Page 112 of The Trouble with Flings

She laughs as I park along the curb.

I come around to open her door, and as she climbs out, she puts a hand on her stomach and says, “If you think about it, you took me from Hallmark to Sinful Silver Nights to Lifetime television.”

“And I don’t regret a second of it. But you might after you meet my sister.”

“You mean Keira, my mouthy soul sister, who I can’t wait to meet?” she says sassily.

I can’t believe she remembered that conversation. “Why do I get the feeling I’m going to regret introducing you two?” I reach for her hand, and as we head up to the door, Ryan and Ritchie are walking out.

“Fitz, good to see you, man,” Ryan says.

“Hey, Ryan. Hi, Ritchie.”

“Fitz!” Ritchie shouts. “Keira said if I find the most eggs tomorrow, I get a special prize! Uncle Ryan says that’s cheating, but it’s not cheating because Keira said she picked it out just for me and she already wrapped it—” He stops midsentence, like someone cut off his power switch, and stares at Jennifer with the type of gaping curiosity only a kid can get away with, but before I can introduce them, “Hi!” bursts out of him. “Who are you? I’m Ritchie. I’m six and I just had a cookie with my name on it because I’m Kei’s favorite. Uncle Ryan says he’s her favorite. But he didn’t get a cookie with his name on it. Do you like cookies?”

Jennifer crouches down to his level, her eyes bright. “Hi, Ritchie. I’m Jennifer, and I love cookies.”

Ritchie nods like that was the correct answer. “Kei’s cookies are the best! You should ask her to make you one!”

“I will take that under consideration,” she says, and rises to her feet, smiling at Ryan. “He’s adorable.”

Ryan ruffles Ritchie’s hair and says, “Yeah. I think I’ll keep him. You must be Jennifer.”

“The one and only,” I say, putting my hand on her lower back. “Jennifer, this is Ryan Lacroux, and you just met his nephew.”

“It’s nice to finally meet you,” Ryan says. “Will we see you tomorrow at the egg hunt?”

“Absolutely,” I say.

“Great. We’ve got to take off. Ritchie’s got a playdate.”

“Bye, Fitz!” Ritchie waves as they walk away and shouts, “Bye, Cookie Lady!”

“Bye, Cookie Boy,” Jennifer calls back. “What a cutie.”

“He’s a good kid, and Ryan’s the best. His brother has substance abuse issues, so he’s raising Ritchie.”

“That’s a tough situation. I’ve seen my fair share of it.”

“Yeah. Ritchie’s lucky to have him.”

The bell above the door chimes as we head inside. The café is bright and busy but not too crowded, as it’s not yet tourist season. Keira is standing at the far end of the counter, her hair piled on her head in a messy bun, talking to Archer’s wife, Indi, a petite blonde.

They look over, and Indi says, “Jennifer?” She hurries over and hugs her. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m visiting this guy.” Jennifer glances at me. “I forgot you moved here.”

Indi is a professional hair and makeup artist with her own skincare and makeup line. She used to live in New York and moved here a few years ago to open Indira Cosmetics.

“You two know each other?” I ask.

“Yeah, through Mia,” Jennifer says.

“We go way back,” Indi adds. “I did hair and makeup for Josh and Riley Braden’s fashion shows. How did I not know you two were dating?”

“I told you he was bringing his girlfriend to the Easter egg hunt,” Keira says.

“And you left out the part that she was Jennifer Stone,” Indi says. “One of the coolest women on the planet.”