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She knew how to motivate me. Knew beyond a doubt I’d do anything for her. Did I draw the line at a parade of hot firemen? Gah. She had me thinking of them as gorgeous exteriors to look at now. The very reason I’d vehemently opposed the calendar.
“Are you going to ask your new best bud to bring over some of his friends?” I asked, not bothering to hide my sarcasm.
“Not yet. We’re not close enough for that. But I’m going for an invite to the station. That way I can pick who I want to come over.” Her expression was as serious as though she’d delivered a scientific fact.
“You always have a strategy.”
“Always.” She shoved me. “Now hurry up. Your company will be here at six thirty.”
My company?
But before I had a chance to argue, Tuck flipped over his water bowl. A river ran wild. His neighbors lapped at the cold drink as fast as they could.
“Thanks for helping me clean up.”
Tuck joined in, his tail waving wildly as if he were proud to take care of his own mess. The chaos was exactly what I needed to temporarily forget about Teague.
* * *
“I’m starving.And I need to walk the dogs before bed.”
It was seven forty-five. Almost an hour and a half past the time he was supposed to be here. I wasn’t waiting anymore.
I plunked down small bowls on the counter more aggressively than I should. Miss Adeline and I had a routine. Yeah, there were bumps in the road, but disappointment like this could be avoided.
Disappointment?
How could I be upset when I didn’t want him to come over in the first place? The bran flakes tinkled against the porcelain as I poured. He’d let down Miss Adeline.Thatwas why I was so irritated.
“I thought we were having Lucky Charms,” she protested as I placed a bowl in front of her.
“Not tonight.”
She placed a hand on mine as I reached for the milk. “I’m sorry.”
“For what? You didn’t do anything. Except stick your nose somewhere you shouldn’t have.” I flipped over my hand and squeezed back. “Are you going to stop meddling?”
“Nope.”
That was what I was afraid of.
Chapter Twelve
Pepper
“Where’d you grow up?”
The question I dreaded most. I’d known Vivian for a while and it had never come up.
“Because I detect a hint of a drawl I’ve never been able to put my finger on,” she continued before I could answer. “Let me guess. Georgia?”
I snickered.
“That’s wrong, dang it. Mississippi?”
I wondered if we were going to do this until she’d guessed all fifty states.
I shook my head.
