“Stay away from the Red Rock Ridge anyway.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Careful, or I won’t share my brilliant idea for convincing Jake you’re interested in doing the horizontal mambo with him.”
“No,” I groaned. “You’re not back on the bad sex euphemisms.”
“I am. I’ve got a bunch of new ones Anthony found now that Sofia pays more attention to what we say. You’re going to love them. My favorite is riding the flagpole, but his is riding the bony pony.”
“I don’t know what that means,” I sputtered.
“Don’t think too hard about it. I’ve got more. Irrigating the garden. Going spelunking. Burying the bone.”
“Now I get it.”
“I knew you’d get there.”
Chapter 20
JAKE
“Maybe I should switch to decaf,” I muttered.
“Did you say something?” Dani asked.
“Talking to myself.”
I still slept like shit because I woke up hard as a rock throughout the night. Right now, I was filled with nervous energy. Today was the Desert Rose Arts Festival, and I didn’t know what to expect.
I worried things would be weird after I set up her space, but I should have known better. Dani was Dani. She’d been more affectionate, but I chalked that up to delirium since she and Vanessa volunteered on the Arts Fest committee and had been busy.
“Does your dad already have his spot stakedout?” I asked.
Her delighted laugh wrapped around me. God, I’d never get tired of that sound.
“He and his cabal have probably been camped out since sunrise. He’ll be the terror of the festival.” Her eyes danced with amusement. “Let’s hope he doesn’t mow anybody down with his mobility scooter.”
I finished my coffee and rinsed the cup.
“I’m ready when you are.”
Dani leapt up from the couch.
“Today is going to be the best arts fest ever.”
My lips quirked in a smile. I didn’t care about the arts festival, but I liked seeing her sparkle with joy. Walking around crowds of families wasn’t too much trouble for that kind of payoff.
“Where to first?” I asked once we locked the front door.
Since we were only a mile from the square, we planned to walk. The early morning sunlight glinted off her gleaming black hair as we headed downtown, Dani chattering with excitement the whole way.
Most women’s giggles annoyed me, but hers was pure sunshine. Dusty would have a field day if he knew my thoughts. I smirked to myself.
“What put that smile on your face?”
Dani bumped me with her hip, and my body burst into flame.
“You did.”
