least part of every episode of Law & Order, and Law & Order SVU, and Matlock before—only part, though, ’cause I tend to fall asleep partway through. Anyway, I’ve learned that judges can be bought and blackmailed and connived. I’m taking no chances.”
Miss Sara managed to smile and whistle at the same time. “I s’pose it’s for the best, now that you explain it. It’s not that you’ve got your heart set on anyone, of course, or that you don’t want to date…”
“Exactly.” I spread both hands in emphasis. “Besides, if I started dating someone, I’d wanna be open and honest with them, and I’d have to explain how I was lying about being engaged and lying about Diesel being in love with me.” I shook my head and paced faster. “Not a good look.”
“And lying about you being in love with Diesel.”
I blinked. “Yes, ma’am, that’s what I said.”
“Right. Silly me.” She made a motion toward her ear. “My hearing, you know.”
“Anyway, once the store is up and running, I’ll be going back to Nashville, anyway! And yes, I know that’s not the dark side of the moon,” I added quickly when it seemed like she was going to speak. “But the business keeps expanding, and who knows where Beau might send me next?” Especially if I asked him to send me somewhere far, far from here. “Best not to get involved with anyone in the Thicket.”
At least not more than I already was.
“Parrish, honey, I think you’re—”
My phone rang, the trilling sharp in the otherwise quiet house, and I frowned as I stepped to the island and saw Diesel’s name on the display.
“Hey,” I answered. “I’m leaving in two minutes so I can be there to help you get Marigold dressed. Are you almost—”
“He’s here,” Diesel hissed over the sound of Marigold crying. “I was only wearing underwear when he knocked on the door and started peeking in the sidelight, Parrish. Jesus Christ. And then Miss Thing woke up with a runny nose, and her diaper is a hazardous waste situation. And I told him he could have a seat on the sofa, but he said he’d wait outside, but I swear to God he’s down looking at the chickens, and writing things in his notebook, and where are you?”
I took a deep breath and projected a calmness I legitimately only felt when I was talking to Diesel. “Babe, it’s fine. We’ve got this. Change her diaper and get her into that pretty dress you got her. Get her a bib too, because you know how drooly she is when she’s stuffy. I’ll be there in five minutes.” I snatched my keys off the counter.
Miss Sara shoved the entire muffin basket in my direction, and I grabbed it with a grateful smile.
“And I’m bringing muffins.”
“You’re pretty far away from town out here,” Terry, a little man in too-baggy pants, said, leaning forward in his rocking chair and adjusting his glasses for the seventeenth time in five minutes.
A breeze blew across Diesel’s freshly painted front porch, spreading the mouthwatering scent of Miss Sara’s muffins and the coffee Diesel had brewed, and I noticed that Terry relaxed slightly as he inhaled a big lungful. There was a crispness in the air, like fall might actually come eventually, and the entire scene felt homey and comfortable, with the baby jumping up and down in her little exercise dish, and Terry, Diesel, and I sitting in brand-new rocking chairs I maybe happened to haul home from World Market yesterday.
By which I meant hauled to their home. Here at Diesel’s house. Which was not my home.
Obviously.
“We like to think of it as being far away from dangerous car traffic.” I gave a delicate shudder. “Right, honey?”
“Yep,” Diesel agreed. “Plus, we’ve got a huge, fenced-in yard for her to roam.”
“And the elementary school is just a quarter-mile walk through the tree farm next door, which will be so convenient in a few years! Have another muffin, Terry? And maybe some more coffee?”
“I really shouldn’t.” He glanced down at the wreckage of the pumpkin muffin currently on his plate.
“Miss Sara’s baking is famous in town. No one would blame you for indulging,” I said with a wide smile.
“Oh, go on, then.” He held out his plate for another muffin from the basket, and I obligingly refilled his coffee cup.
I made sure Diesel got a second muffin too, because the poor man needed it.
By the time I’d gotten here earlier, he’d had Marigold completely clean and