your momma I would have you there at seven, and you’re supposed to wear a dress.”
“You own a dress?” Armie asked.
Sarcastic man. “I have a dress. You’ve seen me wear a dress.” She sighed and put her hand fully in Zep’s. “Okay, let’s get this over with.”
“Happy birthday,” Armie said with a mysterious smile. “I hope you have a good night.”
Okay, that was weird, but she let it go.
“Hey, and you two should remember that last year the town hall put security cameras in all the hallways,” he called out. “I really hope you cleaned that conference room after you were finished.”
She gasped and it was far more than just her face that flushed.
Zep merely grinned that shining god of the world grin of his. “I assure you we were just talking. Nothing more.”
“How did talking muss up her hair?” Armie challenged.
“I like to talk with my hands, Sheriff.” Zep was completely unflappable when it came to this. Which was good because she’d lost the power of speech.
“Yeah, I bet you do. And Roxanne apparently likes to talk with her shirt untucked in the back,” Armie said with a sly smile.
Zep hurried her out.
Maybe life would never really go back to normal.
* * *
* * *
Two hours later she sat in his truck as he drove toward the B and B.
He was completely quiet, his eyes on the road. He’d been thoughtful the whole time they’d gotten ready. He’d had to stop by his place for clothes, and while he’d picked up what he needed, she’d had a pleasant conversation with Delphine. They’d sat on the front porch, a glass of sweet tea in her hand, and talked while they’d waved to anyone walking by.
It had been a nice moment.
“Are you worried I’m going to kick you out tomorrow?”
He was quiet for a moment. “Well, I probably should go back to my place. There’s no real reason for me to stay. Don’t think I don’t want to. I do, but we’ve only been dating for a few days when you think about it.”
Her heart sank a bit. She’d thought he would fight her on it.
She wasn’t sure she liked reasonable Zep. But he was right. They’d only been “dating” for a few days, though they’d been circling around each other for so much longer. She held on to the one thing she knew that might forgo logic. “I’m hoping you’ll still help with Daisy. I’ve never trained a dog before.”
“I will certainly not let Miss Daisy overwhelm you.” He seemed to relax. “Maybe we can go see a movie next weekend. Or go into New Orleans and have dinner.”
She breathed a sigh of relief. “I think that would be nice.” There were an awful lot of cars in the parking lot. And out of it. There were cars lined up down the road. She caught sight of Lila’s crossover. “Why is Lila here?”
“I need you to understand that your mom made me promise.”
She groaned. “God, is this a birthday party?”
“She wanted to make it pretty big,” he admitted. “I didn’t actually know about it until this morning. It’s something she worked out with Sera and Harry when she scheduled the trip. I know she’s obnoxious, but she loves you.”
Or she was trying to make a point. Her nerves were right back on full alert. “Did she invite everyone?”
“According to Sera, it’s just forty or so people. Everyone you work with and some of the people from city hall. My family got a late invite, but Remy and Lisa promised to be here to make sure Momma doesn’t do anything too crazy.”
“They’re throwing me a birthday party.” She’d planned to do next to nothing for her birthday. She hadn’t had a party since she’d left New York. Family birthdays were a big deal to her mother. Of course she also celebrated because, as she put it, she’d done all the work. Her father gave her mother a present every year on her and Brian’s birthdays. “You should know my mom is going to act like it’s her day.”
“She told me.” He pulled the car into a space that had been left open. “That’s kind of weird, but it seems harmless.”
She would see about that. “Let’s get this over with.”
He reached for her hand before she could open the door. “Hey, what can I do to get you to go into this with a positive attitude?”
“You can turn the truck back on and take me to New Orleans and we’ll hide until