Kiss Me in the Summer - Barbara Dunlop Page 0,22

thinking I should watch a YouTube video on baking,” Madeline continued. “I bet I could make pies.”

“I don’t bake either,” I said. “I’ve always been afraid I’d eat everything as soon as it came out of the oven.”

“You’re very trim,” Madeline said.

I was tempted by the butter rolls and took one for myself. “That’s mostly thanks to Cecily.”

“Your advice-giving roommate?” Josh asked, arching a brow.

“Don’t pick on Cecily.”

“Did I miss something?” Madeline asked us both.

“You saw the video,” Josh said as he split his roll and reached for the butter.

Madeline nodded. “It was . . .”

“You can say it,” I told her.

“Hilarious.”

“That’s the general reaction.” I sighed.

“Roommate Cecily told fugitive Laila to hide from her employer to keep from getting fired.”

Madeline gave Josh a puzzled look. “And your point?”

“My point is that hiding from a problem doesn’t solve it.”

“I’m not hiding,” I said. “I’m staying temporarily out of cell range so my boss can’t contact me.”

Madeline gave me a grin. “That Annalisa LeFroy is worth a lot of money. Her corporation would have been a big get.”

“Money’s not everything,” Josh said.

Madeline and I looked at each other. Then we both looked at Josh for a beat.

“Billable hours are everything,” I said.

“New York City runs on billable hours,” Madeline said.

“Then there’s something fundamentally wrong with New York City,” Josh said.

*

Seaspray Park was light-years from Manhattan, but I liked it. There was space around me, freshness in the air. The clay pots were coming together; more and more of them were put out along the pathway, the little plants inside them slowly coming out in bloom. Lights had been strung above them that were going to look wonderful at night. Josh had told me the festivities went into the evenings, and there was a big wind-up dance on the Saturday night. It sounded like fun.

It was nine a.m., but dozens of people had arrived at the park before me. The canopy frames were going up, gardeners were working everywhere, and a big crew worked all around the bandstand.

The throb of generators pulsed in the background, and an impact gun whined as I passed a man assembling a display stand.

“Morning, Laila!” someone called out.

I turned to see Becky settled on a lawn chair. She had a second chair facing her as a footstool and a plastic table holding a tall glass of iced tea. She had a book face down in her lap.

I altered my course to head her way.

“Ben won’t let me lift a finger,” she said.

“Ben’s a smart man.” I hadn’t met Becky’s husband yet, but I’d seen his picture on her desk in the office and she’d told me he owned a small tech company.

“At least I can watch the action from here,” she said. “I love the excitement of the summer festival.”

“You can also give out helpful advice,” I said.

She gave a happy laugh. “Believe me, I give great advice. What about you? What’s your assignment today?”

“I don’t know. I’m looking for Josh so I can find out.”

“He’s over there between the flower beds and the row of booths.” She pointed.

I looked to see him talking with two women beside a flatbed trailer full of yellow blooms.

“Know anything about gardening?” Becky asked.

“I live in a fifth-floor apartment in Manhattan.” I’d never planted anything in my life.

Cecily and I didn’t even have a houseplant. Anything taking up space in our small apartment had to be functional, and we’d never gotten around to decorating.

“That’s a no?” Becky asked.

“I’m afraid so.”

“No pressure,” she joked. “But the gardens are the centerpiece of the entire festival, so we have to get them exactly right.”

“Well, now you’ve got me nervous,” I said as the wind gusted from the south, seeming to punctuate the conversation with the scent of roses and lavender. “Josh said something about sweeping up? I thought that sounded pretty safe.”

She chuckled then took a sip of her iced tea. “I hear you’re stuck in town for a few extra days.”

“Word travels fast.”

“It does. Something about a car part not being in stock?”

“Oh, you’re good.”

“I talked to Julie, Gerry’s wife.”

It was clear I didn’t need to add any details. “Madeline’s been incredibly generous.”

Becky swung her glass in an arc for emphasis. “Madeline is using you for free labor.”

“I’m glad to be useful.”

“Josh is too. Here he comes.”

I turned to where Becky pointed, about to say I would do my best. But then I saw it. Josh had a dog. My heart rate kicked up, and I could feel sweat break out at my