‘Now you’re the one talking nonsense.’ An off-the-wall idea sneaked into her head, but she kept it to herself. Later she might consider sharing it with Griff and ask his opinion about whether it was completely mad. ‘I don’t want to overdress tonight. It’s not a date . . . not really. I don’t want to give the wrong impression. He wanted to talk. That’s all.’
Becca gave an unladylike snort with distinct overtones of Miss Piggy.
‘Fine. I’ll go and smarten up a bit.’ Lyndsey left the room in as dignified a fashion as she could manage. Once she was out of sight, her shoulders slumped and her pace slowed. What were his expectations of this evening? She wished she knew. Going with the flow was sonother thing.
* * *
‘Are you sure this is a good idea?’ Griff joined Jase on the porch. ‘It’s still damn hot, and if she’s sweaty and eaten up by bugs, it’s not goin’ to be the last word in romance.’ He’d forgotten how disturbed Lyndsey became when her plans got changed. It tested his powers of persuasion when he rang her after lunch to ask if they could leave at five o’clock instead of seven. Her grudging agreement hadn’t done anything to boost his confidence.
‘It’ll be brilliant. Take a can of bug spray and stop worrying like an old woman.’ Jase took another long pull of his cold beer. ‘I’ll make sure to sleep with earplugs in tonight, and promise I won’t wander out in my boxers to join y’all for breakfast.’
‘I’m not bringin’ her back here!’ His face heated. ‘Even if she was agreeable . . . and that’s unlikely—’
‘Oh, for Christ’s sake, Griff, lighten up.’
His brother was right — not something Griff thought very often. He needed to dial his anxiety back a notch. ‘See ya later and thanks again.’
‘You might not be thanking me tomorrow.’
‘Yeah, I will. No matter how it goes, I—’ Griff stopped there. Jase’s piercing stare ordered him to leave the emotional stuff alone.
Swinging his keys, he ambled down to the truck, scrutinizing it with a frown. It might’ve been smarter not to wash and polish it this morning because the vehicle’s advanced age and battered condition showed up more now. He tried to reassure himself that Lyndsey had reiterated several times how comfortable she was with his regular unpretentious self, truck included.
Griff started the motor and lifted his hand to Jase in a wave as he drove off, making an immediate turn back up Deke’s drive. He supposed it was too much to expect that he could pick Lyndsey up in peace. The welcome party was in position. Theo knelt in the flower bed under the porch, making a show of weeding, but stopped immediately to grin at Griff. Becca treated him to a satisfied smile from her prized vantage point in one of the rocking chairs, holding Nora on her lap. He could swear even the baby gave him a cheeky smile.
‘Cinderella is on her way,’ Becca trilled. ‘Where’s the ball tonight, or aren’t you going to tell me, either?’
Ignoring the less-than-subtle dig, he took the steps in one leap and lifted his hand to rap on the door.
‘No need for that. I’m ready,’ Lyndsey said. Her accent became more clipped and precise the more nervous she was, and right now it could cut glass.
The incredible dress she’d worn for their best-forgotten last attempt at a date was etched in his memory. At the time, it gave him disturbing dreams about what might’ve been underneath and how the evening could’ve ended if they hadn’t screwed up. And now? Griff’s throat went dry. She’d taken his recommendation to dress casually to heart, but tonight’s cotton off-the-shoulder, yellow-and-green-diamond-patterned, figure-hugging dress that barely skimmed her thighs had no less effect on his blood pressure. Dramatic gold hoop earrings dangled near her tempting bare shoulders and the pop of yellow polish on her toenails accented the flat gold sandals. He should try to pay her a compliment, but couldn’t speak, so offered Lyndsey his hand instead. Their uninvited observers sniggered.
‘Shall we go before the peanut gallery gets too raucous?’ he suggested.
‘The what?’
Griff chuckled. ‘Must be an American expression. Back in the old vaudeville days, they called the cheapest seats in the balcony the peanut gallery. It’s come to mean unhelpful advice from a rowdy group of hecklers.’ He nodded at their company. ‘Like this crew.’
‘I’m not sure I appreciate the comparison.’ Becca’s haughty response only worked for a split second until she burst out laughing and Theo joined in, while Nora bounced happily on her mother’s lap, waving her hands in the air.
‘That’s our cue to leave.’ He wasted no time steering Lyndsey out to the truck and ushered her into the front passenger seat.
‘I’m honored.’
‘Why?’
Her eyes danced with mirth. ‘I hardly recognized your vehicle today.’
‘Very funny.’ They were both still laughing when he pulled out of the drive.
‘Are we going far?’
‘It’ll take about forty minutes or so. We could get on the interstate, but I reckoned you’d enjoy the scenic route more, and we’re not in any great hurry, so we’ll take Highway 96 instead. It’s a two-lane road and the countryside’s real pretty.’
‘So it’s still a secret?’
‘Won’t be when we get there.’ His glib response made her smile.
