She made an excuse to hang up the phone, then shoved it in her purse. Once in her car, she headed for the house in Magnolia. Apparently Gavin wanted to see her in action again with a trowel. That lavender plant she’d potted for him on a whim had meant something. She’d seen his awe and surprise, then that sweetness, his true joy in the gift.
She’d thought he’d kiss her again at the end of their date last night. Instead he’d taken the plant and mentioned tonight’s time and place for their third date.
And stupid Zoe had accepted.
“Oh, who am I kidding? I like him. Time to be honest with myself. He’s fun and sexy. What’s not to like?” Piper and Cleo would be so proud.
And so would Aubrey.
Zoe blinked away useless tears and drove to the stately home, once again parking in the driveway. After coaching herself to relax and not lock lips with the man the moment she saw him, she drew in a deep breath and let it out, then met him at the door.
He opened it right away, as if he’d been waiting for her.
“Hello there, Zoe.” He smiled. The devastating expression of warmth heated her up, combating the windy May evening. The clouds overhead continued to gather, an ominous foreshadowing of the rain sure to come.
“We might need to hurry this up. Looks like it’s going to pour.”
“Hmm. Good point. Come on.” He yanked her inside and through the house to the backyard again.
“Whoa. Slow down.”
“No, hurry up. I need you to show me how to transplant my lavender before we’re drenched in a Seattle monsoon.”
She blinked. “Really?”
“I’m kidding about the monsoon. Though I agree. Looks like rain.”
“I mean about your plant. You like it. Good.”
He flushed. “I brought a bigger pot for it, because you told me that little one was going to be too small eventually. I don’t want the little guy to die or anything.”
“Um, okay.” She saw the gardening supplies on the porch and smiled. “You’re ready this time. Good.” She also saw a few other plants to go with the lavender. He had brought a large pot.
“I thought I could put all the color together. To give my guy some friends, at least. Then it can go outside the front door. I’m told my house needs some charm. Especially because Theo’s living there,” he added in low growl.
“What’s that?”
“Nothing.” He sighed. “Do you know what it’s like dealing with a little brother?”
“Can’t say I do.”
“It’s a nightmare. Theo stuck me with babysitting duty today. All day. And the kid—my cousin’s kid, actually—turns out to be a ticking time bomb when you fill him full of sugary cereal.” Gavin brooded.
Zoe tried not to laugh. “Oh?”
He explained what Theo had done by sticking him with babysitting duty.
“So who’s winning your war?”
“Oh, me for sure. But it’s the principle of the thing. I was supposed to have my weekend to myself, the house all mine for once. Instead I was stuck with a seven-year-old going on forty. That kid is scary smart. And cunning.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Good thing he’s not a Donnigan. Or my mother would have molded him into the next president. That or a genius dictator who’ll end up bringing down big government. I think Colin could go either way.”
“Ah.” She watched him babying his plant, oddly touched by his fussing. “You don’t like kids?”
“Never thought about it, really. But Colin’s cool. I was older when Theo was born. I wasn’t a fan of the diapers, but he was a really cute baby. Don’t tell him I said that.”
