Lynn seemed about to argue, then she let it go. “About dinner tomorrow night, if the invitation’s still open, I would love to come.”
Mission accomplished, Patsy thought triumphantly, pushing aside all other thoughts to focus on tomorrow’s surprise. “About seven, right after we close?”
“That will be perfect.”
“What will be perfect?” Justin demanded, walking up to settle on a stool at the counter.
He had a worrisome way of sneaking up on her that constantly caught her off guard. One of these days would he overhear something that would give her away?
“Patsy’s invited me to dinner tomorrow night,” Sharon Lynn explained.
He glanced at her. “Is that so? What about me?”
Patsy shook her head. “Sorry. It’s a girls-only night.”
“Then maybe I should pick Billy up and take him out for spaghetti with the guys.”
The thought of being separated even for a short time from her son panicked her. “No, really, he’ll be fine with us,” Patsy said at once.
“Maybe it would be fun for Billy,” Sharon Lynn said. “Justin’s really good with kids.”
“I know that. It’s just that...” It was just that she envisioned Will coming to claim him when she wasn’t around to prevent it. How could she explain that?
“I’ll take good care of him,” Justin promised. His gaze locked with hers. “No harm will come to him while he’s with me.”
It was almost as if he knew, she thought, studying his expression for some clue that would tell her if he’d discovered the truth.
She thought of the real purpose for tomorrow’s invitation to Sharon Lynn. The house would be crawling with other women for the shower. It really was no place for a small child. And surely the safest place in the world for Billy to be was with a deputy sheriff.
“Okay,” she said at last. “Billy loves spaghetti. Just be aware that he tends to get most of it all over himself and anyone else who’s in his path.”
Justin grinned. “In that case, maybe I’ll invite Harlan Patrick along.”
Sharon Lynn laughed.
“Who’s Harlan Patrick?” Patsy asked, watching their shared amusement and the conspiratorial wink they exchanged.
“My brother,” she explained. “When he’s not herding cattle or up to his elbows in muck, he considers himself quite a fashion plate. There’s nothing Harlan Patrick likes more than a fancy new outfit that’ll impress the ladies. Justin’s just imagining how he’d love to have spaghetti spattered all over his best western shirt, especially since his girlfriend will be singing over at the restaurant tomorrow.”
“But that’s...” Words failed her.
“Dastardly,” Sharon Lynn provided.
“Just plain mean,” Patsy said.
“Payback,” Justin corrected. “Harlan Patrick and I have a score to settle.”
“And you intend to use my son to do it?”
“He and my brother always have a score to settle,” Sharon Lynn said. “Goodness knows what it’s about this time. Don’t worry about it. Just leave them to it. When Harlan Patrick decides to get even, he won’t take it out on Billy. All his ire will be directed straight back at Justin.”
The idea that a family could engage in teasing and pranks without rancor was so totally alien to the way Patsy had spent the past couple of years that she was enthralled by it. She would almost rather watch Justin get even with his cousin than go through with her role in Sharon Lynn’s surprise.
But it was all part of the same cloth, she realized with a sense of wonder. This was a tight-knit, supportive family, the kind she’d always dreamed of being a part of.
“Do you two have any idea how lucky you are?” she asked.
“Of course we do,” Sharon Lynn said, clearly grasping her meaning at once. She gave Patsy a tight hug. “You’ll see,” she promised, glancing toward Justin. “Won’t she?”
His gaze caught Patsy’s and held. “If I have anything to say about it.”
Patsy trembled under the intensity of that look. A fierce longing for what these Adams cousins took for granted rushed over her. Gazing into Justin’s eyes she saw what might have been a bold commitment, a promise that was there for the taking if only she could.
If only she could.
She sighed heavily and turned away, busying herself with the last of the day’s dishes, which had to be stacked and ready for the morning rush. When she turned again, she realized that Sharon Lynn had silently left, leaving her alone with Justin.
“Come to dinner with me,” he suggested. “And before you start making excuses, I’ve already checked with Dani. She’s going to be late at the clinic. She’ll look after Billy for