“My favorite kind of woman.” His eyes crinkled at the corners from years in the sun.
“Arch—”
He wasn’t listening in the least. Just great.
TJ would be starting work in July on the house, once we had the structural stuff done on the inside of the mansion. All I needed was Archer to put his damn foot in his mouth.
“Dahlia, you didn’t tell me you had so many lovely friends.”
Dahlia grinned up at him. “Hey! Long time no see.” She shifted over on the blanket. “Wanna sit?”
“Don’t mind if I do.” He sat on the side closest to TJ. “I’m Archer Baldwin.”
“That’s nice for you.” TJ picked up a piece of cheese from the spread they had in the center of the blanket.
The little girl giggled. “Aunt TJ, don’t be mean.”
“I’m not mean, kid. I’m allergic to blonds.”
Archer whistled. “I’m only blond in the summer, does that count?”
“Nope.”
Avery sat up and criss-crossed her legs. “Don’t mind her. I’m Avery, that’s Shelby and Dex, and the freckled one is Berry.”
“Hi!” Berry inched over to him. “How do you get your hair to do that?”
Archer patted his fluffy blond hair. “Do what, princess?”
She made little wings with her hands. “It’s all feathery like a bird.”
TJ snickered. “John Hughes called from 1984. The casting call is cancelled.”
“Ouch.” Archer folded his hands over his heart and fell over onto his side, half on the blanket and half on the grass. “Beautiful and treacherous.”
Laughter rolled out of Berry. “You’re funny.”
Dahlia glanced over at me. “You’re welcome to sit.”
“Thanks.” I sat on the edge of the blanket a few feet from her. The breeze kicked up and her honey scent slid over me, and the pang in my chest deepened. I wasn’t any good for her, but damn, did I miss her. “I wired over what you needed.”
“Thanks. I got your email.” She hooked her arms around her knees. She was wearing overall shorts with a lemon-yellow tank and her hair was loose and curly. “How’s the roof going?”
“Good.”
Archer arched his brow at me, then he rolled onto his back and put his arms out dramatically.
I ignored him to focus on Dahlia. “Are you coming by this week?”
“Why?”
“Gizmo misses you.”
“Oh.” Her face softened. “I’m pretty sure I’ve been replaced. Especially since you’ve been taking him to the trailer.”
I flushed. “How do you know that?”
“Litter box is pretty damn clean, Nolan.”
“Right. I couldn’t leave him there with all the noise, then...”
“I get it. I miss him terribly.”
“You can visit whenever you want.”
“Maybe I will.”
Archer put a hand on his neck.
Dex rolled onto his side. “Is there really a ghost out there at your place?”
Berry’s eyes widened.
“Don’t you get her wound up.” Shelby poked Dex in the shoulder.
“What? I’m just curious.”
“You have a ghost?” Berry crawled over to me and Dahlia. “For real?”
