a TV spot with some pediatric specialists at the hospital to talk about why it’s important to have a regional center for kids to have their health needs met. While you’re there, you’re also going to get to talk to some kids about football. Would that be okay?”
“Only if you bring some dogs.”
She did her snorty laugh thing. “Why on earth would you want me to bring dogs?”
At least he’d gotten a smile out of her. “I don’t know. Don’t people bring dogs to visit sick kids?”
“Can you imagine Jagger with a bunch of kids? First of all, he’s taller than most of them.”
“And he might lick a few to death.”
She shook her head at that, but she was still smiling. “After the photo op, you’re going to meet with the CEO of the hospital and—”
“Nice PR work,” he interrupted. “I’m game for whatever you set up. Did you miss me?”
“Look, we have a lot to do to get all this work done on time,” she said. “I’m not going to mix business with pleasure until we’re through here. Because look what happened the other day.”
He stabbed a finger in the air. “Aha! So you were thinking of pleasure.”
Her cheeks colored at that. “No, I’m thinking that we have to tell all our vendors exactly how we’re going to set up this gala. We’ve got a food tent, tables, portable bathrooms, and a dance floor. There’s parking and a band. And it all has to flow.”
“So what are you thinking?” he asked, crossing his arms.
“Well, the lot by the beach isn’t big enough for all the cars. So there will be overflow parking on the grass. Except the problem with that is people should enter the event on the end of the lot farthest from the beach. So it doesn’t flow right. Also, I had this idea that we could turn the boardwalk into a dance floor. String it with lights. But we can’t have people parking right near the dancing.”
“Look,” he said, “you need to think of this like a football field.”
“A football field?” She crossed her arms too. “Are you mansplaining?”
“No, I’m demonstrating.” He gestured with his hands. “Just hear me out, okay?”
“I’m a little afraid of how you can possibly conceive of this event to be centered around a football field analogy, but go ahead.”
He grinned. Because going back and forth with her, not really arguing but, well, whatever they were doing, was fun. He waved his arms around and demonstrated, like a coach at the SMART Board before a game. “See, the ocean is one end zone and the start of the Petunia Street buildings is the other. Parking goes on that end, the tables go on the field, the podium is on the fifty-yard line, and the band and the food tent are on the sidelines. And the beach lot is not a problem because we won’t use it. See? Simple.”
She shook her head. “You’re…impossible. But…I get it. Sort of.”
He smiled. “See, I’m a good brainstormer. That’s why you like me. You do like me, don’t you?”
“Absolutely not. Although I was thinking that maybe there was a reason those kids stopped us. Like, now that we hit pause, we can have more sense.”
“I lost all my sense the moment I set eyes on you that first day in Pooch Palace.”
He could tell by the way her eyes softened that he’d thrown her. “I’m having my friends over tonight for ice cream,” she said so matter-of-factly he thought at first she was still talking about the benefit. She checked off something on her clipboard and glanced up. “Why don’t you come over?”
Come over? She was inviting him over? “Well, it depends,” he said. “What kind of ice cream do you have? And if I come, are you going to make me do more work on the benefit?”
Her mouth twitched. “Not if you let me set it up the way I want.”
“What did you think of the beach the other day?”
“It was beautiful.”
“No, I mean…what did you think of us on the beach?”
She shook her head and smiled. “Well, I’ve been thinking about it.” She pulled off her glasses. “Yes, I loved the kisses. Yes, I loved being with you. And, yes, you’re the most annoying man in the world.”
“Two out of three isn’t bad.” He leaned over and kissed her quickly on the cheek. “I’ll stop by tonight. But I’m not coming for the ice cream.”
Chapter 21
Is it time for ice cream now?” Ollie asked that