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“Even when it’s raining? Even when it’s really hot outside?”

“I’d get to play in the rain?”

I sighed.

“We’ll have to see about the dog. Now tell me, if you couldn’t get a dog, which house would you like the best?”

“I like the house near my pretend Grandma.”

Why did that not surprise me?

It was the one I liked the best.

Dammit.

Purchasing a house. I rubbed the back of my neck, where I felt my muscles tensing up. It wasn’t the money. I had a cash offer for the house in Nashville, thirty thousand over the asking price. I had plenty in savings. Nope, it wasn’t the money, it was just the idea of committing.

Then an image of Zoe Avery flashed in front of my eyes. Dark eyes, dark hair with a streak of blue. Mischievous grin. But what happened if we tried for something and we crashed and burned? I’d be living in the same small town with her.

“Dad, you’re not listening again,” James huffed.

“What is it?”

“Can we ask pretend Grandma if we can make brownies today?”

“We’ll see.”

“That means no.”

“That means, we’ll see.”

“Can we get a dog?”

“Let’s call Little Grandma and see what she’s up to today. Maybe she has time to make brownies, okay?”

He grinned at me. I’d been so outmaneuvered.

Chapter Fifteen

“What are you going to wear?” Angelica asked. She was lying across my bed, her chin propped up by her fists. She was enjoying my indecision far too much.

“I can’t decide. Should I go for the sophisticated pinstripe suit that fits like a dream, or the sweater dress with the push up bra?”

“What shoes with what?”

I rooted around until I found the over the knee leather high heeled boots in my closet and turned around to show my friend. As soon as I held them up, Angelica yelled out.

“Whatever outfit goes with those boots is the winner.”

“That was easy,” I laughed.

“That’s because it’s April and there’s no ice on the ground. But if there was ice on the ground, it’d be a different story.”

“Pfft. Girl, you are such a California baby. If you don’t think I can walk in high heels with a little ice and rock salt on the ground, you are higher than a kite. Of course I can.”

I pushed through the hangers until I found the cream-colored cable knit dress that clung to my hips and waist, and with the help of a wonder-bra, would soon cling to voluptuous cleavage. I went to the bathroom to get dressed.

When I came back out into the bedroom, Angelica rolled over on the bed laughing.