I shifted in my seat, my eyes dropping to the ivory Formica countertop. “Uh…I’m not really, um, at liberty here to…” Shit! We hadn’t talked about this at all. Did Jack want to keep our little fling a secret?
“It’s OK.” She held up one hand. “You don’t have to tell me anything specific. Let me just say that yesterday when he came over to apologize, both Pete and I sensed something different about him. He was more relaxed, more willing to listen, less stubborn and crotchety.”
“Interesting.” I played it cool with a big sip of coffee.
“It was. Very.” She smiled as she toyed with her cup. “Pete asked him flat out if he’d gotten laid.”
I swallowed the mouthful of coffee too fast and ended up coughing. “And what did he say?” I asked when I could speak again.
“He neither confirmed nor denied.”
Lifting my cup to my lips again, I struggled to keep my expression neutral.
Her grin was huge. “OK then. Moving on.”
“Moving on.”
“Did Jack tell you the exciting news? We’re going ahead with plans for catering and the restaurant—I mean, at least with exploring the options.”
“That’s wonderful,” I said.
“I’m so excited. And I was thinking, once the new website is in place, I could start blogging about the project.”
“Perfect! That’s exactly the kind of story to put out there.”
“Brad is supposed to call us today to tell us if we can get in to see the house this afternoon.” She made a face. “But we usually do the Frankenmuth farmers market on Wednesdays from three to seven, so I’m not sure how that’s going to work. We might have to wait.”
“Can’t someone else do the market?”
She shrugged. “It’s not really Jack’s thing, at least it hasn’t been since—”
The kitchen door swung open and he appeared. My pulse raced. My arms and legs tingled. My stomach was wild with butterflies. I couldn’t keep the smile off my face, especially when I saw his hair. He hadn’t put a hat on, probably because it wasn’t sunny today, and it was still a mess from last night. From my hands.
I crossed my legs.
“Hey,” he said, offering a small smile, but a smile nonetheless. “What are you doing here?”
I smiled back. “Thought I’d see if you wanted some help today.”
“Oh. I came in for some coffee.” He gestured toward the pot but didn’t move, just stood there looking at me with that little smile on his lips.
Georgia looked back and forth between the two of us. “Can I get you a cup, Jack?”
“Ah, I got it.” He started for the cupboard but caught sight of Cooper and leaned over to scoop him up. “Hey, buddy!”
“Pahk!” Cooper said as Jack set him on his arm.
“You want to go to the park again?” Jack teased. “Aren’t you tired of the park?”
“Never,” Georgia said. “But no more ice cream when you take him. He refused to eat dinner yesterday.”
Jack set Cooper down and tweaked his nose. “Don’t worry, buddy. We can sneak the ice cream. That’s what uncles are for.”
Georgia flicked him on the shoulder as he passed her on his way to the coffee pot. “I was just telling Margot that Brad is trying to get us in to see the Oliver place later today.”
He muttered something unintelligible as he poured himself some coffee, and Georgia and I exchanged an eyeroll.
“But there’s a conflict because they’re supposed to do a farmers market somewhere,” I said.
“Frankenmuth.” Georgia turned to Jack. “From three to seven.”
“I was thinking, why don’t we do it?” I said brightly. “I’ve never been to a farmers market before, and I’d like to learn more about them.”
Jack turned around and leaned back on the counter. “No. I don’t like those things.”
“Why not?” I demanded.
“There are people there,” he said in his grouch voice.
“Oh, for goodness sake. Of course there are—they’re called customers,” Georgia said. “I think it’s a great idea! You should do it, Jack.”
He brought his coffee cup to his mouth and mumbled into it before taking a sip.
“Please?” Setting my cup down, I clasped my hands and gave him my best smile. “I’ll be good.”
He exhaled, narrowing his eyes at me, but I saw a smile threatening. “I suppose I have to buy you an ice cream, too.”
I clapped twice. “Yay! Ice cream!”
“This is great. Thank you,” Georgia said. “I’ll let you know for sure once I talk to Brad.”
“Let’s just plan on it!” I said excitedly. “No matter what, Jack and I will do it.”
“Really?” Georgia blinked and looked at her brother-in-law. “That OK with you?”
“It’s fine.” Jack tipped up the rest of his coffee and set his cup in the sink. “I’d better head back out if I’m only getting half a day in. Is everything ready to go for this afternoon?”
“No, but I’ll sort, wash, and package this morning, and maybe Margot will give me a hand getting the tables and signage together. That way I can show her how I set up. All you’ll have to do is load the truck.”
“Of course,” I said. “Anything you need.”