"Sounds like you admire that."
"Oh, I do."
Tolliver chuckled as he brought me a cup of tea and took a seat next to me on the couch. "Good to see where you get it from. She was cool too. I liked your mom."
My amusement vanished. "She liked you too."
"I was surprised she invited me to her wedding. That was wild."
Was it though?
As Mom was leaving, she'd thrown out the invite to him before pulling me into a hug, only to whisper conspiratorially, "Keep him," she said. "Tolliver's much better than that other guy."
"I don't even have him now," I murmured back.
"I think you're wrong. His eyes go soft when he looks at you, Freya."
I scoffed.
"Plus, he brought you tea." Her brows rose as if that was something significant, but I just said, "He always brings me something."
"Like I said," she repeated as she pulled away, "he's a keeper."
She was right, of course.
Tolliver was a total catch—just not for me.
Squaring my shoulders, I faced him on the couch. "Before we start reading, I need to tell you something," I said.
"Okay," he said, sitting back and gesturing for me to go ahead. "I'm listening."
Another pro, I thought.
Tolliver was an awesome listener.
He was all green flags and no red.
I sighed then said quietly, "You're going to make someone very happy someday."
"Thanks," he said.
"Welcome."
Tolliver raised a brow, waiting. "Are there more compliments coming or...?"
"Maid for a week," I said as Tolliver stared at me. "I thought about it, and that's what I want from you. If you insist on helping and still want to hang around..."
He gave a curt nod.
"...then I have some things I need help with. I even made a list."
"How did you come up with this?"
I grinned. "Hazel told me to use you. It sounded like a good idea."
"Hmmm," he said, scanning the paper that I handed him. "I'll have to remember to thank her."
"Hopefully, it'll make you feel less guilty."
