Page 23 of The Party Line

Mama had told me to be careful of Connor because he wanted to buy my house. Apparently, Aunt Gracie did not agree with my mother.I wondered if someone who had passed from this earth and into eternity could see into the future. If so, I wanted her to stick around in my head a while longer, and for a split second I was angry with Connor for interrupting our virtual conversation.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “You have to remember that I’m used to being alone a lot, so I talk to myself and argue with the voices in my head. Sometimes I even forget that there is a real person in the room.”

“Well, that’s a first,” he said with a sigh.

“‘First’ what?” I asked.

“Most women don’t think of other things when I’m flirting with them.” Even his whisper had a sexy drawl to it.

“To begin with, I’m not most women,” I said, stifling a chuckle. “And flirting involves romance. We are friends who help each other out and have breakfast together on Saturdays.”Brain, take that reminder!

“Yes, ma’am!” He gave me a smart salute.

“Connor Thurman, you are not in the army anymore!”

“Thanks for the reminder,” he said with a quirky little grin, echoing my thoughts. “And, darlin’, I’m glad I’m in Ditto, Texas. I’ve seen enough of the world for the rest of my life.”

“You can tell me about it while we tear down the stand,” I told him.

“I guess that’s my cue to finish my coffee and last bite of this muffin,” he said as he popped the remainder into his mouth.

“We’re burnin’ daylight,” I told him.

Connor pushed back his chair and carried the paper wrappers to the trash can. “There you go. I did the dishes, and you stole that line fromThe Cowboys, which happens to be one of Grandpa’s favorites.”

I put the leftover muffins under a glass cake dome and put the two coffee mugs in the dishwasher. “It was one of Aunt Gracie’s, too. Now, let’s get movin’.”

Connor leaned on the doorjamb. “Do you think I’ll ever understand you, Lila?”

“Maybe when I see green tractors flying in the sky,” I smarted off.

“You were right about not being like other women.” He opened the door for me and stood to one side. “Hey, there’s a package on the porch. Must’ve just gotten delivered, because it wasn’t here when I arrived.”

I bent to get it. “That should be Sassy’s new collar and leash.”

When I straightened up, Connor had a smile on his face that reminded me of an old saying I had heard from Aunt Gracie:Grinnin’ like a possum eatin’ wild grapes through a barbed wire fence.

“What’s so ...” I frowned. “You were checking me out, weren’t you?”

“I’m not blind. I can admire a beautiful woman from all angles even if we are only friends.”

I fought a blush creeping up from my neck but lost the battle. I turned my back so Connor wouldn’t see my red cheeks, carried the box inside, and headed toward the back door.

“You don’t have a comeback for that?” he asked as he followed me.

The stack of mail on the credenza had nothing to do with our banter, but I noticed that a couple of pieces had fallen onto the floor. I bent over and picked them up and added them to the ever-growing pile.

“Just being sure you got to see another angle,” I threw over my shoulder. If he could flirt, so could I, even if I did feel like I was playing with fire. “But remember that what is good for the goose is good for the gander. I will pay you back.”

“I will gladly pose for you anytime you want,” he said.

I opened the back door and stepped outside. “Don’t promise what you aren’t willing to deliver.”

“Never have and never will!” Connor waved at Jasper, who was out on his front porch.

I let him have the last word and held the box up for Jasper to see. “Sassy’s collar and leash are here.”

He started to stand up. “I’ll get my wallet, and I won’t have any sass from you about me paying for it.”

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