“No ‘hmmmmm’ about it.” I stuck out my tongue at her. “I asked him so we could talk about Maisie’s birthday party. Bridge keeps pestering me to say yes, and I didn’t want to make a decision like that without checking with Flynn.” I slanted a glance in Meghan’s direction. “I call that growth. Remembering to co-parent.”
“That’s the party in Savannah?”
I sighed. “Yeah. I think it’s a little over the top, having an eight-year old’s birthday in a different city. It’s like a destination party. I’m not happy about letting her go, but she’s so hyped up about the whole thing.”
“Are you hoping Flynn’ll say no and take the bad-cop role for you?”
“God, yes!” I laughed. “I’ve been freaking bad-cop for eight years. About time someone else took a turn.”
Meghan grinned. “I can only imagine.” We picked our way along the dirt in silence for a few minutes. “What if Sam and I went with her?”
“What?” I’d lost track of the conversation for a minute. Okay, full disclosure, I’d started think about Flynn again.
“The party. If it’s in Savannah, Sam and I could drive her over there. We could stay in my apartment, but we’d be close by in case anything happened.”
“You’d do that?”
“Of course. I’d do anything for you and Bridge. Plus . . .” She lowered her voice. “I get to drag your very sexy brother off for a night in the city. Alone. No one else sleeping down the hall, no having to get up early to head out into the fields . . .”
“Ugh! My ears.” I clapped my hands over the sides of my head. “Please. I still choose to believe that you two are playing charades every night after we all go to bed.”
“Why are you allowed to have a sex life and your brother isn’t?” Meghan was teasing, but it still cut.
“Who says I’m allowed to have one? I haven’t had the pleasure—and I do mean pleasure—in so long, I forget how to do it.”
“It’s like riding a bike. It’ll all come back to you.”
We’d arrived at the orchard, and Bridget was busy examining the blossoms and branches of the trees. Meghan stopped and turned to me. “You know, if Sam, Bridget and I are all in Savannah, you’d have the house all to yourself. In case you needed it.”
I turned to walk backwards for a minute. “And why would I need it?”
She grinned. “If you have to ask, you’re farther gone than I’d thought. I’m just saying.”
Shaking my head, I called to my daughter. “Hey, Bridge! Come give me a hug. I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
She barreled into me for a hug and then turned up her face for a kiss. “Okay, and you’ll tell Daddy about the party?”
“I’ll ask him,” I corrected. “Be good. And have fun with Aunt Meghan.”
“Ali? Hey, didn’t you hear me?” Cassie Deymeyer, the high school student who helped us out at the stand on weekends, stood in front of me, waving her hand in front of my face. “I’ve been talking to you for five minutes.”
I flushed.Busted.“Sorry, Cass. I’m a little preoccupied.” I picked up the sheaf of papers that lay on the cash register stand. “All the orders for next month have to be filled out.” It was a good excuse, anyway, for why I’d been standing there, staring off into space.
“Uh huh. So that moony look on your face doesn’t have anything to do with the pickup that just pulled in?”
My eyes flew to the parking lot, where Flynn was slamming the door of his truck. This time, I swore the blush went all the way down my body.Pull it together, woman.
“Cassie, don’t be ridiculous. Flynn’s just here to discuss some stuff about Bridget.”
“Hmmm. Well, that’s a waste of good man candy on your part.”
I shook my head. “Cass, you’re seventeen years old.”
She giggled. “I have eyes.” She leaned closer to me. “You know, my cousin Lu had a massive crush on Flynn Evans. She used to swoon over him, and I never saw why. Being I was only, like eight or nine. But now . . .” She nodded. “I get it. Totally.”
“He’s too old for you.” I didn’t mean to sound so mom-like, but the words came out harsh.
“Who’s too old?” Flynn’s voice held a familiar note of humor.
