon?”

“Too soon.”

Ashley slid off her stool and took her plate to the sink. “I better get ready for work.”

“Would Reid show up at your office?”

Ashley shrugged. “I called my boss last night. The security guards know not to let him in. Heck, they give me a hard time if I forget my badge. Please stop worrying about me. I know I let things go on too long, but I promise I’m not as helpless as I look.”

“Okay, but please have someone walk you to your car after work.”

“I will.”

Paige cleaned up breakfast and then got to work scheduling viewings for the Vankirk’s house. She needed something to do so she didn’t worry about Ashley or Shaun all day. Plus, the house was not going to sell itself. It was too ugly for that.

She locked up after she and Ashley left and drove out to meet the first potential buyers of the day. They turned out to be more interested in renting it out for a week than buying the whole thing. She doubted they’d even qualify for the loan. But the last thing she wanted to do was be uppity to a customer, so she gave them the grand tour and smiled as they left.

After three more of those, she sat on the fancy front steps and allowed herself to cry for a little bit. Her phone buzzed and she looked down, expecting the next potential buyer to be canceling last minute.

How’s my favorite girl?

She smiled despite her tears and clutched her phone. Better now. I miss you. Can I say that?

Absolutely. Because I miss you too. A couple more hours and I’m coming to see you.

Paige wiped her face and stood up, brushing off her pants. No more wallowing. And she found she didn’t need to. If the house didn’t sell today, everything would be all right. The realization that work didn’t make a very good replacement boyfriend made her a little terrified. Apparently, she and Shaun had more in common than she thought.

***

If Shaun wasn’t smelly and covered in sheetrock dust, he would have driven straight to Paige’s house after work. He stopped home first, ignoring the call of his bed, and took a quick shower. His mom and Craig were outside working in the garden again, and he chose to believe it was only because of a mutual love of gardening. Oh well. Something to worry about later. She’d been so much happier since their visit to the counselor’s office.

A little aftershave, a quick comb through his hair, and he jumped back in his truck, running on pure desire to see Paige, and not much else. He squeezed his eyes shut and opened them again, hoping the traffic would look a little less fuzzy. Yeah, he should probably concentrate on getting there in one piece. He drove like a little old lady with his hands firmly on the steering wheel until he pulled up to her house.

He knocked on the door and almost fell asleep waiting for Paige to answer. Maybe she wasn’t home yet. He’d just sleep on the front stoop. Or maybe the grass.

Paige threw the door open and beamed, her smile brightening up everything inside of him. “Sorry, Ashley and I were hugging it out. She’s about to go talk to Mom and Dad about what happened.”

He took a step forward. “You’re giving out hugs today?”

She laughed and threw her arms around him, giving him a big hug. When she tipped her head up to look at him, he pressed his lips to hers, kissing her like he hadn’t seen her in forever.

“Shaun,” she whispered between kisses. “I have really nosy neighbors. They’re retired. I’m pretty sure they have binoculars.”

“Don’t care,” he said, going in for another long kiss.

But after a minute he lifted her up and carried her into the kitchen, setting her down on a stool before walking back to shut the front door they’d left open.

“Where’s Ashley?”

“In her room getting ready.”

“And she’s okay?”

“Yeah. She’s got great security at her work, and so far Reid hasn’t tried to call or anything.” Without asking, she put three cookies on a plate for him and poured him a glass of milk.

“Fortunately, I think Reid’s the type who knows when to cut his losses. He’ll be on the hunt for his next girlfriend by tomorrow.”

“That’s reassuring,” Ashley said, walking in and grabbing her purse off the back of a chair.

Shaun winced. Yeah, that wasn’t going to help her like him any better. But he wasn’t ashamed to hope it was the truth. “Always nice to see you, Ashley.” He smiled big.

She responded with an eye roll and left.

***

Paige took his plate from him, noticing the dark circles under his eyes and his tired smile. His haggard face spoke of what he’d been through last night. For her. It only made him more attractive.

“Why don’t you sleep on my couch for a while? I don’t think you should be driving home like this.” She went and grabbed a pillow and a blanket and led him over to the living room couch. He put his head down on the pillow without complaint and kicked off his shoes.

She knelt down in front of the couch so he was at eye level. “I have to go meet with Mrs. Vankirk and the new buyer in a bit.”

His eyes widened. “You sold it?”

“Yes.” And for the few minutes he’d been here, she’d completely forgotten about it. “An investor wants it and all the furniture in it. I had to explain that the furniture is mine, so he gave me an offer for it all I couldn’t refuse.” She kept an extra house key on a hook by the door and went to grab it. “If I’m still gone when you wake up and you want to leave, just lock the front door and stick this under the mat.”

“Your security here is amazing,” he mumbled. He tucked the key in his pocket and yawned. His eyes closed.

“You think you could help with one more move tonight?” she whispered in his ear, leaving a kiss.

One eye opened.

“I’ve convinced Ashley to move in with me for a while. We’ll probably want to kill each other within a week, but it’s the right thing to do.”

Shaun shifted so he was up on one shoulder. “I have my mom with me, you’ll have your sister with you. I feel like we’re part of some bad soap opera.”

“As The Dysfunctional Family Turns.”

He smiled at her. “I love you.”

She stared at him in shock. “What?”

He sat up quickly, bonking her in the chin with his forehead. “Sorry, are you okay?” He reached out and brushed his hands over her chin.

“Yeah. I think so. Did you just drop the love bomb on this relationship?”

He turned bright red. “No.” The red turned to crimson. “I mean yes, I did. I didn’t mean to say it out loud, but yeah … I … love you.”

“What does that mean?”

Shaun put his head back down and closed his eyes. “I don’t know. I’ve never said it to anyone before. Except my mom.”

“Shaun.” She sat on his chest to get his attention.

He groaned and opened his eyes. “You don’t have to say it back.”

Paige smacked his shoulder. “You said you weren’t ready for a relationship.”

He took the hand she’d smacked him with and laced her fingers through his. “I’m probably not. You’d be committing yourself to an emotionally stunted construction worker. I’d run now, while you have the chance.”

She slid off him and leaned into his face. “I don’t want to run.”

“You’d be better off.”

“No, everything’s better with you.” And it was true. There was nothing more she wanted than to spend as much time with him as possible, for the rest of her life.

He took her face in his hands. “I think you have that backwards. You’re way out of my league, hot stuff.” He kissed her gently, pulling her towards him so he could do a more thorough job. And then a yawn interrupted them and she pulled back, smiling. His eyes drifted shut but his fingers continued to play through her hair until his hand finally dropped back to the couch.

Reluctantly, she got up and closed the curtains before turning out the light in the room. “I love you, too, Shaun.”

He smiled in his sleep.

Epilogue

“Let’s see some energy, ladies!” The instructor started clapping, and Paige clapped to the rhythm right along with her. Zumba nights were her favorite, especially when Shaun came over after and they curled up together, talking and laughing on the couch. They drove Ashley nuts with their cuddling.

Paige looked over at Annie. She’d initially invited her as a favor to Shaun, not thinking his mom would take her up on it. But she did. And now they dominated the front of the room, with Lina in the middle. The three of them could shake their hips with the best of them. Annie had been a dancer as a girl and a cheerleader in high school. Paige smiled, thinking how Shaun must have inherited his dancing prowess from her.

It was the last routine of the night, and then she and Annie said goodbye to Lina and headed over to the smoothie place.

“What are you getting?” Annie asked.

Paige was always on the hunt for the perfect flavor combination. She rarely got the same thing twice. “Hmm. I think I’ll let you pick for me this time. I won’t even listen to you order it. Just tell me when I need to step up and pay.”

Annie raised an eyebrow. “You trust me that much? You know, when Shaun and Donovan were little, they played a guessing game in the car called Name That Smoothie. They’d pick things like skunk spray smoothie, pizza smoothie, every-potty-talk-combination-you-can-think-of smoothie. It would entertain them for the entire car ride.”

“You’re kidding me.”

“Absolutely not. And with that in mind, I’m now ordering your smoothie surprise.”

Paige laughed and stepped out of hearing range, hoping she wouldn’t be in for anything too wild. The best part of getting to know Annie was seeing that Shaun not only got his dancing feet from her, but also some of his crazy humor.

Annie had come a long way, from her job she loved, working in the garden center at the local hardware store, to her budding romance with Craig, the renter. Shaun was firmly against it, but they were taking it slow. As far as Paige knew, they’d barely held hands, and that was after six months of friendship.

Annie signaled she was ready, and Paige paid for the mystery smoothie. While the blenders were whirring, Paige checked her phone.

Can you come over?

Paige smiled. I’ll be there in a half-hour.

Their orders were ready and Paige took her cup from Annie, her thoughts still on seeing Shaun. She took a sip and froze. It was incredibly delicious. “What is this? I love it.”

“Peaches, bananas, frozen yogurt, and a pinch of cinnamon.” Annie glanced at the phone in Paige’s hand. “Go see Shaun. We can chat tomorrow.”

Paige hugged her and left.

When she got home, Ashley was waiting for her. “Come with me.”

“What? Why?” Ashley grabbed her hand and dragged her into the kitchen, where dozens of red roses were sitting in vases. Paige reached out and touched one of the velvety petals. They were beautiful.

“What is this?”

Ashley blinked, her eyes getting teary. “I’ll still fight with him like crazy after this, but I’ve been instructed to tell you to hurry up in the shower and head on over there. He won’t care if your hair is still wet.”

Paige sniffed the closest bloom and then ran into the bathroom to take a five-minute shower. There was no way she’d be showing up in her pajamas and a wet head like she usually did. What was Shaun up to? Surely it was close to the sixth month anniversary of something. Their first kiss, their first date? But Shaun wasn’t likely to remember that, and frankly, neither was she. Every day together was like a celebration. For claiming not to be very good at dating, he sure made a girl feel like a million bucks.

She blow-dried her hair, dabbed on a little perfume, and ran out the door, forcing herself to drive the speed limit. His front porch was lit up in twinkling white lights, and Shaun sat on the porch swing they’d installed together.

She walked up, her eyes never leaving his.

“Shaun, what are you up to?” She sat down next to him and tucked her head under his chin, wrapping her arms around his waist. There was no better place than wherever he was. For several minutes they stayed that way, just enjoying being in each other’s arms.

“Paige, I’ve been meaning to ask you something.” He slipped off the porch swing and knelt down in front of her.

“Wait, are you proposing?” Paige was so shocked, she forgot to stop rocking the swing and the momentum hit Shaun right in the chest.

“Ouch.”

She laughed and pulled on his arms. “Sit up here and do it. I never much liked the idea of guys having to beg.”

Shaun sat back down on the swing with her, his eyes twinkling like stars. This was more like it. Once again, Shaun had surprised her by being ready for something he swore he wasn’t ready for. And once again, she was ready to leap wherever he wanted to go.

“Paige, will you marry me?”

“Yeah, I think I will.” She leaned in and kissed him, her heart feeling like it could stretch to infinity. Shaun’s kisses were magical, and for several minutes, she couldn’t think about anything else.

Finally, breathing heavily, he rested his forehead against hers. “Sorry I don’t have a ring. I spent two hours in a jewelry store last week before deciding you’d probably want to pick it out yourself. Let’s not go back to that place. I’m pretty sure the employees all hate me now.”

“Last week?”

He touched her cheek. “Paige, I’ve known I wanted to marry you for a lot longer than that. I’d be a fool to ever let you go. Ashley’s told me the same thing several times. It’s the only thing we agree on.”

Paige snuggled up against his chest. “Can you imagine our two families together at the wedding? I kind of like the idea of putting Aunt Terrie next to Donovan and Lindsey.”

Shaun laughed, his chest rumbling against her ear. “They could use some bracelets to help with their negative thoughts.”

“We’ll give them out as wedding favors.”

Shaun laced his fingers through hers, and together they made more ridiculous plans for their amazingly awesome future.

Protector of Her Heart

_______________________________________

After a bad relationship, Ashley Parker feels like her life is on hold. Dating again is too scary, and the one guy she trusts the most in the world has a girlfriend, and a complicated life he couldn’t possibly want her a part of. But when a secret admirer starts leaving gifts on her desk at work, the small, thoughtful tokens make her wonder if maybe it’s time to try again.

Chapter 1

Ashley Parker stood and stretched, glancing around the office to check if anyone was watching, but they all seemed intent on their computer screens. If she didn’t roll her neck and shake out her shoulders every once in a while, her back would be killing her by closing time.

The hourly ritual had earned her the nickname Rocky from some of her coworkers. So what if she looked like a boxer warming up for a fight? In a department full of men, she was already half-way there.

“Nice, Balboa. Want me to rub the knots out?”

Ashley turned to glare at Flynn, the slimiest guy in her office. “How are you not fired yet?”

He grinned, showing off his gleaming, overly white, straight teeth. “Because everyone loves me. Except you, of course. Don’t worry, I’ll wear down your defenses eventually.”

“You are the last thing I need, and I’ve dated enough men like you to know it.”

Flynn threw his hands up in surrender. “I just wanna be friends, Ash. Don’t get all man-eater on me.” He glanced towards the boss’s office, but the door was closed.

Ashley walked over to Flynn’s desk and peered at his screen. “Are you done writing the article about sharing the road with cyclists?” From the look of it, he only had the first two paragraphs.

“I’m working on it. Go bother Chase. He’s not done with his article either.”

“Almost done,” Chase called out from behind his screen.

So he’d been listening. Ashley inwardly cringed. She was supposed to be ignoring Flynn’s teasing. Chase had even coached her on how to respond. Flynn had a way of sucking people into stupid arguments and then making it look like they started it.

She moved to Chase’s desk and pulled up a chair next to him. Until someone finished, she wouldn’t have anything else to edit. It always made her nervous. She worked full time at stretching out a typesetting job that should only take a few hours a day. To make up for it, she made sure to change out the water cooler jug, make the coffee, and when necessary, prod along her coworkers. She also ran extra errands for her boss whenever he asked. Mr. Davidson had to know how little she had to do, but he didn’t seem to care.

“Are you really almost done?” she whispered.

Chase nodded, his crystal blue eyes finally leaving his computer screen to meet hers for half a second. Chase Reynolds put one-hundred percent into everything he did. He was as stalwart as they came. Which was why, when her ex-fiancé, Reid, had become controlling, she’d asked Chase to start walking her to her car every night in case Reid showed up, wanting to try to talk her into getting back together with him. Chase did it, no questions asked, and he’d walked her out ever since, long past the point where she considered her ex a threat. His girlfriend was one lucky girl.

Ashley should find someone like Chase someday, when she was ready to open her heart again. But she wouldn’t do that until she figured out why she’d always chosen the wrong guys in the past, even if it meant spending the next ten years alone.

She studied Chase while he worked. If it wasn’t for his ugly button-up shirt, carefully tucked in, and slacks that were slightly high-water, he’d be gorgeous. She wanted to run a hand through his too-neat hair, messing up his careful part. He had a killer smile, though he rarely showed it off. Annnd stop. Loneliness was pushing her imagination to places it would have never gone before. Seriously, being single was not that bad.

Their boss, Mr. Davidson, came out of his office and glanced over at her empty desk. She stood so he could see her.

“Ashley, can you check the company Facebook page and respond to anyone who comments? Yolanda is stuck in a meeting upstairs.”

“Of course.”

Yes! Something to do. Their typesetting department shared a floor with billing, customer service, marketing, and public relations, and their responsibilities often bled over into one another, though Ashley’s main responsibility was the quarterly magazine. She wasn’t sure anyone actually read AutoBest Cares, but work was work.

She logged in as a company representative and browsed through the AutoBest Facebook page. Yeesh. Yolanda had created a post about the importance of seat belts, quoting an article about how men are less likely to wear seatbelts and more likely to die in crashes. The comment section had turned into a gender war. Diffusing this might take a while.

***

The scent of vanilla lingered behind, and Chase closed his eyes for a second. He was under no delusions about how Ashley felt about him, but that didn’t mean he was any closer to conquering his crush on her.

He’d immediately noticed her that first day when he should have been hyper-focused on training. She was the only customer service employee who smiled while chatting with irate callers, sometimes tossing her long brown hair over one shoulder and stretching her arms as high as they would go. She was always stretching. Except for the constant sitting, the high-stress job hadn’t bothered her at all, and she helped wherever she was needed. She had appeared at his side several times at exactly the right moment, pointing out where he needed to click to find the information that never seemed to be where they said it would be. Eventually, he figured it out and his customer satisfaction numbers went up. They were both promoted and moved to the new typesetting department together, along with Flynn.

Flynn was an idiot. Still trying the same smarmy tactics to get Ashley’s attention, to no avail. Hadn’t he noticed the changes in her? She hadn’t been the same since breaking off her engagement more than a year ago. She didn’t have that spring in her step she’d once had. She didn’t smile and laugh as much. Even her clothing was more subdued. It didn’t take a genius to realize she was more cautious now, maybe even a little bitter. And Chase hated that. He hated that someone had stolen her joy.

Mr. Davidson popped his head out of his office again. “Chase. Come see me for a moment.”

Chase saved his last changes and turned off his screen before heading for Mr. Davidson’s office. Some of the higher-ups called Mr. Davidson by his first name, Clarence, but he’d introduced himself as Mr. Davidson to their team back when they started, and none of them had ever attempted to change it.

Mr. Davidson went to sit behind his enormous messy desk and motioned for Chase to shut the door.

“Chase, what I’m about to tell you cannot leave this office. You can’t tell anyone, no matter how much you’re tempted to. I’d deny it came from me and then I couldn’t give you a glowing reference at your next job.”

Chase’s initial curiosity turned to dread, and he sat forward in his chair, trying to make sense of what his boss was not saying. “Are you … are you firing me?”

“No. I mean, I’m not. I’m only telling you because of your … family situation. I feel like I owe you time to find something else. There’s no good way to say this. Our whole department is being eliminated. The readership numbers are in the toilet again. This next magazine issue will be the last. It’s too expensive, and the big guys upstairs want to put our marketing money into more efficient places, like TV advertising. I’m being transferred, but the rest of you are being let go.”

It felt like a punch to the gut. Laid off. Everyone he worked with was being laid off. “When?”

“Like I said, they want the issue that’s almost done sent off and the articles still posted on the website. But that’s it. I’d guess you have three weeks. You can’t say anything. I’d keep you and Ashley if I could. The only options for staying are in customer service or claims, but it would be a major pay cut for both of you.”

“Oh.” The gravity of the situation settled onto Chase’s shoulders. How could he go back to writing a stupid article about construction zones now?

“Take a minute and absorb this. I don’t want you to leave my office until you’re ready to tuck this away and act like nothing’s wrong. Right now your face looks a little below complete devastation.” Mr. Davidson wiped his hand over his comb-over and then shuffled some papers on his desk. “Chase, don’t overthink this. You’re a young, smart guy. You’ll find something else.”

Chase didn’t feel young and smart. He felt old and anxious. Becoming a legal guardian at age nineteen would do that to you. But he understood why Mr. Davidson had warned him. Chase didn’t have a college degree. He was a single guy with a house full of younger siblings who relied on him. His whole life revolved around having a steady job and then going home and making sure everyone ate something besides candy for dinner.

But strangely, his thoughts only flitted to Tyler, Beth, and Gabby momentarily. He was thinking about Ashley. In three weeks, he’d never see her again. And his opportunity to finally tell her how he felt would be gone.

He should never have lied about having a girlfriend. Once, when he was walking her to her car, she’d hugged him and told him what a good friend he was. Good friend. That’s all he’d ever be to her. It shouldn’t have stung, but it did. So he told her about a new girlfriend to make himself feel less pathetic. She’d been so happy for him, her eyes lighting up with genuine excitement. Turns out, it didn’t make him feel any less pathetic.

Chapter 2

Ashley gathered up her things and signed out a few minutes after five, Chase by her side. He was not her body guard, and she’d done her best to make it clear she saw him as a friend instead. Friends could walk out together, for no other reason than to enjoy each other’s company. She didn’t want to feel like a victim anymore, always having to watch over her shoulder for her past to creep up and wreck the peace she’d found.

“Hey, Ashley, wait up.” Dean, from billing, jogged over from the computer desk where they signed in and out and then slowed to her pace as soon as he caught up. “You have any plans tonight? A bunch of us are headed out for drinks at Dave and Buster’s in a little bit. You want to come?”

“Maybe another time.” There would not be another time, but Ashley couldn’t say that. She hated maintaining that careful balance between cordiality and honesty. That’s why coworkers shouldn’t date.

“Well, you’re always welcome.” Dean’s eyes slid to her companion. “Um, you too …”

“Chase.” Chase kindly filled in the name for him. “Thanks, but I gotta get home.”

Dean went on ahead of them, glancing back once to smile at her.

“He likes you,” Chase said.

“I’m not interested in dating anyone here. It would make things awkward. You could go, though.”

Chase shook his head. “He’s not my type either.”

She laughed, but she knew the real reason Chase never had plans after work. Well, she knew vaguely why. Chase had always been tightlipped about what happened to him. She knew his parents had died in a car accident. She knew he had younger siblings who lived with him. But he always changed the subject or made jokes when she tried to bring it up, so she’d stopped asking about it.

He was right about Dean. That wasn’t the first time he’d singled her out to ask something he could have asked anyone. Dean was a decent-looking guy, and nice, from the little she knew about him. They all seemed like nice guys, the ones who started up conversations with her in the breakroom or brought coffee to her desk and stayed to chat. Well, not Flynn. But there were at least a dozen other single guys on this floor who’d all showed some level of interest. But she couldn’t do it again. Jump in with both feet. Fall for a guy only to have her heart broken. She didn’t think she could take another disastrous relationship, another example of how blind she was to most guys’ true intentions.

Sometimes her roommate Lina joked that therapy was always in session because they’d spent so many nights rehashing all their dating failures.

They reached her car, and Ashley got in, waving goodbye through the window. Her plans tonight were super exciting: laundry and leftover spaghetti.

***

The house was in chaos when Chase got home, but that was nothing new. He turned the TV volume down from fifty-seven to twenty and then shut it off.

“Aww, come on,” Tyler whined.

Chase ignored him for the moment and turned to Tyler’s friend, Mike, who lived next door. “Go home, Mike.”

Mike sheepishly got up off the couch and went home, an almost empty bag of chips tucked not-so-secretly under his arm. His mom was a health food nut so he got his fix at their house most afternoons before dinner time.

“Care to explain why there’s underwear hanging from the fan?” Chase asked.

Tyler grinned, his little freckled face almost a perfect mirror of Chase at that age. “I wanted to see if I could slingshot it up there. Only took two tries.”

“I told him not to,” Gabby said, coming in with a stack of towels. “He was supposed to be helping me put away laundry. And he hasn’t done his homework. Also, Fred is dead.”

One less thing to take care of, but Chase didn’t say that. He shook his head sadly. “Sorry to hear that. What did you do with him?”

Gabby shook her head, making her dark curls bounce. “We flushed him. Poor fish.”

“I wanted to cook him for dinner, but Gabby wouldn’t let me.” Tyler dived out of reach before Gabby could smack him.

Chase held her back. “I’ll take care of Tyler. Don’t worry.” He reminded himself it was normal for eight-year-old boys to be this annoying, and also that Tyler longed for attention whether negative or positive. Attention was attention.

Thanks to the mandatory parenting classes the state had required, Chase was (theoretically) prepared to deal with grieving children. He cornered Tyler and put him in a wrestling hold. “Be nice to your sister or I’ll bite your ears off.”

Tyler howled with laughter and covered his ears with his hands.

“Now, I’m going to zoom you to the moon and I want you to grab the underwear on the way back to earth, okay?” Chase lifted him under his arms and swung him up toward the ceiling. The first attempt was too low, but Tyler reached out a little farther the next time and knocked them down.

“Go put your underwear away and then come help with dinner. Bring your homework to the table.”

Tyler’s face became a scowl, and he muttered something under his breath as he stalked to the entryway. He pulled a packet of crinkled paper out of his backpack on the floor and stomped off. How the kid could turn from exuberantly happy to grumpy in less than a second was beyond Chase’s comprehension.

Chase checked on Gabby, who was putting a new load in the wash, and then knocked on Beth’s door. She wasn’t allowed to keep it locked, but she’d been testing that rule more and more.

“Coming,” she called out. A moment later, she swung the door open and stared at him expectantly. Her eyes were lined with purple, an interesting choice.

“Just making sure you’re alive in here.”

“I’m alive. Homework’s done.”

“Okay.” Chase was too tired to take her on in another argument, about how she should be helping the other two, or at the very least, being physically present. She dropped off and picked up Tyler and Gabby from school every day, and he was grateful for that. She didn’t sneak out, she didn’t lie. She was just unapologetically done with being a stand-in parent. And that, he could understand.

However, when Beth checked out, Gabby took over. And no ten-year-old should have to run a household.

“Come out in twenty minutes for dinner.”

Beth nodded and retreated to her bed where her latest book was face down, holding her place. She read about ten books a week, all of them with dragons or warlocks, or fierce-looking warrior chicks on the cover. She turned to eBooks when she’d read everything in the library, but she often reread the paperbacks from her small collection. Today it was one of those.

Chase tracked down Tyler, coached him through his homework while flipping quesadillas in a pan, and then called everyone for dinner. It wasn’t until Tyler and Gabby finally headed to bed that he had time to dwell on his day.

Yeah, going out for drinks was not happening anytime in the next, oh, five or six years. He was crazy to let himself consider someone like Ashley. No woman wanted to step into this crazy life with him. Not at age twenty-five. Ashley’s birthday was last week, and next month he’d be turning twenty-five too. He might as well be a hundred.

“You look like somebody peed in your soup.”

Chase looked up at Beth as she walked in the living room. It was the first time she’d voluntarily talked to him in a long time. He patted the spot on the couch next to him, and she sat down, immediately turning back to her book.

He should shield her from their troubles, but maybe what she needed right now was to be treated like an adult.

“If I tell you something, you can’t tell Gabby or Tyler.”

That got her attention. She sat up taller and put her book down.

He leaned over so he could whisper it and no one still awake would hear. “I’m about to lose my job.”

Her eyes widened. “I can get a job.”

“No, no. I need you here after school with Gabby and Tyler.”

Beth scowled. “I knew you’d say that.”

They’d been through this. Tyler was too much of a handful for Gabby to take on alone. Beth wasn’t much better, but at least if he broke an arm she’d be there to drive him to the hospital.

“Look. If you’re going to get all pouty like a nine-year-old, I’ll go back to treating you like one.”

Beth let out a deep breath. “Fine. Sorry.”

“You know your job is to get good enough grades to get a scholarship. Having some lame after-school job in the short term will not help you get out of here in two years. Mom and Dad would want you in college.”

She nodded, picking at a loose strand on their threadbare couch. “Maybe so. I don’t know how you do it, Chase. You could have dumped us off in foster care and had a great life.”

“How would dumping my sisters and little brother in foster care have led to a great life?”

She shrugged. “You’ve never even had a girlfriend.”

“Yes, I have.”

“Since Mom and Dad died?”

Well, she had him there. Dating hadn’t exactly been a priority. “We’re getting off topic.”

She gave him a sympathetic smile. “I know things are tight, but you should buy some new work clothes, Chase. You dress like an eighty-year-old man. We all got new school clothes this year. It’s time you did, too.”

Technically, he dressed like a forty-five-year-old man. At nineteen, he hadn’t even owned a button-down shirt, let alone slacks. He’d reluctantly donned Dad’s clothes for the job interviews, and then kept on wearing them after he got the job at AutoBest. Beth was right. He should buy something new. But it was the wrong realization to have when he was about to lose his job.

She must’ve read his mind. “Here, take this and go shopping tomorrow after work. I’ll cook dinner.” She dug in her jeans pocket and pulled out several crumpled bills.

He smoothed them out as she handed them to him. “What’s all this from?”

“I resold all those stupid Pokémon cards I bought for a dollar last month at a yard sale.”

“Are you fleecing all the kids in the neighborhood, Beth?”

“They know more about their value than I do. It’s all legit, I promise.”

He started to hand the money back, but she insisted. “Let me do this for you.”

Chapter 3

Lina was the worst kind of morning person. She flipped on lights, banged pots and pans around, sang. She didn’t understand the importance of savoring every last minute before one’s alarm clock rang.

Ashley put out a zombie-like arm and felt around for her cell phone. Sure enough, it was only five-forty-five. Her alarm wouldn’t go off until six. She groaned and got up anyway. If she didn’t love Lina so much, she’d never put up with this kind of time-abuse.

After Ashley’s sister, Paige, married, Ashley never thought she’d want another roommate. But being alone was expensive. And lonely. So when Lina offered her extra bedroom, Ashley took her up on it. They barely knew each other. Lina was Paige’s friend and a strange one at that. Besides the whole morning person thing, Lina was fearless. She would say or try anything. She was a person with boundless energy and ideas.

The only thing Ashley and Lina had in common was their terrible taste in men. Which was why they’d be roommates forever, both doomed to be single, for all eternity.

“Hey, don’t frown. It’s bad for your soul.” Lina grinned at her from the kitchen stove. She was already dressed in her pink scrubs, looking way too fabulous to spend all day cleaning people’s teeth.

Ashley raised an eyebrow. “You know what else is bad for your soul? Lack of sleep.”

Lina twirled around her and ducked into the pantry, her short dark bob bouncing like something out of a Pantene commercial. “Go shower until you’ve washed off all the grumpy. I’ll have breakfast ready when you get out.”

Ashley didn’t have to be told twice. She took a long shower and dressed for work. Lina’s breakfast spread was amazing. She didn’t go to this much effort all the time, but whenever strawberries went on sale, she’d buy a bunch and make crepes to go with them.

They sat down together and didn’t hold back on the whipped cream. Ashley would have no excuses about exercising after work.

“I met a guy,” Lina admitted, wiping her mouth with a napkin.

“Oh, yeah? Who?” This was nothing new. Lina was gorgeous. Guys fell over themselves trying to come up and talk to her.

Lina picked up her plate and rinsed it in the sink. “He was in line behind me at the tire shop. We chatted while they rotated my tires, and he’s taking me out on Friday night.” Lina took in Ashley’s worried expression. “If you’re that concerned, you should get a date and come with us.”

“I’m not ready.”

“It’s been over a year. It’s time, Ash.”

Ashley put the lid on the whipped cream can and brought it to the fridge. “When I’m ready, I’ll know.”

***

The knowledge that their department was a failed experiment, weeks away from elimination, changed the way Chase felt about every task he used to take pride in. He still worked just as hard on the print ads and the articles for their last issue of AutoBest Cares, but his heart wasn’t in it. This was why Mr. Davidson made him promise not to tell anyone else. Their productivity would dwindle to nothing.

He’d stayed up too late looking at job openings, but so far, nothing stood out as a great opportunity.

“Coffee’s ready,” Ashley announced before sitting at her desk. Chase didn’t normally like coffee, but anything to keep his eyelids open at this point would be a good thing. He got up after emailing Mr. Davidson the charts he’d asked for and headed to the back counter.

He began filling a Styrofoam cup with the black steaming liquid and jumped when a little bit spilled down the side of the cup. Chase grabbed a napkin from a nearby stack and bent down to clean up the drips on the linoleum floor.

A gold bracelet caught his eye and he picked it out of the dust bunny graveyard they had going on under the counter. Ashley wore it all the time. The clasp must have come undone while she was making coffee.

He headed back, leaving the coffee by his computer, and brought the bracelet to her desk. Ashley was nowhere in sight. He grabbed a sticky note off her pad and quickly wrote in small, generic block letters, “Found this. I believe it’s missing the company of your lovely arm,” then placed it above her keyboard.

He walked away, resisting the urge to go crinkle the note. What had he done that for? He was never spontaneous. It was all he could do not to rewrite it and agonize over it until he came up with something perfect or abandoned it altogether. Instead, he forced himself back to work. After ten minutes, he couldn’t resist peeking around his screen.

Ashley was at her desk, busy working on something, but every once in a while she’d pick up the sticky note and smile at it. The bracelet was back on her arm. He dropped his gaze when she glanced up. He usually wrote in messy cursive, but it wasn’t a perfect disguise of his handwriting. Would she know it was him?

At lunchtime he stayed at his desk, contemplating more reckless stupidity. Every minute sitting here, while she sat over there, was like a ticking time bomb of lost opportunity. He would never get the courage to talk to her the way he wanted to. To tell her he was in love with her. It didn’t matter that he had nothing to lose now. He’d thought it would make a difference, but the fear was still there. Plus, she still thought he had a girlfriend, which meant he needed an imaginary breakup and an imaginary grieving period. Since they were all about to be fired, there wasn’t time for that.

However, anonymous notes didn’t come with the fear of rejection or the possible loss of her friendship. The trick was finding a way to send them to her. Company emails were monitored. So was the in-office messaging system. There were ways of sending anonymous text messages to a phone number, but that was just … creepy. Maybe small gifts would be better.

He went outside during his last ten minutes and picked a pink snapdragon from one of the flower pots in the front of the building, hiding it in his lunch bag on his way in. Ashley had just left for her lunch break. He dropped the flower above her keyboard on his way past her desk.

***

Caution warred with the army of butterflies dancing in her stomach. Ashley picked up the flower again and looked around, wondering who her secret admirer might be. Flynn caught her gaze and smirked. Oh no. Please don’t let it be him. Anyone but him. And not Mr. Davidson, being married, and her boss. Then who?

Both the note and the flower had been such small, kind, romantic little gestures. Nothing flashy. What she’d said to Lina that morning still held. She wasn’t ready for a relationship. But she also wasn’t ready to squelch whatever this was.

As she played around with the boring article text on her screen, making it wrap around the clip art, she mentally went down the list of single guys on her floor. But then again, it didn’t necessarily have to be limited to the first floor. The tech guy had been down today installing new software on everyone’s computers. There was also Kevin, from accounting, who often stopped in to see Mr. Davidson.

But it was better to focus on those she worked closest with, the guys who could see her desk or passed by it on a daily basis. Flynn had this stupid habit of tapping on her desk every time he walked by, which was often. Gordon and Brian had joined typesetting not too long ago, and they were both quiet, unassuming guys. She could see Chase, concentrating on whatever he was working on. But he had a girlfriend.

Who else? Oh, who was she kidding? Her desk was parked in a busy intersection, smack dab in the middle of the floor. The copiers were to her left and the water coolers right behind her. The only thing not close to her desk was the coffee maker on the counter against the wall. Anyone could walk right by, dozens of times a day, and not stand out.

She left for their weekly planning meeting in Mr. Davidson’s office and couldn’t help holding her breath as she walked to her desk after. Nothing new had been left for her.

Chapter 4

Chase wandered around the department store for fifteen minutes, feeling worse the more time he wasted staring at the headless mannequins in Bermuda shorts and tropical button-down tops. But he couldn’t go home empty-handed. Beth had offered her time and money to him, and he didn’t want to disappoint her. He didn’t want her kind gesture to go unappreciated. What would have been better was if she’d been able to come along. He considered going home and packing everyone into his car and bringing them back here. Tyler would act like a monkey in a zoo, but at least Chase would get a second opinion.

Yes, that’s what he would do. Then he wouldn’t feel as rushed.

He turned around and had almost reached the glass front doors when he froze. Ashley was coming inside. She smiled when she spotted him.

“Hi, Chase. Funny seeing you here.”

“Yeah, funny.”

Now that he was aware how awful his clothes looked, it was almost like having one of those naked dreams, where everyone was pointing and laughing, and no matter what he did, he couldn’t find anything but a paper towel to cover himself with. The feeling was stronger here outside the office since they’d always been just coworker friends.

“You didn’t find anything you liked?” she asked.

He opened the door for two older ladies coming inside as a new idea occurred to him. “Um, Ashley, would you mind helping me?”

“Sure.”

Ashley loved to help people. And he loved … her. It was a win-win. He’d be happy to wear anything she liked, so why not let her pick it out?

“What are you looking for?” she asked.

“Casual clothes for work.”

She nodded, taking him in from head to toe. “What’s your budget? Be honest.”

He had sixty bucks from Beth, but considering how much he suddenly wanted to burn everything in his wardrobe, he could afford more than that. “Two hundred.”

“Okay, we have our work cut out for us. Let’s move.”

She passed the registers and began weaving through the racks. He had to jog to catch up. “What about you? Didn’t you come in here for something?”

She shrugged. “This is more important. I can find shoes later.”

***

Chase’s girlfriend should be taking care of things like this, but perhaps she was as fashion-challenged as Chase. One thing was certain, all the cash back rewards Ashley had saved up would be put to good use today, along with a twenty-five percent off paper coupon from the mailer. That two hundred dollars would squeak when she was done with it.

“What’s your pant size?”

“Thirty-four, thirty-six.”

Ashley started checking tags on the clearance rack and came up with two pairs in his size. She held them up against him, making sure they wouldn’t be slightly high-water like most of his current slacks were. Nope, these looked perfect.

“Aren’t these green?” he asked, taking them from her.

“Olive. Just trust me. Go try them on.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He gave her a salute and headed into the dressing room. While he changed, she found four shirts for him to try on, plus a nice belt to replace his worn out one.

“What do you think?” he asked, coming back out. He looked so hesitant. He had no idea how a well-fitting pair of pants transformed him from unnoticeable to … well, noticeable. Seriously, his girlfriend should be the one checking to see how his backside looked in pants. She shoved the shirts at him, not meeting his eyes. “Okay, try on the other pair and match it with one of these shirts.”

Now, where were the discount ties? She flipped through a rack and found a few that weren’t too bad. Her phone buzzed in her purse, and she checked to see who was texting.

Paige: Coming to Zumba tonight?

Shoot. Ashley had forgotten about that, even though Lina reminded her this morning and made her promise to come. Ashley hated Zumba, but she had to admit, with Paige and Lina there, it almost made exercise bearable. Almost.

Ashley: What time again?

Paige: 6:30.

It was almost six right now. Her gym bag was in the trunk of her car, but she’d still need time to change once she got there.

Ashley: I’ll be a few mins late. Sorry.

Paige would get over it. Especially when Ashley explained that Chase was the guy who watched out for her at work, who walked her to her car every night.

It had taken Paige a long time to stop worrying. She’d been there to pick up the pieces in the days and weeks after the breakup with Reid, afraid he might come back and do something to Ashley, afraid Ashley would miss him too much and take him back. People who had never been in an abusive relationship didn’t understand what it was like. He hadn’t started out that way. But little by little, Reid messed with her mind, making her believe she was the one changing, that she was the one not measuring up.

Ashley blew out a breath and pushed those thoughts away. She’d gone to therapy a few times, but it wasn’t for her. One thing had stuck though. Blaming herself or wallowing in regret and self-loathing would only continue to bind her to her past.

***

Chase had a cart full of clothes. He didn’t even know they had shopping carts at places like this. Ashley stood next to him, staring at the line ahead of them and then sneaking another glance at her phone. He’d taken up too much of her time already.

“If you need to go, it’s fine.”

She glanced up and smiled. “Is it that obvious? I forgot about exercise class. But it’s not a big deal if I miss it. I just hate waiting in these lines. Why do they only have one register open?”

He took her by the shoulders, making her beautiful dark brown eyes focus on him. “Ashley, I may be clueless about clothes, but I know how to pay for them. Go to exercise class.”

She bit her lip. “You promise you’ll use all these coupons?”

“Um, sure.” He took them from her, feeling terrible that she was so concerned about him affording things.

“Chase. You told me two hundred dollars. I want to make sure they take all these and don’t charge you extra. Sometimes things ring up wrong, and you have to make them price-check it.”

Oh, help him, she was one of those price-check ladies. “You mean, hold up everyone else in line for another fifteen minutes? No way.”

She laughed. “See, this is why I can’t leave. Men are so tough, except when it comes to price confrontation. I’ve yet to meet one that’s willing to embarrass themselves in order to save money.”

“So you admit it’s embarrassing.”

She gave a little pout. “Whatever.”

He’d never enjoyed an argument before, and it made him want to try it with her again sometime. “I do appreciate your help, Ashley.”

“It’s not like you haven’t ever helped me before.” She seemed embarrassed, and he realized she was referring to him walking her out every night.

A second employee jogged up and opened a register, waiving over the two people in front of them. That meant they were next. Ashley began pulling out each item from the basket and laying it on the counter in a neat stack. She handled everything, the coupons, some barcode on her phone, and yes, one price check on an item she swore was supposed to be forty percent off. The total came to just under two hundred dollars.

***

“A few minutes late, huh?” Paige’s dark ponytail swayed from side to side as she sashayed to the music.

Ashley did her best to follow along, though jumping into a high-intensity routine without the warmup wasn’t exactly easy. “Why can’t you two ever stand in back?”

“We saved you a spot,” Lina said with a shrug.

They sure did. Right in front between the two of them, making Ashley front and center for everyone behind them to not want to follow. Her salsa steps always looked like she was stumbling off a curb. She had no delusions of grandeur when it came to how bad her dancing was. But, running and doing planks sounded worse, so here she was, dancing her way to a tighter waistline.

The song ended, signaling a water break—Ashley’s favorite part of the night.

“I told you she’d be here,” Lina said, elbowing Paige. “Paige didn’t think you’d make it.”

Ashley marched in a circle as she took small sips of water. She was already getting a side cramp. “I wasn’t ditching out. I was helping a guy from work.”

“You’re totally fine, Ash. We take bets for the fun of it. Besides, Shaun’s mom is as hit-and-miss as you are now that she’s wedding planning.”

Ashley grinned, knowing it gave her brother-in-law, Shaun, ulcers just thinking about his mom remarrying. Annie even wanted him to walk her down the aisle. “How is Shaun holding up?”

Paige shrugged. “He likes to grumble about it, but I think he’s secretly pleased.” She walked back to her spot in the front, and Ashley reluctantly followed. “You haven’t stayed late at work in a while, Ash. A big project?”

Ashley pictured Chase slowly turning in a circle in his new pants and shirt, waiting for her verdict. She wouldn’t exactly call him a project.

“What’s that goofy smile for?” Paige asked, nudging Ashley with her elbow. “Wait. You said you were helping ‘a guy.’ Does this mean…?”

Ashley could tell Paige wanted her to fill in that blank with exciting news, but that wasn’t happening. “He’s a friend. Nothing more.”

“Who’s a friend?” Lina asked, her eyes twinkling with interest as she came to stand next to them.

“Nobody,” Ashley answered with finality. The music started up, and she’d never been more thankful to start dancing again.

Chase had a girlfriend. There was no use bringing him up. And it was too soon to mention the flower at her desk or the return of her bracelet. She was too afraid to get her hopes up about it. Or theirs.

Chapter 5

Chase adjusted his tie and reluctantly walked in the office, afraid of the comments to come. Not only was he wearing new clothes, he’d decided to splurge on a real haircut as well. Usually, he trimmed it himself, but after realizing how bad his clothes looked, he started thinking about other things he’d been neglecting.

The nice hairstylist showed him how to style it with gel. Beth had squealed when he walked in the door. He hadn’t seen her that excited in years. She even got up early and helped him recreate the look.

Yolanda, from public relations, whistled when he passed her desk. “Que guapo, Chase.”

He gave her a passing wave, too embarrassed to look back and respond.

Mr. Davidson glared at him from his office door. “Chase, can I see you?”

“Um, sure.” Chase walked in and closed the door behind him, afraid to know what other bad news he might be facing now.

“No one else can know about the downsizing, Chase.”

Chase’s eyes widened. “I haven’t told anybody.”

“Well, you’re dressed like you’re desperate for a promotion, and I don’t want anyone thinking changes might be coming. Also, there are no promotions available.”

“I didn’t expect one. Do I look that different?” He glanced down at his white shirt and slacks.

Mr. Davidson’s face softened. “Yeah. You look different. Big interview today? Do you need to take some personal time? I could spare you for an hour, but no more than that.”

“Not today, but thank you.”

Mr. Davidson handed him a stack of papers. “Take this to your desk and act like I gave you an assignment.” He waved him off and went back to pacing in front of his window. The man was a strange mixture of kindness and stress.

Chase went to his desk and woke up his computer.

“Woo-wee. Rocky, did you get a look at Chase today?” Flynn stood up to get a better look. “Dressed to impress.”

Chase tried not to turn red, though his face was likely not cooperating. Gordon and Brian looked up from their computers and then immediately went back to work. Flynn being an idiot was not newsworthy.

Ashley met his eyes across the room. “Yep. I think he looks nice, Flynn. Thanks for pointing it out.”

With all the attention on him, today probably wouldn’t be the best day to leave something on Ashley’s desk, but he’d come prepared. Waiting wasn’t an option anyway.

***

Ashley picked up her pencil, admiring the strawberry-shaped eraser her mystery man had stuck on top. It even smelled like strawberries. This simple approach to attention-getting was something to be admired. Especially when every time she looked at Flynn he flexed his bicep for her and kissed it. His desk was in front of Mr. Davidson’s office, or she’d never look in that direction at all.

Before she left for lunch, she plucked off a sticky note and wrote, Do I get a name, stranger? She placed it above her keyboard. It was a pointless attempt. She wasn’t sure she was ready to know who she was contacting, nor did she believe for one second he’d reveal his identity just because she asked. But she did it anyway.

Flirting with a nameless, faceless stranger. This was a bad idea. Curiosity killed the cat and all that. And yet, the shot of nerves it gave her had to be better than mindlessly going through the motions of her day.

She headed over to the sub sandwich shop across the street and waited in the long line. Despite the crowds, they always got people in and out quickly.

“Hi, Ashley.”

She turned to see Allen, one of the customer service supervisors, right behind her. “Oh, hi, Allen.”

They hadn’t talked much since she moved out of customer service, but he used to have the cubicle next to her.

“How are the newbies doing?” Customer service tended to be a revolving door of phone reps. Most people burned out after a few months.

“Eh, there are maybe four that are any good at it, and of those, I bet only two will stick around. They don’t make ‘em like you and me anymore.”

“That’s right. AutoBest pride.” She pumped her fist. “When did you guys stop doing the cheesy cheer in the mornings?”

He laughed. “The day they moved me to supervisor. Don’t tell me you miss it.”

“I kind of do. It was fun.”

“It was demeaning. There are better ways to motivate people, like individual compliments and encouragement. I just think sometimes small gestures mean more, you know?”

His green eyes stared into hers and all she could do was nod. Was Allen her mystery man? He was a few years older than her, but not bad-looking. The line moved up, and she quickly ordered her usual. While Allen was ordering his sandwich, she checked his left hand for a ring, but there wasn’t one.

“So, how is typesetting?” he asked.

“It’s a slower pace. The day definitely feels longer when you’re not fielding calls for eight hours.”

“Here, let me get yours too. For old times’ sake.” He pulled out his credit card and paid for both their lunches. They walked back to the AutoBest building together and Allen nudged her shoulder. “I’d love to sit and eat with you, but I have to get inside for a lunch meeting. We should really catch up sometime though.”

“Thanks for lunch.” She waved goodbye and claimed an empty bench under a mesquite tree. She was soon joined by Rex and Paulo, friends of Dean who worked with him in billing. Hardly anyone used the dingy breakrooms inside unless the summer temperatures drove them to it.

Rex leaned over, quickly chewing his bite of burger. “You should have come with us last night, Ashley. Dean asked you, right?”

Paulo elbowed him, looking embarrassed. “Leave her be.”

“What?” Rex asked. “We all meet as friends. Dean said that right? That it’s just a group of friends?”

“Yeah, I think he said that.” She’d never understood why Paulo and Rex were such good friends. They were so different. Paulo, cautious and serious, and Rex, spouting off whatever came to mind.

Either of them could be her secret admirer, though if she had to guess, Paulo was more likely to take the subtle approach. She asked Paulo about his teriyaki bowl, just to have something to say to him.

He gave a shrug. “It’s okay. A little pricey for what you get. My girlfriend raves about the place.”

So not Paulo. Ashley adjusted the bread trying to slide off her sandwich and berated herself for worrying about the secret admirer thing so much. She’d never even given Paulo a second look before.

“My last girlfriend wouldn’t eat fast food.” Rex waved his restaurant paper bag at them. “Not Burger King or Wendy’s or any of them. It was the hardest three weeks of my life. After we broke up, I drove straight to Taco Bell and ordered a Mexican Pizza.”

Paulo patted him on the shoulder. “That’s rough, man.” He threw Ashley an amused glance and she had to look away so she wouldn’t laugh.

“Do you have a boyfriend?” Rex asked her, crumpling up his empty burger wrapper. “I’m not asking for anyone specifically, I was just wondering. Like, are you serious with someone right now?”

Paulo gave Rex a shove. “Stop it. She’s trying to eat her lunch.”

“What?” Rex held up his hands in innocence. “I’m just making conversation. You should try it sometime.”

Ashley hid a smile. “Nope. No boyfriend.” She took a last bite of her sandwich and threw it in a nearby trash before Rex could interrogate her further. “See you guys later.”

Yolanda linked arms with her as they were about to enter the building at the same time. “Why were you eating with Rex? You know he talks about you all the time. It’s embarrassing how much. It started up after Geneva quit. His ginormous crush on her transferred over to you.”

“I’m not sure whether to be flattered or offended by that.”

Yolanda shook her head. “Forget about him. Did you see Chase today? I had no idea he had that kind of hotness potential under all that nerd.”

Normally, she found Yolanda’s gossip amusing, but hearing her talk about Chase brought out Ashley’s protective side. Chase was not a nerd, just a guy too busy to care about what he looked like. She would not be revealing her role in helping him overcome that. Although, the haircut must have happened later.

They passed his desk, and Yolanda let out a low whistle, making him immediately flush red. He caught Ashley’s eye and shook his head, clearly not sure what to do with the extra attention he was attracting.

Chase had more than potential. He was straight up gorgeous. And the fact that he was totally unaware of it only added to it. She reminded herself that he had a girlfriend, and she had a secret admirer. That’s right, maybe he’d left something at her desk again. Wow, was she pathetic to be this excited about it.

She and Yolanda parted ways, and Ashley began her mental list of possible secret admirers again, adding Dean, Rex, and Allen to it, and taking off Paulo. When she got back to her desk, there was an answer under her plea for a name. No, love.

***

Flynn was supposed to be helping Chase come up with another article, but instead, he was keeping both of them from working on anything else.

“Did you watch the game last night?” Flynn asked, leaning back and putting his feet up on Chase’s desk. Yeah, that couldn’t continue.

Chase pushed Flynn’s feet off and turned to look at him. “What game?” Chase hadn’t watched any sports team with regularity since high school, though he often caught the highlights on the news. For all he knew, Flynn could be talking about women’s softball.

“Never mind. I forgot you have all those Orphan Annies at home who keep you from having a life.”

Chase glared at him. “Forget it. Just go back to your desk. I’ll write the stupid article myself.”

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” Flynn put his hands together, somehow managing to actually look contrite, though Chase didn’t believe for a minute Flynn ever felt sorry for anything.

Flynn pushed his chair back and stood up. “Look, I don’t think we’ve bored people with an article on defensive driving in a while. I’ll come up with a bunch of bullet points. You write the meat of it, okay?”

“That’s fine.” Chase’s eyes strayed to Ashley’s desk. She was stretching out her shoulders again. He should look away. Ashley hated it when people caught her doing it.

Flynn gave a low chuckle. “Dude, does your girlfriend know how often you stare at your hot coworker?”

Chase turned back to his computer and yawned. It was better to pretend like Flynn’s imagination was running wild. After all, it usually was. “We broke up. And no, Ashley had nothing to do with it. She and I are just friends.”

“Maybe so. But you wish you were more.” Flynn walked back to his desk, whistling a happy tune. The guy was such a weasel. And now, Chase’s lie had thoughtlessly just morphed. Why had he said that to Flynn?

No doubt, Flynn would take delight in telling Ashley and everyone else that Chase’s girlfriend had dumped him. He’d probably make it seem like the makeover was part of it too. Something to build up his fragile ego.

***

Ashley pretended the information was nothing to her, but in reality, Flynn’s gossip meant a lot. Chase broke up with his girlfriend? How recent was recently? Could he be her secret admirer? She’d ruled him out, but maybe it had been his way of getting over a breakup. A harmless distraction to mask the pain. Ouch. If so, that was seriously unromantic. After dating someone for that long, the feelings didn’t go away overnight, even if you desperately wanted them to.

Okay, she really needed to take her imagination down a couple notches. She and Chase were friends. She’d be mortified if it was her breakup news being batted around. And it was her fault Flynn even knew about Chase’s girlfriend. She’d mentioned her once in front of Flynn and the look Chase had given her … not happy. Yeah, Chase really didn’t like his personal life talked about. Chase couldn’t be her secret admirer. No one separated work life and personal life better than he did. And leaving secret gifts for a coworker was taking the two and throwing them in a blender.

She met up with Chase after work, and they clocked out together, talking about the scare on the third floor when someone forgot about a scented candle and started their desk on fire. Once that happened, it was all anyone could talk about.

“I heard,” Chase said, trying not to laugh, “that she was always complaining about her stinky coworkers. The guy next to her eats tuna fish sandwiches and Doritos every day at his desk for lunch.”

“Poor lady. Just trying to clean the air.”

Chase’s eyes widened. “Poor lady? She almost killed us all.”

“It was an accident.”

“Supposedly, she had it right up against the cubicle wall and the flames raced up it. I’m surprised they didn’t make us all evacuate.”

“We don’t know what actually happened. All we got was that stupid memo, kindly reminding us that flame of any kind is prohibited, and from now on we’ll need managerial approval to light birthday candles.”

Chase’s mouth twitched. “I wrote the memo.”

“No!”

He opened the door to the outside, and they both squinted as the sun hit their faces.

“H.R. was busy interviewing her and dealing with the fire department. So they sent it to Mr. Davidson, and he gave it to me to do.”

“It was a good memo, Chase.”

He crossed his arms, pretending to be offended. “You just said it was stupid.”

She stopped and put a hand on his arm. “The information was stupid. But it was well-written and to the point.”

“Your flattery will get you nowhere, missy.” He stared her down, both of them losing at keeping their poker faces. A question appeared in his eyes, and she realized she’d never removed her hand from his arm. What was she doing?

“Hey, you two.” Yolanda walked up behind them.

Ashley stepped away and turned to smile at her, suddenly grateful for the interruption. “Hi, Yolanda.”

Yolanda smiled at Chase. “I heard you’re single now. Are you too broken-hearted to go out on Friday? A bunch of us are dancing at this great bar I know.”

“Well, I … can’t do that. But thank you.” His discomfort was palpable, but Yolanda didn’t seem to mind. Perhaps she only asked to see him squirm. Sometimes she could be like that.

“What if I got Ashley here to go?” Yolanda turned her mischievous eyes to Ashley.

“I don’t dance. Like ever. But thank you.” Ashley gave Chase a small nudge, and they started walking again towards their cars, waving goodbye to Yolanda. Great. Now that Yolanda brought it up, Ashley couldn’t act like she didn’t know about his breakup. But she was not about to mention it unless he did first.

And Chase didn’t. They barely spoke the rest of the way to their cars.

Chapter 6

His interview started in forty minutes, and Chase willed the noodles to cook faster in the pan. Maybe he shouldn’t go. He didn’t want to work nights, even if it meant more pay.

Something crashed in the living room, and he dropped the fork in his hand and dashed out of the kitchen to see what was broken.

“I didn’t do it,” Tyler automatically spouted when he saw Chase. At Tyler’s feet, shattered pieces of a former ceramic mug littered the wood floor.

Chase looked from the foam baseball bat that had been tossed off to the side, to the coffee table where the mug used to be sitting. It didn’t take a lot of detective work to figure this one out.

“Where are your sisters?”

Tyler shrugged and bent down, picking up the biggest cup shard.

“I’ll take care of this. Go wash your hands and set the table for me.”

Chase retrieved the broom and dustpan and took care of the mess, growing madder by the minute that Gabby and Beth couldn’t even bother to investigate. It was like Tyler was raising himself around here.

He stalked down the hall and was about to bang on Beth’s door, but noticed at the last second that it was slightly ajar.

Inside, the two girls giggled quietly.

“It’s not going to torture you. This is called an eyelash curler, Gabby. It makes your eyelashes look longer, and you can use it, even if you’re not allowed to wear mascara yet. You’ll look less tired. That’s what Mom used to say. It made her look like she’d already had her morning coffee.”

All the anger drained from Chase, leaving only an ache that sat like a rock right below his sternum. These girls were growing up without a mother’s influence. All they had left were the memories, and each other. He thought about his parents constantly, but sometimes he forgot that Beth and Gabby probably did too.

He gently knocked to let them know he was there. “Mac and cheese is almost ready. I’ll leave it on the stove. Will you girls make sure and get Tyler to bed on time?”

They nodded, looking him over.

“Come here and let me fix your hair again,” Beth said.

“I have to check the noodles.”

“It’ll just take a second. You’ve got to stop combing it down like that. I thought I showed you this morning.” She practically shoved him to his knees in front of her propped-up mirror and rubbed more gel in his hair.

It looked like she was messing it all up, but he had to admit, the end result was much better than what he’d tried to do a few minutes ago. “Thank you, Beth.”

She met his eyes in the mirror. Today, she had gold eyeliner that made her look like an Egyptian statue come to life. “Did anyone notice your new look today, Chase?”

“Like your boss?” Gabby asked.

“Ew, no. Not Mr. Davidson.” Beth made a face. “Did any girls notice?”

“All right, I’m checking the noodles.” Chase was not about to discuss this with his sisters. He got up, ignoring their protests, and went to the kitchen to finish preparing dinner. Store-brand boxed mac and cheese. The dinner of champions.

He added the cheese powder, butter, and milk, and then left as the other three were sitting down to eat.

Before he’d even reached the interview location, Chase had completely talked himself out of taking the job. Working as a night watchman would be isolating. A lot of sitting at night, ample time to think about his life or lack of it. He’d have to sleep during the day. The only thing that kept him driving and parking in front of the building was the chance to practice his interviewing skills.

He took in his resume and waited in the proffered plastic chair next to the other applicants. Instead of going over possible interview questions, his mind turned to how much he’d messed up with Ashley. She had no idea he was the one leaving little presents on her desk. And now everyone knew he’d broken up with his girlfriend. One he didn’t have. How was he supposed to tell Ashley the truth now? Could he have screwed this up worse? Things had turned so awkward after Yolanda’s invitation and her knowing smile when she mentioned getting Ashley to go. Yolanda might as well have announced his unrequited feelings for her. Ashley didn’t need that kind of pressure from someone she relied on as a friend.

The interview went okay. The guy seemed really interested in him until Chase explained he was the sole guardian of three children. He could see it in the man’s eyes: the worry that Chase would have to stay home with sick kids, that he would be expensive to insure. Healthy twenty-something guys were supposed to bring down the cost of health insurance plans. But Chase would be bringing along three dependents. It was something to think about in future interviews. He hated the thought of how many more of these he’d need to do to land a job.

***

Ashley twirled the yellow highlighter left on her desk. Attached to it was a strip of white paper almost like a little white flag with the words: kindness, beauty, intelligence.

She tucked it into her desk drawer where she could occasionally look at it. Work felt lighter and easier with those three little words from him in her head. Could this person actually exist? Someone sincere and not just toying with her? Getting her hopes up too much would only lead to disappointment, but it didn’t keep her thoughts from wondering about it.

The tech guy, Dennis, came down again to install updates and she had to stand by while he sat at her desk.

“Couldn’t you do this remotely?” she asked with just a hint of a smile.

He gave her a weird look and went back to staring at her computer. Okay, not Dennis. She took her water bottle to the water cooler and took her time refilling it. Dennis was still at her desk so she headed over to say hi to Chase. He was typing away at something but when she sat down next to him, he looked over and smiled. She loved his smile. It made everything feel right in the world.

“How are you?” she asked.

“Good.”

She reached over and tapped his knee. “I like your pants.” They were the olive green ones he’d questioned trying on.

“Whoa, am I interrupting something?” Flynn walked up, raising his eyebrows. “I like your pants too, Chase.”

“Shut up, Flynn. They’re his new pants. I can say that.” If Flynn knew Ashley had picked them out, she could only imagine the jokes he’d come up with. Chase was red enough already.

“What do you think of my pants?” Flynn asked with a grin.

Thankfully, Mr. Davidson chose that moment to stick his head out of his office door. “Flynn, I need you ASAP. Get in here.” Flynn scurried to obey.

“I’ll let you get back to work.” Ashley stood up. Even if she had her desk back, she’d already finished all her assignments, which meant it was time to find things to do. “I think I’ll water the plants.”

Chase cocked his head, trying to hide a smile. “Aren’t they all plastic?”

“Chase, do you think I’d water plastic plants?”

“I figured you might pretend to water plastic plants. I know sometimes you’re looking for stuff to do around here.”

She shook her head. “I’m doomed. It’s that obvious, isn’t it?”

He crooked his finger at her, and she came back to sit with him. Aware of her growing attraction, everything that used to feel casual and normal made the butterflies in her stomach kick up a notch. The little cleft in his chin, his perfect eyebrows, his clear blue eyes studying her.

“They’re real plants, Chase. The one in the corner is a peace lily, and the two spikey ones on the back counter are snake plants.”

“How do you know that?” He glanced around as if he’d never noticed the plants at all. Which he probably hadn’t. Nobody had time to notice them except her.

She shrugged, not wanting to admit to doing an image search on them about a month ago, just so she knew what she was watering.

“Ash, what would you do if you didn’t work here?”

“They’re going to fire me, aren’t they? I hate this. I thought a move into typesetting would be exciting, but sometimes I just want endless ringing phones so I feel needed around here.”

“I need you around here.” He said it with such sincerity. She had to remind herself he only meant that he needed her friendship. “I just finished this article, and I’m sending it over right now. Look, Dennis is all done on your computer. The plants can wait. You fake watered them yesterday.”

“Real watered them,” she corrected, bumping her shoulder with his. “Please tell me you’re joking and you don’t think I walk around every day with an empty watering can.”

“I was only teasing. I promise.”

She wasn’t sure whether she believed him or not, but she went back to her desk and pulled open his article titled, Should I Insure My Jet Skis? and started searching around for a stock photo image to go with it. She recognized the smiling stock photo woman riding a jet ski because she’d seen her in hundreds of other images—woman picnicking in the park, woman watching TV, hiking, baking, you name it. Maybe that’s what Ashley should do for a living. Team up with a photographer and sell her smiling image to every ad department in America.

That same nagging worry came back to her, now reinforced by her conversation with Chase. He’d never reassured her she wasn’t getting fired. Maybe she should look for another job. She would miss everyone here, especially Chase. And then there was the secret admirer thing. She’d keep an eye out for job opportunities, but the thought of dragging out her old resume and applying for positions sounded as fun as a root canal. Hopefully, it wouldn’t come to that.

***

Chase wanted to tell Ashley about their department downsize so badly. Clearly, she already suspected. But Mr. Davidson’s continual paranoid warnings rang in his head. Chase needed that recommendation from him. He’d set up a few more job interviews, ones he actually hoped to succeed at, and they’d be calling Mr. Davidson and asking about Chase’s time here. Not to mention the time off Mr. Davidson was allowing him for an interview that very afternoon.

Filled with guilt, he went back to creating ads and tried unsuccessfully to push Ashley out of his head. When she left for lunch, he snuck over to her desk and left a couple of Hershey’s kisses above her keyboard. There was no one he could consult on these kinds of things. He was just winging it and hoping not to come off stalkery. And where was he going with this? One of these days she’d catch him. And then what? He wished he knew how she’d react to that kind of news.

Ashley was coming back with her usual sub sandwich when he walked out of the building. As was his norm, he’d packed his lunch. They usually staggered their break times so the department was never empty, but with his afternoon interview, Chase was taking an early lunch. She smiled when she spotted him.

“Hey, want to eat together?” he asked.

Her smile dimmed a little. “I would love to, but I ran into Allen, and he asked me to sit with him. She motioned over to where Allen, their old customer service buddy, was waiting for her under a tree. “You can come along.”

He would totally not be coming along. Not as an afterthought anyway. He gave her what he hoped was a convincing smile and went to find a spot out of sight of them. Allen? Really?

And then it occurred to him. She might think anyone here, including Allen, was her secret admirer. And that was all his fault. He wanted her to move on, to date again, just not with anyone else. Typical jealous male. But no amount of logic made him feel better about it.

Chapter 7

Two days in a row, Allen had somehow managed to cross paths with her, and after buying her lunch yesterday, Ashley felt obligated to accept his invitation to sit with him today. Besides, if Allen was her secret admirer, she owed him a fighting chance, even if the fleeting disappointment on Chase’s face just about killed her. It would’ve been nice to sit with Chase at lunch for once.

“Pizza day?” She looked down at Allen’s personal pan pizza box and sat next to him on the cement bench, unwrapping her sub sandwich.

“Can’t be healthy every day. It’s not good for morale.” Allen grinned and took a bite, leaving a string of cheese stretching across from the slice to his mouth. He turned away, probably so he could quickly scarf it down without her seeing. It made her laugh.

“Don’t hide it from me. I know eating pizza is messy business.”

“Want some?” He opened the box and offered her a slice. But she wouldn’t be able to finish her sub if she ate that too, so she declined.

“Are you dieting or something?” he asked.

She shook her head and finished chewing. Didn’t he know girls hated that question? Asking a girl if she was on a diet was a good way to get a carrot shoved in the ear. It was right up there with asking a girl if she was on her period.

They ate in silence for another minute until Allen brought up their favorite mutual subject, customer service stories. And he had plenty. He told her about the trainee who promised a woman she wouldn’t have to pay her premium because the bill got lost in the mail. As the supervisor, he had the fun privilege of correcting that assumption. And then there was the angry customer who had a heart attack while on the phone and called back a few hours later to chew them out from the emergency room.

It brought back memories both hilarious and stress-inducing, and she related her favorite—the time Chase peeked around his cubicle with a panicked expression. A teenage girl on the phone wanted him to promise he wouldn’t tell her parents about her car accident, but she still wanted to file the claim and have it covered.

“I told him to just tell her no,” Ashley said with a laugh, “but he couldn’t do it. He was totally afraid of her. I took the phone and did it for him. And I do have to say, she sounded like the type that would be the meanest and most popular girl in her high school. Super intimidating and passive-aggressive, like she wanted to be my buddy, but would stab me in the back if she didn’t get what she wanted.”

“Like Yolanda,” Allen said.

“Um, no.” What was with him today? “Yolanda’s not quite like that.”

“We’ll just have to agree to disagree on that one.”

Part of her wanted to know what he had against Yolanda, but it was better not to ask. She wrapped up her sandwich and smiled. “I need to get back.”

“Oh, okay. We should do this again sometime. Maybe we could go out somewhere, like that café around the corner? As soon as I get my new car we should do that.”

She opened her mouth, trying to think of a way out of this. Did he mean during their lunch break again or was this new invitation a date thing?

“My car wouldn’t start on Tuesday, and I had to have it towed to a shop. I hate having to use a personal day for something like that. I’ve loved not having a car payment, but it’s time to get something nicer and stop dumping money into my old car. I’m thinking I might get a Jeep Wrangler this time. I’ve always wanted one.”

She nodded, trying to concentrate on what he was saying, but all her mind held onto was the knowledge that Allen couldn’t be her secret admirer if he wasn’t here on Tuesday. That was the day her bracelet returned to her, the day someone left a flower on her desk. Relief flooded in. Allen was nice, but not for her. She left without having to give him an answer about another lunch date, grateful his nervous talking had come in handy.

***

“So, how is Allen doing?” Chase asked as they were walking to their cars after work. He tried to sound as non-jealous as possible.

“Plugging away in customer service. Sometimes I wish I’d taken a supervisor job instead of moving over to typesetting.”

Chase tugged at his collar. “Did they offer you that? What’s the pay like?”

“Typesetting definitely pays better. Oh well.”

And now it was a curse. Their higher salaries left them with nowhere to go but down.

Ashley reached her car, giving him a wistful smile. “See you tomorrow, Chase.”

He headed to his car a few rows over and got in, bracing himself for the night ahead: homework, dinner, clean up, job searching. He was supposed to be at his interview right now, but they’d called him a few hours ago and told him not to come in, that they’d already found someone.

He turned the key in the ignition but only got a clicking sound. Just great. Ashley was backing out of her spot, and he got out and waved at her before she left. She pulled to the side and lowered her window.

“Car trouble?”

“Dead battery, I think. Do you mind coming over here in case I need a jump?”

He popped the hood and checked inside, knowing it’d been too long since he’d looked at anything in his car. He expected to see corrosion but the battery connections looked okay.

Ashley pulled in next to him and popped her hood. She got out and watched him connect his jumper cables from his car to hers. Man, he hoped this worked. His dad had been able to fix anything on a car, but Chase hadn’t been interested in learning until it was too late. Beyond changing a tire or battery, he was clueless.

His car turned over, teasing him with almost starting, but immediately died again. He tried again and the same thing happened.

“What do you think it is?” Ashley leaned in, resting her arms across his window casing. Her brown eyes were so beautiful. He got lost in them for a few seconds before registering what she’d said.

“Probably the alternator.”

She pulled out her phone and made a call, her eyes never leaving his. “Hey, Paige. Could you or that handy husband of yours come to my work and tow a sedan to a mechanic’s shop for me? My friend’s car won’t start.”

“What?” He waved her off but she only backed up and ignored him.

“Yeah, you can tell Shaun I called him handy. Make sure to add annoying and vain.” She hung up and smiled. “My sister is calling her husband right now. She’s fairly handy herself, but she’s not as familiar with towing a car.”

He should have let her go and figured this out on his own. Of course, it wouldn’t be as simple as a dead battery. He didn’t want her feeling obligated to wait with him. “Ashley, you didn’t have to do that. I’m sure you have places to be.”

She shrugged. “Not really. Though I bet you do. Do you need to call home so your family doesn’t worry?”

“They’ll be fine.” Beth didn’t expect him home for another hour or two because of the job interview. But he couldn’t tell Ashley that, and talking about his home life had always been uncomfortable anyway. People either hailed him as some kind of hero or oozed pity, asking personal questions he didn’t want to answer. He’d avoided it long enough with Ashley that he didn’t know how to start telling her about it now.

Ashley’s phone buzzed and she checked it. “Shaun’s on his way. It’ll be about a half-hour.”

“Your brother-in-law?” he asked, getting out. If they were going to be waiting, it didn’t make sense to leave her standing outside his car while he sat here.

“Yep. He’s super annoying, but he’s good to my sister.”

“And to you, apparently—since he’s on his way here.”

Ashley studied her nails. “Yeah. He definitely will come to a girl’s rescue. He’s the one who helped me give Reid the heave-ho.”

“Oh, wow.”

The parking lot was next to a medical complex with grass and trees and a few benches, so they walked together to an available bench, taking it back from the birds who were fighting over an empty chip bag.

Chase brushed off the chip crumbs and threw the wrapper in the trash.

“Why, thank you.” Ashley sat down and began digging through her purse, obviously not finding whatever she was looking for.

“What is it?”

“I need gum.” She pulled out a wad of receipts and crumpled them up before throwing them in the nearby trash. “I hate this purse. It’s like Mary Poppins’ carpet bag. You could hide an anchor in here.”

“Except Mary Poppins would be able to locate the gum under the anchor, wouldn’t she?”

He expected the whack she gave him.

“I’m surprised you got the reference, Chase.”

He reached down and pulled a pack of gum from his backpack, offering her a piece.

She looked at it and shook her head. “No, thank you. I hate cinnamon gum.”

He dug back into his backpack and found a pack of mint and half a pack of bubble gum. “Either of these work?”

She took a piece of mint and looked him over curiously. “Thank you, candy man.”

“The bubble gum is my little brother’s favorite. I chew cinnamon gum because it’s what my dad gave us as kids. Gabby likes mint.” All this random information wouldn’t feel as weird coming out of his mouth if she knew anything about his family. “Gabby also happens to like Mary Poppins. She watched it almost every day when she was five. It was the year our parents died. I would have let her watch The Matrix on repeat if that’s what she wanted.” He looked down at his hands.

Ashley leaned over and bumped his shoulder. “I bet Gabby loves you very much.”

He shrugged. Gabby did love him, but it made him feel guilty, thinking about how he wished she’d gotten the normal, blissful childhood he had. Somehow, a conversation on gum had gone off the rails and turned into something a lot more serious than he’d intended.

Ashley tapped the bench between them. “So, I hear you’re single now.” There was hesitant teasing in her voice. She likely thought it was a safer topic.

“Yes, I’m definitely single.”

“You two dated for quite a while.”

As much as he was tempted to lie again, he didn’t want this stupid mistake between them anymore. Lying to Flynn was no big deal, but not to Ashley, not anymore. It had been too easy to keep the lie going in the beginning. He rarely talked about his personal life anyway, so there was no need to come up with bogus details about her. He wouldn’t start now.

“I don’t have a girlfriend.”

“I know.”

He tensed. Here came the hard part. “I made her up.”

“What?” Ashley instinctively drew back from him, and he reached out to her. “Hold on and hear me out.”

She nodded, still looking confused. “Why would you make her up?”

“Ashley, you were … fragile … after the whole thing with Reid. I wanted to seem non-threatening to you when we were walking together every night. So you didn’t worry I’d one day start acting like our friendship was something more.”

He was such a liar. He’d just traded one lie for another. But telling her the whole truth, that he’d made up a girlfriend because he was in love with her was not about to come out of his mouth. And in a way, what he’d said was true. He hadn’t wanted her to one day pull away from him when she figured out how bad he had it for her. She wouldn’t see his hopeless crush if she thought he had a girlfriend.

She bit her lip, her forehead wrinkling as she thought over what he’d said. “I guess I can understand that.” Her shoulders dropped, and she came in for a platonic hug, her hands patting him softly on the back before she quickly retreated, looking kind of sad. “Thanks for always watching out for me.”

As if on cue, her phone buzzed and she looked across to the AutoBest parking lot. “Shaun’s here. Let’s go.”

She stood and started walking back to his car without him. He easily caught up to her, but he could tell he’d upset her. And he hated that.

Chapter 8

She’d been initially excited at the thought of Chase and Shaun meeting. Shaun was a good judge of character, and she wanted his opinion on Chase. But that was before Chase’s confession, when she thought she knew him. Now she just wanted to go home and have a good cry. Chase had lied to her. The one person she thought she could trust at work. Had Chase really invented a fake girlfriend and kept up the charade for over a year, just so she wouldn’t mistake his protection for interest? Poor, fragile Ashley had to be handled, kept at arms-length. He’d said it in the kind, caring way he always did. But she could read between the lines. He didn’t want her getting the wrong idea about the two of them.

She felt ridiculous, tainted even, like she could never deserve someone as good and honorable as Chase. He only wanted to be friends. How ironic to find this out just as her feelings about him were starting to change. It was hard to think rationally about the whole thing when it was all she could do to keep the lump in her throat from choking her.

She practically jogged up to Shaun. “Thank you for coming.”

Shaun gave her a strange look, like he could tell something was off, but he turned his attention to Chase coming up behind her. “Do you mind if I listen to what it sounds like when you try to start it?”

Ashley let the two of them attempt to get Chase’s car started and went to sit on the nearby retaining wall. She needed to get a handle on her emotions and think rationally. Chase had been sneaking worried glances at her every few seconds, and all she’d done was ignore him and frown. It must have taken a lot of courage to confess something like that.

She thought back to his panicked reaction when she’d first brought up his girlfriend to Flynn. And no wonder. How would it feel to have to keep lying about your personal life to everyone in your office?

It still hurt. She still felt like her trust had been violated, but maybe she was unnecessarily torturing someone who had always been a good friend and had only been trying to help.

“Ash, we need you.” Shaun put her in Chase’s officially dead car to steer, and the two guys pushed it onto Shaun’s flatbed trailer.

“Where are we taking this?” Shaun asked.

Chase pulled out his phone and found the address to the mechanic shop he’d picked.

“Are you going home, Ash, or…” Shaun looked between the two of them again.

Ashley gave Chase a small smile. “I’ll come along so Chase has a ride home. That way you can get back to work, Shaun.”

“Okay, then.”

Shaun and Chase jumped in Shaun’s truck, and Ashley followed behind, hoping this whole thing wasn’t too awkward for either of them.

***

“How do you know Ashley?”

Chase shifted in his seat. “We work in the same department, and we’ve become friends. I had no idea she was going to call you. I just asked her for a jump, but when that didn’t work, she kinda took charge.”

Shaun smiled. “Ashley is a take-charge kind of girl. So is her sister.” His fingers drummed on the steering wheel, and he glanced at Chase, scrutinizing. Chase had a feeling he was about to be asked something he wouldn’t want to answer.

“She looked a little upset with you when I drove up. Was everything okay?”

How much should he tell? The longer Chase waited to answer, the more awkward it became. “After she broke up with Reid, I started walking her out to her car after work. Still do. Today, I had to admit something to her that I’d lied about a long time ago. If that makes any sense.”

“Clear as mud. But that sounds like none of my business so I won’t ask you about it anymore.”

Chase let out a small sigh of relief. He checked the side mirror and saw Ashley following about a car length behind. She looked a lot happier now, her head bobbing up and down to whatever music she had playing in her car.

He pulled out his phone and texted Beth, letting her know he’d be a little late. No sense in worrying her until he knew what was wrong with the car.

“This the place?” Shaun asked, pointing to a shop up on the left.

“Yep. The reviews were good. I hope they don’t rip me off. Oh, and thank you for coming. I really appreciate it.”

Shaun pulled in and parked. He shut off his truck and turned to Chase. “Yeah, no problem. So, how long have you been in love with Ashley?”

Chase dropped his phone and barely caught it before it fell to the floor. “I thought you weren’t asking any more questions.”

“That long, huh?”

Ashley had mentioned Shaun was annoying. Now Chase knew what she meant. “You can’t say anything to her.”

“Why, because you’re dating someone else? You’re not married, are you?”

“No. To both of those.”

Ashley parked next to them and looked over, probably wondering why they hadn’t gotten out yet.

Shaun waved to her, and she gave a hesitant wave back. “Sorry to grill you. Ashley’s been through a lot so I’m a little protective of her.”

“How did you know?” Chase asked. First Flynn, and now this guy who had spent all of fifteen minutes with him.

“That you’re in love with Ashley? Easy. It’s the way you look at her.”

Chase rubbed a hand down his face. “Great. Now I can’t ever look at her again.”

“Girls are clueless about that kind of thing. And even if she knows, she’s still here. Trust me, if it was making her uncomfortable, she would’ve told you to stop walking her to her car.”

“She did tell me that. I did it anyway.”

Shaun laughed. “Good for you.”

***

Ashley was dying to know what conversation had kept them in the cab of the truck for so long, but as soon as they got out and dragged the car off the trailer, Shaun left. She was more comfortable weaseling information out of her brother-in-law than Chase, but Shaun didn’t even answer his phone when she tried him, and his voicemail was full. Maybe she was being paranoid. Knowing Shaun, they had just been caught up in talking about basketball or something.

The mechanic’s shop had a small waiting area with hard plastic chairs and a strong smell of engine grease. Ashley sat down inside and waited for Chase. She scrolled through her email until he came in a few minutes later and sat next to her, looking stressed.

“They won’t be able to work on it for a few more hours, and they said the soonest I’ll be able to get my car back is sometime tomorrow.” He rubbed his forehead, leaving black smudges right above his eyebrows.

Ashley bit back a grin. “Hold still.” She rubbed the two spots, though it only seemed to move the grease around. Her breath hitched as she stared into his beautiful blue eyes. She couldn’t let him know what she was feeling, the jumble of nerves that hit her just by touching him.

“Is this some kind of de-stress method you use? Like the stretching?” One side of his mouth quirked up, and she pulled her hands back.

“You transferred some grease from your hands to your head, smart aleck.”

She smiled as his smug expression turned to embarrassment. Chase retreated to the bathroom to wash his hands and face, and then they headed out to her car.

“I’m sorry, Ashley. I bet I’m totally out of your way.”

He got her door for her, and she turned to look at him. “If we ran into each other at the store the other day, you can’t be too far away from me.” And once they’d compared cross streets, she understood how true her statement was. Chase lived only three miles west of her. In a city as large as Phoenix, that was a strange coincidence.

The shop was on a busy street in the middle of rush hour, and it took some time just to merge into traffic. She waved to the lady who let her into the long line of cars waiting at the light. “So, I’ll pick you up in the morning, and then after work, we’ll drive here and get your car.”

Chase ran his now clean hands through his hair in frustration. “I’m going to be endlessly indebted to you after today.”

“You act like that’s a bad thing.” For her, it wasn’t. Feeling needed pushed away the insecurity trying to rear its ugly head inside of her. She liked that, just for today, Chase needed her as much as she’d needed him after Reid. “I’m really sorry about your car.”

He shrugged. “It’s just one of those things, but I wish I hadn’t roped you into this.”

She glanced at him before concentrating on the stop-and-go traffic. “Yes, being stranded back at the office would be much better.”

“Don’t pester me with your logic. I’m busy wallowing in self-pity.” But he was smiling.

“Chase, thank you for being my friend.”

He looked over, the lines above his forehead wrinkling a little. He’d managed to clean off most of the smudge, but there were still traces of it left. “There’s no one else I’d rather be stranded with, Ash.”

***

Beth texted as they were pulling onto Chase’s street.

Beth: Pls come home. I’m sick.

Oh no. What did that mean?

He showed Ashley which house was his and jumped out as soon as she pulled to the curb. “Thank you. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She leaned over. “What’s wrong?”

“Probably nothing.” He rushed up to the front door, but looked back, just in time to see Ashley shut her car off and get out.

“Ash, I’ll be fine.”

Her shoulders dropped. “I’m sorry. If you want me to go, I’ll go.” She shifted in place, looking uncertain as to what she should do.

Instinct told him to get her to leave so he could handle things on his own, but he had to stop doing that. This was Ashley. Regardless of what was behind that door, was it worth shutting her out again? She hadn’t even mentioned his stupid girlfriend lie or questioned him on the absurdity of it.

“Come on.” He held out his hand, and she rushed forward to grip it. He hoped she wouldn’t run away screaming after tonight.

He unlocked the door and looked around inside. “Beth?”

“She’s back here,” Gabby called. “Her side hurts. She wouldn’t let me call 9-1-1.”

Chase followed her voice down the hall to the bathroom, where Beth was sitting hunched over on the floor. “Bethy, are you okay?”

“No, genius,” she huffed out. “I feel like someone’s repeatedly punching me in the kidney.”

“Where’s Tyler?”

Gabby took Chase’s hand, looking scared. “I sent him next door to Mike’s house. Will Beth be okay?”

“She’ll be fine.” He patted Gabby’s hand, and then let go so he could lean down and gather up Beth. She cried out in pain when he touched her side. “Let’s head to the E.R. and figure this out. It could be your appendix, or kidney stones, or … um … do you think it’s a period thing?”

Beth gave him a feeble whack in the arm. “I’m glad you’re here, but shut up.”

Ashley was waiting for them in the living room, and he felt Beth shift in his arms when she saw her.

“Who are you?” Gabby asked.

Like a doofus, he’d left her standing there. “This is my friend from work. Gabby and Beth, this is Ashley.”

“Can we skip the … introductions?” Beth’s hand suddenly gripped his arm so hard he thought he might drop her. She whimpered in pain.

Ashley got the front door and held it open. Chase eased Beth through before realizing he didn’t have his car out front. “Beth, where are your keys?”

“I’ll drive,” Ashley volunteered. She rushed to her car and opened the back door for them.

Chase turned to Gabby. “Why don’t you go to Mike’s house too? I’ll text his mom on the way to the hospital.”

She looked like she wanted to protest, but ran to the neighbors’ house anyway. Chase put Beth in the backseat and then ran around to get in on the other side. His debt to Ashley had just increased exponentially.

***

Chase’s little sister was a feisty thing. She didn’t want the I.V. they put in, but thankfully the nurse was meaner than Beth and told her she could choose between feeling a small pinch from the needle or sticking with the continuous pain, because the I.V. was the only way Beth would be getting any pain medicine. After that, Beth held still and within minutes it was obvious the meds had made their way through her system. She relaxed back on the bed and gripped Chase’s hand. Her smudged eyeliner and limp hair made her look like she’d partied a little too hard or something. For Chase’s sake, Ashley hoped this wasn’t about overindulging in anything. The two obviously had a close bond.

“I’m sorry I’m such a butthead, Chase.”

“It’s okay. Just feel better.”

Beth’s head lolled to the side as she peered at Ashley. “I’m usually nicer, I promise.” Ashley tried not to squirm as Beth studied her. “Did I ruin your plans? You two weren’t like on a date or anything were you?”

“We’re just friends, Beth.” Chase answered with a little more vehemence than Ashley would have preferred. It stung a little, as if the idea of the two of them on a date was that ridiculous. “Ashley gave me a ride home because my car wouldn’t start.”

“Oh no, where’s your car?”

“At a repair shop.”

A nurse came in and checked on Beth. “You ready to give us a urine sample now that you’ve gotten some fluids in you? I’ll help you get to the toilet.”

Chase blanched. “I should probably wait out front.”

Beth sat up slowly. “Just stay here, Chase. I’ll try not to scar you for life.” She hobbled off with the nurse to the small bathroom nearby, and Chase collapsed in the chair by the bed and put his head in his hands. “I hate medical stuff. I just want her to be okay.”

Ashley hesitantly patted his arm. “She’ll be fine. Don’t worry about this. Who knows? It could end up being a wicked case of gas.”

Chase chuckled. “Don’t let her hear you say that. She’ll give you one of her death stares.”

“They already ruled out appendicitis. That’s good.”

“Yep.” He looked over and gave her a small smile. “Thanks for being here.” He covered her hand with his, and she shifted to let him take it fully. She loved the warmth of his hand, the feel of his fingertips with hers. If only it wasn’t a friendly gesture. But she needed to be content with his friendship. She should be grateful that’s all he wanted. After all, she wasn’t ready for another relationship, was she?

Beth came back in with the nurse, and Chase and Ashley mutually released each other’s hands before his sister could see.

The nurse helped her back into the bed. “The doctor will confirm it, but this girl most likely has kidney stones. Unless they’re really big, we’ll send her home to let nature take its course. Lots of fluids, lots of rest. Hang out here until we have time to do an ultrasound and look at them.”

“Have you checked in with Gabby and Tyler?” Beth asked. “It sounds like we’ll be here for a while.”

Chase nodded. “Mike’s mom texted. She said she’s fine with keeping them as long as we need.”

“That’s good.” Beth sat up suddenly. “Oh, Chase. Did you miss your job interview?”

The panicked expression that overtook Chase spoke volumes, and it carried over to Beth, who quickly glanced at Ashley and put her hand over her mouth.

It wouldn’t have felt like such a punch to the gut if they both didn’t make it out to be some huge secret. Why wouldn’t Chase ever confide in her? Ashley felt like he knew everything about her, and yet, until tonight, she’d known next to nothing about him. Everything he revealed had to be practically dragged out of him.

So he was thinking of leaving AutoBest. Why?

Chapter 9

They finally released Beth from the E.R. at ten, and the three of them drove back to the house, exhausted.

Ashley wouldn’t look at him, which was awkward, because Beth couldn’t stop looking between the two of them, trying to read their mood.

“Sorry, Chase,” Beth whispered as he was helping her up the walkway.

“It’s fine.” He wouldn’t scold her for revealing something he shouldn’t have kept a secret in the first place.

He wanted to talk to Ashley, about everything. But he had Beth to take care of, and Gabby and Tyler to pick up and put to bed.

Ashley gave him a quick hug, said she’d pick him up in the morning, and left. She never asked once what the job interview was for or why.

Even though he was exhausted when he finally got into bed, his thoughts pushed away any chance of easily drifting off to sleep. What was he going to tell Ashley? Everything? Or another partial truth, that yes, he had an interview, but it was just a job opportunity that had come up. If he didn’t tell her the truth now, she would continue to plug away at a job that would disappear in a few weeks, and then she’d hate him when she found out what he’d been holding back.

Beth slept in, and Chase reluctantly got up and got the kids ready, taking them to the neighbors’ a few minutes before Ashley was supposed to arrive. Mike’s mom had offered to take Gabby and Tyler to school. Yet another person he was relying on today.

He ran out to Ashley’s car when she pulled up and got in, the scent of her hair making him want to lean over and breathe her in.

“How is Beth?” she asked.

“Still asleep. I told her last night to call me today if things get too bad. I hate that she’ll be home alone, but our neighbor, the one that took Gabby and Tyler last night, promised to check on her and make sure she’s taking her pain medicine okay and drinking lots of water.”

“I guess there’s nothing else to be done until the kidney stones pass through.”

“Yep.” Everything inside of him screamed to just get the confession over with, to tell her the truth about work. And not just because he absolutely did not want to talk about kidney stones anymore. “Ashley, there’s something I have to tell you.”

She raised an eyebrow, not really looking surprised as much as wary.

“You have to promise you won’t tell anyone, and especially, don’t tell anyone you heard it from me.”

“Okay, now you’ve lost me.” She gave a small smile, her hands restless on the steering wheel.

“Our department is being downsized.”

The traffic ahead was slowing to a crawl, and she slammed on her brakes with a little more force than necessary. “Are you sure?”

“Unfortunately.”

She probably had a million questions—most of which he couldn’t answer—but she didn’t say anything, though the tension rolling off of her was saying plenty. They just sat there in silence, stuck in the stupid carpool lane that wasn’t doing them any good because of an accident blocking the road ahead.

“I’m sorry, Ashley.”

“You’re sorry? How long have you known, Chase?” The look she pinned him with stabbed him through the heart.

“Just since Monday.”

“And on Monday, how long did Mr. Davidson tell you we had left? Don’t look all shocked. I know you’re his favorite. It’s not hard to figure out how you know about this.”

Chase put his head back against the headrest. “He said about three weeks.”

“And now we have two.” She shook her head back and forth, her jaw tight. “If Mr. Davidson told me and swore me to secrecy, I still would have told you.”

And she was right. She probably would have. No wonder she was mad. How could he make her understand? “Mr. Davidson was worried about my … family situation.”

***

His family situation. Of course, his family had to come first. But somehow, that didn’t make Ashley feel any better. She and Chase were work friends, but the loyalty stopped there. Even with the run-in at the department store and everything they’d been through last night, the lines between coworker and friend hadn’t quite blurred.

If it hadn’t been for Beth’s slip up, would Chase really have let her walk into work one day, just to be told she was fired? He was looking for a new job while she watered the plants. Dang, she should have known this stupid promotion was too good to be true.

She could go back to customer service, become a supervisor, but this whole thing made her want to cut ties with AutoBest completely.

Her hands itched to find her phone and text Lina. Not just because Lina deserved to know her roommate was about to be unemployed, but because Lina would let her get as mad as she wanted, and then help her get over it and laugh again. That would have to wait since she was currently driving her non-friend to work, and she’d promised not to text and drive. Calling Lina would be a little awkward with Chase listening in. She turned on the radio to drown out the tense quiet that had crept up between them.

Traffic finally began to move, and she concentrated on her driving and the perky morning hosts on the radio. Pulling into her parking spot had never been such a relief.

Chase looked horribly uncomfortable. “Please don’t say anything. I need Mr. Davidson as a reference.”

“Well, now, so do I. Don’t worry, I’ll act like nothing’s wrong.” It was easier said than done. She scrubbed a hand down her face, probably messing up her makeup, and took a deep breath. If she was mad at Chase for keeping it from her, she couldn’t prove him right by blowing it right after he told her.

He hopped out and went around to get her door, which only wound her feelings tighter. Trust was important to her. A small weakening in her resolve to stay away from relationships, and this was the result. More evidence that she was so easily duped by men.

She murmured thanks as she got out and hightailed it into the building, waving her key fob behind her and listening for her car alarm to beep. She needed some distance from Chase before she said something she’d regret.

***

Despite his warning to her to act normal, he was the one staring at his computer screen, all the words running together. He couldn’t concentrate on anything. He was used to feeling unprepared for things life threw at him, like instant parenthood and an instant career to go along with it. But nothing had ever made him feel as inadequate as his messed-up relationship with Ashley. She wouldn’t look at him. She wouldn’t talk to him.

The little potted plant he’d managed to sneak onto her desk now seemed like an ill-timed gift. She didn’t need more things to pack up when she left here. But since he’d snuck it in his backpack, it had to go somewhere. He didn’t have the heart to throw it out. At least now it was recovering nicely on the corner of her desk. She’d watered it, though she still looked stressed and seriously ticked off.

He’d bought the thing because it made him think of her. Did it make her suspect it was from him? At the moment, he hoped not.

His hunch that she would be disappointed in finding out he was her secret admirer had now gone up to one-hundred percent surety. Maybe he’d never tell her. Maybe they were better off going their separate ways after the layoffs.

Flynn chucked a crumpled up paper at Chase’s head. Chase didn’t even flinch when it hit. Flynn was like a tiny speck on his already miserable day.

“Dude, wake up. You stay up late partying or something?”

Chase ignored him and reread the last paragraph he’d written. Garbage. Utter garbage. If he didn’t finish this article … yeah, no one would care. He had to find another job and somehow forget about Ashley. His stomach clenched.

“Chase, can I see you in my office?” Mr. Davidson called out.

Just perfect. Chase rubbed the back of his neck and closed the file he was working on. Mr. Davidson didn’t look mad, but Chase was nervous all the same. What now? He glanced at Ashley, but she was still purposely ignoring him.

Mr. Davidson closed the door behind them and motioned for Chase to sit. “I have good news. I got permission to keep an assistant, and I’d like it to be you. Same pay.”

He’d be insane not to take it, but all Chase could think about was how much more Ashley was going to loathe him. Mr. Davidson was staring at him so Chase quickly responded with, “Thank you, sir. I’m honored.”

Mr. Davidson launched into the details, and Chase tried to pay attention, to not fidget. They’d be moving floors. He’d be writing a lot more memos and instruction sheets, and a lot fewer articles. His head began to throb. It was a relief when Mr. Davidson let him go. He could stop pretending to be excited about this.

He took his lunch break and sat outside, nibbling on crackers and nursing a headache ibuprofen couldn’t begin to touch. He tried to eat the sandwich he’d packed, but then an excited Beth sent him pictures of the kidney stones she’d finally passed, and he gave up and went back to work.

***

“What a cute little plant. Did you bring that from home?” Yolanda dropped a file on Ashley’s desk and leaned over, rubbing her fingers against the fuzzy leaves.

“Yep,” Ashley lied. “I needed something to cheer me up today.”

“What’s the matter?” Yolanda pulled up a chair, looking sympathetic.

Ashley slumped in her seat. She needed a friend right now, but forgetting how much Yolanda enjoyed gossip would be a huge mistake.

“Nothing I can talk about right now. But thanks.”

Yolanda raised a perfectly drawn in eyebrow. “Well, if you need a listening ear, I’m here.”

“Thanks, gal.”

Chase was coming back from lunch, and Ashley sighed, noticing his slumped shoulders, as if he carried the weight of the world. She wasn’t ready to forgive him yet, considering she’d be dusting off her resume tonight and scouring the internet for job openings, but that didn’t mean she liked seeing him so unhappy.

She adjusted the little fern, pulling it closer so fewer people were tempted to touch it on their way past her desk. Was her secret admirer getting fired too? She’d likely never get a chance to find out who it was. Maybe it was time to be a little more proactive in finding out his identity.

The choppy block lettering on the notes was an obvious attempt to disguise handwriting, and she was no handwriting expert. What else could she use to figure it out?

She went to lunch, purposely leaving her phone in her drawer so she could suddenly return a few minutes later and retrieve it. But when she came back, nobody even looked up from their desks and no one was lurking near hers. As if it would be that easy.

She found a quiet spot outside where she could call Lina without being overheard.

“Lina? Can you talk right now?”

“Oh, no. What is it, Ash?”

Ashley let out a long breath. “So, I’m about to lose my job.”

“No! I’m so sorry. You’ve been there such a long time. Why?”

“They’re eliminating my department.”

Lina was appropriately upset on Ashley’s behalf, but then she got quiet. “What else, Ash?”

“What do you mean?”

“Something else is bothering you, isn’t it?”

Ashley swallowed against the hard knot in her throat. “Yeah. I wasn’t totally honest with myself, or you, when I said I wasn’t ready for a relationship. The friend from work … I’m starting to think of him as more than a friend, but it’s such a hopeless cause. He has kids, well, sort of, and he lied to me about having a girlfriend, and he knew about the layoffs and didn’t tell me, and basically, I should hate him right now.”

“But you don’t.”

“No.” Hate would be easier than the mixed up feelings inside of her. “Oh, and I have a secret admirer.”

Lina laughed. “I think we better have a long talk tonight. You’ve been holding out.”

“Don’t you have a date tonight?” Ashley remembered Lina gushing about the new guy from the tire shop earlier in the week.

Lina sighed. “He called and canceled, didn’t say why, but I think he’s back together with his on-again, off-again girlfriend.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m not. I don’t want to be a temporary rebound for him anyway. So, back to you. Should I tell Paige to come over tonight too?”

“Yeah, better make a girls’ night of it. I’ll tell you both everything then.”

Chapter 10

Chase clocked out, prepared to call a cab to take him to the repair shop. He didn’t want to approach Ashley’s desk and find out if she still planned to give him a ride there. Based on the silence today, he figured the answer would be a big, fat no.

He stole one last glance back at her desk, and she locked eyes with him, grabbing her purse and turning off her computer.

She jogged to catch up with him. “Yes, I’m still taking you.”

He almost apologized again, but the way she said it made him a little irritated. “This is the first time you’ve talked to me since this morning. I wasn’t sure if you still wanted to.”

She scuffed her shoe against the ugly linoleum, looking a little ashamed. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

“I’m sorry, too.”

They fell in step together and headed out to the parking lot.

“So, onto the job search,” Ashley said.

Chase sighed. “About that…” He didn’t need another secret to keep from her. “Mr. Davidson offered me an assistant position today.”

Ashley stopped walking and turned to look at him. “Of course he did. Good for you.”

Chase searched her face, looking for the frustration and anger she must surely feel. But she’d hidden it well.

“It’s okay to be mad about it, Ashley.”

She stared at him, shaking her head. “I’m not mad you still have a job. You have three kids to take care of. Doctor’s and dentist’s bills and all that. Oh, how’s Beth?”

He smiled. “Much better. She’s been updating me all day. I’ve always wished she would open up to me more, but not as a medical over-sharer. There’s so much I don’t want to know about.”

“A medical over-sharer?” She laughed. “I’m pretty sure you don’t want to know about any of it.”

“I really don’t. I don’t even like putting Band-Aids on myself.”

“You poor thing.”

“Would you like to see the pictures of Beth’s kidney stones? She sent them at lunchtime.”

Ashley shook her head. “No, thank you.”

“Come on, it’s only medical stuff.” He opened his photos and brought the phone up for her to see, their arms brushing as she tried to block him. “What’s the matter, Ash? Now who’s squeamish?”

“At least I put my own Band-Aids on.”

She pushed his phone back against his chest, the breath from her laughter tickling his chin. Had they ever stood this close before? Their eyes met, and the laughter died out. His eyes flitted to her lips.

She took a step back and dug her keys out of her purse. “We should go get your car before the shop closes.”

“Right.” With a little disappointment, he walked to the passenger side of Ashley’s car.

Ashley unlocked it and stared at him over the top of the car. “I’m still mad at you, Chase.”

After they both got in, he waited for her to continue but she stared out the windshield, her hand with the keys hovering in front of the ignition. He leaned toward her until she turned to look at him.

“Whatever it is, just say it, Ash. It’s got to be better than not speaking to each other.”

She nodded and took a deep breath. “You’re mysterious, but not in a good way.”

Chase scratched the back of his neck, not sure how to take that.

“Never mind.”

Uh, no. There was no way they were ignoring that. “Ashley.” He touched her hand resting on the console and suddenly tears threatened to fall from her gorgeous brown eyes. Shoot, he’d made her cry.

She shook her head and pulled her hand away, starting up the car and concentrating on watching her mirrors while she backed out.

“Is there a good way to be mysterious?” he asked.

***

Ashley received the good kind of mysterious on a daily basis, like the cute fern on her desk. She wasn’t ready to bring it home yet, even though her time at AutoBest was limited. Someone else must have noticed her watering the plants. Every little gift from her secret admirer was a good kind of mysterious, but that had nothing to do with Chase.

She’d only meant to warn him off. There he went, being charming like this morning hadn’t happened and they were good friends again. But it had happened. She was mad at him for being untrustworthy, for treating her like a coworker more than a friend. And he needed to know that before they could joke and tease again. Unfortunately, the tears had hijacked the situation.

She wouldn’t say anything else until she got her stupid tear ducts under control. She would not cry in front of him. Crying was only for Lina and Paige to see on rare occasions. Maybe a subject change would help. She took a deep breath. “Did they say if your car is ready?”

“It’s ready.”

“And how much is the damage?” she asked.

“More than I hoped.” He was watching her, and the knowledge wasn’t helping her feel normal again.

“So, the position with Mr. Davidson, is it a bump up in pay?” She waved a car into traffic, waiting for them to pull out before moving forward in the line of cars.

“I doubt it.”

“You didn’t ask?”

“He might have said. I was a little too stressed out to focus on much of what Mr. Davidson told me.”

“Why were you stressed?” She turned to meet his stare.

“Because you were unhappy, and I was the cause.”

The car suddenly felt smaller. She turned to look at the road, not wanting him to see how his words affected her.

“Tell me about my bad mysterious side.”

“Shut up, Chase.”

“No, really.” His playful grin had her fighting a blush. It was a side of him she loved but didn’t get to see very often at work. With Flynn being an idiot all the time, someone had to be serious.

“You keep things to yourself, that’s all. Like the fact that we’re all going to be fired. Or that I didn’t even know Beth’s name until yesterday.”

He shifted in his seat. “I do keep things to myself. Survival instinct, I guess. Before you, I never had a reason to change that.”

Before you. She would not read into it. He was referring to their friendship. That was all. But she could understand a survival instinct. It was the reason she was so skittish about the thought of dating again.

They were both quiet the rest of the ride. She let out a small sigh of relief when they reached the repair shop. That was enough deep talk for one conversation. If there was anything she’d learned from all her failed relationships, it was that men didn’t like to talk about the relationship. If you had to talk about it, there was obviously something wrong with it.

Chase went inside to collect his car keys and pay the bill. Ashley checked her phone and saw a message from her sister.

Paige: What’s going on? Lina called me.

Ashley: You coming over tonight?

Paige: Yes. Shaun says he is formally protesting not getting an invite to girls’ night.

Ashley rolled her eyes. Like he wouldn’t hear about it all from Paige later anyway.

Chase came outside, jingling his keys. “I’m all set. Thank you for bringing me. I owe you big time.” His shoe scuffed the ground. “Could I buy you dinner sometime? What about Monday after work?”

From the nervous way he was asking, it almost sounded like he was asking her on a date.

“What about Beth?”

“If she’s not feeling up to watching the kids, you could come over and watch a movie with us. We could order pizza. But if you have plans already or don’t want—”

“It sounds nice.” She leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. Friends could do that. But she bolted before she could see his reaction and left in her car.

***

With his car back, his job back, and his sister’s health back, Chase was breathing easier on the drive home. The only thing worrying him was Ashley. You keep things to yourself. An accurate accusation. But was it always such a bad thing? Was it wrong to continue to keep his gigantic crush from her? He still felt like he was doing her a favor, leaving off the pressure to reciprocate where she clearly didn’t feel it.

He rubbed the spot on his cheek where she’d left a quick kiss. Yes, she valued their friendship, but if something was going to happen, it would have happened by now. Dinner wouldn’t change that, even with his pretend girlfriend out of the way. He’d chickened out of asking her for a weekend night, afraid it would come off rude to assume she didn’t already have plans.

He pulled into the driveway and turned off the radio, letting the quiet seep in. He surely wouldn’t get any quiet again until late.

Sure enough, he stepped into the foyer and right into the middle of a football game. Mike was over, and he and Tyler were passing a foam football back and forth, climbing over furniture to make impossible catches. Chase hung his backpack on a wall hook and silently moved forward, tackling Tyler to the floor and wrestling the football away from him.

“Hey, no fair!”

“Gotta watch your defense, Tyler.” Chase tickled him, and the kid let out a fart that just about cleared the room.

Mike roared with laughter. “He shouldn’t have eaten that whole bag of chips after school.”

“Where are your sisters?” Chase asked. Tyler, still red-faced and laughing, pointed down the hall.

Chase looked around at all the dirty socks on the floor, the backpacks and shoes strewn about. “You two clean up this front room, okay? Mike, about ten more minutes and then it’s time to go home. Tyler has to clean up his room. Something’s starting to smell under the bed, and we need to find it.”

Tyler, in typical fashion, groaned and flopped back down on the floor, but Mike actually got up and started gathering his things. “Come on, Tyler. Get to work.”

Tyler threw a shoe at him.

Chase would continue that battle after he checked on Beth and Gabby.

Beth was in bed watching a movie, and Gabby was sitting in the desk chair next to her, a math assignment on her lap. Chase came over and glanced at it before Gabby pulled it away. She was about half a word problem in and had nine more to go.

He moved to turn off the TV, and they both immediately protested.

“Sorry, ladies. I need help making dinner, and Gabby has to get her math done.”

“I am getting it done!” Gabby glanced down at her sheet and frowned. “Kind of. And it’s the weekend. Can’t I do it tomorrow?”

Chase wouldn’t fall for that again. If she didn’t do it tonight, she’d be frantically finishing her homework on the way to school Monday.

“What about me?” Beth asked. “I’m still sick.” She dropped her head back on the pillow as if to demonstrate.

Chase sat on the edge of the bed. “How are you, really?”

“I’m sore. But I could help with dinner, I guess. What are we having?”

He patted her wrist. “Stay here. Just help me think of what to make. And don’t turn your TV back on until Gabby finishes her math.”

“Tacos?” Beth suggested hopefully.

“I was thinking more along the lines of microwaved burritos. But not that. We ate burritos last night.”

“Pancakes?”

Chase rubbed his face. “Someday we’ll eat better around here.”

“But today is not that day.” Beth smiled. “Don’t stress about stupid stuff like that. How’s your car?”

“The car is great.”

“And Ashley?”

He paused, not sure how to broach the subject of his kind-of date. “How do you think you’ll be feeling, say, Monday night?”

Beth propped herself up on her elbows. “Ooh, why?”

“It’s nothing. I wanted to take Ashley to dinner as a thank you for helping me with my car. But if you’re not up to getting Gabby and Tyler to bed and you need me here—”

“Go. I’ll take care of them,” Beth interrupted. “What kind of monster do you think I am? I’m not going to keep you from the first date you’ve had in years.”

“It hasn’t been that long.”

Beth grinned. “Oh, right. The divorced lady who used to live across the street asked you out last year. But then she turned all stalker on you. It was like divine intervention when she moved to Virginia.”

He didn’t want to think about the lonely neighbor lady or their disastrous date. “Never mind. This isn’t really a date, anyway. It’s two friends going to dinner.”

Beth stared him down. “What are you planning on wearing?”

Chapter 11

In honor of girls’ night, Lina had been cooking up a storm. She had thousand-calorie spinach dip with pita chips, fruit dip on a platter surrounded by strawberries, kiwi, and pineapple slices, and homemade salsa with tortilla chips. A party in honor of Ashley’s messed-up life. She felt both loved and depressed by it.

Paige came straight over from work and collapsed in a kitchen chair, helping herself to a little of everything. “I’m sorry about losing your job, Ash. That stinks. You’re one of the hardest working people I know.”

Lina put down a veggie tray in the remaining spot on the table and sat down. “I was just telling Ashley she should come work at my dentist office. We need another front office person.”

“I can’t come work with you.” Ashley had been dreading the job search, but she didn’t want Lina trying to personally take care of it.

“Why? Because it would be awesome?”

“I’m not experienced enough. What if it didn’t work out?” She had never expected the roommate thing to work out, and adding co-worker to their relationship might throw everything out of balance. Ashley didn’t need another part of her life falling apart right now.

Lina grinned. “You’d be ten times better than the girl you’d be replacing. She repeatedly messed up the schedule and then went in and messed up the other scheduler’s appointments to try to make it look like a computer glitch.”

“Is this supposed to make me want to take the job?”

“Yes. Because I trust you, and if I trust you, my boss will too. And I know if you make a mistake you’d tell her about it, not panic and sabotage.”

Paige reached for another strawberry. “I’m with Lina on this one. Ashley, you’d be great as front office staff. Plus, free teeth cleanings, right?”

Lina scrunched her nose. “Well, at a reduced rate anyway. But enough about the job search. I’ll secretly print out your resume and submit it later.”

“Lina!”

“Kidding. We can talk about job stuff tomorrow. I want to know about your work friend, who kind of has kids and lied about his girlfriend.”

Lina and her crazy memory skills. Ashley couldn’t remember exactly what she had or hadn’t told her, so she started by clearing up the ‘kind of’ comment. “His parents died when he was nineteen. He’s the guardian for his three younger siblings.”

“How young?” Paige asked.

“A little boy, about eight or nine, a girl about ten, and a teen.”

“Wow, that’s incredible.” Lina stood up to pull the cupcakes out of the oven. Yes, she’d made cupcakes for the pity party. “So, let me guess. He’s super tight-lipped about them. Like he has his work and his home life and they don’t cross.”

“How does she do that?” Ashley asked.

Paige just shrugged. “I’ve stopped questioning it. Why she ended up being a dental hygienist rather than a psychologist is beyond me.”

“Because I hate school. And I love teeth.” Lina flashed her own pearly whites and turned off the oven. “So, what’s the deal with his girlfriend? Oh, and what’s this guy’s name? I’m going to start calling him Buzz if you don’t give me something else.”

“Wait, this guy—I guess we’re calling him Buzz now—lied about having a girlfriend?” Paige looked back and forth between the two of them. “Why are we even talking about him then?”

“No, he told me he had a girlfriend when he really didn’t.”

“Oh, that’s kind of worse.” Paige made a face.

“No, it’s not.” Lina frowned at Paige. “Let’s hear her out. Buzz could have a good reason for it.”

Ashley put a hand to her forehead. “Can you please stop calling him Buzz? His name is Chase.”

Lina laughed. “Poor Chase. Maligned and misnamed. So how do you know his girlfriend isn’t real?”

“He mentioned her one night while he was walking me out to my car. Chase is the guy at work who watched out for me … after Reid. So, last week, it got around the office that he’d broken up with her, and I asked him about it. He admitted he’d invented a girlfriend because he wanted to come off as non-threatening to me. Like, so I wouldn’t worry he would someday misunderstand our friendship or want more from it.”

Their twin reactions were exactly what she expected. Awe mixed with pity.

“I know, I’m a pathetic mess, and it must have been all he could do to put up that girlfriend wall between us.”

“No!” Lina jumped to her feet and danced around the kitchen. “Don’t you understand? He told everyone he broke up with her. He was ready to take down the girlfriend wall!”

“I think I’m lost.” Paige put her head down on the table. “I was up at four this morning for a move. My brain hurts.”

“I’m lost too.” Ashley reached over and rubbed Paige’s head. “He’s never shown any indication that he wanted to be more than friends with me. What are you saying, Lina? That he does want more now?”

Lina’s expression went shrewd. “Do you want more, Ash?”

Ashley looked down at her plate. Yes, she wanted more. But she hated admitting it. “I just want to save our friendship.”

“That’s not what you said on the phone at lunch. You said your feelings toward him had changed.”

Ashley squirmed. “I don’t know anymore.”

“Well, it sounds to me like Chase just wanted to clear the air. It’s got to be hard to keep up a lie like that. Keep his friendship, but let’s find you someone who actually wants to date you.”

That was the most disappointing answer ever. Ashley didn’t want to find someone else. She suddenly wished she hadn’t eaten all that dip. “I think I need to go for a jog.”

Paige propped her head back up. “You hate jogging.”

“A walk then.” She ignored them and stumbled to her feet, looking around for her shoes. “I need some air.” She yanked the front door open to get away from their concerned whispers at the table, though she caught Lina’s louder voice saying, “You better vet this guy, Paige. Cause she’s flat-out in love with him, no matter what she says.”

Great, now they knew she was in love with her emotionally unavailable co-worker, who only saw her as a friend. Ashley made it to the sidewalk before they followed her out. Lina was in flip-flops and Paige barefoot. They eyed her like she might be a lost patient needing to be herded back into the mental ward. Well, they’d have to catch her first. She took off jogging down the street, a stitch immediately starting in her side. Dang them and their extra workouts. She could hear them padding up from behind. They caught up easily and jogged beside her.

“I’m sorry,” Lina said. “That wasn’t very nice of me. Of course, Chase is interested. Guys don’t do the friendship thing without an end game in sight. It’s just how they’re built. But I wanted to know how you truly felt about him, and I wasn’t patient enough to let you tell me when you were ready. So I said the opposite.”

“That’s evil, Lina.” Paige gave her friend a shove. “Can we turn around now? I think my toe is bleeding.”

Ashley stopped jogging and headed back to the apartment complex, taking long walking strides as her breathing slowed back to normal.

Paige hobbled alongside her, and she sat just inside the door to examine her toe.

“So, what about the secret admirer?” Lina asked.

Funny that it should become such an afterthought. Nothing like it had ever happened to her before. And yet, Ashley was starting to care less and less about it. Poor romantic anonymous guy. He was losing out to another coworker and didn’t even know it.

Ashley described the return of her bracelet and the flower left at her desk. She thought Paige would scoff, but she tilted her head and sighed. “That’s actually super sweet. What else has he given you?”

The strawberry pencil topper was in her purse, and she dug it out to show them. She had the yellow highlighter in there too, the word strip still attached.

Lina fingered the little strip of paper. “Oh, I get it. He ‘highlighted’ all your good qualities. Ash, I hate to say this, but you may need to forget about Chase and find this guy. Unless this is Chase too? Are you sure he isn’t your secret admirer?”

Now Ashley felt more torn than ever. What if Lina was right? What if this secret admirer was exactly who she’d been looking for? Yes, she would love for it to be Chase, but logic said it was not. “I’m pretty sure it’s not him. He’s got so much on his plate right now with his car repairs and his sister getting sick. Plus, it just doesn’t seem like something he’d do.”

“Three kids.” Paige tsked. “Is that something you think you could take on, Ash?”

Paige was going to be a constant worrier for the rest of Ashley’s life. She was sure of it. “Why don’t I see if I can get through one date with him first.”

“You have a date with Chase?” Lina’s eyes widened.

“Kind of. It’s Monday night.”

“Is everything ‘kind of’ with this guy?” Paige hopped over to the couch and sat down. “Though Shaun seems to like him.”

“What did Shaun say about him?”

“Nothing. Which for Shaun is weird. All he would tell me is that Chase’s car is a piece of junk, but he’s a nice guy.”

Both true. Both not helpful in figuring Chase out. Ashley sighed. “I guess I’ll see what Monday brings.”

***

Chase tried to catch Ashley’s expression as she approached her desk Monday morning and picked up the smooth worry stone he’d left for her. She seemed pleased but also conflicted. She looked around the room, and when her eyes reached him he smiled casually, a smile that said good morning, and nothing else.

Part of him wanted to tell her. To admit it was him. But he squashed that crazy idea and decided to wait and at least see how their non-date went tonight. He’d stick with his plan, even if it was a bad one.

The newsletter was almost ready for publication, and meeting that deadline also meant approaching the end of their department. They didn’t have two weeks left. They’d be lucky if they made it through the end of the week.

He saw it in Ashley’s face as she worked on the newsletter layout, moving things around and adding the advertisement pages where there was room. Gordon and Brian chatted at her desk as she worked, batting around ideas for future articles. She just smiled and nodded, occasionally glancing at Chase as if to ask for help. She couldn’t tell them, and it was killing her.

Mr. Davidson pulled Chase in his office for most of the afternoon to discuss assistant duties. Another sign the end was coming. His boss wasn’t trying to be secretive about it anymore.

“What’s with you and Mr. D?” Flynn asked as they were packing up at the end of the day.

Chase shrugged. “Just some memos about safety regulations and the medical insurance changes coming.” It was partly true.

Flynn waved him off before he could elaborate. “Medical insurance memos. Calm down there, Chase. Your exciting news is going to give me a heart attack.”

Ashley walked up, fiddling with the strap of her purse. “What exciting news?”

Flynn gave them both an appraising glance. “Oh, Chase was just telling me about the plans he has for you two tonight. Sounds romantic.”

“You told him about our date?” Ashley asked, her mouth dropping open.

Flynn bobbed on his toes, shoving his finger in Ashley’s face. “Oh, ho. Wow, I am amazing. I didn’t think that would work. What’s going on, Rocky? You finally couldn’t resist Chase’s boyish good looks?”

Chase steered her away before she could give an answer and make the situation worse. “You called it a date,” he hissed. “In front of Flynn.”

“So this is my fault?” She clicked on her name to sign herself out and then moved aside so he could do the same. “Sorry. From now on I’ll refer to it as our buddy dinner plans.” She turned around and hollered. “They’re buddy dinner plans, Flynn. Spread the word.”

“What are you doing?”

The few people staying late leaned around their desks and stared, and yet Ashley just stood there, grinning at Chase. “Who cares? We won’t be here in a couple days. Excuse me, I won’t be here. By the way, do you know who’s been leaving little gifts at my desk? Look at this worry stone.” She pulled the blue lapis stone out of her pocket and rubbed her thumb over it. “This is, by far, my favorite gift yet.”

Chase stared down at it as she dropped it in his hand, afraid to look at her. This was his moment. The stone felt heavy and cold against his skin. “That is a cool gift.”

Chapter 12

“Who are you hoping it’s from?” Chase asked, finally looking her in the eyes. His expression said he knew, but wasn’t sure he wanted to reveal who it was.

Ashley’s heart sunk a little. If he was protecting some other guy’s feelings, then he obviously didn’t have any of his own.

“No one in particular.” She stuck the worry stone back in her pocket and walked to the exit. She wanted to press him on it, but since they were going out, maybe it was better not to know right now.

“So, is Beth up for babysitting tonight?” she asked.

He nodded. “I just checked in with her. She said Tyler’s working on his homework now that she’s bribed him with candy, and she’s cooking a gourmet meal of frozen pizza and bagged salad.”

“What a good sister.”

Chase pulled his car keys out of his pocket. “Do you want to follow me to the restaurant?”

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“Is Carmelo’s okay?”

She put a hand out and stopped him from walking. “Carmelo’s? We don’t need to go somewhere that fancy.”

“So you’ve heard of it?” The sudden steel in his eyes said he wouldn’t back down easily. Men and their egos.

“My sister, Paige, went there once. It’s the place local celebrities go. Newscasters, and the mayor, and people like that. But I don’t care where we eat.”

“I made a reservation.”

“Those aren’t binding agreements, you know.”

“Ash, you know me. How often do I go out?”

She shook her head. “I don’t know.”

“Never. Every night I go home and microwave something for dinner and then arm wrestle my little brother into doing his homework and taking a shower. Let me take you somewhere nice, okay?”

“I’m not exactly dressed for it.” Chase was. She’d admired the cut of his dress shirt and slacks all day. The man had no idea how good he looked in them. She glanced down at her khakis, creased from sitting in them all day. She had freshened up her makeup and hair in the bathroom before they left, but that was when she thought they were going to some burger chain.

“Do you want to stop by your place first so you can change?” he asked.

“Do we have enough time?”

“Sure. I’ll follow you.”

She got in her car, tapping her fingers nervously on the steering wheel as she led the way. Before she left the lot, she texted him her address, just in case they got separated getting there.

Lina wouldn’t be home. The over-achiever worked out at the gym most weeknights. But that was probably better. Ashley didn’t want to imagine the questions Lina might ask him. She loved to pick people’s brains.

Ashley should have asked Chase when the reservation was. There likely wouldn’t be time to search around or iron anything, not with Chase sitting in her living room waiting for her. Had Paige returned the goldenrod swing dress yet? It was the dress that showed off the long legs they’d both inherited from their mother, and though Paige wasn’t really into fashion, she’d begged to borrow it the moment she spotted it on Ashley a few months ago. Ashley smiled. Good thing she’d shaved her legs this morning.

Chase followed her into the parking lot of her apartment complex, and she rolled down her window and gestured for him to pull up alongside her so she could direct him. “You can park right over there.”

She waited for him to meet her on the sidewalk, and then she led the way to her apartment door, an awkward silence descending. She hadn’t been on a date in a long time and felt as rusty at it as she expected, even with Chase.

“This is nice,” he said, moving to sit on their couch as he gazed around the living room.

It was a tad girly, almost like a college dorm room, with a big bulletin board filled with pictures of Ashley and Lina together. Lina liked to craft, and she’d painted their names on wood letter cutouts and whimsically displayed them on the wall over the couch. Her ex, Reid, would have hated it, which made it all the better.

“How much time do I have? Be honest, because I’ll use up every minute of it.” She grinned at Chase as his eyebrows raised.

“Um, ten minutes?”

“Done.”

She ran down the hall and headed straight for her closet, checking the back where she kept her nicer dresses. Yes! The goldenrod dress was there, and wrapped in plastic. Paige must have sent it to the dry cleaners before returning it. Ashley put it on and went to the mirror, admiring the ruching at the neckline and the way the skirt swung around her legs at the knees. She found some comfortable, yet flirty, wedge sandals to go with it and put on her favorite gold bracelet. It was the one she’d almost lost at work, and she briefly thought of her secret admirer who had saved it for her.

***

Chase swallowed hard when Ashley walked into the living room. Everything about her glowed. Her hair, her dress, her tan skin, her smile. He mentally picked his jaw off the ground and steeled his response. She used to look this radiant every day at work, back when they’d first started. Reid wasn’t the only guy to hurt her heart. There were other jerks before him. And after every breakup, she’d lost a little of that confident beauty she used to radiate. Tonight it was back like a force drawing him in.

He stood up, trying to remain casual and calm. “You look great. Are you ready?” He noticed the gold bracelet he’d picked up out of the dust and resisted the urge to take the hand it now rested on.

“Yes. Let’s go.”

“Want to take my car?” he asked.

“Okay.”

Perfect. He could drive her back here and walk her up to her door. The thought had the butterflies in his stomach starting a war.

He waited for her to lock up. A climbing vine sat in the window like it owned the place, its runners gripping the edges of the table as if it might lift it up and carry it off. Ashley and her green thumb.

They walked to his car, and he opened the passenger door for her, trying not to stare as she folded her legs in. Did she truly understand how beautiful she was tonight?

She touched his shoulder when he got in on the driver’s side. “Chase, can we split the bill tonight? Please? You’re not the only one getting out for the first time in a long time.”

He knew she’d try something like this. “Not a chance. This is my way of thanking you.”

She raised an eyebrow, but finally sighed and sat back against her seat. “Okay.”

“And no ordering water and a side salad either.”

She laughed. “I wouldn’t dream of it. Though, to be honest, I’m more of a burger and pizza kind of girl, and that is not this place.”

“Then order a steak.”

“For a million dollars an ounce, no thank you.”

He rubbed his forehead. “Are you always this difficult of a date?”

“Oh, I’m your date now? I thought that was being presumptuous.” She gave him a coy smile.

“Is this a date?” He turned his eyes back to the road, nervous about how she might respond.

Ashley shifted in her seat and didn’t say anything at first. Great, she didn’t want to answer.

“Let’s go with what I told Flynn. Buddy dinner plans. Does that work?”

He forced a smile. “Of course.”

***

If only she knew why he was asking. Why was it up to her to determine what this was? Lina’s words rang in her head, but what if Chase was an exception to the rule? His life was not like everyone else’s, after all. A guy who never got out because of his responsibilities could want to be friends without expecting more. Wasn’t that why he’d invented his fake girlfriend in the first place?

She fiddled with her bracelet and looked around as he pulled into the sparsely-filled parking lot of Carmelo’s. Maybe that was why he’d suggested a Monday night, rather than the weekend.

Chase once again came around to get her door, and she thanked him, walking by his side into the restaurant. They were immediately seated at a little table by a window covered in expensive Roman shades. The flame from the tiny oil lamp between them danced in the dimly lit space. Why did fancy places have such terrible lighting?

Chase opened his menu, and she did the same, nearly choking when she saw the prices—all the more shocking because she was about to be unemployed. She hadn’t told Chase yet, but she had an interview with Lina’s boss tomorrow. Maybe it would turn into nothing. It was better not to hope too much.

She put her menu down and stared across at Chase. “So, fancy pants. What are you ordering?”

“A steak. You should do the same.”

She glanced down at the prices for the steaks and then looked over at the chicken a la something she couldn’t pronounce and debated. She didn’t want artichoke hearts or sun-dried tomatoes within five feet of her, let alone on her plate. Another chicken dish featured capers and lemon sauce. Disgusting. But it might save him some cash.

“Don’t cheap out on me, Ash.”

A steak and loaded baked potato sounded like heaven. “All right. But no wine then. I’ll order a Coke.”

He held out his hand, and they shook on it.

The waiter came over and introduced himself, and they declined ordering a glass of wine or an appetizer. After taking their drink and dinner orders, the waiter left with the menus.

“No dessert either.” Ashley couldn’t help adding.

Chase rolled his eyes. “Any other stipulations? Should I not tip the guy?”

Ashley kicked him under the table, and his knee connected with the table in response, making the silverware clank. They both covered their mouths with their hands to keep from laughing too loud. This really was turning into a buddy dinner.

“That hurt!” he whispered.

“Baby.”

Their waiter returned with their sodas, and she did her best to steel her features as she thanked him and ripped opened her straw wrapper.

The hostess led a new couple down the aisle and seated them in the corner. The guy’s hair was as black as night and slicked back with a little wave to it. Almost like …

***

Something over Chase’s shoulder had caught Ashley’s attention, and her face turned milk white.

“What is it?”

“It’s nothing.” She picked up her napkin, pulling the swan apart until it disbanded into cream-colored square fabric.

He leaned closer. “It’s not nothing.” When he tried to look behind him, she grabbed ahold of his wrist. “Stop. You’ll draw attention to us.”

“What, did your parole officer spot you or something?”

“Nice, Chase. But no, it’s worse.” She paused. “Reid’s sitting over there with a date.”

“Where?” No one would be hiding from that weasel. Chase pushed out his chair and stood, looking around. He’d only seen Reid once before, when the guy came to meet Ashley after work one day while they were engaged. He was a good-looking guy with trendy hair and dramatic, almost feminine features. Like someone you’d expect to see in a cologne ad. Chase had hated him on sight, even before he knew about the way he’d treated Ashley.

“Please sit down,” Ashley begged.

Chase did, but not before he found Reid sitting with a woman a little too old for him. She looked familiar. Oh, no he didn’t. Reid was with the weather girl from Channel Nine who recently divorced after her husband was arrested for solicitation. It had been all over the news, though she continued to enthusiastically announce the weather forecast night after night.

“You have to tell her.”

“Tell who?” The waiter came over, and Ashley waved him away like a pesky fly. “Tell who?”

“Tell that poor weather woman who she’s with.”

“Weatherwoman?” Ashley glanced at the couple again and then back at Chase. “I don’t watch local news. I don’t know anyone under fifty who does.”

“I fall asleep to it almost every night. And yes, I know that makes me sound old. Thanks for rubbing it in.”

Ashley smiled, though she still slouched in her seat, as if Reid could somehow shoot lasers out of his eyes and hit her with them. “I’m sorry I called you old.”

Chase covered her hand with his. “What are you afraid of? That he’ll come say hi? He’s a bully and a liar. The last thing he wants is to come over here and face his past.”

“Oh yeah?” Ashley motioned for Chase to look, and sure enough, Reid had spotted them. He was walking toward their table.

Chapter 13

Ashley stood and turned in the other direction. “I’ll be in the lady’s room.”

In horror, Chase watched as Reid passed their table and trailed after Ashley. Chase stood and followed, a pit forming in his stomach. Clearly, Ashley was in no state of mind to deal with the guy alone, and he wouldn’t let her. And yet, Chase couldn’t help feeling a twinge of disappointment at Ashley’s reaction. How was she still this affected by Reid? It had been a year and a half.

A waitress stopped right in front of him to set down several heavy platters for a table, and Chase was forced to take another path. When he found the restrooms, Ashley and Reid weren’t there. He checked the bar and then walked outside.

Ashley threw her arms around Chase. “There you are.”

She immediately pressed her lips to his and stayed there until he responded, his lips turning from frozen shock to willing participant. It was sweet torture. He could feel the panic and stress emanating from her, a trembling in her fingertips winding through his hair. He knew it was all an act, and yet he continued to kiss her, every press of his lips a message that she was desired, that she could count on him. When she pulled away, he took a deep breath and looked into her eyes, already seeing the apology written there.

She turned back to her ex. “Reid, this is my boyfriend, Chase.”

Reid was staring at them with a bored poker face, though Chase could see the irritation and anger he was hiding. “Hi, I’m Reid.” He held out a hand.

“I know who you are.” Chase didn’t shake his hand. “I think you missed the lady’s room, Ash. It’s just inside and to the right.”

Thankfully, she took the hint and headed inside.

Reid moved to follow, and Chase blocked him. “I don’t think so.”

“I’m headed back to my date.” Reid looked him up and down. “Ashley and I were just catching up. Calm down, man.”

Chase let him by, the adrenaline from his anger and that amazing yet defeating kiss coursing through his body. He took a couple deep breaths of the warm night air and went inside to hear Ashley’s explanation. He wasn’t looking forward to it.

***

Ashley brushed trembling fingers through her hair as she stared in the bathroom mirror. Reid had changed so dramatically that last month they were together, she wasn’t sure she ever saw what he was truly capable of. And that’s why seeing him now filled her with so much dread. How had she almost married the guy?

She should have stayed at the table with Chase and stood her ground. But she hadn’t, and Reid had followed behind her as she walked past the ladies room and kept going. To him, it was all a game, and her fear only made it more fun. He’d grabbed her wrist as soon as they got outside and that same fear came barreling back.

When she’d pulled away, he’d turned back into friendly Reid, asking how she’d been, as if he hadn’t given her a fat lip their last week together. As if he hadn’t just manhandled her a second ago. He’d always been like that. Able to pretend everything was fine when it clearly was not, twisting people’s emotions around so he looked like the good guy. Even tonight, he’d acted as if she’d invited him outside to make small talk.

Why couldn’t she move past this one stupid relationship? Unfortunately, she knew the answer to that all too well. Reid had taken more than her self-confidence. He’d talked her into moving in together, into being intimate when she’d always planned on waiting until her wedding night. And because of that, she’d stubbornly stuck with him. Put up with him. Wanting him to be the first and the last, when he’d never deserved either.

If it wasn’t for Paige’s interference, and Shaun and his friend, Preston, acting as muscle, she wouldn’t have had the courage to kick him out. The truth hurt. She’d been weak then and she was weak now, only this time she’d put Chase up as her shield.

Chase. How would she face him now? That kiss. She rubbed her eyes and groaned. And then groaned again as she realized she’d just wiped off most of her eye makeup. Chase’s kiss was just like him. Sweet and fierce. Careful, with a surprisingly hot passion to it. Her knees wobbled a little as she relived it in her mind. How could she act normal around him now? What must he think of her? How could she ever tell him why seeing Reid hurt so much?

She straightened her shoulders and walked back to their table, getting there just after the food arrived. She wasn’t the least bit hungry now. Chase watched her with wary eyes, and she didn’t dare let her gaze shift to the corner where she knew Reid was sitting. That man would not hijack any more of this date.

“How’s your steak?” she asked.

Chase poked at it. “Haven’t tried it yet.”

“Chase, I’m sorry.”

He raised his hand. “Don’t apologize. Let’s eat.”

She nodded and dug into her potato. He was right. Now was not the time for this discussion, not that there ever would be a good time. Instead, she told him about her job interview at the dental office and the other places she’d applied to. Her food was delicious, and as she talked and nibbled at it, her appetite returned. It was sad that talking about the job search was helping her relax again.

She let out a sigh of relief when the check came. The waiter boxed up their leftover food, and she and Chase left, not nearly as relaxed together as when they’d come in.

She could almost feel Reid’s eyes on her back. Oh, how she wished to never see him again. But if she ever did, she’d have to be better prepared. Brave. It was time to face her demons herself, starting with contacting the poor woman who had the misfortune of being his date. Reid was always between jobs. If Ashley was a betting woman, she’d guess he wasn’t the one picking up the check for their dinner.

The ride to her apartment was agonizingly quiet. She didn’t dare bring up running from Reid or introducing Chase as her boyfriend. She wasn’t sure which part had upset him more. But if he was angry she’d kissed him, then there really was no hope. He didn’t want anything more than a safe friendship between them. And she had too much baggage to be safe.

Chase got her car door and walked her to her doorstep, kissing her on the cheek, though his mind seemed elsewhere.

“Thank you for dinner, Chase. Do you want to come in for a bit? I have some ice cream in the freezer.”

He shook his head. “I better get home.”

She nodded and waved goodbye, closing the door on any hope of salvaging the date. Robotically, she put her leftover steak and potato in the fridge and kicked off her shoes.

Lina bounced out of her bedroom. “How was it?”

Ashley forced a smile. “Good. I’ll tell you about it tomorrow.” Tonight, she didn’t want anyone to know the disappointment she felt inside.

***

Chase banged his head against his steering wheel. He hadn’t let her explain because he didn’t want to hear it. He didn’t want to hear her apologize for using him, or worse, apologize for kissing him and not meaning it. He definitely didn’t want to hear about Reid.

Women only tried to make a guy jealous for one reason. He couldn’t fathom any universe where someone like Reid could capture a woman’s heart and keep it, but somehow guys like him always won. He’d seen it plenty of times. There was no doubt Ashley feared Reid. But clearly, a part of her also still loved him. Why else would she have thrown herself into Chase’s arms right in front of the guy?

He drove home and put on a happy face for Beth, telling her a little about the restaurant and their fight over paying for dinner. She asked how things would be at work now, and Chase suddenly had another thing to add to his pile of worries.

He changed his clothes and climbed into bed, knowing sleep would elude him for a while. When he’d ordered the worry stone for Ashley, he’d bought an extra and he kept it on his nightstand. He picked it up, tossed it in the air, and caught it.

What was he going to do tomorrow? He didn’t feel like bringing Ashley another gift, but if he stopped she might realize it was him, and right now, the motivation to keep his identity a secret was really strong. He needed to see it through until layoff day.

In the other room, Tyler snorted in his sleep and muttered something about missing his candy bag. Chase didn’t like to think of himself as a single parent, but that didn’t change reality. He needed to be careful about the kind of person he brought into the family, even as his girlfriend. Kids got attached fast. Not that Ashley even wanted to be his girlfriend. Hopelessness washed over him.

Maybe it was time to look for someone more compatible. Possibly someone who also had kids. Beth had teased him about trying online dating from time to time, but he’d balked at the thought. Tonight, it didn’t seem as far-fetched. He didn’t dare pick up his phone and look right now. If he went down that rabbit hole, it would be morning, his alarm would go off, and he’d have spent the whole night stressing over women’s profiles, wondering if they were crazy, wondering if they only pretended to like kids, wondering if they had ex-fiancés they still held secret feelings for.

Tonight had definitely determined one thing. It was time to stop pining for Ashley and find someone who could love him whole-heartedly and hopefully love his siblings too.

He closed his eyes and wished for sleep, but his mind decided what he needed right then was to remember the feel of Ashley’s arms around him, the guiding pressure of her lips, the apologetic look in her eye when she finally let him go. He rolled over and punched his pillow. Five minutes later, he got up and turned on the TV.

***

Chase gave her a bland smile when she came into the office Tuesday morning and went back to typing. Well, that said a lot. She took the hit to her heart and sat down at her desk. She always put her purse in the bottom drawer, and when she went to drop it inside, she noticed a little gold chain with a bar pendant. She gave a little gasp. It wasn’t an expensive piece of jewelry, but it was jewelry, picked out just for her, with no expectation of anything in return.

The bar pendant had the word Bloom and a small flower etched into it. She rubbed her hand against the word and then lifted the chain and undid the latch, putting it on. She had to know who her secret admirer was. They couldn’t go on like this. It didn’t seem fair, when she knew in a few days she’d never come into work again, and someone had gone to all this work for nothing. She should at least get the chance to thank him.

There were two assignments in her inbox, and she got to work setting the articles into the spots left in the newsletter, but once she had that out of the way, she stared at her feeble secret admirer list. Gordon, Brian, Flynn, Dean, Rex, Chase.

Man, she wanted it to be Chase. But wanting wouldn’t make it him. Instead, she approached Gordon’s desk. The guy was quiet and unassuming. He also had a perfect view of her desk at all times and wasn’t the gossiping type.

“Hey, Gordon.”

He looked up from his screen and pushed his glasses back up his nose. “Hey, what’s up?”

“Not much. Did you happen to notice anyone lurking at my desk lately? Like maybe this morning before I came in?”

“Yeah, Flynn was fiddling with your knickknacks this morning. But Chase came over and made him return to his desk.” Gordon went back to typing. “Why, did he mess something up?”

“No, nothing like that.” She couldn’t accept that it was Flynn. Not yet. She sat down and scooted the chair closer to Gordon. There could be no more beating around the bush.

Gordon gave her an odd look. “You need something else? That ad I’m working on is almost done. I just needed to get approval on the verbiage from upstairs.”

Ashley bit her nail. “I’m just going to outright ask. You’re not my secret admirer, are you?”

Gordon stopped typing and stared at her. Maybe seeing her for the first time as more than a coworker he needed to send documents to. “Um, no. You have a secret admirer?”

“Someone’s been leaving little gifts at my desk. I’m hoping you can help me figure out who it might be.”

Gordon rubbed his neck. “It sounds like a problem for H.R. I don’t really want to get in the middle of anything.”

She put her hand up to stop that train of thought. “I’m not looking to get anyone in trouble, Gordon. I’m only curious. Can you tell me if you’ve ever seen anyone else at my desk when I’m not there?”

He shook his head no, but when she continued to stare back at him, his shoulders dropped. “Fine. Just don’t go around accusing people and using me as your source. I want to keep my job.”

Poor guy. He had no idea. She hoped he’d find something better after the layoffs. “Come on, Gordon. Who else have you seen? No one’s getting in trouble.”

He leaned forward. “Rex sometimes lingers by your desk after going to the water cooler.”

Another disappointment. Ashley reached up and fingered the necklace. Rex came over a lot when she was at her desk. It would make sense he’d be there when she wasn’t.

“Could it be anyone else?” She looked over at Brian who was on his fourth cup of coffee and doing a bad job of hiding the fact that he’d been texting on his phone all morning.

Gordon followed her gaze. “Not Brian. He’s not into you. No offense.”

“None taken.”

Gordon made a shooing motion. “Now Mr. Davidson is looking over here. My guess is Flynn. And if so, my condolences. Report him to H.R. Just don’t mention me.”

Ashley returned to her desk and squeezed her stress ball, the one Flynn had probably been playing with that morning. She felt like chucking it at his head. It couldn’t be him. He didn’t have the nuance or the sensitivity for it. But neither did Rex. Why did this have to be so difficult to figure out? It had to be Chase. There was no one else who cared about her like he did.

She glanced over at him, and he motioned with his finger for her to come over. Maybe he wasn’t as upset with her as she thought.

“Can I ask you something as a friend?” Chase asked as she sat down next to him.

“Of course.”

He tapped the edge of the desk. “I’m thinking about trying online dating. Is that crazy?”

Chapter 14

Chase hadn’t intended to ask Ashley her opinion, but then, it was her or Beth. And he really did not want advice from his sixteen-year-old sister on picking dates. If he and Ashley were only friends and always would be, there was no point in avoiding her as a resource.

Ashley looked taken aback, but she quickly recovered and scooted her chair closer so they wouldn’t be overheard. “It’s not crazy … just a little … unexpected.”

“I’ll never meet someone if I don’t try something new. And I’m not interested in going with Yolanda and her friends for drinks after work.”

Ashley shook her head as if she were trying to shake off the shock of his statement. “I didn’t think you were … I guess I never thought … never mind.” She turned red and looked away. “What sites have you looked at?”

“None yet.” He studied her face, trying to understand her reaction, but whatever she’d been feeling was now well hidden.

“My roommate, Lina, has tried a few. Can I get back to you? I could text her at lunchtime and ask.”

“You’ve never tried online dating?”

“Nope. But considering my luck, maybe that should be my next move. You know, if I ever want to date again.” She kept tugging on the bar pendant around her neck, and he did his best not to stare at it. The necklace was the last of the items he’d bought online, and though the secret admirer thing had turned into a bust, she might as well enjoy the gifts.

“Well, I’ll be your guinea pig and let you know how it goes.” He smiled, and she sort of returned the expression. He knew dating and exes was still a sore subject for her. He wanted to ask about Reid, but he didn’t want to upset her, and frankly, he was afraid of the answer. He couldn’t protect her from the guy if a part of her wanted Reid back in her life.

“What type of girl are you looking for?” Ashley asked.

This was so awkward. Chase scratched his head. “You know, someone who won’t be shocked that I have three kids at home.”

“You’re not even twenty-five. Is anyone ever not shocked?” Ashley leaned closer. “Honestly, I’d leave the kids out of it. I wouldn’t even mention them until a couple dates in, just to be safe.”

“Safe from what?”

“I don’t know. Maybe it’s different for guys. But if it was me, I wouldn’t want anyone near my kids until I knew them really well.”

“What about someone who has kids too?”

“She’ll come with an ex and trust issues. It’s not the same as your situation.”

True. That was something he hadn’t fully considered. “Yeah, I hadn’t considered the baggage that comes with former relationships. You make this sound like a wade through a swamp.”

“I’m being too negative. You’re right.” Ashley looked away, focusing on Flynn who was banging his fist down on their mostly unreliable copy machine. “Chase, you’re quite a catch. I’m sure you’ll find someone perfect for you.” She stood and brushed off her skirt, smoothing out the wrinkles. “I better get back to work.”

***

Ashley’s phone vibrated with a text just as she was about to leave for her lunch break, and she pulled it out of her purse.

Reid: We should catch up.

She dropped her phone onto the desk with a clatter, and it slid to the floor.

Flynn clapped. “Nice one, Rocky. You crack it?”

Chase looked over with concern, but Ashley didn’t want him to worry. He’d go into super-protective guy-mode. And Reid asking to reconnect was just another example of her messy history that always seemed to catch up with her. Clearly, Chase had a problem with her history. She couldn’t think of a bigger man-repellent than an emotionally fragile woman. That’s all she was to him. Another problem when he didn’t need more.

“Nope, it’s fine.” She examined her phone for damage, more for Flynn’s benefit than her own and hurried outside to get lunch. Why hadn’t she changed her number like Paige suggested? And why was Reid texting her, more than a year after their breakup?

She went back to the message and clicked on the number, blocking it. Something she should have done a long time ago. Then she called Lina. Thank goodness they had matching lunch hours, though Ashley needed to hurry to her job interview soon.

“Hey, can I ask you about something?”

“Are you finally going to tell me the truth about your date?” Lina asked. Of course, her intuitive roommate would know she’d been lying last night.

Ashley stood at the end of the line at her favorite burger place and looked around for listening ears. The guy in line in front of her was busy watching the sports highlights on his phone. “Let’s just say it’s a long story that doesn’t end well. I think you’re wrong about Chase. He does only want to be friends. Today he asked me if he should try online dating.”

The guy looked up from his sports news article and examined Ashley from head to toe. Great, he was a multi-tasker. She glared at him, and he went back to staring at his phone.

“What did you do to him last night?” Lina asked.

Ashley turned away from the nosy guy in line and lowered her voice. “Reid tried to corner me, and I panicked, throwing myself into Chase’s arms and introducing him as my boyfriend. I wasn’t thinking clearly at the time.”

“Reid was at the restaurant?”

“Yes. Anyway, Chase acted weird after that. And now he wants me to help him find online dates. So, that went really well.”

“I think I need an in-person analysis of this guy. Can you get him to come over? Tell him we’ll help him set up his online profile.”

“I don’t know, Lina. I think it’s time to give up on this. I need to forget about everything—the secret admirer who’s probably Flynn messing with me—about Chase. I was doing fine with my break from dating. I should go back to that.”

“Oh, this is for science now, Ash. I have to know what’s going on with your strange coworker friend.”

The line moved enough for Ashley to look at the menu board, and she sighed. “Fine, I’ll see if I can get Chase to come over tonight.”

“When is your interview?” Lina asked.

“In about forty-five minutes, I’m grabbing lunch first. I told Mr. Davidson I had a dentist appointment, which I guess is only a small stretch of the truth.”

“Well good luck, girl. You’ll do awesome.”

After hanging up with Lina, Ashley went to her email app and checked for a response from the weather girl, but, not surprisingly, there wasn’t one. Contacting a famous person was easy. Getting her to actually read the message was probably impossible.

***

This was insane. Chase followed Ashley to her apartment after work, wondering why he’d agreed to come over to set up his online profile. Yes, he wanted Ashley’s advice, but not necessarily her management of the whole process. Having her look over his shoulder while he tried to forget about her and search for someone new wasn’t exactly what he had in mind when he’d asked for help.

Beth, however, was fully on board with him spending an hour or two at Ashley’s. She insisted everyone was fine at home and she could handle making dinner. Who knew that all it would take for her to step up and accept responsibility was for him to show interest in a social life?

He pulled into the same spot he’d parked in the night before and walked across to meet Ashley at her car door.

“You never told me. How did the interview go?”

Ashley slowly bobbed her head back and forth as if debating. “Ehh, I thought I did well, but she didn’t give me any indication at the end as to whether I had a chance at the position. She just said they’d be getting back to the applicants in a week.”

The door to her apartment swung open wide as they walked up, and her roommate came out all smiles. Lina was pretty, with brown hair and wide brown eyes, almost doe-like, though they held a bit too much fire for that. He had a hunch she was the type of person who didn’t take no for an answer and liked to cause mischief. The perfect foil for Ashley’s more careful personality.

Chase held out his hand, and Lina about squeezed it off when she shook it in welcome. “Hi, Chase. Ready to have some fun?”

Ashley rolled her eyes. “Lina thinks everything is fun. She says the same thing when it’s time to tackle the dishes.”

At this point, Chase would prefer a sink full of dishes. The first thing Lina did was rearrange his hair and pull him outside for a photo shoot. He looked to Ashley for help, but she only gave him an amused smile, one that said, ‘go with it.’

But the photoshoot was nothing compared to the grilling that followed. Lina sat at the computer and rattled off questions for him to answer. And often, she and Ashley didn’t like his answers and asked him for more.

Ashley sat next to him on their couch, the sagging leather causing an Ashley/Chase sinkhole in the middle. He wished she’d remedy the situation. Having the weight of her arm and leg against him was the best and worst kind of distraction. His heartbeat picked up as she moved her head to rest against his shoulder and left it there. Was she trying to torture him? Of course not. She had no idea the effect she had on him or she wouldn’t do it.

“What kind of relationship are you seeking?” Lina asked. “Something serious?”

“Yes.”

“How serious?”

He seriously couldn’t breathe right now. Every nerve in his body was finely tuned to the feel of Ashley next to him. Online dating was supposed to help him move past his feelings for Ashley, not make him question giving up on getting over her. “Can I get some water?”

“Yep.” Ashley went to get him a glass. He stood and followed her. Maybe he could casually move to the armchair when they sat back down.

Ashley filled his cup with ice from the machine on the fridge. “I know this seems intrusive, but once you have the profile filled out, the algorithms can start matching you up with someone compatible. You’ll find that single mom with no baggage you’ve been looking for.” She looked up at him, and he saw it again. The pain there.

“Everyone has baggage, Ash. It’s part of living.”

She nodded, but she didn’t look like she believed him.

Lina cleared her throat. “I need to get something from my car. I’ll be right back. Chase, come fill in your height and weight and all that.” She slid into her flip-flops and closed the door behind her.

Ashley handed him the glass of ice water and turned away, closing the cupboards and rearranging things on the kitchen counter.

He had to make this right, even if it meant stepping into a minefield to figure out where he’d gone wrong. “Ashley, I know I’ve said something to upset you. Please tell me what it is so I can apologize.”

Her eyes went wide. “I’m not upset. I’m totally fine with this. We’re friends, and I want to help. I know Lina can be a lot. If you want to do this whole online dating thing on your own, I’ll understand, and she will too.”

“No, I want your help.” He was so pathetic. It didn’t matter that he had no chance with Ashley. He couldn’t bring himself to leave early. They only had a few more days of being coworkers, and he couldn’t be reasonable just yet.

Lina walked back in and studied them before going back to the computer. “You didn’t get anything done on this, Chase. Water break is over.”

Ashley rolled her eyes and went to sit back on the couch. Chase eyed the armchair, but Ashley was watching him, and his feet propelled him toward her and the opportunity to cuddle without actually cuddling. As soon as he sat down, Ashley pulled her legs up and rested them against him.

***

Ashley waved goodbye as Chase pulled out of the parking lot and turned to face Lina. “So, what do you think?”

Lina wrinkled her nose. “It’s hard to say. He’s definitely physically attracted to you. His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down every time you shifted next to him on the couch. But he looked uncomfortable as well.”

Ashley collapsed into their stupid old couch. “You’re the one who insisted I sit close to him.”

“Well, of course. It gave me great data. Something is holding him back, but I’m not sure what it is. Can I please just ask him?”

“No!” Ashley moved to the computer, looking over the profile they still had up on the screen. It was a great picture of him, capturing his shy smile. He looked approachable and kind. Not to mention, extremely attractive. Women were going to fall all over themselves to match up with him. And then where did that leave her? Alone. Where she belonged. “What’s holding him back is that he only wants to be friends with me. Chase is too good a person to act on physical attraction alone. You saw the way he studied those profiles we pulled up. He never even clicked to see the extra pictures of the women. He just wanted to see what they said in their profiles.”

“Maybe that’s because he doesn’t really want to date them. I think he has this idea in his head that he has to find a mom for those kids, but what he really wants is you.”

“I’m not exactly mom material, am I?” Ashley looked around at their girly apartment.

“That’s up to you, Ash. He’s a package deal, and he knows it. Smart man.”

Ashley’s phone buzzed, and she lunged for it, hoping pathetically it was Chase saying thank you or goodnight or something.

I miss you.

She didn’t recognize the number, but she knew exactly who it was from. Ashley opened an internet window on her phone and Googled ‘how to text someone if you’ve been blocked.’ It was laughably easy to spoof the caller ID, making it look like you were calling from a different number. But now wasn’t a good time to change her number. She was waiting to hear back from Lina’s boss, and several other places that had promised to call and set up an interview time with her. And if she did change it, she’d have to tell everyone why, including Chase.

Stinking Reid. She toyed with calling her brother-in-law Shaun and asking him to go pay Reid a little visit, but she was supposed to be standing up for herself, not making other people deal with him for her.

Leave me alone, she almost sent back, before realizing she’d just be texting some random person who didn’t know their number had been borrowed for the caller ID. But that was the kicker, wasn’t it? Reid didn’t even want a response. He just wanted to get under her skin.

Chapter 15

Chase got up early the next morning and stopped at the store on his way in to work. He needed something for Ashley, but nothing was coming to mind.

Three women had already left messages for him, all with high compatibility ratings, but he couldn’t seem to muster the same level of enthusiasm that these women had for him. Would it be fair to go out with someone while he was still in love with Ashley?

He scanned the candy aisle until his eyes stopped on the little individually wrapped gummies, the kind shaped like food. He picked up a hamburger one and studied it, remembering Ashley’s comment about being a hamburger and pizza kind of girl. They had a pizza-shaped candy too. He took both to the cash register to pay.

If he gave them to her today, would she know it was from him? He could just leave her a short note instead, continue to be anonymous, continue to be a coward and pay to date women he didn’t want to be with. Back in his car, he turned up his music and tried not to think about what he was considering. He glanced at the plastic bag in the seat next to him. It was just candy. It didn’t have to mean anything. Maybe she wouldn’t remember the connection.

Traffic stopped abruptly up ahead, and he slammed on his brakes. The next exit wasn’t for another mile and nobody was moving. The cars around him fruitlessly honked out their frustration.

After five minutes of sitting, he called Mr. Davidson’s office line, but no one answered. He called the main office and got transferred to Yolanda.

“Hey, I’m stuck in traffic. Will you let Mr. Davidson know I’m running late?”

“Sure, sure. But he’s in a meeting with the whole department right now.”

“He is?”

“Yeah.” Yolanda hung up, and Chase tossed his phone down.

He knew what that meeting was for, and he didn’t want it to look like he was purposely missing it as the lucky exception to the mass firing. Traffic slowly crawled forward until Chase finally passed the accident blocking two lanes of traffic and could get back up to speed.

He pulled into the parking lot and jumped out of his car, just in time to see Ashley walking outside with her box of things, the little fern poking out of the top.

She blinked back tears when she saw him. “I knew this was coming. I’m not sure why I’m being emotional about it.”

Chase took the box out of her hands and headed over to her car. She opened her passenger side for him and he put the box down inside. Then he grabbed her up in a fierce hug.

***

The comfort of Chase’s arms was exactly what she needed. Ashley rested her head against his chest, wishing he’d never let go. What would happen to their friendship now that they wouldn’t see each other every day?

“I guess this is good because I have another interview today, and I hated lying again about why I needed time off.”

“When is your interview?” he murmured into her hair.

“At two. It’s dispatch, so I’d be back to phones.” She gave a little laugh. “Might as well do what I’m good at.”

“Will you call me and tell me how it goes?”

Maybe he’d also considered what their friendship would morph into now that they weren’t coworkers. He’d given her a reason to call him.

“Of course.”

He started to pull away, and she let her hands slide along his strong arms, wishing she had the right to hold him whenever she wanted. “Chase, we never talked about what happened at the restaurant the other night.”

His face shifted. She could see bringing it up made him uncomfortable, but she plowed ahead anyway. “I stretched the limits of our friendship and I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”

Chase shrugged. “Considering I made up a girlfriend, I think I owed you one pretend appearance as your boyfriend.”

“Seeing Reid again, I was so flustered, I just—”

Flynn came out of the building, cussing and stomping over to his sports car. Chase shifted them over to behind a tall truck where Flynn wouldn’t see them.

“Did you get a chance to say goodbye to Flynn?” Chase whispered.

“He didn’t say goodbye to anyone. As soon as he heard the news about the downsize, he flipped off Mr. Davidson and started ripping up papers on his desk. He only calmed down when they threatened him with a security escort. I feel kinda bad, even though he’s been gleefully telling anyone who would listen that you and I are an item.”

“Yeah, I heard that.” He turned a little red. It was adorable.

A girl from billing walked by and gave them a knowing smile. Chase took a step back and crossed his arms, obviously not wanting her to get the wrong impression about them.

“I should let you get in there.” Ashely walked to the driver’s side of her car, but Chase followed, pulling something crinkly out of his pocket. “I saw these and thought of you. It’s probably stupid.” He dropped them into her hands and retreated before she could even look at his gift.

“Thank you,” Ashley called after him. She held one up, looking at the layers of color making a perfect little candy hamburger. The other was a tiny slice of pepperoni pizza. “Because I’m a hamburger and pizza kind of girl,” she muttered to herself.

She stared at them as she got in and pulled out of the Autobest parking lot for the last time. It was just as thoughtful as any gift from her secret admirer, a guy she’d now never get to meet. No new gift had been there this morning to greet her. No one came forward as she was packing up her things. For a second her heart leaped at the thought that it had to be Chase, but if so, why give her a necklace and then announce he was trying online dating? It didn’t make sense. It had to be someone else. Maybe someone too shy to talk to her in person. She felt a small twinge of pain at never knowing, but mostly she felt sympathy for the guy who went to all that work for nothing. As sweet and kind as the gifts were, she wanted someone real. She wanted Chase.

***

Mr. Davidson kept him busy all day with everything from shifting desks around to writing up an explanatory memo for the remaining employees. Yolanda glared at him every time he passed her desk, and he couldn’t blame her. She was one of the few people who liked Flynn, and he wasn’t the only friend she wouldn’t be seeing again.

“I can’t believe you can just keep working like that after they fired Ashley,” she hissed as she passed him on her way to lunch.

Allen approached him a few minutes later, wanting to know if Ashley would consider coming back to customer service. Chase promised to mention it to her.

Dean went so far as to ask for Ashley’s number, which Chase pretended not to have. No wonder Ashley hadn’t figured out the secret admirer thing. He wasn’t the only one pining from afar in that office.

Chase was just about to send her a text as he was walking out at the end of the day, when he spied a familiar-looking guy creeping up and down the parking lot, studying the cars. Chase had pictured a moment like this. It was the reason he’d started walking Ashley out to her car in the first place. Now, a year and a half later, it had finally happened.

“Need some help?” Chase called out.

Reid smiled, as if it was normal to be prowling the parking lot. “Is Ashley done for the day yet? I wanted to surprise her with a nice dinner.”

“I might have a problem with you asking out my girlfriend. I’m sure you understand.”

Reid only smirked, in a way that said he saw right through that ruse. “She told me it’s not serious.”

Chase tucked his hands in his pockets so he wouldn’t turn them into fists. “When was that?”

“When was what?” Reid asked, walking down another row of cars. He probably wanted to stay out of grabbing distance. Chase had definitely considered physically removing him from the premises.

“When did Ashley tell you that?”

“Oh, we’ve been texting. Catching up.”

Chase clung to the knowledge that with all their ‘catching up,’ Reid didn’t know she’d been let go that morning. Reid could be lying. About everything. But it was hard to tell. The guy had an excellent poker face. Chase warred with whether to tell Reid she didn’t work there anymore or to keep that a secret as well. It was hard to know what to do when he didn’t know how Ashley felt about Reid right now or if they’d actually reconciled. She’d said she was ‘flustered’ at seeing him again. Flustered was not the same as repulsed or fearful.

And if the plan had been to make Reid jealous, it certainly worked. Here Reid was trying to find her, not two days after seeing her with Chase. The thought had acid rising in his throat. But until he knew the truth, he had to trust his instincts and not his fears.

“She had an appointment and left early. But I’m sure you could call her and find that out yourself.” Chase raised an eyebrow, challenging Reid to prove his claims.

“I’ll do that. Thanks.” Reid casually walked back to his own car and drove off.

Chase waited a few minutes to make sure Reid wasn’t planning to double back and try again. Ashley wasn’t there, but that didn’t mean Reid going in and asking someone else wasn’t a possibility. When he was sure Reid wasn’t coming back, Chase headed home as well, throwing himself into catching up on laundry and bathroom cleaning so he could stop staring at his phone, willing Ashley to call and let him know everything was okay. She’d said she’d call after her interview. Maybe she was distracted with someone else.

He hated this uncertainty. After dinner, he looked over his connection messages from the online dating account, picked a girl who seemed the least aggressive, and set up a date for that Saturday.

***

The dispatch company offered Ashley a job on the spot, and she knew in that moment she’d truly gotten her hopes up about working with Lina. She didn’t want to say yes until she knew she didn’t have the front office job.

Feeling terrible, she told them she would call with her answer by Friday. They didn’t look pleased. It was possible she’d burned a bridge she’d only just built.

Instead of heading to her apartment, Ashley drove straight to her parents’ house. They lived in the same house she’d grown up in, and though her mom had turned her old bedroom into craft storage, she somehow needed the comfort of something familiar. Just looking at the old neighborhood where she used to play tag in the street lifted a weight from her chest.

Aunt Terrie answered the door and gave her a hug. “I thought you were the pizza delivery guy. Your mom and I are making wedding favors, and we’ve driven the men away with all the tulle and sparkles.” Aunt Terrie’s hair was a deep burgundy color today, matching her nail polish.

“I love the hair, Aunt Terrie.”

“You do? Well, Tammie hates it. Not that she came out and said it, but it was all in the look.”

“Does she ever like your hair?” Ashley smiled. Her mom had been iron gray since age forty and never looked back. The two sisters were polar opposites, and yet inseparable.

“Is that Ashley?” her mom called from the kitchen. “Come in here, baby.”

Aunt Terrie led the way, and she hadn’t been exaggerating about the sparkly mess. It looked like a bridal shop after a tornado hit.

“Whose wedding?” Ashley asked.

“My neighbor’s daughter is getting married, and the poor woman is so overwhelmed. Terrie and I offered to help.” Ashley’s mom beamed. After getting to plan Paige’s wedding, she probably thought of herself as a pro.

Ashley moved a pile of tulle off one of the kitchen chairs so she could sit, and started helping twist the pastel chocolate candies into their sparkly net. She decided not to mention how easy it would be for people to accidentally get a mouthful of sparkle with their chocolate.

“So, what’s new in your life?” Terrie asked, popping a chocolate into her mouth.

So much was new. And so much she didn’t want to talk about. Getting fired, Reid stalking her, falling in love with someone who only wanted to be friends. “Life is good.”

Terrie studied Ashley over her trendy little electric blue reading glasses. “A diplomatic answer. I like it. Still refusing to date anyone? And yes, I know. I keep up with you through Paige, who actually calls from time to time.”

“Did I just hear the doorbell?” Ashley asked.

Aunt Terrie jumped out of her chair and went to check.

Ashley smiled. She’d often had to resort to such tactics to avoid an interrogation. It was almost too easy when it came to her nosy aunt, who was slightly deaf, and at the rate she was eating chocolate, highly anticipating the pizza delivery.

“Ashley.” Her mom glared at her, though she was trying not to laugh. “Be nice to Terrie.”

And then the doorbell rang for real, and they both had to laugh.

Terrie came back with Shaun. He cleared the chair next to Ashley and sat down. “Terrie takes one look at me and says, ‘Oh, it’s you.’ I guess the shine has worn off.”

“Well, you’re still my favorite brother-in-law,” Ashley said. “Terrie’s just hungry.”

The doorbell rang again, and Terrie tottered off in her heels, calling out, “You better have pizza.”

“Why are you here?” Ashley asked Shaun.

“Paige wants the elliptical machine in your parents’ bedroom. I’m the hired help.”

“I’m so happy to be rid of it.” Ashley’s mom stood up to lead Shaun to her room. “Now I don’t have to feel guilty every time I walk past the thing. It cost a fortune.”

Terrie came in bearing pizza, and Ashley helped her find enough counter space to put it down. She wanted a slice, but it was probably best to check and see if Shaun needed help carrying out the elliptical machine. He was trying to angle it through the bend in the hallway, and she grabbed an end to help.

“How’s Chase?” he huffed out, after they got it lifted into the bed of his truck.

“He’s fine.” She picked at a loose string on her shirt and tried to think of a new subject. There was no way she’d be admitting Chase was looking into online dating. “Today was layoff day.”

“I’m sorry. I figured that’s why you were here so early, but I didn’t want to assume.”

“Lina wants me to work at her dental office.”

“That’s what Paige said. It sounds great.”

Yeah, if they ever called her back.

Her phone buzzed with an incoming text, and she pulled it out of her pocket, immediately grimacing. It was from Reid, though the number was different again. I love you. Don’t be mad. At least he was averaging only one stupid text message a day. It had to be a record for the slowest phone stalking ever. As soon as she had a new job, she’d change her number and be done with it.

“What was that?” Shaun asked.

She put her phone back in her pocket. “Nosy much?”

“Yeah, nosy a lot.” He’d never been the least bit deterred by her attempts to keep him and Paige out of her business. “You looked upset.”

“It’s nothing. Someone got back to me about a job. The position’s been filled.”

“You’re a terrible liar, Ash. And if that’s true, pull out the text and show it to me.”

He had her there and he knew it. And she hated lying, which was why she was so bad at it. She couldn’t fully commit to it unless it was something silly, like tricking Terrie into thinking the pizza had arrived.

“Reid’s been texting me.”

“What?” Shaun reacted about how she thought he would. He walked off, mumbling something unintelligible and then turned back, his teeth grinding together. “I thought you changed your number.”

“He never called after the breakup, so … I … never did.” It sounded lame, even to her ears.

“Why is he calling now?”

“You two want pizza?” Terrie hollered from the front door.

Shaun turned and smiled. “In a minute.” As soon as Terrie walked back in, he headed for his truck. “I’ll handle this. Is he still living with his brother?”

“Shaun stop. I have no idea where he’s living. I ran into him at a restaurant a few nights ago. Other than that, I haven’t seen or heard from him in over a year. And just because he was your college roommate once does not mean you have to deal with him for me. It’s time I take care of my own problems.”

Shaun ran a hand down his face, but he put his keys away and walked back. “That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. Quit being stubborn and look around you, Ashley. You’re not alone. You have friends and family who would do anything for you. There’s never a reason to suffer alone, and yet you seem to think it’s the noble thing to do. It’s not noble. It just keeps Paige up at night worrying about you.”

He had a point. Not that she wanted to admit it after that lecture. He’d make a great dad someday. “If it gets worse, I’ll call you.”

“You better.”

Chapter 16

Ashley called around eight-thirty that night, and Chase stopped doing the dishes and dried off his hands to answer. The tightly wound ball of stress he’d been holding onto unraveled, just by seeing her name pop up on his phone.

“Hi, Ash, how’d the interview go?”

She sighed. “They offered me the job on the spot. But I wasn’t ready for that. I have another interview with a shipping company tomorrow, and I’m still waiting to hear back from the dental office. They looked offended when I told them I’d call with my answer in a few days. Maybe I should’ve accepted on the spot and told them I needed to give my work two weeks’ notice.”

“It’s hard to know what to say in those kind of situations. You did the right thing. It’ll all work out.”

“I wish I’d called you sooner. You know just what to say.” He could hear the smile in her voice, and he couldn’t help the big goofy grin he was sporting.

“I just got the younger two to bed, so this is good timing.” Chase walked down the hall to check on Beth. She had her headphones on with a book in her lap. How she could read while listening to rock music was beyond him.

“That’s what I figured. How did work go?”

“Everyone hates me. You should have seen the looks Yolanda gave me, as if I was personally responsible for the layoffs.”

“Sorry, Chase.”

“Don’t be. I shouldn’t be the one complaining.”

There was a pause, and he knew before they hung up he’d need to tell her about Reid, but he didn’t want to just yet.

“How’s the online dating thing going?” she asked.

Another subject he wasn’t so interested in talking about. “It’s going fine.”

“And by fine, how many women have contacted you?”

She was teasing him, but he answered honestly anyway. “Twenty-eight.”

“Wow. Have you called any of them?”

“Well, you don’t actually give out your number. You send them a message through the app. I have a date this Saturday night with Tiffany. We’re meeting at Applebee’s.”

“And why’d you pick her?”

Might as well be honest about that too. “She sounded the least crazy.”

Ashley laughed. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be enjoying this.”

“No, you shouldn’t.” He wanted her to be jealous, but at some point, he had to accept they would forever and always only be friends. And friends didn’t hold back the truth because it made them uncomfortable. “Ashley, Reid was looking for you after work today.”

“He was?” She took a shuddering breath and didn’t say anything more.

“So, the two of you haven’t been … you’re not getting back together with him?”

“Of course not! Why would you think that was even a possibility, Chase?”

“I don’t know.” Because his own insecurities had made him doubt what was right in front of him. Ashley had spent over a year getting over what Reid had done to her. The last thing she wanted was to fall back into that trap. Why hadn’t he trusted that? He was a fool. “He said the two of you have been texting. He was hoping to surprise you.”

“Surprise me, stalk me. What’s the difference, really? He texted me saying he wanted to catch up. I blocked his number, but he just spoofed someone else’s and sent me another one. I don’t know what to do. They’re not threatening, just annoying.”

“I’m sorry, Ash. If I’d known that, I would have called security on him. I could have held him there until the cops came. I could’ve—”

“Chase, unless you gave him my address, you have nothing to apologize for.”

“So, he doesn’t know where you live?”

“I don’t think so. He’s never met Lina.”

“But it’s not hard to find out these kinds of things. You have to be careful.”

“I know.”

“I didn’t tell him about the layoffs. He may show up at work again, and the next time he does, I’ll call the cops. Have you considered getting a restraining order?”

“I’ve looked up the process before. If he keeps this up, I will. Trust me, I’ve already had the lecture from Shaun.”

He wished there was something more he could do. “Can I call you tomorrow?”

“You better. But let’s talk about something else now. Anything that doesn’t have to do with Reid or restraining orders.”

“Like what?” Chase propped the phone against his shoulder and started wiping down the counter.

“I don’t know. What’s going on in the local news? Any cats stuck up in trees or hometown hero stories?”

“Ahh, more making fun of Chase, your favorite subject. Last night I only watched the sports highlights. You want an update on that?”

“Um, no. I hate sports. Sorry.”

“Don’t be. I only keep up so I don’t sound dumb when other guys ask. All my information is from six years ago.”

“Did your dad follow sports?”

Chase put down the rag and sat in a chair. It was a casual question, but he so rarely talked about his parents, even with the kids. His grief was easier to handle where no one could see it. “Yeah. He loved college basketball. We used to go to games together.”

“Chase, can I ask … never mind.”

He knew she wanted to delve deeper, and though he wanted to take her ‘never mind’ and run with it, he wouldn’t do that to her again. “What is it?”

“Do you have any extended family that helps? It seems like it’s just you guys.”

“My parents met at a program for young adults aging out of foster care, so they didn’t have anyone else, at least not anyone they’d want around their kids. They tried really hard to give us a normal childhood, and it was great. Gabby was a surprise, and then they had Tyler so the youngest two could grow up together. I’m sure they never thought they wouldn’t be around for it.”

“They sound amazing.”

“They were.” He rested his head in his palm, feeling strangely queasy, but also better for actually talking about them instead of avoiding the subject.

“I’m sorry I’m so nosy, Chase.”

“You’re not nosy. I’d know. People ask weird questions all the time. Usually, while I’m in line at the grocery store.”

“You too? I’ve been reprimanded for buying sugarless gum by a woman convinced it’s full of poison, and I’ve also had people question my choice of tampons.”

“And, time for a subject change.”

Ashley laughed. “Feminine products make you squeamish, Chase?”

“Only when I’m sent to the store to buy them.”

“What a good brother.”

“Is that Lina singing?” Chase asked as he strained to hear what was going on in the background on Ashley’s end of the line.

“Yes. She just got back from Zumba.”

“You didn’t go with her?”

“Nope. I’ve been bad this week. But, I did stop at the dry cleaners, which is right next to my favorite donut shop, and I didn’t go in and buy a donut. So, it all balances out.”

“You should have bought a donut and then brought me one.”

“Next time, Chase. After Zumba.”

“I better let you go. Goodnight, Ashley.”

“Goodnight, Chase.”

He pressed end and put the phone against his chest, a strange kind of adrenaline running through him.

Beth walked into the kitchen with a goofy smile on her face. She leaned against the kitchen counter and faced him. “Let me get this straight. If you’re trying online dating, what’s going on with you and Ashley?”

Chase put down his phone. “Nothing.”

“But wasn’t that her just now? I heard you tell her goodnight.”

“We’re friends.”

“Does she have a boyfriend or something?”

“Nope.” He sighed. “But it’s complicated.”

“It sounds like you’re making it complicated.” She pulled a towel out of the drawer and started drying pans. “So, I’m babysitting on Saturday night?”

“Will you?”

She gave him a mischievous smile, one that would worry him for a while. “Yes, but is it okay if I invite a friend over?”

“A female friend?”

“No, Chase. My thirty-five-year-old boyfriend who just escaped from prison. Yes, a female friend.”

“Well, I guess that’s okay.”

***

Thursday was the best day ever. There were no texts from strange numbers. Ashley had time to clean the entire apartment, including the fridge—Lina was famous for her weeks old leftovers—and best of all, she got a call from the dental office. Ashley had the job.

“Look at you!” Lina exclaimed as she walked in the door that night, her arms full of groceries. “All decked out in my frilly apron, and is that Windex I smell?”

“Whatever.” Ashley took a few of the bags and moved them to the counter. “Laugh if you want. You might go sky diving if you suddenly had time off, but I’m giddy about having the chance to scrub our shower. It’s sparkling. You have to go see it.”

Ashley led Lina into the bathroom to see the sparkling shine.

Lina clapped in appreciation. “No one appreciates your day off habits better than me, Ashley. Believe me. Now can I go make a mess of the kitchen by making you a cake? I heard about our latest employee!”

They hugged it out, and then put away the groceries. Together they prepared a small chocolate cake, eating leftover lasagna while the cake baked in the oven. The lasagna had only been in the fridge for a couple of days, so Ashley had given it a clean fridge pass.

“So, when do you start?” Lina asked.

“On Monday. What should I do with myself until then?”

“I don’t know. Learn guitar?”

Ashley did have a guitar hidden in her closet. She’d begged her parents to buy her one for her tenth birthday. After two lessons, she decided it had all been a mistake. Occasionally, she took it out and strummed it, too guilt-ridden and strangely attached to the thing to get rid of it.

The smell of chocolate cake filled the apartment and they both stared through the glass while they waited the last eternal four minutes for it to finish baking.

“Do we wait for it to cool or let the icing run all over the place?” Lina asked.

“You know my vote on that.” Ashley grabbed a rubber spatula and dipped it in the icing, mixing it around while Lina pulled the cake out of the oven.

They each took a large piece and dribbled frosting over the top. “Here’s to new things,” Lina said, taking a bite. “And hitting the gym tomorrow.”

“Here, here.”

Ashley’s cell phone rang just as she was finishing her last bite, and she lunged for it, ignoring Lina’s smug grin. Yes, it was Chase, and yes, it was yet another highlight of this good day.

“Hey.” She walked down the hall and went into her bedroom, closing the door, but not before sticking her tongue out at Lina.

“Hey, yourself.”

She’d missed him today, but somehow, getting this private conversation was almost better than hanging out at work where they’d always had an audience and the boundaries that came with being coworkers.

“Anything exciting happen at work today?” she asked.

“Flynn came and took Yolanda to lunch. I saw them making out in the parking lot as I was leaving for my break.”

“No way.”

“I know, and yet, it kind of makes sense, don’t you think?”

“Nope. No way. Gross.”

Chase laughed. “How’d your interview at the shipping place go? That was today, right?”

“It was terrible.” She bit back a grin.

“Um, why do you sound happy about that, Ash?”

“Because the dental office called right after, and I have a job.”

“What a relief. Congratulations.”

She filled him in on all the details as she slowly changed into her pajamas with her one free hand.

“What are you doing?” Chase asked. “It sounds like you’re lifting weights or something.”

Ashley smiled. “Close. I was trying to get my tank top over my head while still holding the phone to my ear.”

“I don’t know why I even asked.”

“Kids in bed?”

“Yeah,” he sighed. “But Gabby’s running a fever. If she’s better in the morning, I’ll send her to school. Otherwise, I guess I’m taking a sick day.”

“I could watch her.” The suggestion popped out automatically. It wasn’t like she had anything better to do.

“You don’t have to do that.”

“Well, why not? I don’t start until Monday. And you know Mr. Davidson will freak out now that he’s down so many people.”

“I don’t know, she might get you sick. Mr. Davidson will get over it. We’ll be fine.”

Ashley was about to counter that she didn’t care if she got sick, but maybe Chase had other concerns he didn’t want to mention. Maybe he didn’t want her further pushing her way into his life. She’d already pried enough in their phone conversation yesterday. She knew he didn’t have anyone else to rely on, but obviously, he wasn’t ready to change that.

“Well, the offer stands, but you do what you think is best. I better let you go.” She hung up and went in the bathroom to brush all the chocolate out of her teeth. It was only eight-forty-five. She hadn’t gone to bed at eight-forty-five since the sixth grade, except for the unfortunate few times she’d had the flu. But after cleaning all day and that somewhat disheartening end to their phone conversation, she suddenly felt tired.

***

“I can stay home from school with her,” Beth offered as she sat down for breakfast.

Chase raised an eyebrow. “After all the school you missed? Nope. I’m staying.”

Gabby had called out in her sleep most of the night, her forehead covered in a sheen of sweat. She needed her sheets changed and a shower, but he thought it best to let her sleep in. He’d gotten little sleep himself. It would be a relief to stay home today. The house was back to disaster zone. He could keep it looking decent for an hour or two at a time, but then it had to be lived in, and the kids could create messes decent people couldn’t dream of. He didn’t want Ashley anywhere near it, and while she’d sounded a little offended when he’d turned her down, she’d get over it. Cleaning up after them was the last thing he wanted her doing, and he knew she wouldn’t be able to help herself. He’d come home to her folding his underwear.

“I hope this girl you’re taking out on Saturday likes kids.” Beth reached across the table to grasp the syrup bottle, and Chase waved her hand away.

“Don’t grab like a Neanderthal. Ask.”

She batted her eyelashes at him. “Chase, will you please pass the syrup? Is that better? I promise I’ll behave if we ever have guests over. Stop worrying.”

He grumpily handed it over. “Who says I’m worried about guests?”

Beth’s face turned serious. “Chase, you need to find someone who’ll love us the way we are. She’s out there. And maybe closer than you think.”

If this was about Ashley again, he wasn’t biting. And the online dating thing only made Beth’s meddling worse. He hadn’t asked for her advice, but she never wasted an opportunity to give it. Mostly though, she just teased him. She’d even found his profile online and gawked at the women wanting to meet up with him.

It didn’t help that he was as stressed as Beth claimed. But every time he considered canceling on Tiffany, he thought of the years ahead, waiting on Ashley to see him as more than a friend. He was self-sacrificing, but also a man. And he needed more than friendly phone calls for the rest of his life.

Fighting a headache, he got Tyler ready for school and out the door with Beth. Then he fell asleep on the couch until Gabby woke him up to let him know she’d thrown up on the bathroom floor.

***

Idleness might be the devil’s workshop, but it also led to dwelling on things better left alone. Chase hadn’t called since Thursday night, and now it was Saturday afternoon, and even a trip to get a pedicure wasn’t raising Ashley’s spirits. Her toes looked fabulous though.

He’d be going out on his first profile date tonight. Ashley hoped the woman would be twice his age with an annoying laugh. Okay, not really. She wanted Chase to be happy. She just wished she could be what made him happy.

After paying at the nail salon and filling her lungs with the fresh air outside, she checked her phone for the time. Later then she thought, and a missed text message.

How are you?

Reid had turned out to be quite the polite little stalker. And now it was time to change her cell number.

She went home and looked for her cellphone bill so she could call the carrier, and just as she was about to dial them, her phone rang with a strange number.

Yeah, Reid with his crazy last minute luck would not get her to pick that up. It went to voicemail, and she was about to delete it, but curiosity got the better of her, and she listened to the message first.

Hey, this is Beth, Chase’s sister. Sorry to bother you. I was wondering if you might want to come over and watch a movie with us while Chase is on his date. Then we can grill him about it together after, just for laughs.

What? Ashley stared at her phone in wonder as Beth rattled off her cell number so Ashley could call her back. Only a few minutes later and Ashley would have missed that call. Probably never would have been the wiser. She doubted Beth was letting Chase in on her little plan. Man, Beth was an adorable little stinker. And yes, a morbid part of Ashley totally wanted to come. After all, at least one member of the Reynolds family wanted her over, even if it wasn’t the one she was in love with.

Ashley called her cell phone carrier. Within minutes, the cell number change was done. The whole process had been too easy and she wished she’d done it years ago. She sent out a mass text to her friends and family with the new number, sent one to Chase, her new boss, and the landlord. And then she called Beth back and laughingly told her, yes, she’d be over soon.

Chapter 17

The doorbell rang as Chase was fiddling with his hair in the bathroom. No matter how many times Beth showed him, he never quite got it to look the same.

“Beth, your friend’s here.”

“Okay,” she called.

A minute later, she ducked her head in the bathroom, grinning like a Cheshire cat. “Don’t worry, we’ll fix your hair. Do you want to do the honors, Ashley?”

He whirled around as Beth and Ashley—yes, his Ashley—stepped into the small bathroom, crowding him in. “What are you doing here?”

Ashley motioned for him to duck down, and she rubbed his hair between her fingers. “Too much gel, I think.”

“Oh, I agree.” Beth handed her a spray bottle and a hand towel.

Ashley wet his hair and toweled it off, her face fluttering just inches from his. “Beth invited me over,” she whispered. “I hope you don’t mind.”

Did he mind? He swallowed hard. For a minute, he couldn’t remember what he was even getting ready for. Oh, yes. A date. “You’re here to help me get ready?”

“Comb.” Ashley held her hand out, and Beth pressed the comb into it like a good assistant. “Well, actually, the getting you ready part wasn’t planned for. Beth just wanted some company after the other two go to bed.”

“I shouldn’t be that late,” he murmured, hoping his hair needed another good fifteen minutes of combing. Ashley’s vanilla scent was familiar and intoxicating. Tiffany would probably smell nice too, though. Tonight was supposed to be about getting to know Tiffany.

“How much time do you have before you need to go? Your shirt got a little wet.” Beth wrinkled her nose. “Plus, I’d go with something … not button down. Don’t you have any nice T-shirts?”

“Oh, I agree.” Ashley smiled at him, obviously enjoying his shock at having her there. “If she’s dressed casual, she’ll feel weird.”

Beth led the way to his bedroom, and to his horror, Ashley tagged along. The two of them started going through his small walk-in closet, comparing shirts. Beth pulled one out and held it up to him before shaking her head and putting it back. A minute later, she handed him something else. “Put this on.”

He took it from her, begrudgingly having to admit to himself that it would look better and be more comfortable. He unbuttoned his top three buttons before realizing they were both still standing there in the closet with him. Beth was sliding shirts back and forth, not paying attention, but Ashley was watching him, and she seemed to realize at the same moment he did that she should immediately leave. She took Beth by the shoulders and ushered her out of his room.

For one moment at least, she’d looked at him with an awareness that went beyond mere friendship. But maybe that was just his mind projecting what it most wanted. He quickly changed and left to go meet Tiffany, not allowing his mind to go back to where it liked to dwell most.

***

Tyler and Gabby had been engrossed in an intense video game battle when Ashley arrived, but Beth turned off their game as soon as Chase left.

“Beth!” Tyler lunged to turn back on the game, even though it was too late to go back to it. Beth caught him around the middle and puppet-marched him over Ashley. “Say hi to our guest.”

He glared at Ashley. “Hi, guest.”

She couldn’t help laughing, and when she stuck out her hand for him to shake, he grinned a little bit too and shook it.

Gabby came over and hugged her around the middle.

“Don’t do that.” Beth moved to pry her off, but Ashley let her know it was okay and bent down so she could give Gabby a proper hug.

Yes, it was a little socially inappropriate for Gabby to be hugging a stranger, but hopefully soon, Ashley wouldn’t be a stranger being introduced as ‘guest.’

“So, what are we doing for dinner?” Ashley asked. “I was thinking of ordering pizza.”

From the enthusiastic whoops in response, Ashley took that as a yes and called up the nearest delivery place.

Beth picked out a movie, and while Ashley itched to get up and tidy the place, instead, she ended up on the couch between Tyler and Gabby. Gabby had beautiful chestnut curls, and from the family pictures on the wall, it looked like she’d inherited them from her mother.

When the doorbell rang, Ashley jumped up and paid the delivery guy, and with Beth, coaxed the kids to come eat at the table rather than the couch.

“We always eat on the couch,” Tyler complained.

Beth gave him one of her death stares. “No, you sneak food on the couch when you can get away with it. Tonight is not one of those times. The movie’s paused. You won’t miss anything.”

“I’m okay with it,” Gabby said. She looked so grown up, except for the pizza sauce gracing both sides of her mouth.

Beth handed her a napkin and pointed out where to wipe.

Ashley could tell they weren’t being as natural as they would be if she wasn’t there, and she also suspected that Beth had other motives for inviting Ashley over. Ones that went beyond messing with Chase. Ashley suspected she was on trial. Maybe it was fear of other random women being introduced to the family, maybe it was pure matchmaking, but either way, Beth clearly wanted to fix Ashley up with Chase. It made Ashley wonder what Chase had said about her.

“How do you think he’s doing?” Beth whispered, half-way through the movie.

Ashley shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. “I’m sure he’s having fun.”

“Just like us,” Gabby said, smiling up at Ashley.

***

Tiffany was also in a T-shirt and jeans, and even with the awkward closet incident, Chase couldn’t help but feel grateful for the last minute change of clothes.

She gave him a hug as he walked up, and then they waited together to be seated at the casual chain restaurant he’d chosen.

“So, your profile said you’re a guardian to your siblings. Is that right? What happened to your parents?” She blinked up at him with her wide blue eyes, framed with drawn-in eyebrows. Somehow he hadn’t noticed that little detail in her profile picture.

He figured Tiffany would ask about the kids at some point, but not right after the hellos. And that changed how much he wanted to reveal. He thought about his conversation with Ashley, about protecting them, even from someone’s random curiosity. When Ashley asked questions, he knew it was because she wanted to know him better. Because she cared. Tiffany was still merely a stranger.

“Our parents died in a car accident years ago. I’m the oldest.”

“Oh, that’s terrible. How many siblings do you have? Like, what ages are they?”

The hostess called his name, and he jumped up and walked to the desk. Tiffany followed. He pretended to have forgotten her questions and made sure to jump in with a new question of his own once they were seated.

Tiffany told him all about where she grew up and all the sports she played in high school. They had both played basketball, so that gave them a good ten minutes of small-talk filler until it was time to order.

He ordered a steak again, though at a third of the price of Carmelo’s. Tiffany ordered a Cobb salad and a bowl of soup. Without the menus between them, she leaned in and took his hands, rubbing his fingers against hers.

“Your hands are so cold, Chase.” She gave him a little flirty smile as she rubbed her thumbs against his knuckles.

His hands were cold because of the overhead fan on full blast, though he wasn’t about to ask to be reseated and cause the wait staff to scramble. It was a typical busy Saturday night. If only he hadn’t rested his hands on the table top. Obviously, he’d sent her an unintended message. It wasn’t Tiffany’s fault, but he’d known within the first five minutes that she wasn’t for him, and every minute longer on this date only confirmed it. Now he had a whole dinner to sit through.

From now on, he’d ask to meet his matches for coffee, or at least message back and forth for a while before committing to a date. This was time and money away from Beth, Gabby, and Tyler. And while he’d spent plenty of both on Ashley, somehow this felt different.

“If you’ll excuse me for a minute.” He pulled away and went to the men’s room, stopping just outside to text Beth and see how everyone was doing.

Beth: We’re fine. Get back to your date. So typical Beth.

The waiter was approaching their table with the food, so he quickly returned, happy to have something busy for his hands besides being caressed by Tiffany.

Of course, she immediately reached out with her fork and took a taste of his cinnamon apples. “Ooh, those are delicious.”

Everything she did that annoyed him filled him with guilt. Because if it was Ashley sitting across from him, he wouldn’t care. Except maybe for the drawn-in eyebrows thing. He liked Ashley’s eyebrows the way they were.

***

Reading to Gabby and tucking her into bed felt a little surreal. And while at ten years old, Gabby might be a little old for it, she probably didn’t get that kind of attention all the time either. It felt nice to be so needed.

“Are you Beth’s friend or Chase’s friend?” Gabby asked with a sleepy yawn as Ashley was turning off the light.

Ashley smiled. “I’m both. And we’re friends too, right?”

Gabby nodded. “Goodnight, Ashley.”

“Goodnight, Gabby.”

Ashley headed down the hall to see how Beth was doing with Tyler. From the sound of it, he was not nearly as sleepy as Gabby. She peeked in to see Beth chasing after him with pajamas in hand. He leaped over the bed and ducked as she made a grab for him. But since it looked more like a game than an actual struggle, she left them to it and went to go tidy up the front room and kitchen.

She took the two pizza boxes out to the trash can and looked up and down the street. It was a nice little neighborhood. Everyone had their front porch lights on and an older couple held hands as they went for their evening walk. They waved to her as they passed.

It felt so … domestic. Was it crazy to dream about being a part of all this?

She stepped back inside and started gathering up random items, putting away stray socks and books, folding the blanket they’d shared while watching the movie. Chase’s work backpack was on the kitchen counter, and she picked it up and carried it to his room, leaving it just inside his door.

The room smelled like him. It was a welcome, familiar scent. He had a little nightstand next to his bed, and she noticed a worn copy of the Bible, along with one of the Harry Potter books. There was so much to him she still wanted to know. But looking around was now reaching snooping levels, and she reached for the light switch to turn off the light. Except now she noticed next to the books on the nightstand there was a small worry stone, the same color, size, and shape as the one her secret admirer had given her. And in that moment, she knew without a doubt that Chase was keeping more than just his reading habits a secret.

Chapter 18

Ashley’s car was still parked in front of his house.

He shouldn’t have been excited about that. He shouldn’t have ducked out of kissing Tiffany goodnight outside of the restaurant, though he didn’t regret it.

Tiffany had texted him two minutes later to say she didn’t think they were compatible. He was relieved since he’d never wanted to exchange real phone numbers with her in the first place. Blind dates were exhausting.

He walked up and went to put his key in the lock, but the door opened, and Ashley stepped out, closing it behind her.

“Hey, Ash.”

“Hey, yourself.” Her eyes sparkled up at him. She looked…. awake. He wasn’t sure how to describe it. Like a fire was lit inside her, and he wasn’t sure whether to expect good news or an argument.

“Fun night?” he asked, instantly regretting it.

She raised an eyebrow. “Super fun. How’d your date go?”

“It was fine.” He glanced at the shut door behind her. “Why are we out here? All the kids alive?”

That was the wrong thing to say. Her eyes narrowed, and she took a step toward him. “Yes. And even if you couldn’t bring yourself to invite me over, Beth did. We did have fun tonight. I got to read two chapters of A Wrinkle in Time with Gabby. I didn’t understand any of it, but apparently, it’s her favorite. I told her next time we’re reading something simple like The Babysitter’s Club or Junie B. Jones or whatever the dumb kids read these days.”

“Next time?” He wanted there to be a next time. But he couldn’t let her become important to everyone else in his life and only a friend to him. And there was no way to tell her that.

“Yes, next time.”

He moved to go inside, and she blocked him with a hand to his chest. She left her hand there and stared up at him.

“I’m glad you like my family, Ash.” He looked away, not wanting to meet her brilliant brown eyes anymore.

“No, you’re not. You’re not glad. Why?”

He took her hand off his chest, though he couldn’t bring himself to let go of it. The touch of her was like magic. With his other hand, he reached up and cupped her face. She didn’t shy away. Instead, he saw an unspoken challenge there. What did she want from him?

Their staring contest ended when she pulled away and opened the door. She stepped inside and grabbed her purse from off the hook in the entryway. “Bye, Beth,” she whispered.

Beth was sitting just inside, on the couch with a book in her hands. She looked up and grinned at the two of them. “Did he tell you how the date went?”

Ashley’s smile faltered. “I’ll let him tell you about it.” She ducked under his arm and ran out to her car.

He followed, afraid she’d take off before he could figure out what was going on. “Ashley, wait.”

She ignored him and got into her car, though at least she didn’t slam the door on his hand when he went to keep it open.

“Please listen.”

She crossed her arms and stared. “Okay, I’m listening.”

But he suddenly couldn’t think of a single thing to say, except that he didn’t want her to leave angry. “I … I’m sorry.” There was so much more attached to that apology, but his mind was whirling with which thing to say first.

She reached for his hand and turned it over, pressing something small and hard into his palm and closing his fingers around it.

He knew what it was without having to look. But which one was it? His or hers?

She smiled like she knew what he was thinking. “Mine’s at home in my jewelry box, Chase.” She shut her car door and locked it, giving him a casual wave as she drove off.

She knew. She knew everything. And he had no idea how she felt about it. Chase opened his hand and looked at his incriminating little worry stone, and then he went inside to try to come up with a plan of what to do next, knowing Beth was going to hound him. Even at sixteen, she couldn’t possibly give him worse advice than his own terrified heart. Maybe it was time to stop keeping all this inside.

***

“I need chocolate, Lina. Stat.”

Lina’s laughter filtered through the phone. “I’d love to help you, but I’m not home yet. Do you remember that gorgeous idiot I told you about, Ben, who used to live in our building?”

“Oh, Lina. No. The guy you made out with during laser tag? That Ben?”

“Yes, but we’re only friends now. Anyway, I’ll be home soon.”

“Is this Ben listening to you talk about him right now?”

“Yes,” a masculine voice said into Lina’s phone, though there was other background noise going on.

Ashley rolled her eyes. There would be no talking to Lina about Chase right now, so she said goodbye and hung up. She groaned and put her head back against the seat as she came to a red light.

Chase was a mystery she wasn’t sure she’d ever unravel.

When she got home, she retrieved all her secret admirer gifts and notes and laid them out on the bed, except for the chocolate, which she’d eaten, and the little flower, which had withered away to nothing in her purse. Grabbing a notepad, she started writing down everything that no longer added up. Chase’s pretend girlfriend. His denial when she’d flat out asked him if he knew who left the worry stone. His announcement that he was going to try online dating the day he gave her the necklace. She wished she’d been wearing the necklace tonight. She would have stuck the little charm in Chase’s astonished face. If he admired her, he sure had a strange way of showing it.

The front door handle rattled and then someone lightly knocked. That was weird, but with a little jolt, she realized it might be Chase, having followed her home. Or maybe Lina forgot her keys. She ran to the front room to check the peephole and froze.

Reid stood there, his hands in his pockets. He’d found her, though why he’d bothered, she wasn’t sure.

Before she did anything stupid, she took a deep breath and a step back. Quietly and methodically, she moved to her bedroom and retrieved her phone from the bed, dialing the local police station. She’d have to be clear and to the point, keeping her emotions in check so she could think straight.

“Phoenix P.D., How can I help you?”

“My ex-boyfriend is at my door. He was abusive, and I’m home alone. Could you possibly send an officer?”

“Yes, ma’am. Let me talk with dispatch to see who’s in your area. Don’t hang up while I put you on hold. Can you tell me your address?”

Reid would probably be long gone by the time they sent an officer, but she knew from having looked it up that she could ask for an emergency order of protection, and they would call a judge and get it fairly quickly. It would be a pain to go into court and file the paperwork for the follow-up, but things had reached a point where she didn’t have a choice.

She walked to the door while on hold and checked the peephole. Nope, still there.

He pounded on the door. “I can see your car, Ashley. I know you’re home. Come on, let’s talk this out.”

She didn’t answer, and he smacked the door one last time with his palm before walking to his car. He’d parked in Lina’s spot, right in front of their apartment. But he didn’t leave. He just sat there.

All the better. She wanted the officer to see him there.

The woman from the police station came back on. “I’ve been told they’re ten minutes out. Are you in imminent danger?”

“I don’t think so. He’s just sitting in his car outside.”

“I can transfer you to 9-1-1 and they can stay on the phone with you until they get there. Otherwise, I need to clear this line.”

“I’m going to call my brother-in-law. I’m okay.”

“Please don’t have anyone confront your ex, ma’am. Wait for the officer.”

“Understood. I won’t.”

She should have been scared, and she was. But she found that she wanted to face Reid again, and this time let him see he couldn’t intimidate her anymore. She wouldn’t let shame hold her back from the good relationships she had now or forming new ones in the future. Maybe Chase couldn’t be that guy, but there was the small hope of someone, someday. Lina would want to throw a party when she told her.

Shaun and Paige lived fifteen minutes away. Ashley called Paige, who immediately handed the phone to Shaun as soon as Ashley explained.

“I’m not going to say I told you so,” Shaun said in greeting.

“This really isn’t the time for lectures, Shaun.”

“I know. I’m coming. Stay put.”

“Don’t approach until I let the officer know you’re there. I don’t want anyone getting shot.”

“I won’t. I promise. Do you mind if I bring Preston? I can see him playing basketball in his driveway down the street.”

She could hear the dinging of his seatbelt alarm and knew Shaun was already getting in his truck.

The familiar embarrassment and shame started to seep in. It was bad enough Shaun and Paige had to know everything. But it didn’t matter. She’d promised herself no more secrets. Besides, Shaun’s neighbor, though practically a stranger, had been there when she’d broken up with Reid the first time.

“Why not. Let’s make this a party.”

“That’s the spirit.”

“I’m being sarcastic.”

“Paige is coming out with her shoes. I told her to stay put, but she’s not listening.”

“Oh, brother.”

“Just hold on. We’ll be there soon. Oh, and you should call Chase. He cares about you more than you know.”

Chase was the one person she wouldn’t be calling about this, though he’d be mad later about being left out. She’d call him in the morning and tell him about it, but tonight would be hard enough without worrying about the crazy roller coaster of emotions she felt when she thought about Chase.

***

Beth had practically cornered him when he’d stepped back in the house, and he’d used the excuse of checking on Tyler and Gabby to get a minute to gather his thoughts. He sat on the edge of Tyler’s bed and watched the little guy sleep. Tyler almost looked angelic when he wasn’t tearing apart the house.

Beth leaned against the doorframe. “Do I at least get to hear about Tiffany? You don’t like it when I ignore you. And I did literally just wrestle Tyler into that bed a half-hour ago. I made him promise if he lost a two-out-of-three arm wrestling contest, he would have to stay there until he fell asleep.”

Chase looked back at her. “I won’t be going out with Tiffany again.”

His sister only smirked. “I think I could have told you that. Now quit hiding in here, and let’s talk about Ashley.”

“Yes, let’s.” Beth had tricked him into thinking it was a school friend she was inviting over, when all along she’d planned to mess with his head by having Ashley there. If he wasn’t so irritated, he’d be impressed.

He tried to lecture her about it, but when her smirk only grew bigger, Chase gave up and sat on the other end of the couch. There was no point in trying to get Beth to feel sorry about it, because obviously, she wasn’t the least bit sorry. And if Chase were being honest with himself, he wasn’t sorry about it either.

“What’s going on with you and Ashley?” Beth finally asked. “The truth this time.”

“I told you the truth. It’s complicated.”

Beth stared him down, and he finally caved, spilling the whole stupid story, from his ancient crush to the secret admirer thing.

Beth hopped up from the couch when Chase got to the part about Ashley offering to watch Gabby while she was sick.

“You stayed home from work while she sat at home in her apartment with nothing to do? Do you know what kind of message that sends a woman?”

Chase raised an eyebrow at her, but Beth only glared back. “It tells her you don’t trust her. That you don’t need her. And yet, she still seems to like you. I don’t get it.”

He squirmed a little at the thought of how he’d made Ashley feel.

Beth glared at him. “What are you still even doing here? It’s only nine-thirty. Go after her already.”

He wasn’t sure that was the best idea right now, but maybe he’d just sit in his car and call her. It would give them a little privacy from prying ears.

He sat in his car and dialed, but the call went straight to her voicemail, and he hung up without leaving a message. Unfortunately, Beth was right. This was an in-person kind of conversation. He called back, and this time left a message that he was coming over if she wanted to talk. Then he backed out of his driveway and pep-talked his way over to Ashley’s apartment.

***

Ashley sat on the couch with her head on her fists until another knock came, an authoritative one that a policeman might use.

She checked the peephole and saw the officer, an older guy the size of a linebacker who’d let himself go. When he flashed his badge at the peephole, she opened up, letting the officer confirm who she was and introduce himself as Officer Darnell.

She’d thought Reid would immediately leave, but instead, he calmly climbed out of his car to join them as soon as she pointed him out.

“Hello, officer. I’m Reid Kelley.” He held out a hand for the officer to shake, so at ease with himself. And as always, that only made Ashley more nervous.

Even when the officer frisked him for weapons and sat him on the curb, Reid acted as if it was all perfectly normal.

“What seems to be the problem tonight?” Officer Darnell asked, after checking Reid’s background for priors on his computer. If Ashley had pressed charges when they broke up, for the attempted theft or the assault, there would have been something for the officer to see. But of course, Reid’s record was clean.

Ashley gestured to where Reid was sitting on the sidewalk. “He won’t leave.”

Reid put his hands up in surrender and glanced back at her, looking apologetic. “You didn’t answer the door, Ash. I assumed you weren’t home, so I was just waiting in my car for you to get back. I’m sorry if I scared you.”

“What’s your relationship?” Officer Darnell asked, looking from Reid to Ashley. She could see the doubt in his eyes already. Reid was too good at this.

“He’s my ex-boyfriend.”

“Ex-fiancé,” Reid corrected.

“Well, either way, I broke up with him because he got controlling and he hit me.”

Reid’s eyes went wide with innocent surprise when Officer Darnell’s head swiveled back to him. “This true, young man?”

“No, I never hit her. We had our disagreements, but I swear I only came to talk things out tonight. She can get a little hot-headed, but I love her.” Reid smiled at her like she was such a handful, but he loved her despite it all.

Ashley pulled out her phone. Her hands, not quite as coordinated with her whole body slightly shaking from nerves, couldn’t seem to tap the right buttons. “He’s been texting me, even though I blocked him.” She showed the officer his messages from random numbers. I miss you. I love you. Don’t be mad.

The officer was underwhelmed, to say the least. He looked from the texts to Reid and back again, taking in Reid’s sympathetic and loving expression. When the officer handed back her phone, Reid smiled at her just a fraction. He’d known. He’d known only she would consider texts like that threatening.

Officer Darnell put his notepad back in his front chest pocket and scratched his head. “Well, I think you should probably leave for the night, Reid. If Ashley wants to contact you, she’ll know where to find you.”

“But …” Ashley sputtered. “He’s lying. About everything. He went to my work looking for me earlier this week.”

The officer stared at the two of them for a second, before his radio crackled with an alert from dispatch. This was low on his priority list, and she could see he was antsy to leave.

“Hang on a moment.” Officer Darnell pulled out his radio and spoke with dispatch, ignoring the two of them.

“I don’t get it,” Ashley whispered. “Why are you even here? Did things not work out with Miss Channel Nine?”

“You know it didn’t,” Reid hissed, for the first time breaking character from the kind, long lost boyfriend. “Thanks to you, she won’t return my calls.”

So, the weather girl had gotten Ashley’s email. Good. It was all starting to make sense. In Reid’s mind, she’d messed with his life, so now he was messing with hers. It was so like him.

Officer Darnell put away his radio and gestured toward Reid’s car, indicating it was time for Reid to go. Reid thanked him for his time and his service while Ashley stood there frozen, not sure what she could have done differently, or how to make the truth more believable. Reid was leaving, with a clear pass to continue to pester her.

Her phone vibrated with a text from Paige.

Paige: We’re here.

Ashley saw them pulling in, and she regained her courage. “Officer Darnell, could you wait just a moment while my sister and brother-in-law come up? They were with me when I broke up with Reid over a year ago and helped me remove him from my apartment back then.”

Shaun jogged over, blocking Reid from opening his car door. “How’s it going, Reid? Long time no see.”

Reid sniffed and took a step back, the first time he’d showed any uncertainty at all.

Officer Darnell frowned. “You two over here, please. Let’s not turn this into a circus.”

Shaun happily followed Reid back up to the porch and submitted to a weapons check. “Reid Kelley was my roommate in college. I can confirm that he’s a thief, a liar, and a squatter. Anything else that we should mention, Ash?”

Reid scoffed. “None of that’s true. He’s the liar.”

“Who are these two?” Officer Darnell asked, ignoring both Reid and Shaun. Preston and Paige had walked up to stand next to Ashley, and the officer checked them and had them sit down next to Shaun, while Reid got to return to his curb space on the other side.

Preston raised his hand. “I’m Preston Ford, Shaun’s friend. I was there with Shaun and Ashley when we went to get Reid to leave her apartment the first time. I believe she was the one paying rent and working, and he was just ... there.”

“I paid rent,” Reid muttered.

Paige lifted her head. “I’m Ashley’s sister, Paige Parker. I always suspected something was wrong, but then the night Ashley met me to look at wedding dresses, she had a split lip and finally admitted it was Reid. I made her come home with me.”

Ashley suddenly realized she was holding the most obvious evidence on her phone, the angry texts from Reid after she’d gone home with her sister that night. She pulled out her phone again. “Officer Darnell, I haven’t seen Reid in more than a year up until this week. And the last texts he sent me right before we broke up were these.”

She pulled up her messages from him, and sure enough, the last texts before, We should catch up were his angry threats from over a year ago, warning her if she didn’t come home she’d regret it, plus some not so nice things about Paige.

Officer Darnell gave Reid a hard stare, sizing him up for the first time.

“Hey, is everything okay? Who’s parked in my spot?” Lina left her car idling behind the police officer’s and ran around her hood, taking in the sight of everyone on the porch. Lina was dripping wet, down to her sopping shoes. Before Officer Darnell could ask, she volunteered, “I’m Lina James. I live here with Ashley. Is everything all right?”

“Do you know this man? Reid Kelley?” Officer Darnell asked.

Lina looked him over. “I know of him. I’ve seen his picture, and Ashley told me if he ever showed up here not to let him in.”

Officer Darnell waved toward her car. “Go park somewhere else, Reid’s not leaving just yet.”

Lina saluted and went to do as he asked, but she stopped before getting in her car and looked behind her. “Um, Ashley, I think that’s Chase pulling in. I better go talk to him before he freaks out about the cop car in front of your apartment and Reid being here.”

Ashley stared up at the porch ceiling. Just one big party. All they needed was Lina’s famous spinach dip and a cake. Her heart gave a little flip-flop when she realized this meant Chase had come after her. But whatever he’d come to say would have to wait.

Paige reached up for Ashley’s hand and gave it a small squeeze. “At least Mom and Dad aren’t here,” she whispered.

“Or Aunt Terrie.”

Reid was glaring at the two of them, and Ashley stared back, trying not to enjoy the fact that this was now getting more awkward for him than it was for her.

Lina ran back with Chase right behind her. She gave Ashley a wink and headed inside their apartment. Only Lina would not be fazed by coming home to find a cop, all her friends, and her roommate’s ex-boyfriend on the front step.

“So Reid showed up here?” Chase asked, coming forward to let the cop frisk him before joining Ashley’s support group on the curb.

“And what’s your relationship to these two?” Officer Darnell asked, looking slightly annoyed. Not that Ashley could blame him. He’d called for backup with the continual stream of people showing up to have a say in the matter, though the second cop stayed in the car nearby and just watched them, looking bored.

Chase lifted his chin. ‘I’m Ashley’s coworker.”

“I thought you were Ashley’s boyfriend,” Reid said, crumpling up a leaf in the gutter.

“It’s not possible to be both?” Chase turned to look at Ashley with just a bit of mischievousness in his eyes. “But if it hasn’t been mentioned yet, I came out to find Reid wandering around our work parking garage on Wednesday. He said he was hoping to ‘surprise’ Ashley.”

Officer Darnell’s eyebrows raised, and he turned to Ashley. “Okay, let’s finish this up. Obviously, Reid here has a hard time taking a hint, or being honest. I’m going to get you an emergency order of protection for the weekend, and then Monday you go have this little get-together with a judge, okay? I’ll make sure Reid goes home tonight.” He turned to look at Reid, who was turning an ugly shade of red in the face. “Reid, what this means for you is that the next time you decide to visit Ashley at her home or work, you’ll leave in handcuffs. Understood? No calling or texting her. Come with me while I get the paperwork from the car and make a phone call. The rest of you stay here.” He led Reid over to his car and stuck him in the backseat before going around and working on his computer mounted in the console up front.

Tears pricked Ashley’s eyes. She hated to admit it, but Shaun had been so right. Fighting this alone wouldn’t have been brave or smart. Without all of them butting in, the officer never would have seen the truth.

Chapter 19

Shaun looked back at Chase and gave him an encouraging smile as they were leaving the porch. “Goodnight, you two.”

Paige nudged her husband. “Leave them be.” She grabbed Shaun’s hand and dragged him over to their car, the two of them laughing about something together.

“How long have they been married?” Chase asked.

Ashley smiled at him. “Just a few months. I was not a fan of Shaun when they first started dating, but he’s good for her.” She waved to Preston as he was backing out.

Chase glanced at Ashley, not knowing what to do now that it was the two of them standing there on her porch. Maybe with everything that had happened, it would be better to talk tomorrow. He took a step away, and Ashley pinned him with a glance.

“Come in for a minute, and let’s talk.”

She opened her door and went in, dropping the paperwork from Officer Darnell on the counter before moving to the couch, the same sagging leather couch that had messed with his mind earlier in the week. She sat down right in the middle and looked up, waiting for him to join her.

He stood in the doorway, more nervous than he’d ever been in his life. “Are you really okay? I should have been here when Reid showed up. I should have followed you home instead of sitting there, overthinking everything.”

Ashley gave him a small smile. “You do that a lot. Overthink things. And I’m fine. I think. Thanks for asking.” She raised an eyebrow, as if wondering if he was going to continue to stand there rather than come sit down next to her and talk about what they really needed to.

But if he settled into that blasted couch, he’d never be able to think clearly, so he walked over and sat in the armchair across from her and pulled the worry stone from his pocket, flipping it back and forth in his hands.

Ashley leaned forward. “I have no idea where we stand anymore, Chase. Care to clarify?”

He met her fierce expression head on. “We’re friends. But I’ve always wanted to be more.”

She looked skeptical. “Since when?”

“Since that first day I met you, when you came over to my cubicle and rescued me from my mean trainer.”

“Denise was mean.” Ashley seemed to size him up. “Prove it.”

“Prove what?” He shifted uncomfortably in his chair. Ashley was in a strange mood, and he had a feeling he knew exactly what she was asking.

“Come over here and sit by me.”

He shook his head. “I’d like to know what you think of me first. I don’t want to be toyed with. If you hadn’t found out that I was your secret admirer, would you ever consider me as more than your buddy? I was always there, in the background, while you dated Phil, and Harrison, and Reid. It was never me. So don’t tell me to come prove anything.” He hadn’t felt angry until he’d said it, but with the words came the familiar feeling of rejection, of being the unnoticed good guy while she dated guys better-looking who treated her terribly.

Ashley stood up and walked across the room, her hands in her hair. “Maybe I’m not okay. I will never be free of him. I will never be free of any of them.”

“I shouldn’t have said that.” How had he turned this into a fight? They’d never fought, but they’d never been able to be completely honest with each other before, either. But this was too honest. He’d been too honest, lashing out with his insecurities and hitting hers. He’d hurt her, and she’d already been hurt enough.

“You said what you were thinking. Bravo, Chase.” She stared at the wall, blowing out a long deep breath.

Chase got up and walked to her, taking her arms held rigidly at her sides and wrapping them around his middle until she was almost hugging him. She looked up at him and sighed. “I shouldn’t want to hug you right now.”

“Take the hug, Ash.”

She balled her hands into fists and lightly punched his ribs, and then she put her arms around him fully and held on tight, resting her head against his chest. They stood like that for several minutes.

“I’m in love with you,” he whispered in her ear.

Her head shot back up, and she pulled her arms away. “Don’t say that right now.”

“Why not?”

She ducked her head. “Because being in love with me is not the same as loving me, Chase. You’re attracted to me, maybe even infatuated with me. But you don’t love me. Loving me means you have to give me everything, even the things you hide. It means you have to accept that I have a past that’s not so great.”

“Do you love me?” he asked, feeling frustrated and confused.

“Yes, Chase. I love you. Now please leave.”

***

Ashley checked the peephole after closing the door on him. He stood there, staring at her door for a full minute, and then left. She was tempted to chase after him, but in her current state of churning emotions, it wouldn’t be a good idea to continue their conversation.

Instead, Ashley went to Lina’s closed bedroom door. “Lina,” she hissed. “How much of that did you hear?” She opened up the door to see Lina sitting on her bed with her headphones on, folding laundry.

Lina got up and slid off the bed. “I’m sorry. I figured there were enough people out there, and I didn’t want to be a distraction.”

Ashley grinned. “You’re pretty good at that, being a distraction. Care to explain why you came home all wet? I thought you were out with Ben.”

“We fell in a pool. It’s a long story.” Lina waved it away as if it were a commonplace occurrence. “So, Reid’s gone? Everything’s okay?”

“Yes, Reid is gone.” Ashley sighed. “And Chase just left.”

“Have you two worked anything out? Or is it tortured friendship from here to eternity with you two?”

“That’s not funny, Lina.”

“Sorry. Things are that bad, huh?”

“I’m afraid even our friendship might not make it. He was the secret admirer. I thought knowing it for sure would make everything better, but I hurt him, Lina. All those years he’s been in love with me, and I never saw it. I never saw the right guy. Why?”

Lina shrugged. “Don’t worry about why. We’ve had this conversation before, Ash. Let the past go. You have to believe in yourself enough to not think you’re always doomed to failure. Fate is a lie. We grow up and our choices get better. That’s the goal, anyway.”

Ashley nodded. “I want to believe that. But I need him to believe it, too. Chase thought I might want to get back together with Reid. He believed Reid when he said we’d been talking again.”

Lina cocked her head to the side. “Didn’t you say Reid was an incredible liar?”

“Yes, but…”

“But what?”

“Chase thinks I’m only interested in him now because I found out about the secret admirer thing.”

“That’s his bruised ego crying out. Chase wanted you to see him for him. At some point, he’ll either get over the fact that you dated Reid first, or he won’t.”

Ashley nodded. It was a hard truth, but one she needed to hear. “Thank you, Lina.” She said goodnight, her heart heavy.

It was easier to be mad at Chase, but he wasn’t to blame for her choices. And regret didn’t help, though she wished with all her heart she could change the past.

Maybe it would be easier to start over with someone else. With sharp realization, she finally understood Chase’s weird jump into online dating.

Chapter 20

Chase slept little, but he did formulate and toss aside several plans, until he knew what Ashley would want him to do. He started by taking down his online dating profile the next morning. It was a relief to know he never had to answer another hopeful message from a stranger, however beautiful or statistically compatible. All he’d managed to do was waste time and money, not to mention, confuse the heck out of Ashley.

He had no idea what had come over him the night before, when all she wanted was some answers. Of course, Ashley was confused. He was confusing himself.

He never thought there’d be anything more terrifying than finally admitting his feelings, but when she’d challenged him to prove it… What kind of answer was that? It felt like rejection. It felt like he was getting her curiosity in return, not the reciprocation he’d been longing for. She said she loved him. Was that a friendship kind of love? He’d always felt that from her. Affection, appreciation. Could it be more?

Whatever the reason she hadn’t run away screaming after finding out he was her secret admirer, he’d take it without letting his pride get in the way. He’d take this opportunity to make it right, see it through, no matter how things turned out.

He showered and dressed and headed straight over to her apartment, hoping it wasn’t too early.

Lina answered, looking him over. “She’s just getting out of the shower. Go sit, and I’ll let her know you’re here.”

Chase walked around instead, looking at the bulletin board pictures and trying to shake off the nervous energy that had him swinging his arms back and forth like an agitated monkey.

“Chase?”

He whirled around, taking in the sight of her with damp hair and bare feet. He wanted to see her like this every morning. The thought was both scary and amazing. He’d never allowed himself to hope before. “I didn’t send flowers. My instinct was to send something instead of facing you after what happened last night, but I don’t want to do that anymore. So, I decided to send me.”

Ashley’s eyebrows raised. “Good choice.”

“Are you busy today? I thought you might want to spend the day with us, but I should probably give you an idea of what our Sundays look like.”

She took a step forward, a small smile starting to escape her serious expression. “What are your Sundays like?”

“Well, there’s a small community church just down the street from us, so I usually wrestle Tyler into a collared shirt, and then the two of us pass a football back and forth on the lawn until the girls are ready. They take forever. Then we walk down together, and when we get back, lunch is kind of a free-for-all with sandwiches and ramen soup. Tyler’s friend, Mike, usually sneaks over and eats all the chips. The two of them get banished to the backyard at some point because they’ve broken something, and eventually we send Mike home and all collapse on the couch for a movie. And then I get out my secret stash of Oreos after the younger two are in bed and watch the news.”

Ashley reached out and straightened Chase’s collar, making his skin tingle as her fingers skimmed over his neck. Her brown eyes stared into his. “I think I’d like that. I’ll go find something to wear to church. And I’ll pack some jeans for afterward. What do Tyler and Mike do in the backyard?”

He smiled. “They usually turn on the hose and flood the yard, making a huge mud bog. And then they run through it, chasing each other with sticks.”

“Maybe I’ll join them.”

Chase laughed. “You’ll only make that mistake once.”

***

Ashley was glad she had brought along an extra set of clothes, because while she’d avoided the mud, Tyler had unleashed the hose on her as retaliation for beating him and Mike in a foot race. She ran up to the porch and turned off the spigot before they could do it again. Chase and Beth were watching from the window, laughing. She met Chase’s eyes and blushed. Except for a few long looks, he hadn’t so much as held her hand.

Everything was different and nothing was different. But she’d been the one to throw herself at him in front of Reid, and then stupidly tried to goad him into proving his feelings last night. She would absolutely not make the first move again.

“Get her!” Tyler and Mike shouted, running after her with their makeshift spears. She took off into the grass and started climbing up the large tree at the back of the yard. Chase was right. She would probably not join the two monsters outside again, but for today, they were excited to have an extra friend/victim to join them in their games, and she was excited to be a part of it. They circled the tree, whooping and yelling like wild banshees. Once they began climbing after her, Ashley gauged the distance to the ground, debating whether it would be safer to jump now or try to maneuver around them to get down.

The back door creaked open, and Chase stepped outside, cradling several round objects in his shirt. “Hey, losers.” Chase launched a water balloon at Tyler, hitting him squarely in the back. He aimed again and barely missed Mike. The two boys ran at him, and he hit them several more times until they wrestled him to the ground, getting him just as muddy and dirty as they were.

Ashley took the opportunity to get out of the tree and run inside. Gabby and Beth supplied her with the next set of water balloons they’d been filling in the kitchen sink.

“Are you two coming outside with me?” she asked.

Gabby shook her head. “No way. They’re just being nice to you because you’re new.”

“That was nice?”

Beth laughed. “Unfortunately, yes.”

“Well then, it’s probably time to bring them inside before they kill Chase.”

“Chase is as big a kid as they are. He’ll be okay. You’ll see.”

Ashley took the balloons outside, and sure enough, Chase had a boy under each arm, stomping his way towards her. “Free shots, right here, Ash.”

Tyler and Mike howled in protest until she threw the first water balloon, showing how bad her aim was. By the third throw, they were taunting her. Even Chase was trying not to laugh.

She decided to aim for the biggest body, and the next balloon hit Chase squarely in the chest and bounced off, splatting in the grass.

He was coming up on her fast, and she threw the last balloon, but it landed several feet in front of them.

Chase let go of the boys and grabbed her up instead. “Out of water balloons, missy?”

She laughed as he lightly tickled her sides. “Chase, you’re all muddy and gross.”

It was the wrong thing to say because he wiped his muddy cheek against hers, and then wiped a streak of mud down her nose with his finger. “Much better.”

She smiled up at him, and his expression changed, growing serious, his eyes questioning. The arm around her tightened slightly, drawing her closer.

“Ew, they’re going to kiss.”

Out of the corner of her eye, Ashley saw Tyler coming at them with the hose. And then the water hit.

***

Chase looked in on Ashley as she was reading to Gabby at bedtime. After showering, Ashley had changed back into her light blue dress. It had tiny buttons all down the front and swished around her knees when she walked. He really liked her in dresses, but then, she looked amazing in anything she wore. She glanced up at him, and her eyes communicated pure joy.

He’d always imagined her disgusted or overwhelmed by his life, but here she was, insisting on being a part of it, embracing all of it, including helping Tyler clean the mud out of his ears. There was a long scratch on her arm, probably from a tree branch. It was the tree he used to climb when he was a kid. Seeing her scramble up it had been like seeing his past, present, and future colliding.

Her words from last night sunk deep into his chest. Loving me means you have to give me everything, even the things you hide. It means you have to accept that I have a past that’s not so great.

Today he’d tried to give her that first part. It still stung when he thought about Reid and her other past boyfriends. He wished he could go back in time and tell her he loved her then, but maybe she would have dated them anyway and rejected him outright. Maybe she was right about him, and it had only been an infatuation back then. They wouldn’t have become friends. He’d be just another guy at that office trying to capture her attention.

But it wouldn’t do any good to dwell on regrets or what-ifs. And forcing Ashley to face her regrets by using them against her in an argument was not the kind of person he wanted to become. He might not be the first guy she’d ever noticed, but he wanted to be her last. Being jealous of something she couldn’t change was just asking to ruin any chance at a future together.

Tyler was supposed to be brushing his teeth, but it had been quiet for a while, and Chase went to go see what mischief his brother had gotten into.

He let out the breath he’d been holding when he found Tyler drawing comics on his bedroom floor in his underwear. His pajamas were in a heap next to him. Rather than asking, he went and inspected Tyler’s toothbrush, which was, of course, dry.

By the time he got to escape to the couch with Ashley, it was almost ten. Beth went into her room and closed the door, giving him a wink.

Like he needed more pressure. He felt like a spy who’d been undercover for years and was suddenly expected to give up his secret identity.

He sat rigidly next to her, watching the news and trying to get his heart to stop galloping.

The next story was about a local festival where people could buy fresh vegetables and get their hair braided.

“That’s exciting stuff right there.” Ashley leaned into him, and he shifted down so she could rest her head in the crook of his shoulder. She snuggled into him, laying her head on his chest instead.

Now she’d know how fast his heart was beating, but he had to remind himself it didn’t matter. There was nothing to hide anymore. “Thanks for hanging out with us today. Next time, you don’t have to be such a good sport. It’s okay to be annoyed with them sometimes, especially if you get sprayed in the face with the hose.”

“Next time?”

Chase slowly nodded. “Next time.” He ran a hand down the silky strands of her hair, feeling like everything he’d ever hoped for was falling into place.

Ashley tilted her head up. “Pay attention, Chase. You don’t want to miss this next story. A fist fight broke out at a school board meeting.”

“You’re mocking me.”

“Yes.” She poked his side.

“Ash, are you going to get that order of protection tomorrow?”

She let out a deep sigh. “Yes. Because I’m training, my hours are shorter this first week. Paige and Shaun are coming with me after I get off work.”

“I’ll come.”

She covered his mouth with her hand, and he couldn’t help puckering his lips against her fingers.

“Chase, stay at work and get done whatever Mr. Davidson asks. I promise I’ll call you if I need you.”

He pulled her hand away from his mouth and kept it, rubbing his thumb across her palm. “Nope. I’m coming. Mr. Davidson is used to my emergencies. Last year, Tyler jumped off the top of the monkey bars at school and broke his leg.”

“Oh, that’s terrible. Why don’t I remember that?”

Chase stared at the TV. “I didn’t tell anyone else. Mr. Davidson let me use my vacation days.”

“You didn’t go to San Diego?”

He shook his head.

“What are we going to do with each other?” Ashley whispered. “I’m still trying to get rid of my ex, and you have this terrible lying habit.”

“I guess I’ll just have to tell you everything you want to know.”

Ashley smiled up at him. Maybe he shouldn’t have given her such an open invitation.

“Why did you start the secret admirer thing?”

“Because I’m a chicken, and I couldn’t just tell you in person. Next.”

She laughed. “How did your date really go last night? Don’t tell me it was fine.”

“Terrible. Every time Tiffany touched me, I felt disloyal to you, even though I was convinced you wouldn’t care.”

“And how did this Tiffany touch you?”

Chase scoffed. “Get your mind out of the gutter. She wanted to warm up my hands. She said they were cold.”

“Ah, the cold hands trick. You didn’t kiss her, did you?”

Chase tucked an errant strand of Ashley’s hair behind her ear. “She tried.”

“Are you messaging with any other eager matches?”

“No. I closed the account.”

Ashley nodded but didn’t follow up with the question he’d most expected her to ask.

“You’re not going to ask me why I even tried online dating?”

“I think I get that one. But it didn’t work, did it?”

“What didn’t work?”

“It didn’t push me out of your head.” She ran her hand down his arm and back up, making him shiver. “I’m sorry it took me so long to get it together, Chase. But you have to know I didn’t suddenly decide to take a chance on you when I found your worry stone. I’ve been fighting feelings for you for a while. I think I first became aware of it when we ran into each other at the department store. Of course, I thought you had a girlfriend at the time.”

Chase ducked his head. “Do you remember the day I told you about her? You called me your good friend, and I just kind of snapped and decided I’d show you I didn’t need you. I’ve acted like an idiot.”

“I should have figured it out sooner. I think you called her Vanessa and then later her name changed.”

Chase laughed. “Vanessa, Valerie, close enough, right?”

“So close.”

Chase stroked her hair as they watched a toothpaste commercial. He’d never enjoyed network TV quite so much, though his mind was far from toothpaste or anything else coming from the glowing box. “If I tell you I love you, are you going to chew me out this time?” he whispered.

Ashley sat up and looked at him. “No, I won’t chew you out this time. You already know that I love you, though I did kind of throw it at you. I’m sorry.”

His throat suddenly felt drier than the Sahara desert. “I love you, Ashley.”

She stared at him, her lips quirking into a smile. “Last question.” She leaned toward him, biting her lip. “Um, were you ever planning on kissing me tonight? You’re killing me here, Chase.”

***

Chase picked up the remote and turned off the TV before shifting his body to look at her fully. And oh, what a look. Ashley’s face warmed under his scrutiny. She shouldn’t have asked. Why did she have to be so forward all the time?

“I’ll kiss you when I’m good and ready,” Chase murmured as he closed the distance, his lips skimming just over the surface of her mouth before moving to kiss each corner. He was such a tease.

Then he pulled her to him and kissed her fully, thoroughly. Her whole body sang with delight. She loved the feel of his arms around her and the slow and steady way his lips moved against hers. She felt loved. She felt safe.

He brushed her hair back from her forehead and pressed a kiss there. His heartbeat under her hand jumped in double time, though his face was calm.

He moved to kiss her again when a screech from down the hall interrupted them. Chase groaned.

“Come on,” Ashley whispered, jumping to her feet. “Let’s go see what’s wrong.” She pulled him up, and they crept down the hallway, hand in hand, trying to figure out where the noise had come from.

Gabby’s door creaked open and she stared up at them with tired, squinty eyes. “I had a bad dream.”

Ashley wanted to immediately scoop her up and stay with her until she fell asleep, but she turned to Chase. She wasn’t sure what the protocol was for something like this.

Chase gave Ashley’s hand a squeeze. “I’ll be back in a minute.” He led Gabby back to her bed, asking if she wanted him to sing her a song.

Curiosity pulled at Ashley, but she didn’t stay to eavesdrop. There would be other nights here, other opportunities to be amazed and surprised by everything that was Chase Reynolds.

After sitting in the dark on the couch for a few minutes, she flipped back on the TV, hoping to find something other than news to watch.

But upon seeing the screen, she knew she wouldn’t be changing channels. Reid’s mugshot stared back at her. She got off the couch and knelt in front of the TV to hear better without having to turn up the volume. “Reid Kelley is being held in connection with a string of credit card skimming machines found at several valley gas stations. He was arrested this evening and is being booked into Maricopa County’s Fourth Avenue Jail…”

“You should still go in tomorrow.” Chase came to sit down beside her on the floor, taking her hand in his. They watched the footage for several more minutes, and then she reached up and hit the power button on the TV. Hopefully soon, she would never have to think about Reid again.

She turned to Chase and curled up in his arms, needing his warmth, his comfort. And with all the chemistry flowing between them, that comfort rapidly led to getting back to where they’d left off, and then soaring to new heights.

Ashley finally pulled back, taking deep breaths. “I need to go.”

Chase gave her one last soft peck. “I know.”

“Chase.” She put a hand to his cheek. How she loved this man. “I’m not the same person I was with Reid. There are lines I don’t want to cross again until marriage.”

Ashley studied his face, looking for disgust, or irritation, or shock. But all she saw was love.

Chase helped her to her feet. “Call me when you get home so I know you’re okay.”

“I’m a five-minute drive away.”

“Call me anyway.”

She gave him one more kiss at the door, and another before getting into her car. Their goodnight phone conversation lasted several hours. The gravely sound of his tired, happy voice filled her with a contentment that led to good sleep and good dreams.

Epilogue

Chase motioned for Beth to follow him, and they crept into the room where Ashley was reading to Tyler and Gabby. Tyler, who had never shown any interest in books, or sitting still, was cuddled up next to Ashley on the bed. This is where the three of them could be found most nights at eight-thirty.

It was what Chase was counting on.

Beth collapsed on the end of the bed to listen, and Chase gave Ashley a quick kiss on the cheek before sitting in the desk chair nearby. He loved to hear Ashley do all the different voices from whatever book she was reading. Right now, she was doing the scratchy voice of Templeton, the rat in Charlotte’s Web.

Her cheeks reddened when she looked up and caught him staring, but she continued on until she reached the end of the chapter. Then she folded down the corner of the page and put the book on the nightstand. “Okay, you two. Time for bed.”

“Nooo!” Tyler shot up like a firecracker and began jumping on the bed.

Beth grabbed him up and tucked him under her arm in a headlock. “Is that any way to treat your brother’s girlfriend?”

Gabby looked up at Ashley with puppy dog eyes. “Just one more page?”

Chase eased himself off the desk chair and came to kneel by the bed. “I can give you two a little more time if you can sit still and be quiet for a few minutes. It’s time for a family meeting.”

“A family meeting?” Tyler whined. He had no idea what a family meeting was since Chase had never had one with them, but to Tyler, anything unfamiliar was worth complaining about.

“Okay, meeting is adjourned. Tyler can’t be quiet. Off to bed with you.” Chase winked at Ashley as Tyler immediately sat up and pretended to zip his lips.

“Is Ashley family?” Gabby asked quietly.

Chase gazed at Ashley. “Good question. First order of business, all in favor of making Ashley part of the family, raise your hand.”

He watched Ashley’s eyes as she took in all the raised hands, including his. She still didn’t get it. But she would.

He reached in his pocket and brought out a black velvet box, placing it in front of Ashley on the bed. Weeks ago, he’d gotten her ring size from Lina, and a long description of what she might like.

Ashley reached out and gripped his hand. “Chase, what is this?”

“You didn’t vote in favor of joining the family. I thought this might help sway you.”

She shakily laughed and opened the box, gasping when she saw the diamond winking at them as it caught the lamplight. “Um, I think we should do a recount.”

Chase looked around. Beth was already crying. Gabby couldn’t stop wringing her hands, looking from Ashley to Chase and back again. The poor girl was probably afraid Ashley would say no.

Chase had once held a little of that fear too. But now, he couldn’t wait to start forever with the only woman he’d ever loved.

“Recount, recount,” Tyler chanted.

Ashley held out her left hand to Chase, and he carefully pulled out the ring and slid it on her finger. Then she raised her hand high in the air, waving the ring back and forth.

“I vote yes.” She gave Tyler a high five when he put his hand up to join hers.

With all hands in the air, the waterworks opened. Ashley started sobbing and hugged Gabby to her. “Come here, Beth.”

Beth looked embarrassed, but she moved in for a hug from Ashley, too.

“I’m good with a high-five.” Tyler jumped from the bed and ran out the door. He’d never been comfortable around crying females.

Chase gave Ashley a quick kiss and followed Tyler out so he could get him to bed. The countdown until Ashley had to go was beginning. Sometimes they went to her apartment after the kids went to bed, but eventually, they had to say goodnight, whether at his place or hers. Hopefully soon, there would be no more good night phone calls, no more kissing her at the door and watching her drive off.

He turned on Tyler’s sound machine, closed his closet door, found his stuffed monkey under the bed, and gave him a goodnight hug. When Chase turned to leave, Ashley was waiting for him in the doorway, her eyes sparkling.

“Hey you,” she whispered, taking his hand. She led him out to the couch and curled up on his lap.

He kissed her forehead. “Do you mind that I asked in front of the kids? If you’d like to turn me down now, here’s your chance.”

She whacked him in the chest. “I am always happy to be included in family things, including my own proposal. Don’t try to back out of this now.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

She kissed him softly on the chin and moved her way up to his lips. “What do you dream of, Chase?”

“Hmm.” He was distracted by her lips and took that detour for a while. “I dream of nights like this where you lead me back to our bedroom after the kids go to bed.”

“So we can talk.” She patted his cheek.

“That too.”

Ashley laughed. “What else?”

Chase ran his hands softly through her hair. “I dream of a Hawaiian vacation with you. And then maybe we make life a little crazier by having a few monsters of our own.”

“A few angels.”

“You’ll have your nicknames for them, I’ll have mine.” He nudged her with his chin. “What’s your dream, Ash?”

She ran her hand across his chest. “You’re my dream, Chase. Everything from here on out is just a bonus.”

Pretending He’s Mine

_______________________________________

Lina James has been coaxing flirtation and small talk out of her gorgeous gym partner a little at a time, day by day. Which is why she’s shocked when shy and quiet Dillon up and asks her to pose as his girlfriend for Thanksgiving.

According to Dillon, his family is pushy and a little crazy, and he’s hoping Lina can draw some attention away from their other Thanksgiving guest, the girl his brother hopes to marry.

Challenge accepted.

Chapter 1

Lina James stole a quick glance behind her, though she wasn’t sure why. Dillon had the same blank expression on his face while he did his endless bicep curl reps. She had once heard that men had a nothing box they sometimes went to, where they could literally think about nothing. Based on the look on Dillon’s face while he worked out, she was pretty sure that’s where he was.

It actually sounded nice. Her thoughts were a constant raging river, only calmed by intense workouts like this. Was it a river? Maybe a better comparison would be the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, or a Black Friday in Walmart. Either way, hitting the gym first thing in the morning was great for quieting everything. Her mind quieted to a low buzz, and she could focus the rest of the day.

She pedaled hard through her last mile and then hopped off and moved to the treadmill where she could walk her heart rate down. One more glance back confirmed that, yes, Dillon still had amazing biceps and an angel face. Not that it mattered. Gym guys were not reliable dating material. Pretty much anyone she found attractive wasn’t reliable dating material. She used to be able to laugh it off, but lately, she’d grown quite bitter about it.

Nope, there would be none of that. Lina was nothing if not cheerful.

“Hey, beefcake,” she said, breaking the silence. “What do I get to find out about you today?”

Dillon stopped staring into space and smiled at her, showing off his perfect dimples. “What do you want to know?”

They’d started this little game a few months ago when they’d first met, and none of her flirting seemed to work on him. All he would offer at first was a hello in greeting and a goodbye when he left. The only indication he gave that he liked her company was the fact that he started aligning his schedule with hers, so they were always here at the same time.

He was either incredibly shy or incredibly focused on his workouts. Maybe both. And so, to fill in the silence, she began begging him not to talk, saying things like, “We must keep the mystery alive, Dillon. If you say anything more, I might stop wondering about you. Is he an astronaut? A physicist? A boxing champion? Better to wonder than to be disappointed.”

He’d only grin at her and shake his head.

They’d decided on a rule. One new thing about each other every day. Nothing more.

“Hmm.” Lina stretched out her arms, groaning at how good it felt. The after-workout euphoria was like nothing else. “I’d love to know what you do for a living. I didn’t want to ask that at first. You would’ve thought I was a gold digger or something.”

Dillon raised an eyebrow. “Oh, yes. Living in this luxury apartment complex, I have to be on the lookout for gold diggers.”

“Why, Dillon, is that sarcasm I hear? I think I’m rubbing off on you.”

He turned red and didn’t answer. All done with bicep curls, he moved to the angled bench and began sit ups.

Lina rolled her eyes. His focus on his exercises had once again taken precedence over their conversation. “FBI man. I thought as much.”

“I’m a farmer,” he puffed out between reps.

“Are you being serious?” Maybe she should have asked this question first.

Dillon stopped and rested his arms across his knees. “I grow alfalfa and feed corn.”

She looked him over, trying to picture him in a straw hat and Wranglers. The image just wouldn’t come. The only things she’d ever seen him wearing were athletic t-shirts and basketball shorts, but it wasn’t only that. Dillon looked like he should have a leather jacket draped over one shoulder, smoldering into a camera. To be honest, he had the potential to sell just about anything with those gorgeous, light green eyes of his. Not that she wished he was a model. Imagine the ego.

“Sorry I’m not an FBI agent.” Dillon tried to hide a smile.

She gave a mock frown. “It’s a slight disappointment, Dillon. I won’t lie. But why does a farmer live in an apartment complex in Phoenix?”

“It’s a family business, but my brother decided to be a lawyer instead. I’m his roommate. Our fields actually aren’t too far from here. It doesn’t matter to me where I live. All the equipment is stored on my parents’ property.”

The game was definitely broken, but she hoped he wouldn’t notice. She’d found out more about him in the last few minutes than she had in the last week. This was much more interesting than knowing that his favorite color was red or that his favorite football team was the Dallas Cowboys. “Does this brother not like to work out?”

“Doesn’t have the time. He’s always working.” Dillon did another set of sit ups and then collapsed against the bench and stared at the ceiling, taking deep breaths. “Your turn.”

Lina was done with her workout, but a quick look at her phone told her she could waste another ten minutes before she needed to get ready for work. “Okay, ask me whatever you want.” She did a few more stretches and waited.

Dillon glanced over. “Are you going out of town for Thanksgiving?”

“Nope.” Lina didn’t get the holiday blues, but thinking about everyone else getting together with family was slightly depressing. It had been ten years since her mom died, and she missed her every day. She missed Thanksgivings with her mom’s quirky coworkers who had sort of formed a family back in San Antonio. She missed their funny assortment of side dish attempts, from the mashed potato cheese fries to the Twinkie cobbler.

“But do you have plans?” Dillon asked. He was trying to sound casual about it, but the way he was asking was more than mere curiosity.

Was he trying to ask her out? For Thanksgiving? Who had a first date on Thanksgiving? Lina fiddled with her shoelace, trying to figure out why he wanted to know. Maybe he had a dog that couldn’t stay alone in his apartment, and he was looking for a pet sitter.

He cleared his throat. “Okay, new question. What do you like best about being a dental hygienist?”

Lina held her hand up. “Nope, let’s go back. Why do you want to know if I have plans for Thanksgiving?” She did, but that didn’t mean they were set in stone. Unless of course this was a pet sitter thing, and then she totally had plans.

Dillon rubbed a hand over his face. “Seriously, never mind. It was stupid.”

Lina gathered up her things, but went and sat down on the workout bench next to him, plopping her bag on her lap. They never invaded each other’s space in here. It was like an unwritten rule. But maybe it would help him spit out whatever he couldn’t say. She patted his arm. “See, I have to know now. Good job, Dillon. You created a mystery.”

***

Dillon was going to kill his brother. This was all his fault. Lina, ever the curious little imp, would never let this go. He had to tell her, and then endure her laughter. And that was before the inevitable rejection. Because what he was about to ask her was ridiculous.

“Okay, here’s the thing. My brother—”

“The workaholic lawyer,” Lina inserted.

“No, actually this is a different brother. He’s bringing a girl home for Thanksgiving to meet the family. But he doesn’t want to be the only one. So…” He took a deep breath and blew it out. Why did he think he could do this? Trent had flat out said no, and Alec had laughed in their baby brother’s face. But not good old Dillon. Dillon, the one who stayed with the family business, the one who always answered Mom’s calls, he wouldn’t disappoint his brother without at least trying.

“He wants you to bring a date for Thanksgiving?” Lina grinned, obviously loving his discomfort.

Everything about her made Dillon both insanely irritated and intrigued. He looked away from her perfectly sculpted legs and sighed. “Yeah, something like that. Then my mom would have someone else to focus on besides my brother’s girlfriend. She’s dying for one of us to get married.” He rubbed his neck.

“How many brothers do you have?”

“I thought we were trying to keep the mystery alive.” He couldn’t resist using her favorite line against her.

Lina bumped his shoulder. “I’m not walking into this thing blind.”

“Wait, so you’re actually …”

“Yes, Dillon. I’m considering it. Am I supposed to pretend to be your girlfriend or something? Because it’s not normal to bring a blind date to Thanksgiving.”

“No, it’s not.” Neither was bringing a pretend girlfriend, but he wasn’t about to point that out. “To answer your first question, I have three brothers and one sister. What else do you want to know?”

Lina’s light brown eyes sparkled with all sorts of mischief. There was hesitation there too, but he could tell a part of her was loving this. “I want to know a lot of things. But I have to go get ready for work. We can talk about it tomorrow. Same time, same place?”

“Yeah.”

She stood to leave, but he touched her arm to stall her. “Maybe we should exchange phone numbers. That way, you can ask me questions as you think of them.”

She shrugged. “All right.” She gestured for his phone, and he unlocked it and handed it over.

While she added herself as a contact, he began to sweat. This was going to end in disaster. He never should have asked. He already wanted to go back to being two friendly strangers sharing a workout space.

“I’m sorry, it’s just that I don’t even know which apartment you’re in or what your last name is. If you suddenly decided to give up your morning workout, I’d never see you again.” He should shut up now.

She looked up from his phone and smiled at him. “My last name is James. What’s your last name?”

“Curtis.”

“Dillon Curtis. I like that. And I’ll be here tomorrow, okay? Just like I always am.”

“Of course.” Somehow he couldn’t be smooth around her, and the more he was aware of it, the worse it got.

She gave him back his phone and waved as she left, slinging her gym bag over one shoulder, her dark ponytail bouncing.

Before he put his phone away, he checked his contacts. She’d added herself as Lina, Pretend Girlfriend Extraordinaire. He gave a strangled laugh and edited it to Lina James.

Chapter 2

“You’re not coming to our house for Thanksgiving?” Ashley’s mouth dropped open, and the disappointment on her face filled Lina with guilt, while simultaneously making her feel loved.

Lina finished cleaning off the breakroom table with a damp paper towel and slid into a chair next to her coworker and friend. Ashley had always been beautiful, but pregnancy had added a glow to her tan skin and dark eyes.

“You’re going to have a full house, Ash. You won’t have time to miss me. I can’t believe you and Chase are hosting Thanksgiving. You’ve got to be out of your mind. Three kids, that adorable little bun in your oven, your parents, Paige and Shaun, Shaun’s mom and stepdad. Am I missing anyone?”

“A few,” Ashley admitted, “But I was kind of counting on you to keep me sane.”

“You’ll do great.” Lina cracked open her plastic tub of pasta salad and took a bite, studying Ashley. The last year and a half had been a whirlwind for her friend. Ashley’s husband, Chase, had never thought someone would want to step into parenting his younger siblings with him, but he and Ashley were making a go of it together. They’d gone from just friends, to dating, to heading a family of six, counting the baby on the way.

“Have you told Paige you’re not coming?” Ashley asked, flipping her long dark hair behind her so it didn’t get in her soup. “She was looking forward to your spinach dip.”

“Oh, I’ll still bring my food assignments over. I’m not leaving you in a lurch. Your sister will have her spinach dip.”

Ashley stopped blowing on her hot soup and turned to study Lina. “Where are you going if you’re not coming to my house?”

“It’s complicated.”

“Do tell, although if this has to do with a guy, I’m voicing my disapproval preemptively.”

“Of course you are.”

Kirby, one of the dentists, walked in and sat down, abruptly ending any chance she had of telling Ashley more. The last thing Lina needed was for Kirby to overhear her crazy Thanksgiving plans. She had never been quite at ease around him, and after he’d asked her out last week, that feeling increased tenfold. Maybe she should have lied and said she was dating someone. Instead, she told him it wasn’t a good idea for them to go out. He immediately backpedaled, trying to make it sound like he hadn’t meant it as a date thing at all, and then they’d both fled the scene. It was a rare thing for Lina to not know how to take charge of a situation, but Kirby had brought his A-game—A standing for Awkward.

Kirby unwrapped his submarine sandwich from a nearby restaurant and took his time rearranging the lettuce and tomato. “Any Black Friday shopping plans for you two?”

“Yep.” Ashley said. “Me in my pajamas sitting at my computer. I’m not braving any stores this year. What about you, Lina?”

“I’m sleeping in.”

Ashley scoffed. “I’ll believe that when I see it. Lina’s up at five every morning to exercise.”

Kirby nodded. “That’s our go-getter. I’ve started lifting weights and jump roping. It’s amazing how much better I feel.” He gave her a weird smile before taking a bite of his sub.

It was like he was determined to prove they could still be buddies despite her rejection, and that he wouldn’t treat her differently because of it. Lina admired that. She just wished he didn’t pick this particular moment.

Ashley was shooting her looks, obviously dying to know what was up with Thanksgiving, and Lina was dying to tell her, even with the ridicule she knew she’d get for it.

“That’s great, Kirby.” Lina glanced at the clock above his head. Twenty minutes until their lunch break ended and the office reopened.

“Do you have family coming for Thanksgiving?” Ashley asked him.

“Oh, yeah. My parents are flying in this year.” Kirby told them about his family’s Thanksgiving traditions for the next ten minutes.

Lina watched his lunch disappear, hoping he’d do the same. No such luck. He stayed after he finished eating. He chatted with Ashley about the weather and what a pain it was that the parking lot flooded every time it rained.

Lunch ended, and the three of them left the breakroom and separated to do their jobs, Ashley to the front desk, and Kirby and Lina to their patients. Thankfully, Kirby worked mainly with his favorite hygienist, and Lina had no problems with any of the other dentists in the office. She was kind of irritated that Kirby had broken her long streak of getting along with everyone, even the cranky x-ray tech who thought everyone hated her, and through her paranoia, guaranteed most people did.

Lina greeted her next patient with a friendly smile. The woman didn’t look nervous, but she didn’t look thrilled to be there either. A little chitchat sometimes helped. The trick was finding something to talk about that didn’t require patients to answer too often.

“Do you watch those Bachelor-type reality shows?” Lina asked as she lowered the adjustable chair and overhead light.

The woman nodded and slid on the sunglasses Lina offered her. “They’re my guilty pleasure,” she admitted.

Perfect. People tended to either love them or hate them, and either way, it gave them something to talk about.

“There’s this new one coming out called Last Regret. Have you heard of it?”

“Ooh, no. That sounds interesting.”

“Open your jaw a little wider, just where it’s comfortable.” Lina began scraping plaque, something she strangely enjoyed, and told the woman all about the bachelor for the show, a guy who would be bringing on several women from his past in the hopes of getting a second chance. One of them was a crush from his co-ed soccer team, another had been a prom date, a few were ex-girlfriends brought on solely to stir the pot, so to speak. Lina felt like a walking commercial for the show, except she was selling distraction, not TV. She’d realized a long time ago that the dentists often sent her their most skittish patients, knowing she’d set them at ease.

Talking helped her day go by faster too. Her next patient was an older gentleman who didn’t watch TV at all. They talked about books.

And every time Lina passed the front office desk, she got a raised eyebrow from Ashley. The suspense must be killing her.

Ashley practically pounced on Lina when it was closing time. “Kirby took all our girl-talk time.”

“He didn’t know that.”

“He’s still hoping something’s going to happen between you two.” Ashley grabbed her coat and purse off the hook in the back room. “Poor man.”

“Yeah, never gonna happen.” Lina went through the routine of closing up with Ashley assisting, saying goodbye to everyone else as they left. They never got to talk the way they used to as roommates, but it was nice to catch up at the end of the day.

Ashley tapped Lina’s arm the moment they stepped out the door. “Okay, I need the quick and dirty report on Thanksgiving. What’s going on?”

“Well, it’s not certain yet, but I may be posing as someone’s girlfriend at his family’s Thanksgiving dinner.”

Ashley frowned, as Lina knew she would. “That sounds like some terrible rom com plot. Please tell me you’re joking.”

“Of course I’m not joking. Would I wait all day just to deliver a punchline? Okay, don’t answer that.”

They laughed together, and then Ashley grabbed her arm. “Spill. I’m dying here.”

Lina explained the best she could about Dillon’s desire to help his brother and about their daily meetups in the apartment gym.

“He’s never asked you out before?” Ashley asked, leaning against her car and rubbing her pregnant belly.

“No, never. I think he’s been working up the nerve to ask me about this for a while. Thanksgiving is only three days away. It was now or never.”

“So, he’s shy, but loyal to his brother, to the point of embarrassing himself. Hmm. That’s different than the guys who normally hit on you.”

“And that’s good, right?” Lina didn’t expect to get Ashley’s support on this. Ashley was usually not a fan of anyone Lina dated.

“Good-ish. I’m sorry Lina, I still think it’s a bad idea.” Ashley dug in her purse until she found her keys. “Not that I have any say in this. You do what you think is best, and I’ll love you no matter what.”

“Thanks.” Lina smiled, but she was relieved when the conversation turned to other things. She understood Ashley’s cautious nature, but for some reason, Lina felt a little protective of Dillon and what he’d asked of her. It was a hard thing to explain.

***

Dillon pulled a few weeds from the edge of the field as the sound of a tractor droned on, making long fluffy rows of cut hay where there once was swaying green. They were cutting the alfalfa for the last time this season. They’d bale it up later today and truck it off.

Footsteps crunched behind him, and Dillon turned to see his sister, Josie. A jaunty red knit hat covered most of her curly dark hair. She sped up and linked arms with him. “It’s hard to tell what time it is when the sky stays overcast like this all day.”

He glanced up and nodded. “I’m just glad it dried up enough for this last cutting. It’s supposed to be sunny for Thanksgiving, though.”

“When do Kip and his mystery woman get here?”

Dillon gave her a warning look. “Wednesday night. He’s terrified. You can’t tease him, and you have to keep Mom in check.”

“There’s no keeping Mom in check, you know that.”

He did know that, but he had to ask anyway. He knelt down to grab a few weeds before they kept going down the row. He did his best thinking while walking along these fields.

Josie picked up a dirt clod and rolled it in her hands until it crumbled and fell through her fingers. “What about you, Dill? When are you going to bring someone home to meet the family?”

Dillon shrugged, not wanting to say anything about Lina just yet. She could still back out. Any sane woman would. “Our family can be overwhelming, especially for the first potential in-law.”

“I don’t know why,” Josie said sarcastically. “As long as Alec and Trent don’t get into a fist fight, and Mom doesn’t complain about the lack of grandchildren…”

“And Rick doesn’t make one of his famous toasts.”

Josie threw her hands up. “I forgot about Rick’s toasts. They’re the worst. But as far as stepdads go, it could be worse. Mom could have married the professional golfer.”

“Or the professional gambler.”

“Oh, I forgot about that one.”

Dillon toed his foot into a gopher hole. The buggers were relentless. “There was no replacing Dad. It wasn’t likely Mom would pick someone like him again.”

Josie smiled. “You turned out a lot like Dad, you know.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“You should.” The tractor came around again, and Josie ran over and flagged it down before climbing up to sit next to Alec inside. Josie was the type to never stay in one place, or one conversation, for long. Dillon was surprised she’d come back to help with the family business, though who knew how long that would last. She was a good bookkeeper, but she didn’t have a passion for it. If she announced she was moving to Bangladesh tomorrow, it wouldn’t surprise him at all.

His phone dinged with a text message, and he absentmindedly pulled it out and read, temporarily confused at the words until he saw it was from Lina.

I thought of a question.

Ok. Shoot.

Were there other pretend girlfriends you were considering? This is not a jealous question, merely curious.

Wow, that was a message fraught with potential minefields. Was she hoping he had someone else to ask, or did she want to know how sad his dating life was? If he had other options, he definitely wouldn’t have asked a woman he barely knew. He had no backups. His last girlfriend, Cammie, had broken up with him through text, just saying: I’m sorry. This isn’t working out. That was a low moment. The entire time they’d been together, she constantly wanted to ‘improve’ their relationship, to mold him into what she needed, but in the end she cut all ties and ran.

He took a break from relationships after that. The few female friends he had were married or related to him. These depressing tidbits of his life were too much to convey through text, so he did what his brother, Alec, would do. He used humor as a shield.

Just you, dear.

***

Dillon looked up and gifted Lina with a shy smile when she walked into their apartment gym the next morning. She dropped her bag in her usual spot in the corner and ruffled his hair on her way to the elliptical machine.

“Good morning, sunshine,” she said.

“Morning, Lina.” He picked up a ten pound weight and rolled his shoulders before starting in on a series of curls. So focused, that one.

Despite Ashley’s dire warning, Lina had every intention of going through with this Thanksgiving date. She often went with her gut, and her gut told her she had nothing to fear from Dillon. However, it also told her that Dillon had a lot of anxiety when it came to his family. The task now was to find out why before she just showed up with him.

She glanced over again. “So, three brothers and one sister, right? What are your parents like?”

Dillon switched arms before looking up at her. “That’s two questions.”

She rolled her eyes and turned back to the little TV hanging on the wall, silently showing the local morning news with captions running along the bottom. The clank of a weight being set down was followed by Dillon’s footsteps coming up behind her. She slowed down to a stop, feeling bad that she’d caused the worried, repentant look on his face. If there was one thing she didn’t do, it was play games with men. She didn’t pretend to be offended to get attention or manipulate. However, if he really wanted her to be his date, he’d have to give up his precious silent space and answer some questions outside of their silly game of one question per day.

He dipped his head. “That was my poor attempt at humor this morning. I have a hard time hearing you when you’re on the elliptical and I’m over there. Maybe we could talk while we do something else. Sit-ups, maybe?”

“Sure. Hold my ankles and don’t laugh at me. I hate ab work.” Lina followed Dillon to the side of the room that held the free weights. She stretched out on the workout bench, adjusting her back so it was neither flat nor arched. The warm pressure of Dillon’s hands holding her feet to the bench had her nerves kicking up into a flutter. She ignored the intensity of his gaze and started a slow set of sit-ups.

Dillon let out a long breath that warmed her knee. “You asked what my parents are like. My dad died of cancer three years ago, and my mom remarried a year later. My stepdad is a retired pilot and independently wealthy. Which means he has no interest, financially or otherwise, in the family business, and whatever happens, he’ll take care of my mom. Beyond that, I don’t know that they were the best match. He still likes to fly. He has a small plane and takes a lot of weekend golf trips. My mom is afraid of flying, especially in small aircraft. She stays home and worries. And she calls me a lot. She calls Kip a lot too.”

“Which one is Kip?” Lina’s muscles were screaming, and she stayed on her back, breathing deeply and taking in the details that were obviously hard for Dillon to share. He was right. This was not a discussion meant to be shouted over the whooshing sound of an elliptical machine.

“Kip is the baby of the family, the one who’s bringing his girlfriend. Mom’s favorite, though she’d never admit it. He lives in Seattle. The rest of us live here, so she likes to catch him up on everything going on. They talk on the phone almost every day. I guess his girlfriend is worried about that. She was engaged before to someone whose mother didn’t like her and went out of her way to sabotage the relationship. She’s afraid of taking on another potentially pushy mother-in-law.”

“And your mother is pushy?” Lina asked, reluctantly starting another set of sit ups.

“She’s nosy. If you come, she’ll want to know everything about you and when we’re getting married.”

“I see.” Lina grimaced as she came up again.

Dillon smiled. “Ready to switch?”

“So ready.” Lina collapsed back, and Dillon released her ankles. She rolled off the bench and traded places with him.

Holding down his ankles was a workout in and of itself. She let him do his much quicker reps before asking her next question when he took a breather.

“What was your dad like?”

Dillon’s face softened. “He was a good dad. Nothing ever ruffled him. And when he talked, you listened, because he only spoke when he had something important to say. He and my mom were a true opposites-attract case. They loved each other a lot.”

“I’m sorry he’s not with you anymore.”

Dillon nodded. “Me too.”

He did another set of sit-ups and then rested his head on his hands and breathed deeply. “Do I get to hear about your family?”

Lina shrugged. “Let’s save that for another day. We need to talk strategy.”

Chapter 3

A peppy rapping sounded at the door, and Dillon checked the peephole, even though he was fairly certain it was Lina. She was rolling her fists and pretending to punch the door while she waited for him to answer. He couldn’t help watching for a few extra seconds before pulling the door open. He’d only ever seen her in workout clothes, but she cleaned up nice—makeup, jeans that hugged her curves, and her hair in loose curls around her shoulders.

“You missed our workout this morning,” she said in greeting as she picked up her plastic cake holder from the little wrought iron side table sitting outside. She smelled as good as she looked, and he breathed in deep. Pineapple and orange blossoms. Maybe today wouldn’t be so bad.

“It’s a holiday, so I slept in. You should try it some time. It’s awesome.”

Lina, who was slowly walking through his apartment and picking up various objects, turned and shook her head. “I’ve tried, but I can’t sleep in. It’s a curse.”

“What time do you wake up?”

“Around five. My eyes just pop open, and I’m immediately bombarded with everything I have to do that day. For example, this morning I woke up and remembered that I have to pretend to be your girlfriend.”

“Sorry to add to your stress.”

She waved it off. “If it wasn’t that, it would be something else.” She put down her cake and picked up one of Trent’s vintage Troll dolls from the display case in the corner. “You collect these?”

“No, that would be my brother, Trent. He’s a huge nerd.”

“A lawyer and a nerd, interesting combination. Does he mind you calling him a huge nerd?” She ran her fingers over the figure’s fuzzy, orange hair before moving down to touch the jewel on its belly.

“He’d admit it if he was here. Plus, I have to have this conversation with everyone who comes over and gives me the look you were giving me a minute ago.”

“What look?” Lina’s eyes widened in innocence.

“That guarded, what-the-heck-is-going-on look. Although yours held a lot less judgment, I have to admit.”

Lina glanced around. “I was just confused. You don’t seem like the type to collect these. Personally, I’ve always found their little red marble eyes to be creepy.”

“Me too.” Dillon stepped closer. “Check out what’s in the first drawer.”

She slid it open slowly and ran her hand over the serpentine pile. “Gum wrapper chains. I had a friend who used to make these.”

“Trent adds to it occasionally when he needs a brain break. See, here’s the end of it.” He held up the green end. Trent went through flavor phases. The last few feet were all made with spearmint wrappers.

“Where is this brother of yours? I’d like to meet him.”

“Working. He’ll be there this afternoon.”

Lina closed the drawer carefully and eyed the drawer beneath it. “Can I see what’s in the next one?”

Dillon laughed. “Be my guest.”

She slid the next drawer open, which was filled with coins.

“Those aren’t collectibles. He tosses his change in there for the fun of it.”

“Mmm. Interesting.” She closed the drawer and folded her arms as she turned to face Dillon. “So, what do you collect, young man?”

“Nothing. Sorry to disappoint you, but I’m not all that interesting.”

He’d said it in jest, but her eyes grew serious as she studied him. “I don’t think that’s true.”

“You think I secretly collect stuff?”

She smiled. “No, I think you’re very interesting, but you don’t display it for everyone to see. Trent wants to be seen as unique, doesn’t he?”

Dillon shrugged. “I’ve never thought about it before, but yeah, I guess so. He’s embraced the fact that he never really fit in. His success is a revenge of sorts on the idiots who used to tease him in high school.”

“Success should never be based on high school. It’s a microcosm of insecurity we all spend the rest of our lives overcoming.”

Dillon eyed her curiously. “High school was rough for you?” Lina seemed like the type of person who could fit in anywhere. He certainly would have noticed her in high school.

“No, high school was great. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t see other people struggling. I wish I’d done more for others and worried less about myself. But hindsight is like that.” She looked over at him. “What about you? Or can I guess?”

He shrugged. “Sure, take a guess.”

Her light brown eyes studied him. They were warm and friendly, but penetrating, like she truly could read his thoughts.

“You had a few close friends, good guys. None of you were extremely popular, but not outcasts either. And you played a sport. Wrestling?”

“Cross country.”

“Dang. I should have guessed that.” She moved away from the display case and came to stand in front of him. Her hands smoothed across his shirt front, and he gulped a surprised breath down, trying to suppress his reaction to her touching him. Her fingers were like little lasers setting off every nerve ending they touched.

He tried to avoid her gaze, but she waited him out, and he finally gave in. The concern there made him feel like an idiot.

“Dillon, if you want me to play your girlfriend, we need to start now. Because if you react like this in front of your family, they’re going to wonder why you’re so terrified of me.”

“I’m not terrified.”

She dropped her hands to her sides, only to reach them forward and take his hands. Instinctively, his fingers rubbed the soft spot in her palms.

“Okay, that’s a bit better.” She gave his hands a squeeze before letting them go. “Ready to do this?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be, I guess.” How she could be excited about something that was already giving him indigestion was beyond him. His little brother better appreciate this.

***

They rode together in silence. Well, not total silence. Dillon drove a beat up old pickup truck and the road noise replaced the need for conversation. The whirr of the heater helped too.

Yes, this was probably going to be a disaster. They were already failing at looking like a couple. And yet, that thought didn’t bother Lina all that much. An occasional disaster made life interesting. She had determined a long time ago not to let fear play into her decisions. And while it certainly led to trouble she might have otherwise avoided, it also led to experiences and people that had richly blessed her life. Dillon seemed like a blessing type of person, hard to get to know, but worth it.

“What’s your favorite thing to eat at Thanksgiving?” Lina asked.

“What?”

Dillon had been hyper concentrating on his driving—no surprise there—and he turned to glance at her. “Oh, my favorite thing? Mashed potatoes for sure. I think I could eat a whole pan of them. What about you?”

“I love a good gravy. Does your mom make gravy?”

“It’s the best. I pour it over everything, the potatoes, the turkey, the green beans, the stuffing.” He turned red, probably realizing he was getting a little too enthusiastic in his ode to gravy.

Lina laughed. “I didn’t think I could get more excited about a meal, but we’ve just surpassed it.”

“Whatever.” He shook his head, looking even more embarrassed.

Lina unbuckled her passenger seatbelt when they reached a red light and scooted over to the middle seat before digging into the seat crevice to search for the middle buckle.

“I’ll get it.” Dillon’s warm, weathered hand pressed against hers as she pulled her hand out to let him do the searching. The contact caused her heart to beat in double time, and she inwardly gave herself a stern lecture. Today was just a favor for a new friend. There were no real feelings involved here.

“Found it.” Dillon grinned, putting his adorable dimples on display. “I guess it will look better if we show up sitting next to each other, huh? The dogs will announce our presence before we have time to put this thing in park, and I wouldn’t be surprised if my mom met us at the truck.” Dillon reached across her and pulled the seatbelt strap across her chest and into the buckle. His smooth jaw brushed against her forehead for just a second.

The two or three weeks worth of scruff he’d been growing out was gone. How had she not noticed before? Apparently, Thanksgiving was a shave-worthy occasion. She wanted to reach out and touch his baby soft skin. Instead, she tucked her hands under her thighs and tried to stop staring, debating whether he was more handsome with the scruff or without it. All this over putting a seatbelt on.

Lina closed her eyes, telling her ridiculous self to calm it down. She was such a hypocrite, teasing Dillon about not reacting to close contact. Here she was, not fifteen minutes later, fumbling like a teenager around her first crush. What was the difference between then and now?

But she knew the answer to that question. Before, she’d purposely touched him to get a reaction. Everything had been on her terms, the way she liked it. Dillon didn’t operate that way. He wasn’t aggressive or even assertive like most guys, finding reasons to touch her, or finding charming things to say. Everything about Dillon was genuine, what-you-see-is-what-you-get. She hadn’t found that in … ever. She wasn’t sure what to do with a dynamic like that yet.

Dillon’s Carhartt jacket kept brushing against her arm and she was glad the rough material kept her from closer contact with him. She didn’t want physical attraction clouding her judgment right now. It was time to regroup and take charge. She was good at that.

“Are there other animals, besides dogs?” She was still trying to picture a working farm.

“Two barn cats. Oh, I should have asked. Are you allergic to anything? Or afraid of dogs? They’re harmless, but they’re big and full of energy.”

“I can handle excited jumping, just not warning growls or lunging at me and snapping. I had an aunt who had dogs like that. She’d always say they had to get to know me first. That was a little hard to take as a ten-year-old.”

“These are working dogs. Super friendly. They’ll probably just want to sniff you. I’ll keep them back.”

“Thanks.” She was glad he hadn’t asked any follow up questions about her aunt. Why she’d shared that fun little tidbit from her childhood, she’d never know. It had been a relief when she and her mom had moved too far away to visit that particular aunt again.

Dillon rubbed his hands down the steering wheel. “Thank you for coming. I just want to apologize in advance for anything my mom says.”

“Well, that’s comforting.” The sarcastic response kind of kicked out on its own.

Dillon squirmed in his seat, and she patted his knee. “I’m kidding. That’s the reason I’m going. To distract your mom from saying those things to your future sister-in-law.”

“Yes. Distraction. I’ve been trying to think of the best way to do that. My mom loves to cook. I’m usually the one helping her in the kitchen, but maybe you could tag along this time. She’ll be too busy to talk to anyone else until dinner. We’ll make sure of it.”

“Sounds like a good plan. Or is that too many cooks in the kitchen?”

Dillon shrugged. “I consider myself more of an assistant. I’ll duck out if we start bumping into each other.”

“And leave me alone with her?”

“I feel like I’ve exaggerated things to the point where you think she’s going to attack you or something. For all I know, you two might be best buds.”

Lina wasn’t truly all that worried, but the curiosity was killing her. “Okay, tell me something she said to your last girlfriend. Or have you never brought one home before?”

Dillon rubbed his shoulder. “My last girlfriend wasn’t a fan of my mom. Let’s not go there. But, to give you an example, my mom once asked my high school girlfriend if I was a good kisser.” His face turned bright red again. “Pretend I never said that. It’s a memory time can’t even make less embarrassing.”

“Did she mean it as a joke? Like when parents pull out baby pictures?”

“Yes, it was a joke, but she’s also that nosy. Okay, I’m making it worse.”

Lina threw back her head and laughed. “It’s going in the vault. I won’t tell a soul.”

“What’s in the Tupperware?” he asked, probably to change the subject.

“Pumpkin cake. Are you a fan of pumpkin?”

“Heck, yes.”

“Well good. I’ll make sure to cut you out the biggest slice when I serve it.”

Chapter 4

The dogs did greet them with their barking the second Dillon pulled his truck onto the long driveway up to his mother’s house. When he lived here, the dogs were a lot better behaved, but Mom had added a few more since then, one an excitable Australian shepherd, and the other an energetic chocolate Labrador retriever.

He whistled to them as he put the truck in park and held the collars of the new ones after getting out. “Jester, down.”

Lina slid out and gripped her cake container to her chest. “I’m okay, I swear.”

“I know. But they’ve obviously rolled in the puddles, and I’d hate for them to get your nice jeans all muddy. Just walk ahead, and I’ll let them go after you’re inside.”

She shrugged. “These jeans aren’t that nice.”

“Just trust me on this.” He was feeling a little cranky with the dogs reaching back to lick his hands to death and their big paws rendering his jeans a muddy mess.

Lina’s eyes widened at him, but taking in his struggle, she gave a quick salute in response and walked briskly toward the house, dodging the mud puddles created from worn in tire tracks. Dillon followed, keeping a tight hold on the dogs.

Jester, the lab, stretched forward to try and sniff the new guest as they walked, but Dillon pulled him back. “Don’t even think about it, buddy.”

Lina glanced back at Dillon with a raised eyebrow, her eyes asking if it was him or the dog checking her out from behind. The dog, absolutely. Dillon… okay, maybe a little bit. Those jeans looked absolutely amazing on her. Everything about her was amazing. She was so out of his league, and too nice to ever insinuate it.

Lina was almost to the porch when the front door flew open and Mom burst out, rubbing her nervous hands together. “Is this Lina? I’m Brenda, and I’m so happy you’re here.” The last part came out a little sing-songy.

She and Lina hugged before she shook a finger at Dillon. “I can’t believe you only gave me a few hours’ notice that you were bringing a girl. First Kip and now you.”

It was all bluster, but he apologized anyway.

He reached the porch, and the dogs jumped forward to greet their favorite person in the world. Dillon let go of their collars, brushed off his jeans, and hurried in with Lina, leaving Mom to love on her babies for a few minutes.

The familiar smell of home and delicious food took over his senses, flooding his mind with memories of many Thanksgivings here. He led Lina into the kitchen to drop off her cake, and that was as far as they got before Josie and Alec descended on them.

Josie put a hand to her hip. “My, my, my. Dillon brings home a girl. I thought I’d never see the day.”

Alec cut her a look. “Have a little class, Josie. Maybe she’s just a friend who can’t fly home for Thanksgiving.”

They both turned to look at Dillon expectantly. Right. Introductions. “This is Lina, my … girlfriend. Lina, this is my sister, Josie, and my brother, Alec.”

Lina gave both their hands a good shake. “Nice to meet you both.”

“How long have you two been dating? You haven’t said a word about her.” Josie ignored the elbow in her ribs from Alec. Curiosity came before tact with her. Always. But that was just Josie. And Mom.

Lina gave Dillon a quick I’ve-got-this look and launched into a detailed story about how they’d met in their apartment gym, and how she had to drop hints for weeks before he asked her out. The closeness to the truth had him pulling at his collar, wondering for a moment if she had been dropping hints and he was too dense to pick up on them. This was still a temporary ruse, last he’d checked.

Josie tugged at Lina, eager to take her off for a look at baby pictures of Dillon, what else, and Alec sidled up next to him.

“Relax, man. She’ll still like you after today. Sixty-percent sure of it.”

“Gee, thanks.”

“Way hotter than your last girlfriend.”

“Still not helping.”

***

Wedged on the leather couch between Josie and Dillon’s mom, Lina flipped another page of the old family photo album and studied a picture of Dillon at age three. His solemn, earnest face said he didn’t believe in mischief, even back then.

“Did he ever get into trouble?” Lina asked.

“Oh, no. Not my Dillon. One time, he even went back to the house he and his friends had toilet-papered and cleaned it up, because he realized they’d be leaving on vacation the next day. He’s always been such a thoughtful boy.”

Josie wrinkled her nose. “It’s true. He’s a total square.”

It didn’t take a lot of analysis to figure Josie was the type who liked bad boys. She looked like Dillon, with the dark hair and green eyes, but her smile held all sorts of mysterious trouble, and she couldn’t sit still to save her life. After bouncing her knees, she got up and paced. “You wanna go for a walk?” she asked.

A walk would have helped Lina’s nerves too, but she was here on a mission which involved staying near Dillon’s mom. “Oh, I don’t know. Brenda, would you like to go on a walk with us?”

Brenda looked up from the scrapbook. “Not me. I should stay near the house. Kip and his girlfriend will be here any minute, and I have things in the oven.”

Lina gave Josie an apologetic look. “Maybe after we eat would be better. I’ll just go see what Dillon’s up to.” She escaped to the kitchen and went to stand next to Dillon at the sink. The house looked like it had been built in the seventies, but everything inside had been remodeled recently. Lina couldn’t help admiring the travertine countertops and the gigantic flush-mount sink.

Dillon was tackling the dishes while his brother, Alec, sat at the kitchen table with his feet propped up on a chair, a can of Dr Pepper in his hand. Lina was sensing an overarching theme of how things usually went around here.

“Where’s your stepdad?” she asked.

“Golfing with his friends. Where else? Mom says he’ll be back at two.”

“It will be later than that,” Alec said with a sigh. He and Dillon exchanged a look.

Lina could only imagine how complicated their feelings had to be, in watching their mom try to be happy with someone else after a long and successful marriage.

“How did it go meeting my mom?” Dillon whispered.

Lina was about to answer that it’d been fine, but she was interrupted by Brenda bustling in and wrapping her arms around the two of them. She poked her head between theirs, her fluffy gray hair tickling Lina’s cheek. “Aren’t you two just the cutest things? I want to hear all about this girl. Every little detail.”

Alec audibly groaned and immediately left the kitchen.

Dillon’s face turned crimson. “We’re just doing dishes here, Mom. You’ll have plenty of time to interrogate Lina while we get things ready. Did you start on the rolls yet?”

“Yep, they’re hiding under that towel over there, still rising.”

“Okay, what about the Jell-O salad?”

“Ah, yes. I knew I was forgetting something. I hope I have mandarin oranges.” She unleashed her arms from around them and went to go look in the pantry for ingredients.

Lina felt Dillon kind of droop in relief, and she pushed her shoulder against his to get his attention. Was he really this embarrassed at being around his mom? She seemed fairly normal as far as moms went. Maybe a little on the perky side.

“Hey,” she whispered. “Relax.”

“Okay.”

His conviction could use a little work. Lina tilted her head and gave him a disapproving stare. “Seriously, we need to help you chill.” Dropping the last of the silverware in the dishwasher, she picked up a towel and dried off his hands like he was a little kid, coaxing a small smile out of him at last.

Brenda was still humming as she searched in the pantry.

“What are you doing?” Dillon murmured as Lina slid his now dry hands around her waist.

“Teaching you how to properly hug someone. Lean in a little like I don’t have cooties.”

“I know how to hug, thank you very much.”

And he proved it by properly taking her in his arms and holding her close, like she was the one needing comfort. She rested her face in the crook of his neck and breathed him in. He was good at this. Too good. His neck was warm and smelled clean and inviting. Kissable.

“Oh, look at the two of you.”

Dillon immediately released her and straightened. Yeah, his jumpy reactions needed to go. She’d have to coach him on that later. He wasn’t supposed to look embarrassed to be caught hugging his girlfriend.

Brenda patted his cheek. “I found the mandarin oranges. Would you mind pulling out my glass pan? I think it’s buried under the baking dishes.”

“Sure.” He practically ran to the bottom cupboard, obviously eager to have something to do.

Lina took the dish towel off the counter and wiped up the water splashes. Dillon was an enthusiastic dishwasher, and it looked like a typhoon hit their sink. Then she moved to the dining table. Alec had left his pop can behind, along with a used paper plate. She threw them both in the garbage and straightened the tablecloth and runner Brenda had so carefully put together.

“Thank you, dear.”

Brenda was right over her shoulder, and Lina jumped in surprise, but quickly recovered. The woman had to be part ninja to sneak up on people so well.

Brenda smiled. “So, tell me all about yourself. Where do you work? Where do you live? Where’s your family today?”

Behind his mom, Dillon was waving his arms in an x. Did he want Lina to lie? She’d already told Josie and Alec the story of how she and Dillon had met in their apartment gym, so it made no sense to lie about where she lived.

“I’m a dental hygienist here in Phoenix, and I live in Dillon’s apartment complex, actually.”

Dillon hung his head, practically bending over in disapproval. His despondent game of charades was making Lina want to laugh, and she had to tune him out.

Brenda pressed her palms to her cheeks. “That’s wonderful. Which apartment number is yours?”

Okay, maybe he’d been on to something. Lina had never encountered anyone that specific in their nosiness before. She opened and closed her mouth and then glanced at Dillon for help.

“Mom, is something burning?”

“I don’t think so.” Brenda whirled around and ran to the double ovens. One held the turkey, the other a pie. Neither were burning, but the distraction worked. “I need to baste the turkey. Dillon, help me pull the pan out.”

While those two teamed up in an effort to keep the turkey moisturized, the front door creaked open and the sounds of a joyful greeting between Josie and a male voice caught Lina’s attention. She retreated to the doorway to peek out. A younger version of Dillon stood in the entryway, hugging Josie. Even with Josie’s arms around him, the guy kept ahold of his girlfriend’s hand. The girlfriend looked terribly uncomfortable and just about jumped out of her skin when one of the dogs stuck its nose through the crack in the door that had been left open and sniffed her from behind. Dillon’s brother let go of Josie, nudged the dog back outside, and shut the door.

“This is my girlfriend, Heather. Heather, this is my big sister, Josie.”

“Oh, come here.” Josie came in for a hug, though it was clear Heather was less than eager. Josie was not tall, but she towered over the petite redhead by a good six inches.

Brenda bumped into Lina’s shoulder on her way to be a part of the excitement in the entryway. “Kip’s here!” She threw her arms around him and hugged him tight, murmuring how very much she had missed him. Heather was sort of an afterthought, albeit an enthusiastic one. “I need a hug from Heather, too,” Brenda sing-songed, arms out in greeting. “So nice to meet you. I love your red hair. You must be a fiery little thing.”

Dillon sighed, coming up to stand next to Lina. “I am so sorry.”

Lina nudged his shoulder. “For what?”

“For bringing you into this. I have a feeling I’ll need a new workout buddy after today.”

“It’s early. Wait a few hours before you get all doom and gloom on me.”

Brenda finally let go of Heather and finished the introductions. “Dillon brought a girl for Thanksgiving, too.” She waved Dillon over. “Dillon, come meet Heather. You too, Lina. I bet you and Heather are going to be fast friends by the end of the day. The two girlfriends, and maybe someday more.”

Kip and Dillon both looked mortified. It was time to use distraction to divide and conquer. Lina shook Kip and Heather’s hands before threading her arm through Brenda’s. “Did you ever get the Jell-O in the refrigerator?”

Brenda scratched her chin. “You know, I’m not sure. Would you be a dear and check for me?” Brenda was already reaching around Lina to try to get Heather’s attention, obviously eager to talk to her again.

“And did you already add the mandarin oranges?” Lina asked. “You add the fruit at the beginning, right?” She headed for the kitchen before Brenda could answer, knowing perfectly well the fruit didn’t go in until the gelatin was almost firm.

Sure enough, Brenda caught up to stop her. “No dear. You can’t add the mandarin oranges yet. They’ll all sink to the bottom, and the whole thing won’t set. And you have to drain them really well before you add them.”

Once Lina had her in the kitchen, she began asking other cooking questions, playing up her supposed ignorance and Brenda’s superior knowledge. Lina looked behind her to see Dillon standing in the doorway, watching them. He shook his head, silently laughing. From their question game in the apartment gym, he was quite aware of her experience with cooking and baking. Lina hadn’t bragged, but she hadn’t been overly modest either.

Whatever. Asking for an impromptu instruction on how to make deviled eggs was a great way to keep Brenda occupied so Heather could slowly acclimate herself to the rest of the family. Lina hoped this girl was worth it. Kip really did seem to care about her a lot. His eyes rarely left Heather’s face.

Dillon still owed Lina big time, but she had to admit, stepping into an acting role like this was sort of fun.

Chapter 5

Rick showed up just in time to carve the turkey, and Trent fifteen minutes after that, his top button undone and his tie loose around his neck. It was getting hard to remember what Trent looked like in anything other than work clothes.

Dillon hoped Lina was up for all this. His stepfather, Rick, had an ongoing love affair with hearing himself talk, and Trent was as blunt as Josie, but less eager to please. Trent had a knack for catching people off guard and getting them to say things they wouldn’t otherwise. The law firm he worked for often used that particular skill for cross examinations in court, even though Trent was only a junior associate.

“Who are you?” Trent asked Lina, like she might have wandered in by mistake. He glanced around the table and spied Heather next to Kip. “And you I don’t know either. Kip’s girl, right?”

“Sit down, Trent,” Mom coaxed. “This is Heather Cahill, Kip’s girlfriend, and over there is Lina James, Dillon’s girlfriend.”

Trent sat down in the empty seat next to Lina and leaned over her to talk to Dillon. “How come I haven’t met this one? Is she here because of Kip’s…” he lowered his voice “…request?”

Dillon made a cutting motion and looked across the table to see Alec listening with interest. Why didn’t it occur to him that his brothers would be suspicious of anyone he brought?

Lina put out a hand for Trent to shake. “You have a very nice Troll doll collection, but you’re never home. Happy to finally meet you.”

Lina’s ability to fib while still telling the truth was downright scary. Dillon was equal parts impressed and intimidated by it. She’d saved him from spilling his guts and outing them both right then and there.

Trent shook her hand, already losing interest now that he assumed Lina was just a new girlfriend he hadn’t met. He went back to methodically rubbing his fork and spoon with his napkin.

Under the table, Lina rubbed Dillon’s knee, a reminder that everything would be fine. He put his hand over hers, ignoring how good it felt to lace their fingers together. It was a friendly gesture, nothing more. After a few seconds he pulled away.

Rick tinged his water glass to get everyone’s attention. “Time for toasts.”

Mom clapped her hands. Alec and Trent groaned.

“Toasts are for when you have alcohol at the table,” Alec pointed out.

That earned him a reproving look from Mom. “I would think, being a recovering alcoholic, you wouldn’t make jokes like that.”

“Actually, that makes me the only person qualified to crack those kinds of jokes.” Alec lifted his water glass. “Okay, if we’re doing this, I’m going first. Because otherwise I’ll forget my speech while Rick talks all night.”

“Here, here,” Josie said, lifting her glass.

Mom would have lectured them both, but Rick laughed and waved at Alec to go ahead.

Lina didn’t seem fazed by any of it. She watched Alec, her eyes alert in anticipation of his speech. Dillon’s arm brushed against hers when he set down his water glass, reminding him he was supposed to be acting like a boyfriend, or at least an attentive date. As it was, Lina was carrying their whole ruse with little help from him.

He put his arm around the back of her chair and ran a finger down a silky strand of her hair. She leaned into him and smiled, as if their affection were the most natural thing in the world. He missed having this kind of connection with someone, where you were pulled into their orbit, constantly aware of their physical presence and worried about their well-being. He wished all his relationships were as easy as this fake one.

Alec cracked a few inside family jokes that made Heather squirm and Lina belly laugh. He raised his glass once more to end his toast. “Wish Dad were here.”

Rick graciously raised his glass to that. “To your dad.”

“Who’s next?” Mom asked. “Trent, would you like to say something?”

Trent, his mouth full of salad, shook his head and pointed at Kip.

“Sure, why not.” Kip lifted his glass, glancing over at Heather with obvious affection. “It’s good to be here, and even better with the woman I love. Heather is strong, smart, caring, and the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Thanks for coming with me, Heather.”

Heather cracked a rare smile. “I love you too. More than I can say.” She reached over and kissed him tenderly.

Wow, she had totally transformed under the glow of Kip’s love for her. It was a little uncomfortable to witness, partly because Dillon had never experienced something like that, and partly because he felt like he shouldn’t be staring at it.

Alec turned his mischievous eyes to Dillon and Lina. “I think Dillon should go next.”

Of course. Because there was no way not to compare whatever Dillon was about to say with that love fest. He couldn’t top Kip’s speech, even if he wanted to.

Dillon lifted his glass. Words like ‘good sport’ and ‘terrific liar’ crossed his mind. Lots of romantic potential there. Lina watched him, her lips pressed together like she was trying not to laugh.

“Words aren’t quite adequate for how I feel about Lina.”

“Try,” Josie called out helpfully.

Lina took his hand and held it against her heart, her eyes egging him on. It was only acting. He could do this.

“You added color to my dull existence, Lina. I look forward to our workout every morning because starting my day without you in it doesn’t feel right. Here’s to more time together. I can’t wait.”

“Aww, kiss her,” Mom so helpfully suggested.

There wasn’t a good reason not to comply. Lina gave him an almost imperceptible nod, and he quickly closed the distance between them with a small peck. Before he could back away, Lina wrapped one hand behind his neck as leverage and pressed her lips to his for just a bit longer—enough for him to know that she was an amazing kisser, and that, all inhibition and audiences aside, he’d want nothing more than to continue it.

His heart beating in double time, he turned to listen to Josie’s speech, hoping he didn’t look as dumbstruck as he felt inside. It would help if his breathing went back to normal. That kiss was part of the ruse. All an act. His peck had been a little too staid, so Lina smoothed things over, making them look like a real couple.

Josie finished her speech, and he clapped with everyone else, having not heard a word of it.

***

Lina wasn’t used to flustering guys with a small kiss. She usually dated men who liked to flirt, who wanted to make out for the heck of it, who saw her as a fun date, but not someone to think of in any serious way. And it took her a few minutes to reconcile the feelings of hurt that sprang up in addition to the feelings of elation. The look of wonder and possibility she’d seen in Dillon’s eyes was hard to blink away. But she had to. She had to forget whatever she thought she’d seen. Because Dillon wasn’t thinking of her in a serious way. He’d brought her to play a part.

She lifted her glass for the beginning of Rick’s speech, but finally lowered it along with everyone else when it went on and on with no end in sight. Alec had only been slightly exaggerating when he’d said the man could go on all night. “…And when I see the world below, so small and fragile-looking; it reminds me how precious this time is with family and friends, how much we need to cherish each moment together and show our gratitude and thanksgiving for all we have.” The last of Lina’s mashed potatoes and gravy were calling to her. She wanted to eat them before they went cold. She glanced around, and reassured that everyone else was sneaking bites while pretending to pay attention, she did it too.

“… So, in closing, I’d like to thank my beautiful wife, Brenda, for all she does for this family. And I’d like to thank all of you for being here.”

He sat down, and Brenda jumped up. “And now, it’s time for dessert.”

Lina went to help her. She uncovered the cake she’d brought, checking the frosting to see if it had hit against the sides of her cake carrier.

“Oh, that looks amazing!” Brenda said it like a pat on the head, and Lina had to remind herself that Brenda thought she was a bad cook. Lying was the worst. If she hadn’t pretended to be a disaster in the kitchen to distract Brenda from overwhelming Kip’s girlfriend, the two of them could have bonded over their love of baking.

Brenda had made two apple pies, and she brought them out, one on each palm, with Lina following, carrying her cake.

Lina served a big piece to Dillon first and smiled in satisfaction when he took a bite and clearly enjoyed it.

“Is that pumpkin?” Trent asked. “I’ll take a slice if it is.”

She cut him a generous slice and watched as he sniffed it and took a tiny exploratory bite before digging in. “Great flavor,” he said, nodding his fork at her.

Except for his dark hair and tan complexion, Trent didn’t look much like Dillon. He was tall and wiry while Dillon was muscular and stocky, and while Dillon’s expressions were serious and understated, Trent had a rubbery face that lent itself to delivering whatever emotion happened to strike him at the moment.

What must it have been like to grow up in a household of strong personalities like this? Lina tried to imagine it—Josie, holding her own as the only girl with all these brothers, Dillon the dutiful middle child, keeping the peace.

She glanced at Alec, wondering where he fit. Class clown? As if to demonstrate, he reached over and stole a bite of Josie’s pie when she wasn’t looking. She didn’t notice so he did it again, more obvious this time, earning him a punch in the arm when Josie caught him.

Lina didn’t have any siblings, at least not any that she knew about. Her mom had rarely talked about Lina’s dad, only saying it was a part of her life she’d set behind her, that she hadn’t known him well, and it was better he didn’t know about Lina at all. Lina had trusted her on that for a long time. Maybe Mom would prove to be right, but Lina desperately wanted to know where her dad was right now and what he would think if he knew she existed. Hopefully one day soon she’d find out.

Dillon touched her arm and slid his warm fingers down to her wrist. “The cake was amazing.”

“Thanks.” The gesture was for show, but his compliment felt genuine.

He picked up their empty plates and stood, running a quick hand across her shoulders before taking the dishes to the kitchen. Every light touch from him was like cotton candy, delicious and gone in a moment.

“Okay, you love birds!” Brenda clapped her hands together when everyone was finished with their dessert. “When I found out Lina and Heather were coming, I ran and bought The Newlywed Game!” She stood and drew a brand new game box out of the hutch next to the table.

Dillon stiffened. Lina patted his leg and smiled at him, reminding him not to panic. They could do this. Yes, the things they didn’t know about each other could fill a huge cavern, but really, how hard would it be to guess? Dillon wasn’t exactly the most mysterious person she’d ever met. And she had a feeling his family expected him to be bad at this. Men always got a pass in this game for being clueless about the women in their life.

“I don’t know, Mom.” Kip glanced at Heather. “Maybe we’ll just watch.”

Heather touched his arm. “No, it’s fine. I’ll play.” She seemed to have warmed up to the family. Hopefully, she’d never know it was Dillon who made that possible. Lina could only imagine the attention Heather on her own would have received as the sole guest.

“Okay, great. Kip and Dillon, go outside. We’ll bring you in when we’re ready.” Brenda shooed them away.

Kip rubbed his hands together. “Fine by me. I need to walk off all the pie I ate.”

Dillon threw Lina one last worried look before following his brother outside.

Heather scooted closer to Lina. “He doesn’t like to be far from you, does he?” She smiled. “Kip’s like that too.”

Lina bit back a laugh. “Yeah, he’s very protective.” Because he’s afraid everyone will find out I’m only pretending to be his girlfriend.

Brenda and Josie dropped their heads together over the questions. Great, they were cherry picking to find the best ones. Although, to be fair, they’d need to weed out any that applied to actual married couples, like who had cold feet in bed, who left a mess on the bathroom counter, and hopefully all the innuendo questions. Dillon would die.

“Okay, we’re ready.” Brenda and Josie looked up with twin expressions of glee.

Lina drew a flower in the corner of the little dry erase board they’d supplied her with. “Heather and I reserve the right to make you pick a new question.”

Heather nodded vigorously. “I second the motion.”

“Oh, come on,” Trent complained. “That’s not any fun.”

Alec, sitting next to him, leaned in, resting his elbows on his knees. “Why, are you really wanting to hear secret fantasies about Kip or Dillon?”

Trent made a face. “Good point. Alec and I would also like the power of veto.”

“Not happening,” Josie said. “We’re gonna keep it PG rated, but if we can’t ask anything embarrassing there’s no point to the game.”

“Let’s just start.” Brenda picked up a card. “Fill in the blank. I wish Kip paid as much attention to me as he does his...”

Heather bit her lip as she stared back at Brenda. “Um…”

His mother. That was the obvious answer that could never, ever be said aloud. From the way Alec and Trent were fidgeting, they must have mentally filled in the blank the same way.

“Oh, I know,” Heather finally said. “As he does his driving. Kip is a very safe driver, and he barely talks to me if there’s a lot of traffic.”

“That’s right, he’s a mini Dillon,” Alec said with a laugh. He and Trent fist bumped each other.

“Okay, Lina. What about you?” Josie asked. “What do you wish Dillon paid less attention to than you?”

“His weight-lifting reps. He’s super focused when he works out.” That was an easy one, and thanks to Heather’s hesitance, Lina had time to think about it.

Josie pointed down at another question. “This will make a good follow up then. I’m most attracted to Dillon’s ....”

It worried Lina a little how many words popped in her head at that one: his eyes, his full lips, his rare smile, his quiet confidence, his tight… “Biceps,” Lina blurted out.

“I’ll say Kip’s smile,” Heather said with a shrug.

Brenda giggled. “Aww, that’s so sweet. Kip gets his smile from me, you know.” She smiled bigger, as if to demonstrate.

So awkward. Even Josie ducked her head and searched in desperation for the next question.

***

It was almost too dark to see the road in front of them and getting cold. The sliver of moon peeked out only occasionally from the thin clouds. Dillon wished he’d remembered to bring his jacket. His long-sleeve knit shirt wasn’t nearly warm enough out here.

“Tell me about Heather,” he asked Kip. “How serious is this?”

“No, no. You go first. Let’s talk about Lina. Is she the real deal?”

This again. In his relief at getting Lina to come, Dillon hadn’t considered how suspicious it would look to actually show up with her. After all, Kip begged them to bring someone, and with no previous mention of having a girlfriend, Dillon had delivered.

“I asked you first, Kip. Besides, Lina is an open book. It’s Heather nobody can get a read on.”

“Lina’s an open book?” Kip scoffed. “At dinner, Josie point-blank asked her where her family was for Thanksgiving, and Lina skillfully turned the question to something else. I’ve never seen anything like it. So, where is her family? Do they not live around here?”

Dillon thought back to his and Lina’s previous conversations. “Her aunt has a mean dog.” That was all he could recollect. He truly didn’t know anything about Lina’s family. And Lina was so good at deflection, he couldn’t remember if he’d asked her or what she’d answered if he had. He hated that Kip was right. “We haven’t really talked about them.”

Kip frowned. “I’m sorry. I’m being nosy. I guess I should be thanking you for bringing her. Even if you hired Lina, if that’s even her real name, from some service.”

“Excuse me?” Dillon gave his brother a playful shove. Mostly playful. “Lina is not from a service. Don’t talk about my girlfriend that way.”

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. That came out wrong. And she seems really nice. I’m happy for you.”

Dillon walked a little faster back toward the house. The flare of anger he’d felt at Kip’s words had been real, even if calling Lina his girlfriend was not accurate. The sooner this conversation ended, the better. “So, are we not allowed to talk about Heather then? Speaking of deflection.”

Kip hunched his shoulders. “She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and I’m terrified of messing it up.”

“Why? I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone quite as connected as the two of you.”

“We broke up about two months ago. She thought we were getting too serious too fast, so I backed off. I’ve been slowly reeling her back in. This is the biggest step we’ve taken since. Her parents had a messy divorce when she was a kid, plus she was engaged before and it didn’t work out. Basically, the only thing that terrifies her more than being engaged again is the thought of getting married.”

“Holy cow, Kip. Hope she’s worth it.”

“She is.”

Dillon had a better understanding of why Kip was so protective of Heather. And now that they’d reached the porch, they had to go in and put both their relationships on display for ridicule. The only thing moving Dillon’s feet up the steps was the thought that Lina was inside, fielding all the questions alone.

Chapter 6

“Okay, men. Your turn.” Josie flipped the card back and forth in her hands. “Let’s see how well you can match your girlfriend’s answers.”

Lina sat across from Dillon at the kitchen table. She didn’t look particularly nervous, but perhaps it was easy to be the calm one when he was doing all the worrying for the two of them.

Josie showed the card she was holding to Mom and giggled. Sitting up taller, she read off, “What do you think she said when asked, ‘Where was your first kiss? And was it earth-shattering, ho hum, confusing, or the start of something amazing?’”

Dillon gestured for Kip to go first. As he feared, this game would reveal just how unprepared they’d been to fake a relationship. He wished Lina could telepath her answer to him, because their first kiss had been tonight at dinner, and it had been all those things—ho hum when he gave her a peck, confusing and earth-shattering when she continued it. Not the start of something amazing. At least he could rule that one out. Or could he?

Kip smiled at a blushing Heather. “Not ho hum. What were the other ones again?”

Josie repeated them.

Kip slapped his knee. “Okay, it was definitely earth-shattering for me, but I think she would have said ‘confusing,’ so I’ll go with that. Oh, and our first kiss was by her car in front of her apartment.”

Heather flipped her white board. She’d written down ‘earth shattering kiss by my car.’

Kip laughed. “I’ve never been so happy to be wrong, babe. Wait, do we get a point for where it happened though?”

Josie and Mom consulted before Josie announced, “We’ll make this a two-point question. So, yes. You’ll get one point for where it happened.”

Dillon turned to Lina, and she raised her eyebrows at him. If that was supposed to be a message for him, it didn’t help. Which answer should he go with, and where on earth would she say they’d had their first kiss?

“Our first kiss was at our apartment complex,” he began.

“Boo,” Alec called out. “You’ll have to be more specific than that.”

Everyone else unfortunately agreed.

At least they hadn’t looked shocked, which meant his answer wasn’t too far off from what Lina had said. “Okay, it was outside the door of …” Lina very subtly pointed at herself. “Lina’s apartment. And I’d say the kiss was … the start of something amazing.” The words had just felt right, and the satisfied smile Lina gave him confirmed it.

She flipped her board with the matching answer. How in the world he’d gotten both right?

“Two points. Nicely done, you two.” Josie clapped. “Okay, Dillon. You go first on this next one. Lina said she’s most attracted to your…”

Lina turned bright red and covered her face with her board.

He’d never seen her flustered before, and it had him blushing in response. “She’s most attracted to my…” Obviously, she hadn’t said something benign like his sense of humor or kind heart. What would make her hide her face? “Um… My winning smile?” he knew it wasn’t right, but reaching for something else would only embarrass them both worse.

Lina flipped her board. His biceps? She looked everywhere but at him, amid hoots and laughter. Working out in front of her would never be quite the same.

***

“See, that wasn’t so bad. We even won The Newlywed Game.”

“’I guess we know each other better than we thought we did.” Dillon smiled at her. He seemed a lot more relaxed now that they were almost done.

Lina swung his hand with hers as they walked back to his truck. From the house, his mom and stepdad were watching them leave.

There had been several not-so-subtle attempts on his mother’s part to invite her to more family events that weekend, but Dillon had immediately declined on Lina’s behalf. If he didn’t want to extend the charade, she certainly wasn’t going to offer.

They’d gotten out of there sooner than she had expected. It was only a little before nine. As soon as Heather and Kip left, Dillon had made excuses for them to leave only minutes later.

The night was still young, and while she didn’t think she could eat another thing, that was no reason not to stop in on another Thanksgiving.

Lina set her cake container on the middle seat before pulling out her phone. She sent a quick text to Ashley, asking if everyone was still there and if they had room for more. Dillon rounded the truck and got in on his side, shooting her a shy smile. Lina put her phone in her lap and put on her seatbelt.

“Um, would you mind dropping me at my friend’s house? It’s not too far from here, and I’m afraid if I go home first and drive back, it will be too late to go.”

“The place you planned to go for Thanksgiving?” Dillon asked, looking guilty. “Of course. I’d be happy to.”

“Thanks. You want to stop in with me? We’ll talk about you either way, so you might as well show up too.”

Dillon’s mouth dropped open, and he let out a short laugh. “Um, that’s not the best sales pitch I’ve ever heard. Your friends know about me?”

“I didn’t tell Ashley to keep it a secret, so, I think it’s safe to say everyone there knows I just pretended to be your girlfriend for your family. But my friends will also worry less if they meet you and see for themselves that you’re perfectly harmless.”

He nodded slowly. “Okay, sure. You’ll need a ride home anyway. Do they know we’re coming?”

Her phone pinged in response. “Ashley says, most everyone has left, but please come, and bring the man for vetting.”

Dillon scrubbed a hand down his face. “I guess I deserve that after letting my family grill you.”

Lina gave him directions before resting her head back and closing her eyes. “I’m so full I could burst.”

“Me too. Unless someone hands me dessert.”

Lina laughed. “Because you’re too polite to decline it or because there’s always room for dessert?”

“Both?”

The laughter died out into silence, and Dillon turned to look at her. “Where’s your family tonight? Sorry, is that prying to ask?”

It shouldn’t be prying, even if it felt that way. Lina traced her finger over the glove compartment door. “My mom died when I was nineteen.”

Dillon shook his head, his eyes serious and sad. “I’m so sorry.”

“It was really unexpected. A heart defect she didn’t even know about. It had always been the two of us, so I felt like an orphan, even though I was technically an adult. Someday I’d like to search for my dad, maybe see if I have half siblings. They have those DNA tests now.” She wasn’t ready to tell him she’d already bought the DNA test and sent it in. The wait to get the results was excruciating. But that was her own worry. She bit her lip, looking out her window and hoping he’d just forget she’d said anything at all.

Dillon’s hand slid into hers, giving it a comforting squeeze. No, he wouldn’t be forgetting that she didn’t have a family. That she desperately wanted one. Man, she hated being a downer, even for the length of a conversation. Time to talk about other things.

“So, let me prep you a little on who you’ll meet tonight.”

“Okay.” Dillon glanced at the street sign up ahead. “A left here?” His hand casually left hers to move back to the steering wheel, and she missed its warmth.

“Yep.”

“You mentioned an Ashley.”

“Yes, she’s my coworker, but also my former roommate. She’s married to Chase. And they’re raising his three siblings together.”

“Oh, wow. How old are the kids?”

“Um, the youngest, a boy, is ten, I think. His sisters are twelve and seventeen or there about. And Ashley and Chase are expecting their first baby. So, it’s a weird, full house, but they’re some of the best people you’ll ever meet. It’s their house we’re going to.”

Talking like this, Lina had a strange sense of deja vu, except she was the one prepping Dillon, rather than the other way around.

She pointed out Ashley and Chase’s house, and he parked behind Shaun and Paige’s truck. Excellent. Those two always made life more interesting.

Dillon jogged around quickly and got her door, but he didn’t reach for her hand as they walked up. She reminded herself there was no need to pretend here. They were back to gym buddies.

Paige and Shaun were the ones who answered the door, not hiding their curiosity one bit as they looked Dillon over.

“Hey, you two.” Lina threaded her arm through Dillon’s, as if to protect him. “Stop staring at him already. Dillon, this is Paige and her husband Shaun. Paige is Ashley’s sister.”

Dillon shook both their hands, and then more people descended on them, blocking the doorway. Shaun’s mom, Annie, and his stepdad, Craig, were on their way out, and Annie stopped to give Lina a hug. “We have to start going to Zumba again. I have a feeling Ashley will use maternity leave as an excuse until the kid’s eighteen, but that doesn’t mean the rest of us can’t go, right?”

“I heard that,” Ashley said, parting Paige and Shaun like they were the Red Sea. She reached out to hug Lina. “And yes, I’ll keep popping out kids if it keeps me out of Zumba class. The world doesn’t need my dancing.” After pulling out of their hug, Ashley shook Dillon’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Dillon. Now, everybody move out of the doorway so they can come inside. Fake boyfriend or not, he gets pie and ice cream like the rest of us.”

Dillon glanced at Lina, and they both laughed. It looked like they’d have to make room for more dessert after all.

***

Dillon felt a little out of place and overwhelmed, though he hoped he was hiding it well.

Lina had claimed the piano bench for them to sit on before leaving him in the living room. Ashley, the pregnant one who hated Zumba, and her sister, Paige, each took an elbow and dragged Lina off to the kitchen, laughing merrily as they caught up on each other’s news. There was a lot more talking going on than dessert prep. Lina waved the ice cream scoop in her hand as she explained something about the Newlywed game they’d played earlier. She caught Dillon watching her and gave him a wink.

So, this is what Lina must have felt like upon stepping into a house full of people she’d never met before. Lina was always outgoing and clearly comfortable in her own skin, but here she was relaxed.

“Hey, I’m Chase. Nice to meet you.”

Dillon looked away from the girls and up at the guy standing in front of him. He put out his hand to shake. “Ashley’s husband, right? Thanks for having me over.”

“No problem. And I apologize for anything my wife might say to you tonight. From what I’ve been told, she gave Shaun over there quite a mouthful when he started dating Paige.”

Shaun looked up from the Battleship game he was playing with Chase’s younger brother on the coffee table. “Hey, don’t get me in trouble, man. Ashley and I are friends now. But yes, she will definitely give you a hard time, Dillon. She’s very protective of her sister. And Lina. Like alpha-of-the-wolf-pack protective. But you didn’t hear that from me.”

Shaun glanced over his shoulder where the three girls were coming out of the kitchen with dessert, and he hopped up to help his wife, earning him a quick kiss and a playful swat on the butt.

Lina rolled her eyes as she passed by them and headed straight for Dillon. “Will this work?” she asked, handing him a tiny slice of pumpkin pie with one scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side. “I didn’t want to give you too much.”

“Perfect.” He scooted over as much as possible to make room for her on the piano bench, and Lina sat down next to him with her small bowl, ice cream only. She leaned against him while they ate. He adjusted so her elbow wasn’t digging into his side, but otherwise didn’t mind sharing the small space.

“Have you been okay out here?” she whispered.

“Nobody’s attacked me yet,” he said, feeling a little dumb at her obvious concern. Yes, he was a lot more introverted than her, and bringing her to deceive his family had been the craziest thing he’d ever done, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t talk to people without her.

“Okay, so can we ask questions now?” Ashley asked. She was sitting across from him on the couch next to her husband. A girl, about twelve, sat in front of her on the floor. She handed up a hair brush, and Ashley immediately began brushing the girl’s hair. Dillon remembered what Lina had said about Ashley and Chase raising his siblings. What a strange thing, to go from Lina’s single roommate to a mom of three older children.

Lina nudged his side. Right. Ashley had asked for permission to grill him.

“Ask away.” He wouldn’t likely see any of these people again because he and Lina weren’t actually dating. Okay, so maybe the feel of her thigh up against his was causing his blood to pump a little faster, but that didn’t mean anything.

“What’s your favorite color?” Shaun asked, cutting off whatever Ashley started to say. He gave her a victorious smile.

Dillon laughed. “Um, red.”

The boy playing Battleship with Shaun looked up. “That’s my favorite color too. Do you like the Arizona Cardinals?”

“Yeah, though I’m more of a Dallas Cowboy’s fan.”

“Me too!”

Chase reached forward and ruffled the kid’s hair. “Well, Tyler approves of you.”

“Did your family believe Lina was your girlfriend?” Ashley asked.

Dillon wasn’t sure his brothers did, but that wasn’t something he’d be sharing. “My mom sure did.”

“I felt very welcome,” Lina added.

Ashley crossed her arms. From the way she was looking at him, she seemed to sense part of the truth was missing from his answer. “Okay, but why did you need your family to think you had a girlfriend?”

“Ash,” Paige reached over and flicked her sister in the arm. “Leave him be. Let’s get out Catch Phrase or Uno or something.”

“He said we could ask.”

Lina sighed. “I already told you why, Ash.”

Dillon scratched the back of his neck. “It’s fine. My siblings aren’t all paired up like all of you. So, bringing someone home is a big deal. And my little brother didn’t want all that attention like a bullseye on his girlfriend. He’s hoping to propose soon and not have her run away screaming.”

Paige gave him a sympathetic smile. “I can understand that. Lina, I approve.”

Lina bumped his shoulder. “Thanks, but we’re not actually dating, ya’ll. And based on this fun little interrogation, good luck getting me to bring anyone over again.”

Ashley squirmed. “I’m sorry. I’m retiring from being a pest tonight. Except I have one more question.”

That earned her some groans.

“So, is there no chance you two could date for real?” Ashley hid her face as if expecting to be pelted by rotten tomatoes.

There was no good answer for that, nor did Dillon want to be the one to answer it. But Lina only stared at her hands, so he gripped his dessert plate and said, “I didn’t plan this as some backhanded way to ask Lina out or some weird pickup attempt. If things change, both of us will know.”

Everyone was silent for a moment, and then Ashley attempted to get to her feet, her pregnant belly throwing her off balance until her husband, Chase, steadied her.

“Let me take that,” she said, gesturing toward Dillon’s empty dessert plate. “And not that you need it, but you have my approval. I’m sorry I’m a nosy nelly.” She leaned over and hugged Lina before taking Lina’s dish too. “Anyone else? I’m on my way to the kitchen.”

“Why is the pregnant woman cleaning up?” Shaun took the dishes from her and shooed her back to the couch. “If anyone needs me, I’ll be avoiding further awkward conversations by doing the dishes. And I want it to go down in the record that I was not involved in the interrogation of Dillon tonight.”

“You get a ribbon, hon,” Paige called after him.

Lina leaned in and rested her chin on Dillon’s shoulder for a moment, whispering, “You ready to go?”

“Whenever you are,” he whispered back.

She lifted her head and studied him like she was afraid he was just trying to be a good sport. Oh, how the roles had reversed. She was the one embarrassed, afraid she’d talked him into more than he’d bargained for.

They stayed for one round of Catch Phrase, and then she stood and beckoned for him to follow. “Love you all, we’re heading home.”

Several curious sets of eyes followed them to the door.

“Nothing to see here,” Lina called as she shut the door behind them. She let out a long sigh that turned into a yawn. “Take me home, driver.”

Dillon saluted and went to open the truck door for her. After he got in, he synced his phone and handed it over so she could pick the music.

They didn’t talk for several minutes. She scrolled through his playlists, choosing country songs and singing along.

“I like your voice,” he said finally. There was a warmth and depth to it, and she added her own harmony, rather than just overpowering the original singer.

“Will you sing too?” she asked. “I bet you do when it’s only you in the car. Don’t be self-conscious on account of me.”

He did sing when no one else could hear him, but there was a reason for holding back. He had no singing ability whatsoever.

“One song?” She gave him her best puppy dog eyes and took her seatbelt off, scooting to the middle.

Great, now he’d have to help her re-belt. The middle seatbelt was so stiff and unyielding, especially when you weren’t used to it. They reached a red light, and he put the truck in park before reaching across her and pulling until the seatbelt could reach the buckle he’d pulled out from between the seats earlier. Their faces were inches apart, and the scent and feel of her did funny things to his breathing.

Lina’s eyes flickered to his lips and she tucked her lower lip in, biting it just slightly. Dang, woman. She was tempting him, though he wasn’t sure if it was on purpose or not.

BEEP! The driver behind him tapped his horn, and Dillon straightened in his seat. The light had turned green, and had probably been green for a while. He put the truck in drive and moved through the intersection, feeling like an idiot.

Lina gave one more strong tug and clicked her seatbelt in on her own. “Sorry. I just figured I could beg better from the middle seat.”

Beg for what? He almost asked before remembering her plea for him to sing with her.

“Okay, I’ll sing. But I pick the song.” He scrolled to “All My Exes Live in Texas” and turned it up. It was the type of song that almost sounded better when you sang it off-key. Lina didn’t know the verses, but she came in on the chorus, laughing at the goofy lyrics with him.

When he pulled into his parking spot, he got out and went to get her door. He’d be walking her to her apartment. Like this was a real first date. There was no reason to be nervous about it, but he definitely was. He’d be lying if he said he wasn’t thinking about the possibility of kissing her again.

They fell in step together, and he linked his arm with hers, wishing he had an excuse to take her hand instead.

“I like your family,” she said.

“That’s because you’re delusional.” He laughed and so did she, but he suddenly felt terrible, remembering that she didn’t have a family. He hadn’t missed the wistful way she’d talked about finding her dad. “I like your friends. Even the nosy, pregnant one.”

Lina wrinkled her nose at him. “Ashley’s protective because she wants to see me date someone decent. She hasn’t liked my past boyfriends much.”

“And was she justified in that?” he couldn’t help asking.

“Unfortunately, yes. I have terrible taste in men.”

He pretended to be wounded.

“Don’t worry. You don’t count. We’re just workout buddies.” They reached her door, and she put her hand up for a high-five. “Good night, Dillon. See you in the gym first thing tomorrow morning, if you dare.”

She slipped in her door without a backward glance. If there were any doubt as to her true feelings toward him, that had clarified things. A high-five. Was there any more platonic way to end a date?

Chapter 7

Lina thought Dillon would be a no-show for Black Friday’s morning workout, but halfway through her stretches, he came into the tiny gym, his hair adorably disheveled and his eyes blinking at her like he couldn’t quite focus.

“What happened to you? Did you go out again after taking me home?”

“Trent turned on a movie, and I got sucked in. He can somehow work on his laptop and watch TV at the same time. And he likes scary stuff. He’ll sleep fine while I stay awake listening for odd noises and rechecking the door to make sure it’s locked.”

Lina turned away so he wouldn’t see her biting her lip, trying not to laugh. Scaredy cat. She could add that to her list of things she knew about him.

Dillon sat on the rowing machine and began his focused workout. The return to normal was part relief, part disappointment. But this was what they’d planned on. She did him a favor, it was over, and now they could go back to being gym friends with their occasional small talk between workout reps.

But if she had to keep reassuring herself that this was fine, it definitely wasn’t. What did that mean? Yes, Dillon was attractive and had turned out to be a pretty great guy. She’d enjoyed yesterday, as weird as it was, but it wasn’t meant to lead to anything. Maybe it had just been too long since her last relationship.

The door squeaked, and she turned to see Dillon’s brother, Trent, walk in. He was wearing a bow tie. It was all her eyes could focus on. Red, with tiny polka dots. He really did look like a lawyer. He even held a leather briefcase in one hand.

She smiled. “Morning, Trent. Ready for a day at the office?”

“I am. What about you two?” He said it like an accusation, as if they’d ditched out on some important meeting, and he’d been sent to round them up.

Lina glanced at Dillon. He was still rowing, studiously avoiding Trent’s eyes. Except Trent leaned down until Dillon had no choice but to look at him.

“Mom called. She’s planning to put the Christmas tree up and pull all the leftovers out for lunch. Josie is out on an all-day shopping marathon with Kip and Heather, and our loving stepdad went golfing again. If you two don’t show up, Alec will kill you.”

Dillon’s shoulders drooped. “Why are you working on Thanksgiving weekend?”

“I’m a criminal attorney. Holidays are our bread and butter. Do you know how many people got pulled over last night for DUIs? They’ll pay extra not to wait until Monday.”

“Fine. I’ll text Mom and tell her I’ll be there today.”

Trent’s eyes narrowed. “Aren’t you bringing Lina?”

They both turned to look at her. It was hard to tell what Dillon was hoping she’d say. She opened and closed her mouth, pulling together something in her head that wasn’t quite a hard no but not a yes either. “Well, we were planning on hiking later…”

Trent clapped his hands together. “Cool. Do that. Just stop off at Mom’s, too. I gotta go.” He turned and left, leaving a less than comfortable silence behind him.

Well, that wouldn’t do. Lina picked up her water bottle before sneaking up behind Dillon. He was still sitting on the rowing machine, but not moving. She lifted up his shirt just a bit and lightly pressed the ice cold water bottle to his back, making him simultaneously jump up and squawk.

“What was that for?” He turned to look at her, and his shocked surprise turned to embarrassed guilt. “You don’t have to go with me. Trent’s not in charge, however much he likes to think he is.”

“But do you want me to? Would that make things less complicated?”

Dillon rubbed a hand over his eyes. “Nothing will make this less complicated. I didn’t think about Trent seeing us after the Thanksgiving date. We could let him be in on it. Tell him the truth.”

Lina grimaced. “I haven’t known him long, but that seems like a bad idea.”

“Correct.” Dillon sighed. “He’s not good at keeping secrets, and I’d never hear the end of it.”

She left him to mull the situation over, now that her “icebreaker” had done its job. She grinned. Bad puns were a secret pleasure of hers. Plus, watching Dillon jolt from the sudden cold against his back had been highly satisfying. Maybe because he wasn’t the type to retaliate.

Most guys she knew would have stolen her water bottle and dumped a little in her hair, just to make things even. It was the macho thing to do, right?

Was that what she wanted in a guy? She’d always thought so. She studied the back of Dillon’s head as he picked up speed on the rowing machine again. Dillon was so solid. Not just physically, but in the way he went about things. He was careful about decisions and interactions. The thought of asking her to Thanksgiving dinner had probably torn him up. How long had he considered it before saying something?

He finally slowed and got off the machine. “I have no right to ask you to come again.”

Lina crossed her arms. “Do you want me to come?”

His fists clenched before he let his fingers free and stretched them out. His nod of assertion was almost imperceptible.

“Well, finish your workout. I’ll meet you at your apartment at ten. Does that work?”

He let a small smile slip. “Yeah, that definitely works.”

***

Lina didn’t seem to mind tagging along again, but this whole thing was getting ridiculous. She and Dillon’s stubborn middle seatbelt were friends now, and she buckled herself in without any help. Worse, his family was already treating her like an expected guest. Trent had practically ordered her to show up today.

“Does your family get a real Christmas tree or an artificial one?” Lina asked as they drove past a Christmas tree lot.

“Both. My mom usually pulls out the artificial one early, and then gets a real one to display in the entryway in mid-December. She’s really into Christmas. Five bucks says she’s wearing her Santa hat and elf slippers when we get there.”

“I will not take that bet because I totally believe you.” She slapped out a rhythm against her knees. “Elf slippers… I didn’t even know those existed. I think I’ll get me a pair of those.”

“You do that. Just cut the bells off the ends.”

“True. It would be hard to sneak up on someone if I was jingling.”

Dillon shook his head. “For when you want to scare people with your crazy cold water bottle?”

“Exactly. Or my cold hands.” She reached up and pressed her hands lightly against the sides of his neck. Her hands were as cold as she’d hoped, but he shivered for an entirely different reason. What had he gotten himself into? He couldn’t have feelings for her. That sort of defeated the whole noble speech he’d given her friends about this not being a sneaky, backdoor attempt to get her attention.

His words mocked him now. If things change, both of us will know. Well, that wasn’t true because he didn’t have any idea how open Lina would be to dating him for real. And he couldn’t ask. Not without making it look like that’s what he’d hoped for all along.

Were they even compatible? She liked to tease him about his lapses into silence, but was that because it bothered her or amused her? It had definitely bothered Cammie, his last girlfriend. Maybe he needed someone quiet and shy, like him. But if that were the case, why did he gravitate toward the opposite? Why did relationships have to be so hard anyway? And why did he want one so badly when he was so terrible at them?

He turned onto the dirt road that led up to the farm, and the dogs barked out a frantic welcome, just as they had yesterday. Thankfully, the yard was drying up. The pools of sludgy water from yesterday had turned into puzzle pieces of cracked earth.

He jumped out first and held onto the dogs’ collars. Lina didn’t hesitate to follow, quickly jogging to the front door.

When he caught up, she was already in the kitchen with his mom, helping her prep a gigantic lunch no one would be around to eat. He’d texted Kip right before driving over, and the girls weren’t even halfway done with the list of stores they wanted to hit. It made Dillon feel slightly better knowing Kip seriously regretted his decision to accompany them on their Black Friday utopian mission to save money.

“Lina, are you comfortable following the directions on the back of this ranch dip?” Mom looked at her with an expectant smile, ready to take over if Lina couldn’t handle it. She was not wearing elf slippers, but she did have on a big red sweater with puff ball snowflakes.

“Yes, I think I’ll be fine.” Lina glanced over at him. She really had been laying it on thick yesterday when she’d used overly-ignorant cooking questions to distract Mom. Proof that even benign lies could take on a life of their own.

“Dillon, go flag down Alec. He made some excuse about needing to apply fertilizer to the alfalfa fields, and he’s been gone all morning.”

“We did a soil test Monday. It does need fertilizer.”

Mom lowered her glasses. “Today? Do the fields need it today?”

Dillon gave up arguing and went out to the west fields to find Alec, who was indeed spreading phosphorus with the tractor, but mostly avoiding being caged inside. Mom didn’t understand the restlessness in men used to working every day. Thanksgiving was over, but if she had it her way, it would be one long family holiday from Thanksgiving to Christmas.

He waved until Alec noticed him and then threw his hands up in a defeated way, a sign language of sorts that this was not a dire emergency, but he’d been sent to fetch Alec anyway.

Alec pointed at his last section and nodded. He’d finish the field he was working on and come in.

If it wasn’t for Lina waiting inside, Dillon would’ve been tempted to come up with his own stalling tactic, but who knew what she and his mom would be talking about without anyone else around to hear?

***

“What dentist office do you work at? I’ve been looking for a new one.”

Lina paused in scraping the last of the Jell-O salad into a smaller bowl. Lying would come back to bite her, but having Dillon’s mom as a patient would entangle her further in this boyfriend/girlfriend lie. She could only imagine Dillon’s reaction.

“I’m at Daily Dental.” Lina immediately wished she’d made up a name, something so generic Brenda wouldn’t ever find it. Southwest dentistry or something. There were a million variations with that name in Phoenix.

“Oh, Daily Dental isn’t far from here. That’s wonderful.”

Yep. Wonderful. Lina grabbed up a baby carrot and did a taste test of the dip she’d made earlier. “Did you not like your last dentist?” She couldn’t help being a little curious.

Brenda shrugged. “I’m one of those silly women who’s afraid of the dentist. I don’t even remember where I went last.”

The professional in Lina warred with the side that didn’t want to get caught up in more lies. But if it had been that long, Brenda really did need to be seen. All she needed was a little nudge of encouragement. Otherwise, it would slip her mind and she’d put off a checkup for another few years until tooth pain forced her to go.

“Just tell them you’re scared. They’ll understand. And don’t call yourself a silly woman. It’s a common fear.”

“I’m not so scared I’d need to be knocked out or anything. At least not for a cleaning. I just don’t like it. And I hate being scolded.”

Lina hid a smile. Kirby sometimes scolded patients for neglecting their teeth. But there were several other dentists in the office who didn’t.

“You wouldn’t scold me, would you, Lina?” Brenda looked so hopeful.

“Of course not.” Lina glanced behind her, hearing the scuffing of feet.

“Scold you for what?” Dillon asked, looking between the two.

Brenda blinked. “Scold me for asking too many questions.” She moved to brush some imaginary dust off of Dillon’s shoulder. When he turned to look at something bubbling on the stove, Brenda looked back at Lina and winked.

So, this dentist thing was supposed to be their little secret. Not happening. Lina would fill Dillon in later. Maybe he could talk his mom into finding a different dentist office to try.

Dillon turned the heat off the turkey soup warming on the stove. “I can only imagine what kinds of questions you’ve been asking Lina.”

He was teasing, but clearly also fishing for information. Lina wrapped her arm around his waist. “You have nothing to fear. I’m a bank safe when it comes to us.”

Brenda sighed. “It’s true. I asked her if you two had said, ‘I love you,’ to each other yet, and she let me know that was none of my business.”

“Mom!”

Lina’s jaw dropped. “She did not. She did not ask that.”

Brenda giggled. “Okay, I didn’t ask that. But can I?”

Dillon backed away, reaching for Lina’s hand as he retreated. “We’ll be in the living room if you need us.”

He led Lina to the couch and sank into it, still holding her hand. It felt nice, but more than that, it felt like he drew strength from the connection of their fingers like she did. She had to remind herself that being a team against his mother’s teasing was not the same as being together. His mom was a professional at embarrassing him, there was no doubt of that. Lina chuckled to herself, knowing if she ever got to be a mom, she’d likely do the same thing.

Dillon pressed their joined hands against his chest. “I’ll text Kip right now and tell him to come home so you can leave. I’ve hijacked your entire holiday.”

Lina stared him down. “A little teasing is not going to scare me off. I like your mom. She’s a nice lady.” If it sounded like a lecture, that was because it sort of was. Dillon was lucky to have his mother.

He dipped his head. “Your incessant cheer is making me look bad.” His smile, a mixture of apology and mischief, was hard to resist.

“You’re getting better at this pretend boyfriend thing,” she said, leaning closer. Would it be wrong to kiss him right now? She could play it off as part of teaching him to be a more convincing boyfriend. His gaze said he’d play along.

Dillon’s free hand came up and brushed her hair back from her face, his thumb grazing her jaw.

The front door squeaked open and they jumped away from each other. Alec came tromping in, glancing at them with an annoyed eye roll.

“Don’t stop on account of me. I smell food.” He headed straight into the kitchen.

“Wash your hands first,” Brenda hollered seconds later, probably shooing Alec away from whatever he’d tried to grab off the counter.

“I hope you’re hungry,” Dillon said, quickly standing. He was looking everywhere but down at Lina. “If we don’t eat it all, she’ll be revamping the leftovers until Christmas.”

It would have been a better joke if it wasn’t an obvious attempt to pretend nothing had been about to happen between them. More than ever, Lina felt confused. She was usually so good at reading people, but she’d also never been a pretend girlfriend before. Until she could separate what was real and what was not, it was better to keep things light and friendly between them.

Chapter 8

Dillon had almost kissed Lina when no one else was in the room. Or had she almost kissed him? The thought had him elated, but also not sure what his next move was. If things were not fake, they needed to agree on that. Verbally. And what did that mean for the lie they’d told his family?

He was overthinking things. Lina didn’t do that. She lived in the moment while he worried about consequences and intent. As if to push the point home, he looked at her from across the table, and she tossed a celery stick at him.

He picked it up off his lap and lobbed it into the trash can ten feet away without looking. It was a skill he’d perfected as a teenager.

Lina fanned herself in feigned awe, coaxing an embarrassed smile out of him, no matter how hard he fought to keep a straight face. It was impossible to feel cool around her for more than two seconds. She threw him off kilter, while still accepting him the way he was. Accepting his family. It made her quite an attractive and intimidating package, all wrapped in one.

He wished he would have just asked her out like a normal person. He would have still felt out of his depth, but at least they wouldn’t be stuck in this dumb lie where he questioned everything they said and did, wondering if any of it meant anything.

Maybe she hadn’t wanted to kiss him at all, but felt obligated to play along. Or she was fine with kissing him, but only for fun. There was that overthinking again. He finished his turkey sandwich and stood up to clear his plate. Lina was done too, so he took her plate as well and brought them to the kitchen.

Kip, Heather, and Josie arrived just as they finished cleaning up lunch, and the whole group got to work putting up the massive artificial tree, freeing it from the beat up cardboard box it lived in most of the year. Alec and Dillon pushed the couches out of the way while Mom and Josie got out the lights and ornaments.

Lina pulled out her phone and turned on some Christmas music. Then she began spreading out the flattened branches, working her way methodically around the tree. Heather, who had been standing back looking a little lost, went to join her.

“She’s a gem, this one,” Mom nudged Dillon with her elbow. “I really like Lina.”

“Me too.” Dillon sighed a little too despondently.

Mom’s eyebrows dipped. “I sense a ‘but’ at the end of that.”

“But … we’ll see.”

She didn’t pry further, for which he was grateful. He untangled the strings of lights while Kip tested them out and started winding them around the tree.

Josie handed Dillon a pile of ugly Christmas ornaments from his elementary school years, the ones with a badly cut circle around his school photo glued to a pine cone or a star made from craft sticks. He tried to casually tuck those in the back of the tree, but Lina came over to investigate.

“What are you doing back here? Hiding ugly ornaments?”

“Doesn’t everybody do that?” he asked, hiding the two he had left in the crook of his elbow.

Lina peeked over his arm and plucked one out. “Oh, Dillon. This is adorable. You can’t hide this back here.” She reached for the one he’d placed deep in the tree, but he was faster. Except the tree shook, and while he was grabbing that one, Lina reached in and stole the other ornament from under his arm.

The resulting scuffle turned into a tickle fight, and the ornaments went flying. So did the tree. Dillon grabbed the tree and righted it before the whole thing fell over.

“Are you two okay back there?” Josie asked, doubled over with laughter.

Dillon’s face burned as he turned to see all eyes on them. Everyone looked so happy for him. Well, Alec looked sort of nauseated at the same time, but that begrudging, atta boy, was there too. His mom was practically awash in happy tears.

It suddenly felt like pressure. It was a rare thing for Dillon to be the fun-loving center of attention. And it was all because of Lina. She was this burst of joy who made everything better, except she wasn’t really his.

***

Lina could tell the stress of the situation was weighing on Dillon. She didn’t totally understand it, but she felt for him all the same. Not everyone could be an actor. So, after the decorating wound down and Josie and Heather had finished showing off their Black Friday finds, Lina suggested a walk. She took Dillon’s hand and dragged him outside before anyone else could invite themselves along. His family no doubt assumed they wanted some time to themselves. It wasn’t exactly a wrong assumption.

As soon as they were clear of the windows, she dropped his hand and picked up the pace, looking around their family farm with real curiosity. Having grown up mostly in tiny apartments, open space like this was a foreign concept. The dogs whined from the chain link pen where they’d been banished. Heather was still afraid of them, so Kip had corralled the dogs as soon as they arrived. Lina stopped to pet each one, even though she was rewarded with slobber.

Then she headed toward the modular mountains of hay. They were under what she’d describe as a giant carport: open, but with protection from the rain. She ran her hand over one of the bales, noting the sage green alfalfa leaves in tiny tear drop shapes. Naively, she’d always pictured straw the way they showed it in story books, golden and stick straight.

Dillon leaned against the haystacks with her. The hay dwarfed them both by at least twenty feet.

“How do you stack it that high?” she asked. The answer was tractors, of course, but she hadn’t seen one up close or paid much attention on the rare occasion when she passed one on the road. They were suddenly more interesting knowing it might be Dillon in the driver’s seat.

“Come here, and I’ll show you.”

She followed him over to another of their giant carports where the different tractors were parked in neat rows. Dillon pointed out each one, explaining the process, from the wide tractor that mowed the hay, to the baler that took the swept up piles and turned them into bales. Last of all was the wagon that picked up each bale and stacked them against its giant forklifts. It was a far cry from the pioneer days of Laura Ingalls stomping down hay with her dad.

“Do you want to go for a tractor ride?” Dillon looked a little embarrassed at offering. If he only knew how much she’d been hoping he’d ask. Like a little kid, she’d been dying to scramble up to the seat at the top the moment she saw them.

“Which one?” she asked.

“Let’s take the backhoe, and we’ll take care of a spot where the irrigation isn’t flowing down the way it should.” He climbed up first, and then hesitated as he looked at the one seat – basically an invitation for her to sit on top of him.

She scrambled up after him before he changed his mind and sat on half his lap, leaning to one side so he could see and reach the gears. “Will I kill your leg?” she asked.

“Not at all. Besides, we’ll make it quick.” He turned on the machine, which was as loud as she imagined it would be. They’d have to shout to hear each other.

He started backing up, and she grabbed one of the upper bars before she fell over. Dillon wrapped his arm around her waist and eased her back against him into a more secure position. The more relaxed he was about it, the faster her heart began to beat. Yes, it was loud, and dusty, and it smelled like motor oil, but he was this solid, calm presence, holding her in place next to his heart. Up here was where Dillon felt the most comfortable. She could tell. And she loved being a part of it.

They drove over to the edge of one of the fields where corn stalks had been cut. The field looked like the top of a blond buzz cut. Dillon scraped up dirt from one of the rows and moved it to the dirt lined up along the edge. Dillon had called it a berm. At least, that’s what she thought he’d said. And something about gophers. Apparently, the gophers’ underground tunnels had messed with the flow of the water.

“Do you want to try?” he asked after a few minutes.

If the gears were part of an arcade game, absolutely, but this was an expensive machine, not a toy. “Nah, I’m good. Maybe another time.” She rested her head back on his shoulder and sighed. It was the tryptophan in the turkey making her sleepy and satisfied. That was all.

***

“I’ll call your dentist office first thing Monday morning,” Mom called from the front door.

Dillon glanced back at her, and then at Lina. “Please tell me she’s teasing us again.”

Lina tugged on his hand. “We’ll talk in the truck.”

They were holding hands for appearances, of course. The fact that it was quickly becoming his favorite thing was irrelevant.

He opened the passenger door for her before going around to his side. Lina was already in the middle seat, buckled in. Her cheeks were flushed pink from the wind and cold, and the dry air had her hair sticking up in places from the static. He reached out and smoothed it down. The strands were silky soft and cold. She looked at him curiously, and he cleared his throat. “There was some static.”

“Oh.” She flipped down the mirror in the sun visor and smoothed it out herself, giving him a chance to get his thoughts under wraps and stop imagining himself kissing her.

“What was my mom talking about?” he asked. “Why is she planning to call your dental office?”

Lina rested her head back and sighed. “She needs to see a dentist. It doesn’t have to be one from my office. By all means, talk her out of it. Just don’t talk her out of going to the dentist altogether.”

“She does hate the dentist. I’d forgotten about that.” He started the truck up, considering what he should do. As stubborn as his mom was, there had been no talking her into going to the dentist, and there likely would be no talking her out of it now. But that meant Mom seeing more of Lina, who was still not his girlfriend. If Lina gave him another high-five at her door, he’d know for sure that wouldn’t change anytime soon.

“Penny for your thoughts?” Lina asked him.

“Oh, it would cost you a lot more than that,” he murmured, not really thinking how she might take his words.

“Oh, ho. Now I have to know more. What’s her name?”

He stared at the road ahead, summoning some bravery. “Her name is Lina. She gave me a high-five at the end of our non-date last time. I’m just wondering what I get for a second non-date.”

Lina was unexpectedly quiet in response. She rubbed his knee, which only sent his nerves into a higher state of disarray. “I’ve always thought it best to be surprised by life.”

“True words.” And words meant to keep him on his toes, keep him guessing. Which was only what he deserved. He hoped his attempt at flirtatious honesty hadn’t sounded like he was expecting or demanding more. In fact, the more he thought about it, the worse it sounded in his head.

“I was totally joking before. I hope you know that.”

Lina rested her head against his arm. “I know, cowboy. I know.” She almost sounded disappointed, which made him feel worse.

They were quiet the rest of the drive. It wasn’t late enough for him to really need to walk her to her door this time, but as soon as she hopped out, she took his hand and dragged him toward the sidewalk in the direction of her apartment, ensuring he came with her. Great, was he so predictable that she could read him this easily?

Once they reached her apartment door, she stopped and turned to him, looking expectant.

He wasn’t sure if she was daring him to try something or making sure he wouldn’t. He put his hand up for a high-five instead, which he got. Then she reached up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “See you for tomorrow’s workout?”

“Of course.”

***

Lina’s phone rang Sunday night while she was in the middle of a finger painting project. Only two feet away, her phone flashed Corrie’s name, making it that much worse to know she couldn’t pick it up. Even if she washed her hands right then, Lina would never get to the call before it went to voicemail. Plus, the berry color on her middle and pointer finger had happened by accident, and she was dying to use it.

Painting had always called to her, but it wasn’t until Lina tried painting with her fingers that things clicked into place. It was a secret hobby not even her closest friends knew about, including Corrie. She’d taken it up after Ashley married and moved out.

Lina wouldn’t have been embarrassed to be caught finger painting, she just wanted to get better at it before showing anybody. She had donated all of her finished projects to the local Goodwill and liked to imagine what happened to them after that. Perhaps her finger-painted vase was in some sweet old lady’s kitchen right now holding roses from the yard. Maybe teenage boys used her canvases as dart boards. The possibilities were endless.

The berry color became the shadowing on a porch, one she’d been to twice in the past two days. It was a shame she couldn’t make the dogs look right. Their heads were too big, and their legs were laughably bent at the wrong angles.

When the last of the berry paint color was gone, Lina rubbed any excess paint off with a paper towel before coating her hands in canola oil. Then she washed them with dish soap.

Corrie had been in Iowa for Thanksgiving visiting her family. Lina eagerly picked up her phone and called her back.

“Lina?” Corrie said in greeting. “Hey, I heard you spent Thanksgiving on a date. Spill it, sister.”

Of course she’d heard. Corrie’s husband, Preston, was best friends with Shaun.

Lina caught her up on the story from the beginning, including Lina’s time with Dillon’s family on Friday, which the rest of her friends didn’t know about yet.

“Does his lawyer brother work out with you two?” Corrie asked. “I never met them, did I?”

Lina and Corrie had met in the apartment gym back when Corrie was single, so it was a valid question.

“No, I met Dillon a few months ago. And I met his brother for the first time on Thanksgiving. Of course, now that he thinks Dillon and I are an item, I’ll probably run into him all the time.”

“And how do you feel about this guy, Lina? I would think if you weren’t interested in Dillon at all, you’d be super annoyed with this whole thing. But you don’t sound annoyed.”

Just to be a tease, Lina changed the subject. “Are you back from Iowa yet?”

“Yes. We flew in two hours ago. Ella is already missing her cousin friends like crazy. It’s too early to tell her she’s getting a little brother or sister, but I can’t wait. She’ll be so excited.”

“I’m so happy for you, Corrie. Is Preston excited?”

“Over the moon.” Corrie paused. “Oh my heck, you changed the subject on me. Now back to your man. What’s really going on? Because I have someone I want to set you up with, but if Dillon is taking up all your headspace, I won’t even tell you about this other guy.”

“The last time you tried to set me up with a guy, it was Shaun. And he was secretly dating Paige already.”

“Exactly. I don’t want to make the same mistake. And for the record, finding someone for you every couple years is not exactly a matchmaking overstep.”

“Fair enough.” Was Dillon taking up all her headspace? Lina wasn’t sure it was that serious, but she also wasn’t jumping for joy at the thought of meeting someone else. “Let’s hold off on the new guy. But that doesn’t mean Dillon and I are serious. Because we’re not.”

“How are things when it’s just the two of you?” Corrie asked.

The disappointment hit Lina all over again. He’d chickened out Friday night and put his hand up for a high-five instead of pressing her against the door and giving her the kiss she’d been hoping for. But Dillon wasn’t impulsive like that. He was hesitant. Patient. Basically, her opposite. Most of the time that felt like a good thing, but at the moment it just left her frustrated. “We’re pretty much buddies right now. He’s kinda shy.”

“That’s not necessarily a bad thing.” Lina could practically hear the smile in Corrie’s voice. “I know taking things slow is not your style, but maybe it’s his.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Lina grumbled. She’d told herself the same thing, and to be honest, Dillon was likely being the more mature of the two, but still…

“I’d better go. Ella and Preston are hollering for me to come play basketball with them.”

“Tell them I love them.” Lina hung up and looked around at her painting mess, wishing it was the kind of mess caused by lots of people living in the same space. Maybe it was time to get another roommate, though that wasn’t the kind of people Lina secretly hoped to have around. She wanted what Corrie, and Ashley, and Paige had. She wanted to find the right guy and get married. She wanted a family.

Chapter 9

Lina didn’t have to worry about whether or not Brenda was coming in, because she had asked Ashley to watch the schedule for her. It meant explaining to Ashley that she was still pretending to be Dillon’s girlfriend, but it also meant Lina was mentally prepared for Friday morning at nine-thirty, when Brenda took a seat in the dental chair and beamed up at her.

“This is so fun. You know, I’ve actually been looking forward to getting my teeth cleaned. And that never happens!”

Lina gave Brenda a bib and sunglasses to wear before lowering the seat back. “I’m so glad, Brenda. I’ll make this as easy as possible for you. How were the x–rays?”

Brenda grimaced. “Horrible. But I guess we’ll find out how horrible when the dentist comes in.”

Lina clicked through the screens, having a look for herself. There were a few between teeth cavities, but nothing majorly wrong that she could see. But that was for the dentist to diagnose. Some things had to be taken care of right away, and some they would only watch. It depended on the dentist.

“I think you’ll be okay. We’ll see what Dr. Rhodes thinks.”

Brenda turned her head. “Oh, they said Dr. Rhodes had a dental emergency come up. Dr. Giles is going to come in.”

Dr. Kirby Giles. That was bad for so many reasons. Kirby didn’t have great bedside manners, but he was also the last person Lina wanted talking to Brenda. What if Brenda brought up Dillon? Lina pushed aside those worries. Brenda needed her calm.

“Well, let’s get started. I’m going to polish your teeth to start with. Are you good with mint flavor?”

“Oh, yes. I love mint.”

Lina got to work, being as gentle as possible and giving Brenda lots of opportunities to rinse and suction. Brenda did great with the flossing, although scraping the plaque took some coaxing.

“What kind of horror movies have you been watching, Brenda?” Lina asked with a laugh. “I promise I won’t hurt you with these tools. I’m a dental teddy bear.”

Brenda relaxed and let her finish, but she gripped the chair the whole time like she was on a rollercoaster ride.

When Lina announced she was done, Brenda took a deep breath and shook out her hands. As soon as Lina inclined her chair, Brenda leaned forward and reached out for a hug. Lina held her tight, genuinely proud of her for working through her fear.

“Lina, no more hugging the patients.” Kirby chuckled from the doorway. He came over to stand next to them, a little too close to Lina than was professional. “When Lina says she loves her job, she’s being literal,” he said to Brenda with a wink.

Lina and Brenda both laughed at his joke, but Lina didn’t miss the side eye Brenda threw her when he leaned over to look at her dental x-rays.

Brenda fiddled with her dental bib. “Oh, Lina and I already know each other. She’s dating my son, Dillon.”

Lina could read Brenda’s mind. The woman had easily sensed the weird dynamic between Kirby and Lina and was trying to help. But this was not helping.

Kirby’s eyes stayed on the x-rays, but he frowned with a concentration Lina knew had nothing to do with cavities. “Really? Lina hasn’t said anything. It must be new.”

“Not really. She came for Thanksgiving.” Brenda beamed at Lina. “We love her already.”

Kirby’s eyes darted to Lina’s. He was likely wondering why she hadn’t mentioned a boyfriend when he’d asked her out last week. It would have been a lot easier and less insulting than telling him it wasn’t a good idea for the two of them to go out.

Lina charged ahead before Brenda could say anything else. “I don’t share a lot about my personal life here at the office.”

Which wasn’t exactly true. Lina had probably encouraged Kirby by being so friendly and open. Everyone had known about her last relationship, how it started and why it ended. The only thing she didn’t talk about was her family.

Kirby cleared his throat. “Well, Brenda. Because you neglected to see a dentist for several years, we have a lot of cavities to fix up. You’re very lucky it’s not worse than that. This old filling on the top right side needs to be replaced. It’s starting to merge with this new cavity next to it. If we wait any longer, you’ll need a root canal. You haven’t been brushing and flossing well enough in the corners. And you should definitely stay away from soda.” He went on and on, not stopping to see how Brenda was taking the news.

Lina squeezed Brenda’s hand. She would check with Ashley and make sure Kirby wouldn’t be on the schedule to do the fillings.

Kirby pushed the foot petal, lowering the chair back, and went to look inside Brenda’s mouth with the very tools that had scared Brenda before. She whimpered.

“Is something wrong?” Kirby asked, pulling his hands back.

Lina motioned for him to follow her out into the hallway. He reluctantly did, crossing his arms and leaning against the wall.

“Brenda’s afraid of dentists. Didn’t you see that in her file?”

“She’s afraid of me?” Kirby asked.

“She’s afraid of the poky-looking instruments.”

“Ahh.” He went back in the room and looked inside Brenda’s mouth with the dental mirror instead, talking about the options for anesthesia for when she came back to get her fillings.

Lina was so relieved when they were finished and Kirby walked out of the room. Brenda grabbed up her large leather purse from the hook on the wall and followed Lina to the checkout desk, whispering, “I don’t like him. And am I wrong in thinking he has feelings for you?”

Ashley looked up from her computer and smiled in a bland way, as if she wasn’t hanging on Brenda’s every word.

Lina cleared her throat to indicate they shouldn’t be talking about Kirby at the reception desk, and Brenda covered her mouth, realizing they had an audience. Ashley wasn’t the only receptionist at the desk. The last thing Lina needed was gossip flying around the office.

Before Lina turned to go back to work, Brenda reached out and touched her arm. “Dillon’s probably already told you, but we’re having a family dinner on Sunday night. You’ll be there, won’t you?”

Lina avoided Ashley’s gaze. “I’d love that. I’ll talk to Dillon about it.”

***

Dillon recognized Lina’s knock on his front door, even though he’d only heard it once before. He looked down at his t-shirt and sweatpants, what he’d thrown on after a shower. Oh well. Lina wouldn’t care. He opened up to a smiling Lina, who stepped right in and passed him up to go plop herself onto the couch. Trent was working at the kitchen table, still in his suit and tie, but he looked up and smiled. “Hey, Dillon’s girlfriend.”

“Hey, work-a-holic. How goes things?”

“Oh, the usual. Made some rich people very happy, which of course makes me very rich.”

“Very rich?” Lina looked around the apartment.

“Okay, it makes my bosses rich. But eventually, it will make me lots of money, too.”

It was as if she’d always been there, challenging Trent on his obnoxious bragging, making herself comfortable on their couch. Unnerving, but also kind of cool.

Trent looked over at Dillon with a questioning look, and Dillon realized he’d been standing there the whole time like he was the unsure guest. He moved to sit next to Lina on the couch and laced his fingers with hers. He was doing a good job of being casual about it until she took her other hand and traced it up his arm, slowing as she reached the vein over his bicep. Her fingers were smooth and warm. He could have sworn he stopped breathing.

Trent groaned. “Come on, you two. Get a room. Oh, that’s right, Lina has a thing for biceps. If you have any hot friends into skinny lawyers, let me know.”

Lina laughed. “Sure will.”

Dillon chanced a glance at her and wished he hadn’t. She looked like a satisfied cat the way she looked him over. Which made him the mouse. With his brother watching, Dillon had to go along with anything she did. She probably thought he couldn’t handle her flirting. Well, he could.

“How was work?” he asked, taking her hand from off his arm and pressing his lips to the pads of her fingers.

Her eyes never left his. “Great. Your mom came in today.”

“She did?” Dillon put her hand down, suddenly understanding why Lina might want to mess with him. She’d been balancing their lie in front of all her coworkers, something she definitely never signed up for. “How did that go?”

“Brenda has three cavities. She’ll be in next week to get those filled. Also, she asked if we were coming to dinner on Sunday night.”

Dillon studied Lina’s face, trying to gauge how she wanted him to answer. He couldn’t read her. “I thought you had that thing…”

This was where Lina was supposed to insert her excuse as to why she couldn’t go to dinner with his family. Kip and Heather had flown back to Seattle late last night, still together, and according to Kip, stronger than ever. Mission accomplished. Kip owed him big time.

And yet, Lina was staring at him, looking kind of annoyed. At least, he thought he’d seen annoyance. It was gone in a flash, and she was back to looking unconcerned. “Yep, I have that thing on Sunday night. You’ll have to go without me. Well, I should go.” She stood and picked up her purse, heading for the door.

Yep, she was definitely mad at him, but Dillon wasn’t sure why. Was she upset about being asked to yet another family thing, or was she mad that he gave her a way out of it? He scrambled to his feet to open the door and walk out with her. He was in his socks, but he followed her back to her apartment anyway.

“I’m sorry this has spiraled into such a complicated mess,” he said.

Lina turned to look at him. She started to say something and then sighed. “Let’s talk about this later. My mouth is feeling very impulsive right now.”

“That’s a thing?” he couldn’t help asking.

“Of course it’s a thing.” She bent down and straightened the welcome mat outside her door and then pulled out her keys from her purse. “Thanks for walking me back.”

After she waved and shut the door on him, he walked back feeling like an idiot. There was a part of this puzzle his brain wasn’t quite catching.

***

Lina wasn’t sure if she was more disappointed with herself or with Dillon. It was stupid to go over there and drop Brenda’s invitation in his lap with Trent listening in. What had she expected Dillon to say? Lina usually prided herself on her no-nonsense communication skills, and then she’d let herself get mad at something Dillon didn’t know she wanted. Yes, she actually did want to go to Sunday dinner with his family. Why hadn’t she just told him that? But it was embarrassing. It was embarrassing that she even wanted it. This was a totally different kind of rejection than any breakup she’d ever had before.

She threw open the cupboard below the sink and got out cleaning spray and gloves. Might as well fuel her frustration into scrubbing. She started on the kitchen and worked her way toward the bathroom. Accomplishing something always made her feel better, and her apartment could certainly use it. At times like this, she missed having Ashley as a roommate. Ashley had always enjoyed cleaning, and yet, didn’t seem to mind all of Lina’s messy projects. It was too quiet in here without her.

After dropping into an exhausted heap next to the vacuum an hour later, Lina pulled out her phone. There were two missed calls from Dillon. Darn. Her phone had been on silent from work, and she’d forgotten to turn the ringer back on. But there was something she had to do first before she changed her mind.

Lina went to her messages and texted Corrie. I’m game for a setup date with that guy you know. Just don’t get your hopes up.

Corrie’s response came minutes later. Try not to sound so excited. That was followed up with: Is everything okay?

I’m just having an off day. We’ll talk later.

Love ya.

Right back at ya.

Lina called Dillon next, feeling like if they didn’t talk about this, it would only get worse. She had agreed to the favor he asked of her, and he didn’t want it to get out of hand. It made perfect sense. She needed to accept it.

He answered on the third ring, with the droning sound of an engine in the background.

“Are you on a tractor?” she asked. It hadn’t been that long since he had left her apartment, and he’d been dressed like he wouldn’t be going out for the rest of the night.

“The repairs were done on the tractor we’ve been waiting on. We’re testing it out before we take it home, but it’s working fine. I’m about to get in my truck.” She heard a truck door shut and then the background noise muffled to a low buzz.

“Dillon, I’m fine with Sunday dinner with your family. It’s not some torturous thing you’ve tricked me into.”

“The fact that you’re fine with it is not comforting me. I have my own people-pleaser addiction, so it kills me to have you keep saying yes to all these things you don’t have to do.”

Ah, that made so much sense, and made her like him even more. Which was not good. Not when this wasn’t going anywhere. “Then let’s find a way back to our uncomplicated gym-buddy relationship.” It sounded good coming out of her mouth, but felt like disappointment anyway. “So, how do we do that? Stage a breakup?”

“I don’t think we need to get that dramatic.” He blew out a long breath. “Let me rephrase that. I’m incapable of getting that dramatic. I ran off the stage of our fifth grade play because it was too much pressure to recite my one line. Please don’t make me act out a breakup. Maybe I should go alone on Sunday and tell them we’re not together anymore.”

Lina thought about his mom, already a nervous wreck, coming in for her cavity fillings. “No, we need to wait until your mom has all her dental work done. Neither of us needs that awkwardness when she comes in, and I’m afraid she’ll cancel and not reschedule somewhere else.”

“Lina, I’m so sorry.”

“I’m not sorry, Dillon. I’m not sorry for caring about your mom, so don’t apologize about that. And I think I should come to Sunday dinner, too. But if you don’t want me there, I understand.”

“If you promise you’re not doing this because you feel obligated, then yes. Come.”

“Obligation is just what ties us to other people. Our attitude determines whether it’s a burden or not.”

He was quiet for a minute. She’d been waxing philosophical and probably confusing the heck out of him. But then he said, “I couldn’t agree more. Sorry, I’m not used to dating someone with such a good attitude.” He coughed. “Not that we’re dating.”

“Dillon.” She had to interrupt him before he could further freak out about his accidental insinuation. “I’ll see you at the gym bright and early tomorrow. Drive safe.” She hung up and groaned. “What a doofus.” A lovable, sweet doofus with amazing biceps and an irritating habit of backtracking from anything that sounded like interest in her. She could tell he liked her, but whoever he’d dated in the past had done a number on him, making him feel insecure about the amazing guy he was. She wasn’t sure if it was that, or something else holding him back from pursuing her in earnest, but either way, it wasn’t exactly a good omen.

Chapter 10

On Sunday, Trent rode with them to Mom’s house, as his car was in the shop. Again. Trent liked to buy old foreign luxury cars that were as high maintenance as they were beautiful. Lina took the middle seat, leaning in towards Dillon as a real girlfriend would. He rolled his stiff neck, and she automatically ran a hand over the back of his hair, stopping to rub her thumb and pointer finger into the pressure points at the top of his neck. She was so naturally thoughtful, and once again he wished he’d never asked her for this favor. He wanted to know what she’d be like without the pretense, and whether she really liked him. But how did you ask something like that?

If he told Lina he wanted to start over and date her for real, would he freak her out? He hadn’t thought anything could faze her, but yesterday morning during their workout, she’d given him a bit more detail about how things had gone at the dentist office with Mom and Lina’s boss, Kirby, and his unwanted advances.

The last thing Dillon wanted was to be that guy.

It was better to take things slow and be sure. It wasn’t like their pretend breakup meant they couldn’t see each other anymore. They’d still be gym buddies. There would be time for their relationship to grow without worrying about faking it in front of his family.

“Dude, are you two always this quiet in here?” Trent looked over at them, continuing to tap his fingers against the door panel.

“Dillon is deep in thought,” Lina said, giving Dillon a little nudge.

Dillon turned to look at her. She’d been studying him. Maybe she’d been doing that the whole time.

“Just concentrating on my driving,” he said. But as he looked at the stoplight up ahead, he panicked, realizing that wasn’t true. He had no recollection of how they’d gotten from the left turn out of the parking garage to this intersection.

“What’d you bring?” Dillon asked, feeling like he needed to get a normal conversation going. He gripped the steering wheel and checked his mirrors before glancing at the Tupperware in Lina’s hands.

“Cornbread. I called and asked. Brenda’s making stew so I figured this would be a good side dish.”

“Did you put jalapeños in it?” Trent asked, sounding hopeful.

“Nooo. Does that disappoint you?”

“Only a little.”

“It doesn’t disappoint me.” Dillon turned onto the lane that would take them up to the house. The dogs came running, their tails wagging in excitement.

Trent was not a dog person and gallantly offered to escort Lina up to the door while Dillon corralled them. It was more effort to argue, so Dillon took care of the dogs and came in a few minutes later, stopping to look at the big tree they’d decorated the week before. He noticed his ugly elementary school ornaments were now front and center, though he wasn’t sure if that was Josie’s doing or Lina’s.

In the kitchen, his stepdad was crooning an old Frank Sinatra song. Mom’s laugh sounded delighted. She was so much happier when Rick was here.

Dillon stepped into the kitchen and slid in next to Lina, who was busy chopping up vegetables for a salad.

“Wash your hands,” she murmured, bumping him with her hip.

“What, you don’t like dog hair in your food?” He moved to the sink and put a dollop of soap on his hands before scrubbing them under the water.

Lina rolled her eyes. “Men.”

Maybe it was all the teasing she dished out on a regular basis rubbing off on him, but it was a natural reaction to flick the water from his hands onto her neck.

She scrunched her shoulders and shot him a look. “Here, peel this carrot for me, will ya?”

He was happy to have something to do, and happy to have an excuse to stay near her. This time, he ignored all the sets of eyes watching them interact. Whether she was here as a real girlfriend or not, getting stuck in the same panicked mind rut would not help them.

At dinner, Rick monopolized the conversation, which was typical, but his stories about flying were pretty good, and Lina had never heard any of them. Just as Dillon was beginning to zone out, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out to see a text from Lina.

Not all math puns are terrible. Just sum.

He glanced over at her, but she was resting her chin on her palm, paying perfect attention to Rick’s story. It was a terrible joke but she must be an amazing stealth-texter.

He started to type out a joke in response, when a new one from her popped up. People are usually shocked when they find out I’m not a very good electrician. It took him a second to get it, and then he snorted, causing Rick to pause mid-sentence and look over at him. Dillon put his phone away and elbowed Lina instead. She elbowed him back.

Yep, he was definitely going after Lina when this whole stupid favor was over. He just needed to be patient.

After dinner, Lina suggested a walk again, though she invited everyone else to come with this time. Ever the matchmaker, Mom told them to run along and have some alone time. As if they never got that.

“Lead the way,” Lina offered.

Dillon thought for a minute before heading toward the gigantic mesquite tree near the road. They had a ways to walk, but it was his favorite landmark on the property. The branches were as thick as barrels and grew out in every direction. Dillon had a feeling Lina was a tree climbing kind of person, and this one offered the extra benefit of being low enough to the ground that you could hop from branch to branch, with no fear of falling.

Once she realized where he was going, Lina outpaced him and reached the tree first. It wasn’t nearly as pretty at this time of year, with its tiny leaves a dull brown rather than the vibrant green of spring. But it was still an impressive sight.

She pulled herself up first and walked across the branch to the trunk, before turning and resting her back against it.

Dillon hopped up on the same branch before working his way around the tree, branch by branch. There was one section too far apart for him to jump, but he walked to the next one and climbed back up.

He looked back to see Lina smiling at him. “What?”

“You brought me to your favorite spot,” she said, crossing her arms. “I feel honored.”

“You should. I’ve never brought a fake girlfriend here before.” Not a real one either, but he wasn’t about to mention that.

He rested his back against the trunk, close to her, but not touching. The moon was out, big and bright and almost full except for one sliver missing.

“Will this be a new favorite spot for you?” he asked.

She nodded, but her eyes surveyed the land in every direction, as if looking for something. “I was actually hoping to walk through the corn, but I don’t see any. Too late in the year?”

“Yep. Sorry. We’ll plant again when it warms up.”

“Dang. I really wanted to see if walking through a cornfield at night is as spooky as I always imagined.”

Dillon couldn’t help laughing at her. “Have you not been through a corn maze?”

“That’s not the same. That’s fake scary. I’m talking about a regular ol’ cornfield next to a farmhouse, the stalks so thick you have to slip through sideways. One night, you step out on the porch and suddenly hear a rustling noise. The beloved family dog takes off into the field to investigate, and you run after him with a faulty flashlight and get all turned around in the dark.”

“And then you hear a clicking sound coming from an alien?” he asked.

“Naturally.” She turned to face him. “Does it ever scare you, being out here at night when the corn is high enough to go over your head?”

“Not one bit.”

“Are you sure? I thought you were terrified of scary movies.”

“It’s my corn. It’s not allowed to be haunted or infested with aliens. That would be bad for business.”

She laughed, pushing one hand against his chest. They’d both moved closer while they were talking. This was where he should kiss her. It would be so easy, so natural. Her eyes were glowing and expectant. But he waited too long and the moment passed. She leaned back against the trunk.

“So, tell me wise farmer,” she said. “I’ve heard you call it feed corn. Is there a kind of corn that’s not for feeding people?”

“Feed corn is for feeding animals. You might hear it called field corn too. Sweet corn is what you and I eat. We don’t grow that here.”

“Why not?”

“It’s not what our customers want. With this stuff, we’re not picking ears, we chop it up into tiny pieces, stalks and all, and sell it for livestock feed. Then most of the fields go back to alfalfa and cotton. The corn adds nitrogen to the soil while the other crops take it out.”

She nodded, looking overly serious. “Nitrogen and aliens. The two corn byproducts.”

“You’re a dork.”

“Takes one to know one.” She jumped off the branch and made her way around the tree the way he had, climbing over and ducking under branches. A cloud moved to block the moon, taking most of their light, and despite all their climbing, he could tell she was cold.

“Ready to head back?”

“Yeah, I guess we should.”

He wrapped an arm around her, and they walked back to the house in comfortable silence.

Mom was waiting for them on the porch. “Trent’s gonna pounce on you as soon as you walk in, wanting to go home. That boy can’t stay in one place for more than a minute. But Lina, dear. I wanted to ask you about Wednesday. I’m a little nervous about being put under while they work on my teeth. Will you be there and stay with me? I’d feel so much better if there was someone I know and trust. Will that mess up your schedule?”

Lina gripped his mom’s hands. “I’ll stay with you the whole time. I promise.”

The relief and trust he saw in Mom’s face tore him up inside. After their “breakup,” she wouldn’t be seeing Lina again. That was a good thing. Wasn’t it?

***

Ashley leaned against the sink in the women’s bathroom at their dentist office on Wednesday, waiting for Lina to finish spilling her guts. There was literally nowhere else to have guaranteed privacy, and the second Lina had started to explain about Dillon and Brenda, Ashley had insisted on hearing it all.

“So, after his mother comes back in today, the two of you are breaking up?”

Lina shrugged. “That’s the plan.”

“Bummer. I was kinda expecting you two to turn it into a real relationship. This makes me think a lot less of him, like maybe he was just using you and now he needs you to go away.”

“Ash.” Lina stared down her very pregnant friend. “You are being less than helpful right now. At least Corrie offered to set me up with someone new.”

Ashley laughed. “You wouldn’t want me to match you up, and you know it. But who is Corrie setting you up with?”

“I don’t know. I told her to go right ahead, but I haven’t heard back yet.”

“Interesting. You have to keep me posted, even when I’m on maternity leave.”

Lina rolled her eyes. “I’ll call you in the middle of labor to give you my post-date analysis.”

“That’s the spirit.” Ashley eased herself away from the counter and gave Lina a hug. “I’m sorry about Dillon. Maybe he’ll surprise you and make a move.”

“I’m not holding my breath. It’s probably better we just stay friends.”

Ashley cocked her head to one side. “Why are you waiting on him? Since when do you let the guy decide things? That seems so unlike you.”

“Does it?” Lina smiled, but inside she squirmed. It was true. Normally she would be the one calling the shots. But she cared enough about Dillon to wait for him to make his move. She would not force this, even if it meant it would lead to nothing.

“Okay, we’ve been in here too long, and if I don’t get back to the front desk before they unlock the doors, we’re both going to be in trouble.” Ashley grabbed a paper towel and used it to pull open the bathroom door.

Lina went to prep the room she’d be working in and looked over the schedule for the day. Her first patient was already in the lobby filling out paperwork.

The morning passed quickly, as it always did.

Brenda came in right on time for her appointment, and Lina took her back and distracted her with small talk the best she could. The other dentists were aware that Lina would be assisting and staying the whole time, as Brenda requested, and other patients had been shuffled around to accommodate it.

Dr. Kenshaw did the fillings, much to Lina’s relief. She’d told Ashley to schedule it that way. Pretty much anyone was a better fit than Kirby, but Dr. Kenshaw was the best at being soothing and careful. He and Brenda hit it off right away.

Lina squeezed Brenda’s hand when it was all over and she was returning to consciousness.

“You stayed,” Brenda said, in a slurred voice. The left side of her mouth was numb. She lifted her head and looked around, noticing Dr. Kenshaw standing at the counter behind her. She smiled sleepily. “Do you know Lina? My son loves her. He’s a little scared of her too. I’m not sure why. She’s so wonderful.”

Thankfully, with her mouth not at one-hundred percent cooperation, Dr. Kenshaw nodded indulgently, likely only catching half of what Brenda was saying.

Lina rubbed Brenda’s lower arm. “Lay back and rest for now. Would you like a popsicle?” Lina could only imagine what might come out of her own mouth if under the influence of anesthesia. She retrieved a Popsicle from the little freezer across the hall and brought it back.

Brenda’s eyes were closed. “Kip called this morning and said he asked Heather to marry him. I wonder why he didn’t ask her when they were here.” She turned and blinked her eyes open until they focused on Lina. “They’re going to … envelope. No, that’s not the right word.”

“Elope?” Lina asked.

“Yes. They don’t want a big wedding. I don’t care about a big wedding, but I’d like to be there. Wouldn’t you?”

Lina wasn’t sure how to answer. She opened the Popsicle and handed it over. “It’s nice they’re getting married,” she finally said. “Brenda, do you have a ride home?”

“Yes. Dillon is coming to get me. He didn’t tell you?”

Lina reached in the pocket of her scrubs for her phone. “Do you want me to call him? You should be good to go in a few minutes. Just no hot foods for two hours, and nothing crunchy or chewy until all the numbness goes away.”

“Yes. Please call Dillon and see if he’s on his way.”

Lina raised the chair up, watching to make sure Brenda didn’t wobble as she sat upright. Then she walked into the hall and called Dillon.

“Hey. Are you on your way here?”

“Yes. I’m right outside.”

There was a long awkward pause. Lina considered what to say, but decided now wasn’t a good time to talk in any detail about plans. She ducked her head around the corner and looked in on Brenda. She wasn’t hurting right now, but in an hour or two her mouth would be pretty sore.

“Don’t say anything to her about us yet, okay? Just make sure she takes some Tylenol as her mouth gets feeling but before the pain hits.”

“Will do.”

Lina put her phone away and helped Brenda out to the waiting area.

Dillon walked in, and their eyes locked. He looked extra attractive, freshly shaved, his hair still damp from a shower. He met her sly smile with one of his own.

Lina glanced at the girls at the reception desk. Ashley wasn’t the only one watching. They’d had to rearrange Lina’s schedule to accommodate her staying with Brenda the whole time, and no doubt they were all wondering what the situation meant.

Well, they could keep wondering. Dillon helped his mom to his car, and she waved goodbye. That was it. Absolutely nothing gossip-worthy.

***

Should he have greeted her with a kiss? A hug? Dillon didn’t know what Lina had told her coworkers about them, if anything, so he hadn’t said or done anything that might indicate a relationship. He tried not to even admire the way she looked in her cute pink scrubs.

His mom had been too out of it to notice, thank goodness. She was staring out the window.

“Isn’t she great?” she said after a few minutes, turning to look at him. “I hope you marry her.”

He hoped that was the drugs talking, because Mom would be really disappointed tomorrow when he told her they’d broken up. He had to do it tomorrow. This couldn’t continue. He couldn’t lie to his mom like this anymore, no matter how noble the intentions had been at first.

“Lina and I aren’t serious like that, Mom.”

She chuckled. “Keep telling yourself that. Weddings come in twos. First Kip and now you.”

He knew about Kip’s engagement, but he asked for the details all over again. He thought it would give them something safe to talk about, but Mom was still worked up about the thought of not being at Kip’s wedding.

“Kip needs your support, Mom. But let’s not worry about that right now.”

“I suppose I should let it go. It’s just not like him to want something so private. What about you and Lina? Would the two of you like a big family wedding? Have you met her family yet?”

Dillon blew out a frustrated breath. Somehow he knew she would bring it all back to Lina. “Her mom died when she was nineteen.”

“And her dad?”

“I don’t think he was ever in the picture.” Dillon thought about Lina’s idea of doing a DNA test and the wistful expression on her face as she’d talked about it. Even in theory, it worried him. Some people didn’t want to be found. Although, someone would have to be truly calloused not to want to get to know someone as sweet, giving, and amazing as Lina.

He wasn’t sure how Lina would feel about him talking to his mom about it, so once again he steered the conversation to other things.

When they reached the house, he parked right next to the porch so Mom wouldn’t have far to walk. Rick was home and came out to fuss over her. Dillon relayed the discharge information Lina had given him, and once he was sure Mom was in good hands, he headed out to work on a broken ditch bank.

With harvest winding down, he and Alec turned to the maintenance tasks they’d previously put off.

He checked in on Mom before heading home for the night. She was dancing to Whitney Houston while pushing the vacuum around. She turned the vacuum off when she saw him.

“Don’t look at me like that. I’m fine. It wasn’t like major surgery or anything, honey. But did you want to stay for dinner? We’d love to have you.”

Rick looked up from the book he’d been reading. He had that gift of tuning out noise around him, no matter how chaotic. “Yes. Stay. I bought tamales today. Ready-made and soft enough for the invalid to eat.” He winked at his wife.

Dillon looked down at his dirt-caked pants and boots. He was starving, but also wanted nothing more than to shower, sit on his couch, and do nothing for a while. Fielding the inevitable questions about Lina sounded exhausting.

“I think I’ll head home. But what about lunch tomorrow? I want to talk to you about something.”

Mom smiled. “Sounds great. I’ll make the chicken salad you like. Oh, darn. Rick has that golf swing clinic. Don’t you, hun?”

“You two enjoy yourselves tomorrow. Tonight, my lady, you’re all mine.” Rick winked and kissed her hand.

Dillon, only slightly grossed out, said goodbye and walked outside to his truck. Tomorrow, he’d officially end things with Lina as far as his family was concerned. No more worrying about what Lina had told her work about them versus what he’d told his mom. No more worrying about Mom spilling details to half the world. If he was going to do this right, things had to go back to just him and Lina. They’d be workout buddies again, hopefully soon to be more.

Chapter 11

“I’m telling my mom today. At lunch.”

“Telling her what exactly?” Lina asked. She picked up her water bottle from the cup holder on the elliptical machine and took a long drink.

“That we broke up. Then we can be done with the whole charade.”

Lina could feel his eyes on her, but she didn’t look at him. She concentrated on not showing her disappointment. The breakup had been her idea, but it still bothered her how much relief he’d shown when she had suggested it. He wanted distance.

“Maybe we could start over?” he added, sounding unsure.

Start over? What did that mean? Lina picked up her speed on the elliptical machine. It would be a better workout if she increased the elevation instead, but Dillon’s words made her feel like sprinting, as far and as fast as she could, and this was the closest she’d get to that. She closed her eyes and imagined the machine’s little fan blowing air in her face was the wind outside, and she was ten years old on her pink bike. Back then, they’d lived in a good neighborhood, and all the kids stayed outside until it was dark and they could barely see their way home. It had been the best year of her whole childhood. And the hardest move when the time came. But they always moved eventually. To a better job. A more affordable rental.

Starting over always sounded like a positive thing. But she’d hated it then, and she didn’t care for it much now either. She was good at it, but that almost made it worse.

She opened her eyes and saw Dillon’s concern for her etched in his face. He’d been waiting for a response, and she hadn’t given him one. Her childhood issues were not his fault. They were nobody’s fault, really.

“Start over our game, you mean?” She asked with a smile. “Do you have any mysteries left for me to unravel?”

Dillon shook his head. “Not many.”

“I’ll test that theory.” So, yes, they would start over. And that meant giving up on the idea that she and Dillon could have a real relationship or that she could keep the little place she’d carved out for herself in his quirky family. That part made her just as sad as the idea that Dillon wasn’t interested in a real relationship.

Lina moved to the treadmill to walk down her heart rate. “Are you telling your mom that you broke up with me or that I broke up with you?”

Dillon put down the weight he’d been holding with a clank. “Good question. Should I tell her it was mutual? That we broke up last night?”

“The less details you have to give, the better. I mean, the whole point of this is to stop making up lies, right? Just tell her the truth. That we’re better off as friends.”

Dillon picked up his weight and turned away. “Okay. That makes sense.”

Lina took a long drink of her water and gathered up her things. “See you tomorrow.” So they were officially broken up. At least there was some finality to that.

She jogged up to her apartment and got ready for work, purposely blasting music that made her feel good and didn’t allow for a lot of thought. She checked her email for the fourth time that morning, hoping the DNA results were back, but of course, there was no reason to believe the results would arrive on the early side of the six-to-eight-week window the company had given her.

Getting into the routine of work made her feel better. And as a bonus, Kirby was avoiding her these days. She wouldn’t be cluing him into her fake breakup with Dillon until someone new came along. That wouldn’t be for a while. If nothing else, Dillon had taught her to have a little more patience. She wouldn’t impulsively jump into another relationship just because it was better than not having one.

Her patients were her focus, and she made sure everyone was as happy to be there as was possible at a dentist appointment.

At ten, two guys came in. One as the patient, and one as the friend there for “emotional support,” though not exactly in the way Lina had been there for Brenda. The support guy leaned against the wall in the corner and cracked jokes while she cleaned his friend’s teeth. They were both attractive, and her mind immediately compared them to Dillon, showing where they came up short. It was irritating. She wanted Dillon out of her head, but he was there, taking up space against her will.

The one standing against the wall was blond and buff. In theory, he should have been better looking than Dillon, but he was like the Instagram shiny version of what a guy should be. She preferred Dillon’s ruddy complexion and serious eyes to this guy’s pretty face. Dang it. She had to stop thinking about Dillon.

The two guys told her some stories from their troublemaking days in high school, which were hilarious. They’d likely been those kids the teachers let off easy because they were just that likable. But mostly, they had a lot of questions for her, especially the blond friend, Thomas. Her patient obviously couldn’t talk as much since she was working on his mouth.

She felt Thomas’s eyes on her, and she looked up at him.

“Do you have a boyfriend?” he asked.

Lina glanced behind her to see if anyone was in hearing range, something he didn’t miss. “Not exactly.”

Thomas laughed. “Does he know that? Poor guy.”

“We’ve decided to be friends,” she finally said.

Thomas and her patient had quite a few teasing things to say about that, but she refused to elaborate further.

When she was done and the dentist came in to have a look, Thomas followed her over to the next room where she began prepping for the next patient. He leaned against the door jamb, attempting to look charming. His clothes were a mixture of preppy and devil-may-care. At least he wasn’t doing the popped collar thing.

“Hey, I have a confession to make.”

Lina raised an eyebrow. “Like a dental confession? Because unless you’re about to tell me you hate to floss, I don’t think I’m the right person to hear this.”

“Well, let me just say that I’m so gun shy about blind dates that I prefer to meet them … how do I put this… unawares?”

Lina stared back at him. “Are you saying … What are you saying?”

“Corrie wants to set us up.”

She scoffed. “Oh, so you’re that guy. What is this? You decided to come check me out, and if you weren’t interested, you could tell Corrie never mind?”

“Who says I’m not interested?” His roguish smile told her exactly what kind of guy she was dealing with. If Corrie recommended him, he couldn’t be too much of a jerk, but he obviously liked to pretend he was. He spoke with a confidence she was usually drawn to. Now, she wasn’t sure she wanted it.

He stepped closer. “So, there’s another guy?”

Not if Dillon didn’t want to be. She wasn’t getting her hopes up about Thomas either, but one date with him wouldn’t hurt. It would make Corrie happy.

“There’s no one you need to worry about. But I have to get back to work. You have my number I assume?”

He broke into a triumphant smile. “I do.” He went to pick up one of the instruments off the table, and she batted his hand away, making him laugh.

“Sorry, I work with tools, just none this small and shiny. I’m looking forward to seeing you again, Lina. It was nice to meet you.” He put his hand out for her to shake. She hadn’t put a new set of gloves on yet and her bare hand gripped his firm and warm one. His eyes said he wished he could do more than shake her hand. There was no zing for her, but there was the potential for it to develop, maybe when her head wasn’t so clouded with other things. Thomas’s eyes were so appreciative. He didn’t hold anything back, and she blushed, something that didn’t happen to her often.

“I’ll call you later,” he said. It sounded like a promise. He reached up and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. “I wish all my trips to the dentist were like this.”

She raised an eyebrow. “You weren’t even the patient.”

He grinned before turning to leave, almost running into the person behind him. “Excuse me, ma’am. I didn’t see you there.” He ducked around whoever it was, revealing the last person in the world Lina would want to overhear that conversation. Brenda stared at her with shock and hurt.

“I came to bring you cookies. Here.” She shoved them at Lina and then turned and fled.

Lina dropped the cookies on the counter and ran after her. “Wait.”

Brenda kept going. Which was probably for the best. They couldn’t have this conversation right in the middle of the office. Vaguely, Lina was aware they’d passed by a bewildered-looking Thomas.

This could get infinitely worse, but Lina followed Brenda out to her car anyway. “Please wait and talk to me for a minute.”

Brenda shook her head. “If you’re hoping I’m not going to say anything to Dillon, you’re wasting your time.”

“I wouldn’t ask that. You know me.”

“Do I?” Brenda’s lip trembled as she studied Lina, maybe trying to see what was real and what was not. But that was an impossible task. She didn’t know what was real because they’d lied to her.

Lina took a step back. “You know what, talk to Dillon first. I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

Lina turned and forced herself to walk calmly back inside. Her hands were shaking, and she shoved them in the pockets of her scrubs.

Of course this whole thing would blow up. Juggling lies had a way of doing that. At least Lina didn’t have to fret about whether Brenda would call and want to hang out after the breakup. The woman hated her now. She thought she was a cheater and a liar.

Reina, one of the other hygienists, was in the exam room with Lina’s next patient. She gave Lina an apologetic smile. “I’ve got this one. Take a few minutes.”

“Thanks.” Lina retreated to the bathroom, not even caring how Reina knew she needed a few minutes to compose herself. She gave a shaky laugh as she looked in the mirror. Well, Corrie was two for two with disastrous setups. First Shaun, and now this? It truly wasn’t Corrie’s fault, but the woman had terrible matchmaking luck.

Lina pulled out her phone, intending to call Dillon, but she put it away again. She wasn’t ready to talk about it. Not today. She’d let him deal with the aftermath.

***

Dillon took his time driving to his mom’s house. He sang along with the radio, something he rarely allowed himself to do. Why was that? Was he so uptight he couldn’t even loosen up around … himself? But Lina was changing that, and he realized he was looking forward to telling his mom it was over and starting fresh. Lina might claim she was fine with everything, but she had seemed annoyed the last time they talked about it. The pretending part needed to end. With Christmas coming, the events and the lies would continue to pile up until it ruined both their holidays. But the thought of Lina around at Christmas time wasn’t altogether unpleasant either. He would have to pay attention and figure out a good Christmas present for her, something personal but not too pretentious.

The fence alongside the road leading up to Mom’s house sported a festive line of Christmas lights, dropping and rising in a scalloped pattern. Alec, with a lot of grumbling, had agreed to be the one to put them up. It looked nice. Next year, Dillon would do it. He whistled “Jingle Bells” as he pulled in and parked, greeted the dogs, and jogged up the porch steps.

His mom was banging pots and pans around in the kitchen when he walked in, which wasn’t unusual, but the angry muttering was new. A cupboard door slammed.

“Mom, are you okay? Does your mouth hurt?”

She whirled around and took one look at him before bursting into tears. “I don’t know how to tell you this.”

“Is everyone okay? Is it Rick?”

“Rick’s fine. It’s Lina.”

“Lina?” Dillon took a moment to reassess Mom’s body language. He wasn’t sure whether mad or sad was winning out. Why did it have to do with Lina?

She pulled a square-shaped frying pan out of the bottom of the stack and clanked it onto the counter, on top of a sauce pot.

“What are you doing?” If they were having chicken salad, there was no need for a pot or pan.

“I’m rearranging cupboards. It helps me when I’m stressed.”

“And you’re stressed because of Lina?” Maybe Lina had already told Mom about the breakup. Maybe she had told Mom everything. After all, when Mom sniffed out a mystery, she wasn’t one to be satisfied with a few details.

“I went to Lina’s office today to bring her cookies. A thank you for staying with me yesterday. And they directed me down the hall to where she was … flirting it up with some other man. Giving him her number. He promised to call her.”

Mom turned around and glanced up at him, waiting for him to react.

The frown came naturally, though he didn’t have a right to be upset. Lina hadn’t known his mom would overhear. He and Lina were gym buddies. They’d never talked about whether or not she might date anyone else. And yet he still felt that immediate spark of jealousy.

Mom held her hand out to him, mistaking his expression for heartbreak. “Oh, honey, that’s not even the worst part. He asked if there was another guy in her life. Do you know what she said? No one he needed to worry about. Like they were both okay with cheating as long as no one found out. I’m so sick inside.”

At the mention of cheating, Dillon knew he had to set aside whatever irrational jealousy he was feeling and clear that part up right away.

“Mom, Lina didn’t do anything wrong. We broke up. Decided to just be friends.”

She hugged the stew pot in her hands. “When did you break up?”

This was the tricky part. They’d been over here together on Sunday. “Monday night.”

He could tell she was reevaluating the past week with new eyes. “So, she stayed with me yesterday during my filling, and didn’t say a word about the two of you not being a couple anymore?”

“She didn’t want to make it awkward. I know you’re mad right now, but she cares about you, and she wanted everything to go smoothly for your appointment.”

“But how can she be so ready to move on this quickly?”

Dillon didn’t know exactly what his mom had seen today, and her interpretation of it had been colored by thinking Lina was still his girlfriend. “I’m sure lots of patients flirt with Lina. She was probably just being friendly.”

Mom shook her head at that. “This went beyond friendly. It was practically indecent.” She began putting all the pots and pans back in the cupboard. “Did Lina say why she broke up with you? Why she only wants to be friends? Maybe she wanted to be free to date other people. I know you don’t want to believe it, but maybe that’s how she is.”

“Don’t say that. You know Lina.”

“I thought I did.” Shutting the cupboards with a firm click, his mom straightened and crossed her arms over her chest. “Look honey, I can see you’re still in love with her. How do you think I knew she was the one to break it off?”

“I didn’t say she broke it off.”

“You didn’t correct me either.” She stared him down. “You are tenderhearted and loyal to a fault. I just don’t want to see you get hurt. You have to promise me you’ll stay away from her until your heart is mended. It’s rarely a good idea to be friends with your ex, especially when she’s over you, and you’re clearly not over her.”

This was not at all turning out the way he’d planned. Dillon shook his head, knowing he couldn’t make that promise, and it was ridiculous under any circumstances. He was a grown man.

“I’m not promising anything, and you’re wrong about her.” He couldn’t imagine sitting down to eat now, not that he saw anything prepped. “Can we do lunch another time?”

She waved him away. “I was too upset to make anything. Go on. We’ll talk about this later when we’re both more levelheaded.”

It was the only thing she was right about. Dillon left, knowing he’d screwed that whole thing up, and yet not knowing how he could have fixed it without revealing everything.

With some alarm, he realized he hadn’t even asked whether Lina saw Mom there, or whether Mom had interfered and made a scene with this other guy. Things could possibly be worse than he’d imagined.

Chapter 12

Lina called Paige and Ashley for an emergency girl meeting, and being the good friends they were, they didn’t hesitate to come right over, despite the fact that Ashley had been having mild contractions on and off all day, and Paige came dressed up for an open house she needed to leave for within the hour.

Ashley broke open the bag of mini powdered donuts she’d brought over. With the first bite, white powder spilled onto her belly. She brushed it off. “This seemed like the perfect sad person food to bring, something that leaves evidence all over you so people automatically know you need support.”

Paige picked a mini donut out of the bag and carefully set it on a napkin. “Direct me to one of your cooking aprons, if you don’t mind. I need to convince people to buy a house tonight, not pat me on the head and tell me things will get better.”

Lina gave a feeble laugh. “Second drawer down.” She took a donut out of the bag and ate it thoughtfully. “I know today will be a funny memory someday, but right now it just makes me wish I could hide somewhere.”

Ashley frowned. “I picked the wrong day to miss work. What exactly happened?”

Lina related the story, starting with Thomas and ending with Brenda leaving the parking lot. There was a long silence when Lina was done. “Go ahead. Say ‘I told you so.’”

Paige shook her head. “Have you talked to Corrie? I highly doubt she gave her okay for this Thomas guy to come scope you out while you were working.”

“Nope. My pending date with Thomas is sort of low priority right now.”

Ashley bit her nail. “You’re worried about Dillon.”

“Yeah, but I haven’t talked to him yet either.” She should be looking forward to resolving everything, but instead, it filled Lina with dread.

They each ate a few more donuts, getting incrementally messier.

“You have powdered sugar in your eyebrow,” Paige said, pointing at Ashley.

Ashley ate the last of her donut, wiggling her eyebrows and making them laugh. “Are we done with these?” She twisted the bag closed before they ran to the bathroom mirror to check the damage. There was a little bit of powder on Lina’s lower lip, and a little on her shirt. She quickly rubbed it all off.

Smoothing her hair back from her face, Lina studied the reflection of the three of them side by side. They all had dark hair and brown eyes, but Lina looked nothing like the two sisters in all other respects.

“My sister from another mister,” Paige said, throwing her arm around Lina. She looked thoughtful. “Did you ever send for that DNA test?”

Lina nodded. “It should come back any day now.”

“What will it tell you?” Ashley asked.

“My ethnicity for one. I know I’ve got a blend of things going on, from both sides. But also, if anyone related to me has also taken the test and made their results searchable, we could find each other.”

“That would be so exciting, Lina.” Ashley gave her a quick hug.

It was exciting, but Lina had tempered that hope with reality. Chances were good she wouldn’t find anyone right away or maybe ever at all. A relative would have to buy their DNA test from the same company for them to find each other.

Ashley’s phone rang from where she’d left her purse in the kitchen. Her husband, Chase, was probably a little more than worried about her, considering she’d be delivering their baby any day now. And Paige had work stuff she needed to get to. Lina practically shooed them out the door with promises that she’d be fine.

Ashley had left the bag of donuts on the table, and Lina tossed them straight in the trash. She’d had her fill—with donuts and with feeling sorry for herself.

Needing a distraction, Lina began searching for the sappiest, most melodramatic movie she could find, one that would make the last twenty-four hours seem hum-drum. A Google search cheered her up immensely. In addition to Ice Castles and Steel Magnolias, two of her mom’s favorites, she came up with a long list of movies and read a lot of funny commentary. The TV never went on. She finally closed her computer when a knock sounded at her door. A familiar knock.

Lina had expected Dillon to seek her out, but not quite this soon. Brenda must have called him. A look through the peephole confirmed that yes, it was Dillon, shifting from foot to foot, with his hands in his pockets. He looked so handsome, and it only made her heart hurt worse.

She rested her forehead against the door. “I’m not ready to talk about it,” she called out.

“I don’t blame you,” he called back. “How can I make this right?”

His earnest question was the bit that did her in. Muttering to herself, she opened her door and gestured for him to come inside. What did she have to lose?

She expected him to go to the couch, but he pulled out a chair and sat at the kitchen table, where dusty evidence of the donuts still traced the tabletop. His glance moved to the trash, in which the donut bag rested.

“I had a party,” she announced blandly.

He held up his hands in surrender. “No judgment here. I’m just sorry the donuts are in the trash.”

“You can dig them out if you’d like.” She smiled, knowing there was no way he’d dare. Rule-abiding Dillon wasn’t like that.

She got a rag out and wiped down the kitchen table before collapsing on her couch, leaving room for him. But if he was more comfortable across the room in a hard kitchen chair, that was up to him.

Dillon slowly got up and followed, leaving plenty of space between them on the couch. “So, I take it my mom interrupted some guy hitting on you at work and freaked out.”

“Something like that.” Lina did need to call Corrie soon and explain. Maybe Corrie could relay a message to Thomas for her. Lina didn’t want to go out with him yet. Not until this whole Dillon mess was sorted out. And that wouldn’t be until all the mixed-up feelings in her head were sorted out too.

Dillon tapped the space between them. “How bad is it? Did she scare off anyone important? Because we’re not—”

“Dating?” Lina couldn’t help glaring at him. “I know you and I aren’t dating. You’ve made that abundantly clear. But no, I’m not worried about what some random guy thinks of your mother. I’m not worried about her scaring him off. Because I’m not dating anyone else, Dillon. I’m just alone here, sitting in my yoga pants, eating powdered donuts.”

The bigger Dillon’s eyes got in response, the more she wanted to provoke a reaction out of him. She was done being patient. She was done being subtle.

She leaned in, leaving her lips a half inch from his, and ran her fingers over the stubble on his jawline. She waited for him to resist or to take his time waffling, but Dillon pulled her onto his lap and pressed his lips to hers before she could make her move. It was the fire she’d been hoping for. His hands spanned her sides, holding her in place while he tilted his head and turned their frantic kisses into something slower and deeper.

She was shaking when he finally pulled away, her breathing fast. He deposited her back on the couch and clasped his hands around his knees, as if he’d done something wrong and expected her to bolt away at any moment. “Did I mess that up too?” he asked.

Lina groaned and looked at the ceiling. “I’ve never met someone so insanely attractive and so underprepared to use it to his advantage.”

Dillon gave a nervous laugh. “I have the worst instincts when it comes to women. You’re mad at me, and rightfully so, and my mom tried to make me promise to never see you again. She’s afraid I’ll crawl back to you to have my heart broken all over again, and now thinks you’re this … two-timing …” He sputtered, obviously knowing the humorous part of his statement had turned into something that was not in the least bit funny.

Lina gripped her neck. “I can’t believe you just said that.”

“I told her she was wrong about you.”

“But she didn’t believe you, did she?” The hurt spread over Lina in waves that grew. She cared what Dillon’s mom thought of her. That’s what he never seemed to understand. Yes, this had started as a lark, but it wasn’t a lark for her anymore.

Lina had been the unwelcome girlfriend before. The one who came from a broken home, the one who wasn’t good enough. She didn’t want Brenda to see her that way. Or Josie, or Alec, or Trent, or any of them.

Lina stood and walked to the kitchen, picking up the rag from the table and tossing it into the sink.

Dillon came over and turned her around. He bent down until they were eye to eye. “I will fix this. I will. But that means I have to tell my mom everything. Are you okay with that?”

Lina sighed. “She’ll think even worse of me after you tell her the truth.”

“No, I’m pretty sure she’ll take all that anger and focus it on me, where it belongs. It was my idea. You were just my recruit.”

Lina stared at him for several seconds, and then she let a small smile slip. “Your recruit, huh? What does that make you, sir?”

He shook his head, flushing a cute shade of red, just as she expected. It felt good to lighten the moment, to extend him some grace. His habit of sticking his foot in his mouth wasn’t intentional. For the first time, she truly understood the potential of an opposites attract relationship.

He turned to go, but flipped back around when he reached the tiled entryway.

“What is it?” Lina asked.

“Can I … kiss you again?”

Her shoulders slumped in exaggerated frustration. “Seriously? Have we not been through th—” She didn’t get to finish her sentence because he scooped her up and pressed his lips to hers, making her melt and forgive him all over again.

“Hey, Lina,” he whispered against her lips.

“What?”

“Did you hear about the two guys who stole a calendar? They each got six months.”

She laughed and kissed him again.

Chapter 13

Dillon’s mom was clearly pleased to have him as her lunch date again, but also irritated.

“This is about Lina, isn’t it?” she said, breaking the spaghetti noodles in half with a satisfying crack and dropping them in the boiling water.

“Yes. So listen and set aside everything you think you know about her. Because I totally lied to you.”

“What?” She whirled around, wiping her hands on her apron.

“When I brought Lina for Thanksgiving, I only knew her as a girl in my apartment complex. We were barely friends at that point. Not that she didn’t try, I’m just not good with people I don’t know well.”

“She wasn’t your girlfriend? But you said she was. We played The Newlywed Game…” She glanced at the kitchen table, as if picturing the night all over again.

“Kip was so worried about bringing Heather. She hates attention, and he was afraid to bring her home to meet everyone and have all that pressure on her to fit in. So, he asked if one of us guys might want to bring a girl too.”

“Everyone knows Lina’s not your girlfriend except me?” His mom’s face dropped.

Oh, no. Now he’d hurt her feelings.

“Hey, come sit for a minute.” He led her over to the table. “Nobody knew. When Kip asked us, Alec and Trent said they weren’t dating anyone and outright refused. I didn’t answer because Lina’s face popped into my head, and I thought she might be spunky enough to come along with me. I guess I thought she’d find the whole thing funny.”

“It’s not funny to let me get attached to someone who’s just pretending, Dillon.” Mom’s shoulders slumped. “She held my hand while I had my dental work done. And I was just imposing on her. I’ve said the most awful things about her.”

“You weren’t imposing. That’s the thing. She cares about you and was happy to do it. And she’s so worried you hate her now that you know we lied to you. She’s … she’s this amazing person, and I want to date her for real.”

That perked Mom right up. She jumped from her chair and went over to the stove to stir the noodles. “Well, of course you do. I didn’t ruin it for you, did I? I was so upset at the time, I couldn’t think straight. But when she told that other young man that there wasn’t anyone else … Oh, my poor boy. You must be heartbroken. Does she only see you as a friend? You have to tell her how you feel.”

Her emotional whiplash was giving him a headache, but it wasn’t really her fault.

“I didn’t tell Lina how I felt about her until it was almost too late. But, yeah, I’ve told her and … I think it’s going to work out.”

“Well, what can I do to help?”

Rick walked in right then. He was in his golf shoes, and Mom was momentarily distracted by reminding him to take them off in the house.

“Can I tell Rick?” she asked. “About Lina?”

“What’s this about Lina?” Rick asked, coming over to lift the lid on the spaghetti sauce and take a whiff.

Dillon realized he did not want his mom being the messenger to the rest of the family. “Lina is coming for Sunday dinner,” he told Rick. “And bringing cake.”

“Well, that’s excellent news. I’m always in favor of more dessert around here."

While Rick had the water flowing into the sink to wash his hands, Dillon leaned in to whisper in his mom’s ear. “You asked if you could do anything. Will you call Lina and invite her to Sunday dinner? And then please don’t tell anyone else anything. I’ll do it that night.”

She nodded. “I can certainly do that.”

***

Lina stared at her email from the DNA company. The results from her test were back, and while it was fun to know that she had a little bit of Pacific Island and South Asian roots along with her mostly Scandinavian background, that wasn’t why she had ordered the test.

What if she had done all this and nobody was out there? Or what if they were and didn’t want to meet? What if she found out things she didn’t want to know? The only information Lina had on her dad was his first name, Derek, and that he didn’t know about her. Almost thirty years had gone by. She didn’t need raising. What was it she wanted from him? Information? Closure? To know he was okay? Finding him was something she had always wished for, but now that it might be an option, she was scared of the unknown. She was scared of getting her hopes up only to have them dashed.

Delaying, she picked up her phone, checking for the latest update from Ashley and Chase. Ashley had gone to the hospital with labor pains a few hours earlier, but didn’t know if they’d admit her. No new text messages. Nothing new on social media either.

Lina texted Paige, knowing she’d be close by and would know what was going on. How is she?

Paige’s answer popped up a minute later. False labor. They sent her home. She’s embarrassed, like she’s supposed to be an expert in labor cues or something. A call from you would cheer her up for sure.

Lina didn’t have to be asked twice. She scrolled to Ashley’s number and called, waiting for her to answer.

“Lina? I was about to call you, except I can’t stop crying, and I really don’t have a reason to cry. Who looks forward to labor?”

“Ash. It’s gonna be okay. Paige told me to call and cheer you up. What would cheer you up?”

Ashley sniffled. “Tell me your drama. What’s the latest with Dillon? Or should I not ask?”

Lina smiled. “You may ask. He came over after you and Paige left and we … worked things out.”

“That’s an awesomely vague answer.” Ashley pressed for more details, oohing and ahhing at the right times.

It gave Lina a chance to reflect on the past few days. She and Dillon’s morning workouts were a lot less productive, but refreshing in a totally different way, now that they ended with toe-curling, sigh-inducing goodbye kisses.

Lina felt utterly giddy, but it was laced with an underlying panic. She was in the heady, first few days of a relationship when everything felt like rainbows and unicorns, but eventually it always fizzled out. Until Brenda had called, gushing with apologies and inviting Lina to every Sunday dinner until the end of time, a small part of her hadn’t quite believed that Dillon would follow through on his promise to fix things.

Lina liked to tease him about his hesitancy, but Lina had a lot of hesitancy of her own. Like she was waiting for him to lose interest. And she couldn’t tell him, because then he would feel obligated to stay with her. Dillon was an obligation kind of guy, after all.

She only shared a fraction of that hesitation with Ashley, knowing now wasn’t a good time for them to dig into Lina’s relationship problems. Ashley had bigger things to worry about.

The conversation turned to the late arrival of Ashley’s little man, who was now three days over his due date.

Ashley sighed. “Tyler has been calling the baby Blimpie for so long sometimes I slip and call him that too.”

“Blimpie?” Lina giggled. “How did he come up with that?”

“Who knows? It’s a character in a comic Tyler draws. Blimpie’s this little gremlin looking thing with fire coming out of his head. But he’s a good guy. Tyler reassures me of it every time he shows me his comics and Blimpie’s blasting people with his fire hands. ‘But he’s a good guy, Ash,’ he says.”

“How is Tyler going to do with a new baby in the house?”

“He’s so excited. They’re all excited, Lina. I’m going to have so many helpers. And it might get overwhelming, but how is that any different than the zoo we’re already running?” Ashley started crying.

“Oh, Ash. Is that a good cry or a sad cry? I can’t tell over the phone.”

“It’s definitely a good cry. But everything makes me cry right now. There’s a commercial they keep playing on the Hallmark channel where this old man shuffles down the hall with a breakfast tray…” Ashley began sniffling again. “It’s so sweet.”

“Who is this sentimental girl, and what have you done with my no-nonsense friend, Ashley?”

Ashley hiccupped and laughed. “She’s on a hormone rush, but she’ll be back soon, I promise.”

“I’ll love you either way.” Before Lina said goodbye, she considered whether to tell Ashley about the DNA results being back, but decided to keep it to herself. She hated keeping so much inside, but it felt necessary. Lina loved Ashley’s strong, opinionated, fierce love, but it wasn’t what Lina needed when it came to something like this.

Paige would be more level-headed about it, and Corrie would be more understanding, but she didn’t call them either. This was something she had to face alone, at least initially. She had so many of her own hopes and dreams riding on this that the thought of adding anyone else’s was overwhelming.

Signing into the DNA website’s account, she clicked on her DNA matches from the tab at the top and stared at the two names that came up. One was for a close relative, and one was a first or second cousin match. It was way more than she’d expected. Holy smokes. She reminded herself to breathe. Their profiles showed their first names, and a blue head, meaning they were both male.

A close relative match meant aunt or uncle, grandparent, niece or nephew, or possibly even a half brother or sister. There was a lot of wiggle room there, but with the messaging system, she could introduce herself and together they could try to figure out how they were related. The close relative’s name was Garrett. She sent him a quick message, letting him know she lived in Phoenix, and giving him what little information she had on her family tree.

Then she went to her cousin’s profile and did the same.

She sat back and breathed slowly in and out, trying to relax her shoulders. She had done everything she could, and now it was out of her hands.

There was a knock at the door, and she jumped up from her desk chair, glancing at the time. Shoot. That had to be Dillon. They were driving to his family’s Sunday dinner together, and her hair and makeup wasn’t done.

She ran to let him in before sprinting back and closing her computer screen. She wasn’t hiding anything. Not really. She just wasn’t ready to share what she’d found with him yet.

“Hey, are you okay?” he asked.

“Yeppers. I just lost track of the time. Am I going to make us late?”

“There’s not a set time. I’ll hang out on your couch until you’re ready, okay?”

She ran into her bathroom and prepped as quickly as possible, ducking out occasionally to glance at Dillon, who had picked up the paperback of Twilight he’d found on her bookshelf and started reading.

“You can borrow it,” she offered when she was finally ready and came out to tug him off the couch.

He set it down. “Nah, I’ll pick up where I left off the next time I’m over.”

“What do you think?”

He glanced back at the book. “I’m not sure I understand the attraction girls have to vampires.”

“It’s the appeal of a forbidden romance. He’s dangerous. It’s taking the bad boy thing to a whole new level.”

“Ah-ha.”

“But in this one, he’s like this wholesome, noble gentleman, so it’s twisting the genre on its head.”

They discussed the bad boy versus wholesome gentleman thing the whole walk to his truck, which was highly entertaining, if a little bit like poking at a weakness Lina would rather not dwell on. She knew her own affinity for bad boys had gotten her in trouble before. After all, she’d followed one to Phoenix. The relationship hadn’t lasted long, but she ended up liking it here and stayed.

The nervousness about heading to Dillon’s family’s dinner didn’t set in until they were well on their way. What would his brothers think about them faking a relationship? She had a feeling they would all have a good laugh, but she wanted to be taken seriously for once.

“What kind of cake did you bring?” Dillon asked, glancing over at the cake container sitting on the bench seat next to her.

“Wouldn’t you like to know. I think you told Rick I was bringing cake for your own special motives.”

Dillon laughed. “It just popped out of my mouth. I swear. But yeah, I really like your desserts. Is that so wrong?”

“Not at all.” She snuggled against his side, enjoying the whir of the heater and the clean scent of him.

Her thoughts turned back to her relative matches, recalling what she’d written to introduce herself and what they might say in response. She wondered where they lived. As far as she knew, her parents met at college in California, but that didn’t mean her father’s family was from there.

“You okay?” he asked.

She realized she’d been quiet for a few minutes.

“Yeah, I’m great. Why?”

He shrugged. “I’m sorry I don’t talk more.”

“I’m sorry I talk so much that when I don’t, you worry.”

His eyebrows furrowed as he stared out at the road. “If something bothered you about me, would you tell me?”

“Well, that feels like a loaded question.” She knew he was being serious, but it wasn’t helping her insecurities about this relationship one bit. Because she had a feeling Dillon wouldn’t tell her if something about her bothered him. “If you had something in your teeth, I’d tell you,” she finally said. “Or if your zipper was down.”

He raised an eyebrow at her. “Good to know.”

She could tell her answer had disappointed him somehow, but being serious right now would not help her relax. “So, would you tell me if I had bad breath? I feel like we should lay out some relationship etiquette ground rules now that you’ve mentioned it.”

He whistled low. “Would I tell you if you had bad breath? Hmm. I’d probably offer you gum. What about me? Would you tell me?”

“I think I’d do the same. Offer you gum or a mint. Or I’d tell you to go brush your teeth and come back and kiss me. Life’s too short for a bad kiss, you know?”

“This is good information. What if you didn’t like the shirt I was wearing?”

She scoffed. “I’m not going to tell you how to dress.”

“What if it had fringe?” he asked, nudging her side. “And bells.”

She snorted, trying to picture Dillon in anything like that. “Okay, let’s go down this road. What if I gave you a shirt with fringe and bells as a gift? Would you lie and tell me you loved it? Would you wear it?”

“I would keep it in the back of my closet and only wear it when you came over.” He pulled up the long drive to his mom’s house. “And now I’m terrified of what you might get me for Christmas.”

“You started it,” she said. Her heart felt lighter. He’d let her bypass the more serious discussion. He’d even one-upped her.

For a moment, she’d forgotten they were going inside to tell his whole family they’d lied to them. But maybe they already knew. Brenda had been sworn to secrecy, but she wasn’t the most tight-lipped person Lina had ever met.

“You ready to do this?” Dillon asked.

Lina nodded. “‘Operation: Spill The Beans’ is a go.”

Chapter 14

Lina was so wonderful, but sometimes Dillon felt like she was holding back, like she only let him skim the surface of who she was. Ironically, it was because he knew her better now, that he could sense there was underlying meaning in things she said, or didn’t say. He knew when she held back, even if he didn’t know what those unsaid things were.

Maybe it was his brain trying to nitpick at their relationship. Everything was going so well, which meant something was due to go wrong, according to his anxiety.

Lina would laugh if he told her. It was superstitious to think that way.

He put the truck in park. Josie pulled in right as they did and hurried over to the passenger side window, looking excited. Lina lowered her window and smiled. Dillon braced himself for whatever impulsive thing was about to come out of Josie’s mouth.

“Mom said you two had some kind of announcement for us.” Josie rubbed her hands together. “Way to decide to do it on corndog gingerbread house night. That’s gonna be a classy memory to tell your kids about.”

Lina turned and stared at Dillon, utter confusion on her face. “Wait, what?”

Dillon cleared his throat. “It’s not that kind of announcement, Josie.”

“Ooh, what then?”

The look Dillon gave her had Josie putting her hands up in surrender. “Never mind. I’ll wait. Let me take your cake in for you, Lina.”

Lina handed her cake carrier over to Josie, who took it into the house, holding it above her head so the dogs couldn’t reach.

“We’re having gingerbread corndogs for dinner?” Lina asked. “That sounds … festive.”

“I’d forgotten about this tradition. Mom didn’t tell me it was tonight. But it’s not gingerbread corndogs, it’s regular corndogs while we make gingerbread houses. When we were little, she could never get us to stop decorating long enough to eat dinner, so she’d stick a corndog in our hands. And somehow it morphed into this weird family tradition. The corndogs are homemade now, not from the frozen food aisle. So, there’s that.”

Lina’s mouth dropped open a little. “I love your family so much more now.”

“And they love you.” The words he couldn’t say rang out in his head. But it was too soon to say he loved her. Too much risk. Dillon knew enough about using humor as a shield to know that’s what she’d done with his question earlier. He worried that Lina felt pushed into this, or that they weren’t compatible, or that it was too much too soon. And he worried that he worried too much.

Things were supposed to be easier. They were together now, right?

He took her hand and opened the front door for her. The smell of the fried cornmeal dough brought back familiar childhood memories of making gingerbread houses, some big, some small, all fairly ugly masterpieces.

Mom rushed out of the kitchen with enthusiastic hugs for them both. “I’m so happy you’re here. We’re about to start our gingerbread house contest.”

“Except we use graham crackers because gingerbread is gross,” Alec said from the couch. “And I always win.” He jumped up and followed them into the kitchen.

Dillon looked at the table covered in bowls of candy and cardboard sheets. They could’ve filled the entire car ride here with explanations about this particular wacky family tradition. He should have prepped her for this. Oh well, it was a nice surprise, and would probably work out better. They could talk to everyone while they built the houses – a discussion, not an announcement. The non-marriage announcement. He couldn’t believe what Josie had said earlier, inferring that he was popping the question tonight. How embarrassing.

“Do you want to build your own or work together?” he asked Lina.

“Work together.” She sat down and pulled up a chair next to his. “How do you win this thing anyway? Who’s judging them?”

“I’m the judge.” Trent, who had been sitting at the end of the table with his arms folded, nodded at them. “I’m totally impartial. Best one wins, no matter who it belongs to.”

Rick looked over from where he was wiping off the counter. “Nope, I’m judging this year. I stink at building them. Might as well try my hand at judging and let Trent give making one a try.”

Trent’s mouth dropped open. “All right, fine.” He pushed his chair closer to the table and began assembling his supplies. He stuck out his elbows, claiming his space and letting Alec and Josie know not to come any closer. “What about you, Mom?”

“I’ll hand out the corn dogs and come sit. But I’d prefer to be on a team.”

Josie waved her over. “Join me.”

Lina had watched the proceedings with wide, curious eyes. Mom handed her a corn dog and put down a paper plate with ketchup and mustard circles. Lina thanked her and took an exploratory bite after swirling hers in mustard.

Dillon took a bite of his. He loved the crispy breading on the outside. Comfort food at its finest.

His ex-girlfriend, Cammie, would have been appalled at a family dinner like this with the squabbling and paper plates and junk food. He could almost hear her now. But then, Dillon didn’t want to dwell there anymore. In fact, he realized with some elation that he rarely thought of her at all anymore, and only when thinking how different Lina was, much more the type to go with the flow. Lina didn’t care about formalities, and she didn’t judge.

Her eyes met his right then and he dropped a quick, fierce kiss against her lips.

She smiled. “What was that for?”

“Because …” I love you. He couldn’t say that. “No reason.”

She held up two graham crackers. “How do I turn these into a palace? Guide me, oh wise one.”

“I’ve always used the house of cards method. Basically, a whole bunch of tents stacked on top of one another.”

They got to work, and for a few minutes there was only the sound of working and munching.

And then Josie looked over. “So, what’s the big announcement, you two?”

“There’s an announcement?” Alec asked. “Am I getting fired? It’s like a dream come true.”

Dillon shook his head. “Nope, you’re still a farmer, Alec. But, um,” he looked over at Lina. “We just wanted to clarify something. Not that it’s really anyone’s business.”

Now he had a lot of blank looks coming his way. Trent stared at Lina’s belly. Nope, Dillon didn’t want anyone thinking this was a pregnancy announcement.

“Lina and I are dating,” he blurted out.

Rick laughed. “Wow, that’s exciting news.”

“What I mean is…”

Lina squeezed his knee. “You guys remember how Kip was hoping someone else would bring their significant other to Thanksgiving?”

Trent pointed at her. “I knew it.”

“Yeah, I posed as Dillon’s girlfriend.”

Alec looked impressed. “Dillon, you sly dog. I didn’t think you had it in you.”

“But the point is, that Lina and I are officially together now.” Dillon turned and held her gaze, hoping he’d phrased it right. He wouldn’t ask her if he’d overstepped, at least not in front of everyone.

Lina grinned. “You’re getting better at hiding the panic, Dillon.”

“What panic?” he asked, a laugh breaking through. She could read him better than he could read himself. “I’m not commitment-phobic, I swear.”

“I know you’re not. You’re assumption-phobic. Which is the most polite of all the phobias.” She patted his back.

Alec leaned over. “Holy cow, she did it. We’ve been trying to figure out what’s wrong with you for years. I could never put it into words.”

Dillon shoved Alec’s shoulder. “Good. Now maybe she can diagnose you.”

It was a little freeing to talk so openly about it, but it stung a little too. He was afraid to assume things? Was that even a thing?

Lina tugged on his jacket, turning him towards her. Everyone else had gone back to building.

“There’s nothing wrong with you,” she whispered. “I wouldn’t change anything about you, and if my teasing made you think that, I’m so sorry.” She rested her forehead into the crook of his neck. “I’d change a lot of things about me, though.”

He lifted her chin just slightly so she’d look at him. “I ….” It was the wrong place and time for those three little words. But he wanted to say them. “You’re wonderful the way you are.”

She turned her lips to brush against his ear, whispering, “Let’s finish this and go for a walk.”

He turned and started unwrapping peppermints, giving them a quick dollop of frosting and pushing them against the sides, being careful not to press hard enough to make the whole thing collapse.

Trent looked over, his eyes narrowing. “I see Dillon is implementing the ‘I want to go make out’ method of design.’”

That was an embarrassingly accurate barb, though Dillon also wanted to talk to Lina, to figure out the distance between them that he couldn’t seem to breach.

One of the peppermints oozed down to rest on the cardboard base.

Josie snorted. “I’d defend you, Dillon, but Trent sort of has a point.”

Lina picked up the offending peppermint and popped it in her mouth. “We’re going to let our house set for a bit, and then we’ll be back to finish decorating. We still plan to win.” She closed the Tupperware lid on their batch of homemade frosting and stood, dragging Dillon up with her.

He ignored the jokes and whistles and followed her outside. “Where are we going?” he asked. She seemed very intent on her destination.

“To your favorite tree.” She took off at a run, the look on her face telling him she wanted to race.

She was fast too, but with her short legs, it was never going to happen. He got to the tree first and held up his hand for a congratulatory high-five when she reached him.

She slapped his hand and passed him up to climb onto a branch. He followed, finding a good place to sit next to her, both their legs dangling.

“So, we should talk about some things.”

She nodded, looking nervous.

There was so much to say, but he couldn’t decide where to start, and apparently neither could she.

She finally nudged him. “I bought the world’s worst thesaurus yesterday. Not only is it terrible, it’s terrible.”

Dillon ran his hands down his face, chuckling to himself. “Where do you come up with this stuff?”

“I can’t hold on to Spanish verbs, but my mind is very good at remembering corny jokes.”

“I love you.” The words sort of tumbled out, and he froze, not willing to take them back but a little horrified that they were out there and she wasn’t saying anything in response.

He glanced over at her. Lina was blinking hard and staring off into space.

“Lina, say something. Even if it’s that you don’t feel the same way, or it’s too soon for that, or whatever.”

She took his hand. “I love you, too. And I’m sort of terrified by that.”

“Me too.”

She gave a shaky laugh. “What is wrong with us?”

“So much. You know how you said I’m assumption phobic? Well, part of that is just who I am, but part of it is because of this girl I dated a while back.” He scratched the back of his neck, wishing he didn’t need to mention Cammie, but feeling like he should.

“Go on.” Lina squeezed his hand.

“She had a lot of things about me she wanted to fix, and she often corrected things I said or did. Because I cared about her so much, I took those on. I believed there was something wrong with me. It wasn’t until after we broke up that I realized she would’ve been unhappy no matter how many hoops I jumped through for her.”

“I dated someone like that once,” Lina said, resting her head on his arm. “People like that are the worst.”

“When you started talking to me in the apartment gym, I avoided you.”

Lina sat up straighter and looked at him. “Like, on purpose? I figured you were shy or just really focused on your work out.”

“I was afraid of losing my head again and letting someone in who would hurt me like she did. And you’re exactly the type of person a guy could lose his head over. I’m glad you kept trying, because you’re totally worth getting my crap together for.” He laughed. “How’s that for romance?”

She smiled. “It’s perfect.”

***

His sweet honesty was what gave Lina the push to fully trust him. To believe him. Even if he changed his mind later or things didn’t work out, what was she holding back for? He loved her. She knew it was true because Dillon didn’t say things like that in order to gain anything, or because he was swept up in the moment. If so, he would have immediately apologized and explained that he didn’t mean it in that way. That’s just how he was.

Instead, he’d opened up more.

Dillon was different than any man she’d ever dated before, and as such, he didn’t deserve the caution she’d developed when it came to relationships. She had to be all in this time, not waiting for things to not work out.

She shifted around to a position where the rough bark of the mesquite tree wasn’t digging into her thighs. As much as she loved this tree, they might have to find a more comfortable private hangout in the future.

“I did the DNA test,” she said. It was completely off topic, and totally relevant, all at the same time.

“You mean, to try to find your dad?” he asked.

“Yeah. I have two matches for relatives, and I sent them messages today.”

“Did they respond back?” he asked.

She realized it had been a couple of hours and she hadn’t checked. She took out her phone and held it in her hands, biting her lip.

“If you don’t want me to see, I understand,” he said.

But she did want him to see, either to share her disappointment when there wasn’t a message, or her anticipation if there was.

“Look with me, will you please?” She unlocked her phone and went to her email. And surprisingly, there was an alert from the DNA website that a new message was waiting for her from her close relative, Garrett.

“What does close relative mean?” Dillon asked.

“Grandparent, aunt or uncle, niece or nephew, maybe a half sibling.”

“Oh, wow.” He bent his head a little closer as she opened up the DNA site app and opened the message.

Hi Lina,

My brother’s name is Derek, but I have to admit I’m a little flabbergasted to hear from you. As far as I know, Derek is unaware that he’s a father. (Of course, we should confirm this.) Family history is a hobby for me, and I took the test in hopes of discovering new research on my ancestors. I feel like we should meet to find out more. I’m actually going to be in Phoenix next week for Christmas visiting my mother as she’s a snowbird there.

Hope to hear from you soon,

Garrett Westover

Lina clicked her phone off and turned it back and forth in her hands. “I told him my dad’s name is Derek. That was all the information I had before taking this test. What do you think? I can’t tell if my uncle is skeptical or excited.”

“I bet it’s a little of both. I think he’s waiting to meet you first. Are you going to meet him?” Dillon shifted on the branch, putting his arm more securely around her.

“Would you come with me if I did?” Lina had a feeling it would make them both feel better. Going alone to meet a stranger, even a related one, was an intimidating prospect.

“Of course, I’d come. I’ll do whatever you need me to. You do realize if this guy is your uncle, you might be meeting your grandmother as well.”

Lina shook her head, feeling like the whole thing was surreal. “It’s too much. How do you hold so much happiness and fear all in one place?”

Dillon leaned closer. “You just keep going, until there isn’t a need for the fear anymore.”

If anyone understood, he surely did. Lina turned so she could kiss him, allowing all the longing and vulnerability to be there with her usual affection.

Dillon’s hands cupped her face, and he was probably about to say something really romantic, but they both lost their balance and slid off the branch, landing ungracefully in the dirt below.

Lina laughed and brushed off her jeans. “All right, Romeo, let’s go finish our award-winning gingerbread house.” She took his hand and swung it as they walked back.

Chapter 15

The restaurant parking lot held only a smattering of cars. Three p.m. was a good time to meet in public and still keep a little bit of privacy.

Lina had baked a loaf of pumpkin bread, and she held it out in front of her like a lifeline as they were walking up to the restaurant doors. Dillon had never loved her more than in that moment. She was obviously terrified, but facing it head on as she always did, armed with a baked goods offering.

He linked his arm with hers. “I’d say I’m more nervous than you are, but that’s not true, is it?”

“I might pee my pants, but we’re fine, right?”

“We’re excellent.”

She leaned into him. “I’m glad I brought you with me.”

“Thank you for letting me come.”

“You don’t mind?” she asked, looking up at him.

“Why would I mind?” he asked. “I’m crazy about you, and sometimes that will make me crazy protective. Let me know when it’s too much.”

“As long as you let me know when I’m too much.”

He wouldn’t say never, because he had a feeling Lina wasn’t ready to believe that yet. But he’d show her, little by little, that he was sticking around, that she lit him up inside and changed his world for the better every day.

Once inside the restaurant, his eyes adjusted to the sudden dimness. Lina had exchanged pictures with her uncle so they’d know what the other looked like. She glanced around, eyeing the tables and the long bar. A balding man and a tiny woman with a fluff of white hair waved them over from a table in the corner.

“Oh, Dillon. He brought his mom,” Lina whispered. “She’s looking right at me.”

Lina was drawn to her like a magnet. They shared the same eyes and smile. The woman slowly got up from her chair, and Lina was in her arms before her grandmother’s back even straightened to a standing position.

“Garrett tried to keep it from me, but I pestered him until the whole story came out. He said maybe you weren’t really Derek’s child, but one look at your picture, and I knew.” She held Lina’s face in her little wrinkled hands. “So beautiful.”

Garrett, Lina’s uncle, held out a hand to Dillon. “Thanks for coming. Are you her..?”

“Yeah, I’m her boyfriend,’ Dillon said. It didn’t feel presumptuous coming out of his mouth anymore.

Lina moved from hugging her grandmother to shaking Garrett’s hand as soon as Dillon let go of it.

They all sat back down, with Garrett and his mom exclaiming over Lina’s loaf of pumpkin bread. Lina found Dillon’s hand under the table and laced her fingers through his. She was shaking a little, but you’d never known it based on her friendly smile and eager eyes.

Garrett glanced at his mother. “Well, we don’t want to keep you in suspense, Lina. You’re probably wondering about your dad. Sorry for being so cautious, but I wanted to talk to him first. It’s a lot to take in, especially for old guys like us who get set in our ways. Derek is an airline pilot, and was a bush pilot before that. He did contract work overseas for years. Sort of a recovering nomad these days. He usually works over the holidays and is a little hard to get ahold of. But when I got him to call me back, we had a long talk. He remembers your mom. I think that’s a story best heard from him, to be honest.”

Lina dipped her head. “I can understand that.”

From what she’d told Dillon, he knew Lina’s mom hadn’t thought highly of the man. Dillon hoped her dad was someone worth getting to know now.

Garrett leaned forward. “He’s so very excited that you reached out. Like you said, he had no idea you existed. He’s in the process of rearranging his schedule so he can fly into Sky Harbor Airport and meet you before the end of the year. How would you feel about that?”

***

Lina felt so many things all at once. Fear, hope, excitement. She nodded. “I’d like that.” The war between hope and fear might rage on, but there was no need to get into all that right now. It wasn’t like she was going to ask her dad not to come see her. She just hadn’t expected to find him so quickly.

“Is my dad married? Does he have a family?”

Garrett shook his head. “No to both of those. This is big. Having you here…” He cleared his throat and looked down at the tablecloth. “I had no idea taking a DNA test would lead to this.”

A waitress came over to take the drink orders, providing a much-needed break in the conversation. Lina was afraid she’d bawl right then and there. She loved Garrett and her grandmother already.

Her grandmother swatted Garrett when he brought up the test results as soon as the waitress left. “Garrett, hold on a minute and let’s do proper introductions before we get into all that. Lina, dear, you are my one and only grandchild so you can pick whatever you’d like to call me. Grammy, Grandma, Nana. My name is Iris. You can call me Iris if that feels better.”

Lina’s heart melted a little more. She had a feeling Iris would prefer a grandmother kind of name. “How about Nana, then?”

“Then I’m Nana. Your young man can call me Nana too, if he likes. Who did you bring with you?”

Lina squeezed Dillon’s hand. “This is Dillon.”

Dillon shook her hand. “Nice to meet you, Nana.”

Earning brownie points already, that one.

The conversation moved to lighter things—what looked good on the menu and how the Arizona winters dried out the skin something fierce. But eventually, as Lina knew they would, Nana and Garrett asked details about Lina’s childhood and the fact that her mom had already passed on.

Lina had processed losing her mom, but it was still hard to talk about. She always felt responsible for other people’s sympathy and discomfort with death. It was worse with these two, because she sensed some guilt on their part for not being there during Lina’s growing up years when she moved around from rental to rental.

Lina reached out and touched Nana’s hand. “My mom chose to keep me to herself. I may never know all the reasons for that, but I’m not here to cast any blame on her, or either of you, or on my dad.”

Nana nodded. “Well, she obviously raised you to be a wise girl. We’re just happy to meet you now.”

Lina glanced at Dillon. He’d been quietly listening. Some of the details about her past he already knew, but not all of them. His gaze held nothing but understanding. She loved his quiet way of lending her strength.

“How long have you two known each other?” Nana asked.

Lina smiled. “About four months, but for most of that we were workout buddies.”

“I’m a slow mover, as I’ve been told,” Dillon said, lightly bumping Lina with his shoulder.

“It’s been good for me. I’m not naturally very patient.”

Lina’s phone buzzed. She felt the vibration against her foot where her purse sat. It was the third time in ten minutes. But she wanted to give Garrett and Nana her full attention, so she ignored it until well into the meal, when Dillon and Garrett latched onto the topic of farming, and Nana had excused herself to use the ladies’ room.

Lina pulled her phone out and checked her messages.

Introducing Parker Chase Reynolds. Once he decided to come this morning, he came quickly. Everyone is healthy and resting. Come and see us soon, Lina!

Lina ran her finger over the picture of the tiny little bundle in the hospital bassinet, his arms stretched out like he couldn’t wait to take on the world. The next picture was of an exhausted, but exuberant, Ashley holding him.

She looked up to see Dillon and Garrett staring at her, knowing smiles on their faces.

“It must be good news,” Garrett said.

“It is. My friend, Ashley, had her baby.” She showed Dillon the pictures first, and then handed the phone to Garrett.

There was a wistfulness in his expression as he looked at it, making her wonder what his story was. If she was the only grandkid, he obviously wasn’t a father.

He handed the phone back, catching her studying him. “My ex never wanted kids.”

Nana resumed her seat in time to hear him. She clucked. “Sometimes life doesn’t turn out how we would prefer, but then God sends us little gifts to remind us of his love.” She beamed at Lina. “Like you.”

“I feel the same way about you two,” she said, wishing their total acceptance of her didn’t make her feel so embarrassed.

Garrett raised an eyebrow. “Maybe this is presumptuous, but it would be nice to be around for when you and Dillon, or um, whomever, started a family.”

Lina felt her face growing hot. From the corner of her eye, she saw Dillon take a long sip of his water. If she thought she’d been embarrassed before, it was nothing like now. But the picture it painted in her mind wouldn’t leave, and Dillon was right there in it, reading their kids bedtime stories and growing old with her. Now was not the time to dwell on such things. It was more like time to lighten the mood again.

“Garrett sounds just like your mom, Dillon, with all the insinuations.”

Dillon laughed. “Nobody can embarrass you like family.”

***

Dillon came to Lina’s apartment the following Saturday prepared, though what he was prepared for, he wasn’t totally sure. She’d said to come in grubby clothes, with his nice clothes set aside for later. They had a couple of hours to kill before meeting her dad on his layover in Phoenix, and she was as skittish as a colt. If Lina hadn’t planned something, Dillon would have found an excuse to spend the time with her anyway.

She dragged him inside her apartment seconds after he knocked on her door and brought him over to the kitchen table which had been wrapped in plastic. Two blank canvases sat waiting for them, surrounded by dishes of paint. The only thing he didn’t see were paintbrushes. When she’d mentioned an extra set of clothes, he’d imagined a plumbing project or working on her car. Both of those sounded a lot less daunting than painting something on a canvas.

“So,” she said, letting out a long breath. “In the spirit of learning more about each other, this is one of my secret hobbies.”

“One of them?” he asked, eyeing her curiously. “You have other secret hobbies?”

“Well, yeah. But they come and go. I was all about roller derby for about three days before realizing my tailbone didn’t think it was a good idea, I have a whole Pinterest board of Hallmark Christmas movie memes I created, and I like to volunteer to face paint at carnivals. Those are the ones I can think of off the top of my head.”

“Did you get a roller derby name?” he asked with a grin.

Lina swatted his chest, and he pulled her in closer. She was rarely embarrassed, so it was extra fun to see her blush.

“Not an official one. I planned to go with Lina Linguini. They said I had noodle arms when I skated. I was just trying to keep my balance. And that…” she pointed a finger at his chest, “…is going in the vault, young man.”

He nodded. “We never talked about it.”

She sat in a chair and pulled him down in the chair next to her.

He picked up one of the blank canvases. “I’ve never painted on a canvas before. I doubt anything I create will be worth hanging on a wall.” Realizing that could be taken as a jab at her art, he added, “I bet you’re awesome at this, though. Can I see one of your finished pieces?” He set the canvas down and looked around. He didn’t see any artwork on display, but he wasn’t the most observant guy either.

Lina took a dollop of paint with her finger and dropped it unceremoniously on her canvas. “Don’t worry. These are cheap canvases from the craft store, and you can’t see my finished pieces because I don’t keep any. Half the fun is donating them to the thrift store and wondering where the terrible art ends up.”

“You don’t keep any of them?” He looked at her finger, realizing for the first time that the lack of paintbrushes was on purpose. This was finger painting. He reached out and touched a bit of black paint to his pointer finger before smearing it down his canvas. It was strangely thrilling. “I have a feeling even the thrift store will turn mine away.”

“Don’t worry about that. This isn’t about talent; this is about fun.” She wiped her fingers clean with a cloth and picked a new color. For a few minutes he just sat and watched. At first, it didn’t seem like there was any rhyme or reason to what color she chose or where the paint landed, but like a kaleidoscope coming into focus, it started forming into a man on a rowing machine.

“Is that me? I thought you said you weren’t any good.”

She shrugged. “I’m feeling inspired. Your biceps do that to me sometimes.”

“Whatever.”

It was a lot more than inspiration. She had talent. It made him want to scour all the local thrift stores for more of her work. For a moment, Dillon considered trying to paint her the way she was painting a memory of him, but with his skills, it would end up being a scary, rather than a romantic gesture. Instead, he started over. The black smear was dry, and he covered it with white paint, smoothing it around until he had one big white tooth. He turned the edges of the canvas into a crisscross of color around the gleaming, white tooth.

He looked over to see what she thought of his painting, but Lina was staring off into space, her eyebrows furrowed. That wouldn’t do. The whole point of this was to distract her from worrying about meeting her dad.

She had her hair pulled back into a bun, so he wasn’t worried about getting it in her hair when he dipped his finger back in the white paint and carefully drew a streak down her cheek.

“Dillon,” she growled, turning slowly to stare at him. Her mouth twitched with the beginnings of a smile. “What are you doing?”

“Um, face painting? I thought we were trying all your hobbies today. And also, you looked sad, so I thought, ‘what would Lina do?’ and the answer was, spread a little paint around where it doesn’t belong.”

There was no hiding the grin that broke through her irritation. She leaned over and kissed him, thoroughly distracting him before turning her cheek to smear all the paint back on him. Sneaky thing.

“See, you’re rubbing off on me,” he murmured.

“Was that a pun?” Lina asked, placing a hand to her chest with feigned awe.

“I guess it was.”

“I love you.” She turned serious in a flash, despite the paint all over her face and his. “Whatever happens today, it’s all going to be okay, isn’t it?”

“Darn right.” He wiped away a little of the paint near the corner of her mouth, and went back to kissing her.

Epilogue – One Thanksgiving Later

“Brenda, you are the bestest mother-in-law in the whole world. You know that, right?” Lina hugged the sweet woman around the middle, making her laugh and sputter in modest disbelief.

It was true, though. Brenda had taken it in stride when Lina told her she and Dillon would be spending Thanksgiving at Nana’s rental house, and Brenda had been just as gracious when plans changed and all of Lina’s relatives needed to be invited over to Brenda’s instead.

Brenda went back to slicing up the cinnamon apple cake she’d made. “Dillon, your wife is buttering up to me in a blatant attempt at favoritism.”

“Is it working?” Dillon asked, walking over and folding his arms, pretending to look stern.

“Of course it’s working.” Brenda winked. “Now, you two carry out the dessert plates and forks for me, will ya?” She left the kitchen with the cinnamon apple cake, leaving the wonderful spicy baking scent behind.

Dillon glanced around, and Lina recognized that opportunistic look in his eyes. They were alone. They hadn’t been alone all day, and while they got plenty of quality newlywed time together on every other day, they hadn’t gotten it today. What was the point of a holiday if it wasn’t spent celebrating something as wonderful as love?

One hand came around each side of the counter, locking her in place as he dipped his head and kissed her softly. Well, that wouldn’t do. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back with a little more heat, moving to his jawline before working her way back to his mouth.

“Lina,” he growled. “You’re going to get us in trouble.”

“Yep,” she breathed out between kisses. “Eventually. But not yet.”

They made out for another blissful two minutes until someone cleared their throat in the kitchen doorway. “Seriously, you two? Just hand over the dessert plates. I’ll take them in.”

“Thanks, Trent.” Lina peered around Dillon. “We’ll be right there.”

“Sure you will.” He took the dessert plates and forks from them and rolled his eyes.

Lina gave Dillon one last lingering kiss before she dragged him back to the dining room. The embarrassment of having everyone study their bright eyes and flushed faces was totally worth it, even if it was super weird to get an exasperated dad look from Derek.

Sometimes she imagined what it would have been like having him around during her teenage years. He and Dillon got along great, but she had a feeling Derek would have been the protective type, lecturing her dates on when to have her home and how he expected them to treat her.

“This cake is amazing,” Derek said, turning to smile at her. “Brenda said you two worked on the recipe together.”

“Thanks, Da-Derek.” Lina laughed nervously.

Derek did too. “Maybe we should just stick with Dad-Derek. It sort of has a ring to it.”

Nana shook a finger at him. “This is why I had her pick a name for me from the first moment we met. None of this ‘call me Derek until Dad feels comfortable business.’”

Lina patted Derek on the arm. “We’re fully transitioning to me calling you Dad. It’s gonna happen.”

Brenda passed a slice of cake down to Lina, and she took a small bite. The flavor was amazing. Brenda must have changed up something again because this was even better than the first time they’d made it. “This is so good, Brenda.”

Nana sighed. “Yes, this has all been wonderful. Thank you for inviting us at the last minute. I had no idea my oven would go kaput on today of all days. The homeowner was ready to come over and take a look at it, but I didn’t want him spending his Thanksgiving worrying about something like that. It would have been too late for the turkey to cook in time anyways.”

Lina gave Nana an understanding smile, hiding the relief she felt. Nana did too much as it was. Next year she’d be eighty-seven. The thought of her lifting a full-size turkey in and out of an oven scared Lina a little.

“To Brenda,” Garrett said, lifting his water glass.

“To Brenda,” everyone else echoed.

Rick looked around eagerly. “Is it time for speeches then?”

Alec, who was sitting next to him, clapped Rick on the shoulder. “I propose, in light of our growing crowd, that everyone gets one sentence this year. Make it a good one, Rick.”

Rick thought for a minute. “Happy wife, happy life.” He winked at Brenda, making her blush.

Heather and Kip went next, expressing their love for each other. Lina watched Brenda’s smile dim a little. She had never fully forgiven them for eloping in January, and they’d responded by calling and visiting less. But Heather needed a good relationship with her mother-in-law, so Lina would do everything in her power to help them get there. After all, in a weird way, Heather was the reason Dillon had reached out to Lina in the first place.

Alec must have sensed the shifting mood. He lifted his glass. “My cat thinks I’m pretty amazing.”

“We all do,” Brenda said, giving him a sympathetic smile. Sometimes his humor went right over her head.

“Here’s to Oliver the cat,” Trent said, lifting his glass. “Also, I’ll be seeing the new Star Wars Movie at nine o’ clock tonight if anyone wants to join me, but I don’t save seats once the previews start so get there on time. I sit eight to ten rows back, dead center.”

Josie rolled her eyes. “That was more than one sentence, Trent. But yeah, I’m all over that. Save me a seat.” She lifted her glass. “So, instead of a toast, I’m asking a question. Are we playing the Newlywed Game this year, now that we actually have newlyweds?”

“That’s a hard no,” Kip said, swirling the ice in his glass.

Lina glanced at Dillon and gave his hand a squeeze. Once upon a time, he would have been horribly embarrassed by an exchange like that, one that perfectly embodied the imperfections and quirks of this group of strong personalities, but he was totally chill. He trusted in Lina’s unconditional love, not just for him, but for his whole family.

“Josie, you do realize Dillon and I won that game while faking being together, right?” Lina asked.

“Oh, you two did, didn’t you?” Trent looked highly impressed. “That hadn’t occurred to me. What about the question about your first kiss? Had you two even had a first kiss by then?”

“Our first kiss was right here at this table last Thanksgiving,” Dillon said. “Which was not ideal, but somehow she stuck with me anyway.”

Nana and Garrett jumped in with questions of their own, not knowing much about how Lina and Dillon had met. Dad-Derek already knew from one of their many talks on the phone. Shoot, his stupid nickname suggestion was sticking in her mind.

So Lina and Dillon told the whole silly story, and Lina was glad for the diversion from speeches. She had come to know her dad well enough to know he’d take his turn if he had to, but he was the type who preferred to listen and watch. He was here because he loved her. No public declaration needed. You knew where you stood with him. Always. Dillon was that way too. She looked at the two men, one on each side of her, and felt like the luckiest girl in the world.

Dunked by Love: A Short Story

_________________________

Trent let her go once. Now he’ll do anything to get her back. She’s got something in mind…

Chapter 1

“The last item on the agenda is the eye care carnival this weekend. Emery? How are we on that?”

Emery’s head shot up. After thirty minutes of discussion about contact lens brands and rewetting eye drops, she’d zoned out. “Everything is all set, and I’m still slightly under budget. But I wanted to ask about that because we do have a problem with the dunk tank.”

“What’s the problem?” Dr. Potts brow wrinkled. “I thought it was already paid for.”

“It is. But nobody has volunteered to sit in it.”

All around her, people shifted in their seats. None of her coworkers were the type to enjoy heckling a crowd until it got them plunged into a tank of water. They were more the type to quietly say mean things while looking fabulous.

Their optometry office catered to high end customers who ordered the most expensive designer frames and wanted skin treatments along with their eye exam. That sense of entitlement carried over to most of the staff.

Why they’d put unsophisticated little Emery in charge of the carnival was beyond her. She was a receptionist, not an event planner. But she wanted it to go well, not only to impress her boss, but because it was for charity. During the carnival, they’d be raising money for families who couldn’t afford eye exams and eyewear.

“Nobody volunteered to sit in the dunk tank?” Dr. Potts glanced at his trio of sales people who all immediately avoided eye contact.

“That’s why I was thinking we might hire someone with what’s left of the budget.” Emery sat up straighter. “I’m sure I could find someone to work the crowd and make it fun. Or, I could sit in it. But you wanted me to oversee and troubleshoot.”

“No, I don’t want you in the dunk tank.” Dr. Potts sighed. “You’re so sweet that people would feel bad for you.”

Emery wasn’t sure whether to feel offended or relieved by his verbal pat on the head.

“Aren’t we already hiring attendants for the booths?” he asked.

“Yes, but they’ll only run the booths we’re renting from them. The dunk tank is separate. We could cancel it, I guess.” But she hoped it wouldn’t come to that. A dunk tank was the sort of thing that appealed to adults and kids alike.

“Don’t cancel it. I’m sure we’ll find someone. Let’s ask family members if they’d like to volunteer, and you keep looking, Emery. I need the extra money from the budget for the raffle baskets Nora’s putting together.”

Nora, one of the technicians, gave Emery a smug smile. She and Dr. Potts were secretly dating, although it was the worst kept secret in the office. The silent auction had already taken up a good part of the budget, but apparently it now needed an even bigger share. Hopefully they’d get some big spenders to show up and bid.

The meeting was adjourned, and Emery went to warm up her computer and do a last minute polish of all the glass cases and mirrors that covered virtually every surface. Maybe that’s why everyone in here always looked red carpet ready. They were faced with their reflection at every turn. Thankfully for Emery, she was happy with just being passably cute.

Today, she ignored the dark circles under her eyes, a gift bestowed by the insomnia fairies. Her first night in a new apartment had not allowed for much sleep. The hum of the fridge was different, the smell, even the way the darkness looked, with shadows from the moonlight playing across the walls. Her mini-blinds weren’t quite cutting it. She’d have to find curtains to go over the top of them.

The bell rang over the door, and Emery sprang to attention. For the next eight hours, she couldn’t afford to be tired.

***

Trent read through work emails on his phone while waiting for his clothes to finish drying. He loved the clean, warm scent of fresh laundry, and when the apartment’s laundry room wasn’t busy he sometimes lingered just to destress and get away from his new roommate. The feeling was likely mutual. His escapes to the laundry room allowed his video-game loving roommate time to blast zombies and enemy soldiers to his heart’s content. It was a fragile truce that would end when Trent found somewhere else to live. Law school was almost paid off, and he planned to buy a house as soon as the market dropped a bit.

A girl struggled through the door with an overflowing basket in one arm while dragging a trash bag full of clothes behind her.

“Procrastinate much?” Trent asked before moving to help. He picked up the trash bag and set it on the counter, earning him a begrudging “thank you.” Perhaps there was more embarrassment than irritation in it. With girls it was hard to tell, plus she had a curtain of dark hair in her face that only retreated once her arms were free and she tamed it behind her ear.

That’s when she really looked at him, and he really looked at her. And then he wasn’t sure who wanted to retreat more.

“Trent?” She twisted the bottom of her ratty t-shirt and then turned to work the knot out of the top of her garbage bag, avoiding his stare. And he was staring. He hadn’t seen Emery Jones in almost a decade.

“I should have known this day could get worse,” she muttered.

“Nice to see you, too.”

Emery, even ticked off and in ratty clothes, was as beautiful as he remembered. A different beautiful now than the fresh-faced college version of her that haunted his dreams.

“How long have you lived here?” she asked. From inside the garbage bag, she pulled out a peach-colored comforter and stuffed it into a washing machine.

“Going on five years. You?”

“Two days. I decided to take a dinner break from unpacking and managed to spill soup all over my comforter. And like you so nicely pointed out, I also had a lot of dirty laundry that needed washing. So here I am.”

“You were eating soup in bed?”

She crossed her arms and stared him down. “There is a lot of unnecessary judgement in that question.”

“So, that’s a yes?” He couldn’t help it. After all their years together in debate club, the old habit refused to die.

“It’s a yes. I attempted to eat soup in bed, and I wasn’t even sick. Hashtag, no regrets. There’s something very stress-relieving about breaking all the rules because you live alone, and nobody can tell you not to.”

“That’s true. I run with scissors all the time. It’s very liberating.”

Her mouth twitched like she wanted to laugh, but he could see she wanted to smack him just as much. Laughter finally won out. “You haven’t changed a bit, Trent.”

“When you say that to a guy, it’s not quite as flattering.”

“I didn’t mean it to be.” She rubbed the toe of her shoe against the linoleum. “Sorry, I’ve been holding this grudge against you in my mind for so long, and if I don’t let a little of it out, I’ll be lobbing insults at the ceiling tonight instead of sleeping. And I really need sleep.”

“By all means.” The dryer buzzer went off behind him, and he turned to pull his load out, needing time to digest the fact that Emery was here. He had often wondered if she was still mad at him. Now he knew. It was actually a relief when compared to the indifference he’d expected.

He used to be young and stupid enough to think hearts were things easily mended, that friends and love could be discarded and picked up again when it was convenient. Nobody had ever gone toe-to-toe with him and still loved him like Emery. She was the real deal, and it took walking away and growing lonely for him to realize what an idiot he’d been.

There was probably nothing left between them, especially based on the way she looked at him now. But the knot of excitement in his chest said otherwise. It said maybe, just maybe, he could undo one of the biggest mistakes he’d ever made if he played his cards right. He slowly folded underwear and considered the possibility. Was he too set in his bachelor ways to ever hope for something more?

“Are you a lawyer now?” Emery asked. She’d put in her second load and was organizing a third. She sure had a lot of clothes. He practically lived in suits and ties, so most of his wardrobe went to the dry cleaners. Tonight was one of the few times he wasn’t dressed up, due to casual Friday at his office.

“Yes. Criminal law.”

She pressed her lips together, holding in whatever it was she wanted to say. There were a lot of assumptions about lawyers in general, but especially criminal lawyers.

“Yes, I defend guilty people. But I like to think of it as mitigating damage after really bad life decisions.” He’d learned a lot from it, especially the need to avoid intoxicating vices and uncontrolled anger.

“I’m glad you went for it, Trent. I’m not judging.” She carefully poured detergent for the third load and gathered up her remaining things. “If you’re not here when I come back, it was good to see you.”

“Do you need help moving?” He stopped folding and shoved everything back into his basket. “I don’t live alone, and my roommate still has an hour of allotted video game time where he shouts at the screen and doesn’t want the lights on because it ruins the effects. You’d be doing me a favor.”

Emery’s eyebrows quirked down, assessing him. “I don’t know. I don’t really know you that well anymore.”

“Ask me anything.”

She rolled up the garbage bag and threw it into the trash can in the corner. “Anything?”

If she thought that might scare him, she was wrong. What did he have to lose? Or hide for that matter? He was doing laundry on a Friday night. His life was not very exciting.

“When was the last time you talked to your mom and dad?”

“My mom, yesterday. My dad, four years ago. He died of leukemia.”

She looked instantly contrite. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I really liked your dad.”

“Me too.”

“He didn’t even yell at me when I scraped your bumper against that parking lot pillar. You were madder than he was.”

He’d forgotten about that. It was the first time he’d ever let someone else drive his car, and it turned out worse than he’d feared. But his dad had never sweated stuff like that. As a farmer, he would have given his last dollar away with no regrets.

They reminisced about his dad for the next few minutes, and Trent realized how much he’d missed that. He didn’t talk about him much outside his family. Usually, people didn’t know how to talk about loss, but Emery wanted to remember everything about him. To her, his dad was someone special, someone who mattered.

“Is Alec okay?”

“Oh yeah. He’s sober now. He farms with Dillon.” His brother had been quite the partier in high school, which was the last Emery remembered of him.

“And how’s your mom?” she asked.

“Remarried. He’s an okay guy.”

There was a lull, and Emery looked ready to bolt again. He had to do something, anything to buy them more time. It was a big apartment complex, and if you wanted to avoid someone, as Emery obviously did him, it was totally possible.

“Are you still going to ask me anything? Fire away.”

She shrugged. “Okay, what did you eat for dinner?”

“A salad.” He patted his chest. “Come on, you can do better than that. What do you want to know about me?”

“Why do you live with a roommate you hate?”

That was more like it. “He’s a replacement. Dillon lived with me until he got married a little over a year ago. And I don’t hate my roommate, I just don’t like almost everything about him.”

Emery laughed. “Nuance.”

“Exactly.”

“Do you ever want to get married?”

“Yes.” He stared her down, letting her know the question didn’t scare him.

She finally looked away before pulling out her phone, probably checking the time. “Okay, come hang out at my place and organize my kitchen cupboards. You were always good at stuff like that.” She marched out, and he followed.

He could do this. Yeah, he was more than a little rusty when it came to women, but they had a history together, an amazing one. He reminded himself he’d never failed at getting what he wanted. He’d just sometimes wanted the wrong things. This time, he’d get it right.

Chapter 2

A grudge was a bad way to describe how Emery felt about Trent. She didn’t wish him harm or anything. She just knew she was never letting him worm his way into her heart again. Why was she currently letting him in her apartment? A neighborly gesture, free labor, pity? She’d figure out her exact motives later.

He’d offered to help her unpack, and she actually did need the help. Without him here, she’d probably collapse on her couch and give it up for the night.

After pointing to a trio of boxes in her kitchen, she went to put a bookshelf together, armed with a screwdriver and a dream of being handier than usual.

“Where were you living before?” he called from the kitchen.

“With my sister. She got married.” She smiled at the matching twists of fate which had led them to their current circumstances.

“Which sister?” He was obviously set on conversation despite the fact that she was in another room, and with a sigh, she dragged her bookshelf box across the carpet and into the kitchen, setting up shop on the tile floor. Trent had picked a cupboard for her bowls and plates and had moved on to putting cups away.

“Bobbie.”

“Did she marry that guy she dated all through high school?”

“Nope. Someone she met at work.” Emery studied him while his back was turned. Trent was still as thin as a rail, but not in the gangly way he had been in high school and college. He carried himself with confidence and ease now, and she forced herself to stop staring so she’d stop noticing things like that.

Pulling out the various bookshelf pieces, Emery stacked up the A and B boards and stared at the screws in their little plastic baggie. She turned the directions back and forth and upside down before she found the directions in English.

“I can help with that.” Trent came to stand just behind her shoulder.

“No, I’ve got this.” She tried to look more competent than she felt.

He plopped onto the floor next to her anyway and surveyed her progress. “I might not rebuild tractors like my brothers, but I know how to follow badly written directions. It’s pretty much what I do all day. Besides, I bought this same bookshelf a few years ago.”

Sitting this close, she was beginning to remember other things about him that she used to love. His dark hair with just a touch of curl, the strong line of his jaw, his blue-gray eyes.

She gave him the directions and got up before she did something stupid, like remember the way he kissed.

Starting up where he left off on the cupboards, she put away the last few coffee mugs and moved on to unpacking her pots and pans, always with one eye on the clock. Fifteen more minutes and she could go back downstairs and move her loads from the washer to the dryer. He could go home.

“Am I allowed to ask you anything?” He looked up from the directions.

“Nope. I’m not done with you.” It was stupid, but she just needed to find the right question to confirm he still was that unfeeling guy who broke her heart, the one who cared about his goals more than other people.

After a minute she asked, “Why do you want to get married?”

“Theoretically?”

“Yeah, sure. Theoretically.” He didn’t have a romantic bone in his body. This should be good.

“Lots of reasons. Marriage is good for society. It’s a sign of commitment and fidelity. And I’d want to set that example for my kids.”

It was debate club all over again. He hadn’t even mentioned love. So typical Trent. She was about to say so but quickly shut her mouth when she saw him getting to his feet, his eyes locked on hers.

What was he doing? This was not Trent. He did not smolder. The man didn’t even know how.

And yet when he approached, a delicious tremor ran through her. He put one hand to the counter behind her and leaned in, staring into her eyes. “I’m not finished. I would only marry someone I really loved who loved me in return. And we’d have to trust each other and rely on each other. She’d be someone who brought out the best in me, who cheered me on but didn’t let me get away with being less than she deserved.”

“Trent.” She put a hand to his chest. “I’m not that girl. Whatever you think this is, that ship has sailed.”

He nodded. “I don’t blame you for feeling that way. The last time you saw me, I was a huge jerk. I didn’t get it then but I sure get it now. You just can’t trust that yet.” He turned and went back to building the bookshelf like she hadn’t just rejected him. But it wasn’t so much rejection as protection. He was the one who didn’t want to be with her. Changing his mind after ten years apart and ten minutes together was … insane. There was no other way to look at it.

They worked in silence for a few minutes. He hadn’t been bluffing about the building thing. He knew how to put the bookshelf together like he did it for a living. He finished right when it was time for her to go move her laundry loads.

After setting it against a wall, he headed for the door. “I’ll walk you down.”

“Thanks. And thanks for putting my bookshelf together.”

She was relieved he hadn’t tried to overstay his welcome, but confusion warred with the relief. An older, wiser Trent was better at being charming when he wanted to be, and at saying the right things. It didn’t mean anything, at least not anything she could trust. He had that part right.

“Can I give you my number?” he asked once they made it back to the laundry room.

She shook her head. “You’re not going to… I don’t know…. camp outside my apartment now that you know where I live, are you?” She stared at her shoes. It was such a rude thing to ask, but they’d never minced words with each other. Trent had always liked it when she was blunt.

He laughed. “Um, no. I work too much for that. Besides, was I ever the stalking type?”

She had to admit he was not. She had totally been the one to put the first move on him, knowing he wanted to but wasn’t quite sure how to go about it. “You were goal-oriented. I remember that. Is getting me to forgive you some new goal of yours? Because I forgive you.”

He took out a business card, wrote on it, and handed it to her. “This is my apartment number and my cell number. If you never call or come over, I’ll take the hint and run the other way when I see you in the halls. But if you decide you want to be friends or whatever, let me know.”

“Friends or whatever?” How very open-minded of him.

“Yeah, like if you need help with stuff. I’m your guy.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Please do.”

Now he was just being lawyerly. Emery said goodnight, firm in her resolve to leave her relationship with Trent Curtis in the past where it belonged. But she held onto his business card and looked at it that night more times than she ever wanted to admit.

Chapter 3

Emery ran into Trent two more times in less than two days. Once when she was picking up her mail after work and once when she was parking. And both times, he was friendly with a touch of impertinence, reminding her he’d be there when she made up her mind, like it was a foregone conclusion. He was so calm and sure about it that it drove her nuts. Yes, she missed his directness, the nerdy lack of filter that had bonded them in the first place in high school, but she wasn’t about to call him just because he’d asked, and she certainly wasn’t going to show up on his doorstep. He could just keep on waiting until he discovered something new to pursue. Or someone.

Except no one at work had found anyone dying to volunteer for the dunk tank, and the more she thought about it, the more she felt like this was exactly what Trent deserved. He was the one who asked if she needed help with stuff. Well, she did, desperately. Her boss had this annoying habit of assuming she’d never let him down because she never did.

She waited until after work to call Trent, and she got right to the point, not wanting to be cruel about it. His excitement in hearing from her was sort of adorable and sort of making her feel like a complete jerk.

“I need a favor.”

“Sure. What do you need?”

“I need you to sit in the dunk tank at a carnival this Saturday.”

He gave a nervous laugh. “So you can throw baseballs at me and knock me down? Is this some revenge fantasy of yours?”

“This is not a revenge fantasy. Are you free on Saturday afternoon? I’m in charge of my work’s carnival, and I really need you. I haven’t found anyone else to help with it.”

“Say the part about needing me again. And slower this time.”

“You’re ridiculous.”

“Okay, in all seriousness, how long are we talking about?”

“The carnival is from three to seven.”

“And you’d want me in the dunk tank the whole time?”

“Um, maybe?” Hopefully, other people would see how fun it was and volunteer on the spot. Maybe even spectators. She’d have to get a liability release form ready just in case.

“Okay, I’ll be there. So, what are you doing right now?” Trent asked.

“Talking to you, but that’s not what you’re asking is it?”

“No. I was thinking I could bring my work over and you could ignore me, unless you wanted to talk.”

Emery looked around her kitchen. The microwave gave off a low buzz while her frozen dinner circled inside of it. She had her bare feet propped up on a packing box and she’d taken off her bra the moment she walked in the door. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Trent.”

“Okay. But if it’s alright, I’ll text you tomorrow. You don’t have to respond. Have a good night, Emery.”

She pressed her phone to her chest and imagined her heart as a steal cage and Trent as the circling shark. She would not let him in.

He did text the next day as promised, and the day after, opening her up to what his life was like. She now knew he still liked scary movies, that he missed his brother, Dillon, but didn’t see the use in telling him. He told her about a few of the criminal law cases he was allowed to talk about. He was on a cinnamon gum kick and occasionally added to the gum wrapper chain they’d started freshmen year. She couldn’t believe he still had it.

At first, she didn’t respond to his texts, but considering they’d be hanging out on Saturday at her carnival, it seemed best to at least let him know she was reading them. So she asked a question, and that led to more questions, and those questions led to joking, and then phone calls late into the night.

By Saturday afternoon, she was trying her best to tamp down her excitement in getting to see him again. Which was perfectly normal and okay, as long as they were only friends. She was happy to have her old friend back. That was the way they’d started, and it was only right it was what they returned to. Everything would be fine.

***

Trent had never been in a dunk tank and could have easily gone the rest of his life missing out, but today wasn’t about him. Besides, trying new things was supposed to be good for your soul or something.

It didn’t take long to locate Emery at the carnival once he arrived. She was the one out front, pacing like she was about to compete in her first Olympic event. He pulled out his wallet, keys, and phone and placed them in her hands. “Hold onto these for me and lead the way, cruel mistress.”

“You’re my hero, Trent.”

“Yeah, yeah. Whatever.”

The smile she gave him in return held a tinge of guilt, but also a lot of anticipation. She was totally looking forward to seeing him drop into a tank of water. After putting his things in her cross-body bag, she walked with him across the park to where the dunk tank was waiting. They had about ten minutes before the event started, and Emery left him to go check on other booths, promising to be back to take tickets from those wanting to try their luck as soon as the carnival started.

Trent climbed up the ladder in the back and edged out to the seat. If he was going to accidentally fall in, it would be better now without an audience.

She’d told him not to wear a swimsuit, as it would be less fun to knock someone in if they looked like they were ready to go swimming. After way too much debate last night, they’d decided on his most casual pair of work slacks and a white shirt and tie. Even dressed as he was, the water below looked inviting. It was probably ninety degrees out and would only get hotter. Perhaps this was the best seat in the house after all.

A guy in one of the matching “I Care About Eye Care” polo shirts came sauntering up looking self-important, but friendly. “Hi, I’m Dr. Potts. Thank you so much for volunteering today. It means a lot to us.”

“Sure thing.”

“Are you a friend of Emery’s?”

“I am.”

Dr. Pott’s glanced around. “Emery’s… great. She’s a great employee.”

“She is great. I know she’s put a lot of thought into this, on the job and at home.” Trent watched the guy take in his thinly veiled hint. Emery might look at all the extra time she’d put into the event as unpaid volunteer work, but there was a marketing aspect to this carnival as well. It was plain to see in every sign with their logo and phone number on it.

“Well, thanks again. Have fun today.” The doctor’s retreat was practically a sprint.

Emery returned a few minutes later with a trio of rubbery baseballs and a perplexed look on her face. “My boss just told me he’s giving me a hundred-dollar bonus for all my work on this.”

“That’s all?”

She put her hands on her hips. “Yes, that’s all. I think it’s nice.”

“Well, you deserve every penny. This carnival is pretty much all you’ve talked about this week. But maybe that’s because it’s a safe topic.”

“As opposed to?”

“Talking about us, of course.” He enjoyed the soft blush that overtook her face. He’d been careful, avoiding anything too flirtatious in their conversations. Getting to know Emery again allowed him to rediscover all the things he loved best about her, like her sense of humor and unique way of looking at the world. She was equal parts feisty and timid, especially when it came to how she felt about him.

He hadn’t apologized yet, not fully, because he didn’t want to force the conversation on her until she was ready.

A pair of teenage boys came running right at them, a strand of tickets in each hand. It was go time. Trent climbed back up the ladder and sat down.

One of the boys stepped up and took a ball from Emery. “Why are you dressed like that, dude?”

Trent stared back. “She kidnapped me. I was on my way to work. I don’t even belong here. I have twenty-twenty vision and trust me, I don’t care about eye care.”

The teenager laughed and threw a hard curve ball that didn’t quite hit the target.

“Come on, it’s hot out here.” The kid didn’t need any encouragement, but Trent kept it up until the third throw hit its mark. A little water went up Trent’s nose, and climbing out was a pain, but the look of gratitude on Emery’s face made it worth it.

The other teenage boy was a better shot. He knocked Trent down on his first try and crowed like a puffed up rooster. Behind them, a line began to snake down the hill, and Trent realized his day was about to get really long.

Chapter 4

The two teenage boys who went first were not hard to turn into dunk tank victims after they’d made their way back through the line and had their fill of knocking Trent in for the second time. Since they were both eighteen, Emery didn’t even need permission from their parents. She coaxed a sopping wet Trent down the ladder and wrapped a towel around him while he rubbed the water from his eyes.

“I had a feeling you’d be good at heckling people. But do that from down here for a while, okay?” She kept an arm around him, enjoying the cool of his wet shirt against her hot skin. Spring in Arizona was more like summer everywhere else.

Trent smiled down at her. “You want me to be an annoying loud mouth. I can definitely do that.” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear before stepping away to place his towel on a pole. She was relieved. They had a job to do, and her gratitude for Trent’s help was clouding her judgement.

A girl of about eight was next, and Emery had her step up closer to the target.

“Do you have any annoying brothers?” Trent asked her, letting his voice carry to the crowd.

She nodded.

“Do they eat all the chips and leave the empty bags in the pantry?”

Her eyes widened. “How do you know that?”

“The same reason I know this guy right here leaves the seat up after going to the bathroom and forgets to put the milk away so it’s warm right when someone else wants a bowl of cereal. Get him.”

She threw her first shot with as much gusto as possible, but it went wide. After three more wild attempts, they let her run up and hit the button just for fun.

Once the boys tired of it, Trent dutifully took his seat back, and it was just in time, as Trent’s entire family arrived to join the back of the line.

Trent groaned and exchanged glances with Emery. Their presence would only make things more interesting, although for him, maybe not in a good way. She was surprised he’d told them about it, though not surprised they came out to support him. Did that mean he’d told them about her?

She had a while to speculate and to study them. She assumed the older guy with Brenda was his step-dad, Steve. And the smiling woman with Dillon had to be his wife. Emery waved to Josie, who waved back with so much enthusiasm that she accidentally whacked the person in front of her in the back of the head. Only Josie could get away with something like that and turn it into a chance to make a new friend. Seeing Josie again would be a hoot.

Trent got quieter the closer his family crept to the front of the line. Emery took a turn being the heckler, although she wasn’t nearly as good at it.

“Trent!” Dillon’s wife stepped up first. “I still haven’t seen you wear anything but work clothes. Not even here. What gives?”

“Just throw the ball, Lina.”

“First, I want to meet your Emery.”

Well, that answered that question.

Emery smiled nervously as Lina turned to her and leaned in. “You must be really special to him. Trent always works Saturdays.”

Emery wasn’t sure what to say. “He’s a good friend.”

“He’s a good friend,” a spectator behind them called out. “Just put the dude out of his misery already. That’s like the kiss of death. A good friend.” He laughed like it was the best joke he’d ever heard.

Lina mouthed “I’m sorry,” and wound up her throwing arm, but she wasn’t the only one who needed to be embarrassed. Emery felt horrible.

It didn’t help that Josie and Brenda went next. The same spectator had new material once he’d heard from Josie that they’d all known each other in high school.

“Quit stringing him along, honey,” the guy called out, getting a few laughs. “Just tell him, it’s not you, it’s me, and be done with it.” He was starting to annoy people based on the looks he was getting, but was the type who wouldn’t stop as long as he had any encouragement.

Trent didn’t seem bothered by it, but to be honest, Emery had avoided looking at him at all. He hadn’t been dunked since before Lina’s turn, so he had to have heard every last taunting word out of the guy’s mouth.

“Who’s next?” Emery called out. “Let’s see what you’ve got. This guy’s getting dry up here. We can’t have that.”

“Take her non-boyfriend down,” the annoying guy said, talking over her. “They’re such good friends, he brought his whole family to meet her.”

Dillon stepped up next and gave her a quick hug before taking his turn. He knocked Trent into the water with one shot before running around to say hello.

The next thing Emery knew, Dillon was up in the dunk tank, beating his chest and challenging the next contestants in line.

“That’s my man!” Lina called out.

The two of them were adorable. She stayed to chat with Emery, avoiding the topic of how she knew Trent altogether, and by the time Trent returned from his long deserved break, finishing off a snow cone, the crowd had changed. He said goodbye to his family, thanked Dillon for taking a turn, and climbed back up to his seat.

“Who wants a piece of this?” Trent yelled, earning him some taunts in return. He was back to his energetic, combative self, and he didn’t get out of the dunk tank again until the end of the carnival. Even then, he moved straight into helping take things down.

The poor guy tried to hide it, but he looked miserable with his wet clothes sticking to him while carrying tables, and Emery finally turned him around and peeled his hands open before placing his phone, wallet and keys in them. “Go home. It says here you have thirty-five missed calls. I’m assuming they’re all from work. Please tell me I haven’t gotten you fired.”

Trent gave her a tired smile. “I think my boss was relieved to find out I actually have a life. No worries.”

“Well, let me walk you to your car.”

“Whatever you want to do.” He took off across the grass, and she hurried to catch up. He didn’t seem upset with her, but the distance he was putting up was obviously there for a reason.

“I’m sorry about that stupid guy yelling stuff about us.”

“It’s not a big deal.”

“Yes, it is.”

Trent turned to her, looking calm. “Why? Why is it a big deal?”

“Because I put you through a lot today, and he made fun of that.”

Trent stuck his keys in his pocket and reached out to take hold of her arms. He leaned forward until his forehead was touching hers. Emery closed her eyes and took in a deep, slow breath. She still loved him. She could deny it until she was blue in the face, but that love would still be there. It was just hard to let go of her fear. Was today one last-ditch grand gesture or the beginning of something new?

“Today was not about guilting you into being with me.”

Emery’s eyes shot open, and she drew back a few inches to look at him.

“I mean it. I’m okay with being your friend. Emery, I didn’t come here so I could make you feel sorry for being cautious. There’s no rush. There’s no expiration date on my feelings. Unless, of course, you meet someone and get married, and in that case, I guess I’ll figure something else out.”

Her laugh mingled with his, and then she was kissing him, and he was tilting his head and kissing her back, reminding her just how wonderful it was to be in his arms.

“Is this a pity kiss?” he murmured against her lips.

“Does it feel like a pity kiss?” She wrapped her hands around the back of his neck, drawing him in closer so she could demonstrate just how not pity-like her kisses were.

Trent groaned. “We still have things to discuss, missy.”

“But not here.” Emery reluctantly released him. “Go home and change and then call me.”

“I will. Right after I return thirty-five work phone calls. Although, I have a feeling thirty-four of them are from the same needy client.”

She looked down at her damp shirt, evidence for all her coworkers of exactly what kind of goodbye she’d given Trent, and laughed.

***

The apartment laundry closed at nine, but the landlord secretly gave out keys to people he liked and trusted. Trent happened to be one of them. Perhaps the laundry room was not the most comfortable place to hang out, but it was where he’d found her again, and that made it special.

He did his best to set the stage. He brought two lawn chairs down, snacks, lap blankets, and two ice cold sodas. The caffeine was calling his name.

When Emery arrived, freshly showered and wearing a soft, thin pair of lounge pants and a Scooby Doo T-shirt, Trent fell in love with her a little bit more. The first thing she did was reach for one of the sodas and rest it against her head. Then she collapsed into the chair next to him and cracked it open.

“Do you remember the day we first met?” she asked, after taking a sip.

“Of course.” Trent smiled at her. “You tried to steal my book.”

“I did not. I was trying to get you to turn the pages faster.”

The first place they’d met hadn’t been any more romantic than this tiny laundry room. It was the first pep rally freshman year of high school, and the only seats left were right next to the marching band, which meant certain ear damage, and not even the good kind, where the music is so awesome you don’t mind it pumping through your chest.

Trent had been doing his best to tune it all out with a good book—no cheerleaders, principal, band, furry mascot or fellow students existed, until he realized the girl next to him was reading along with him. A cute girl who was quite rude, demanding that he hurry up and finish the page, because she happened to read a lot faster than him and wanted to make sure he knew it.

“We had a lot of fun back then.” Emery looked melancholy.

“And then I told you I didn’t have time for a girlfriend anymore.”

“So we’re getting right to the heart of it, are we?”

“Aren’t we always?” He wanted it all out in the open. Every terrible, selfish, stupid thing he’d said to her the day they broke up.

“You also accused me of being high maintenance. Me.” Emery pinched both sides of her T-shirt, showing it off in all its glory. “I’ve never even gotten a manicure.”

“At the time, I thought anyone who needed anything from me was high maintenance. I just wanted to focus on getting into law school. I treated life like I was filling a book bag, weighing everything and setting aside whatever didn’t fit at the moment, as if it would be there when I was ready to take out other things and add it back in.”

“How very poetic of you,” Emery said drily.

“You hate me.”

“I hated you at the time. Because that’s exactly what you were doing, and I knew you’d end up miserable for it.”

“I was miserable. I never deserved a second chance with you.”

“Does anyone deserve a second chance? Some things just have to be learned the hard way.” Emery stood and set her soda on the counter before putting out her hand.

Trent took it, letting her pull him to his feet, not sure what she had in mind. She had a very mischievous look on her face.

“Dance with me.” She slipped her phone out of her pocket and flipped through her music until Feist’s 1234 began to play. It had been the song they danced to at prom senior year with careless abandon, Trent twirling her in and out between other couples so her red swing dress would swish. He’d worn the geekiest bow tie to match. For the first time in a long time, he could look back on all those memories without pain attached.

They danced between the machines until they were too tired to stand up anymore, and then they leaned on the machines and made out.

Trent decided he really liked dunk tanks after all.

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