Page 20 of Only One I Ever Wanted

And if I might find out tonight.

I opened my door. “Remember where my folks’ live?” I called out.

She nodded.

“See you then.” I climbed in and backed out. When I checked my rearview, she was still standing there.

That had to be a good sign.

I headed back to my house. I’d left Danny with my folks and when I pulled up the drive, he was playing in the yard between me and my parents’ place with Trouble. My dad was out there with him, tossing a ball to the endlessly energetic dog.

Speaking of endless, I sighed when my phone buzzed again. As I walked over to them, I checked my booking app, and my jaw dropped. The tally was now fifty for jobs.

“Hey, Thunder from Down Under.”

I rolled my eyes. “Hardly.”

My dad waggled his eyebrows. “Your mother has been on the phone for the last hour.”

“God.”

He chuckled. “Talk of the town.”

“Yeah, well, it seriously looks like I need to call in the troops. I’ve got fifty jobs in the queue.”

“What?” My dad dropped the ball. Trouble came loping over to get it and dashed off to Danny.

“Yeah. I’m as surprised as you are.”

“Does this mean you have to do all jobs minus a shirt?”

I snorted. “I doubt that one.”

The screen door slapped shut as my mom hurried down the steps. “Sullivan Joseph Murdock!”

“Now you’re in trouble,” my dad said under his breath and took off to meet Danny and Trouble at the other end of the yard.

“What did I do?”

“You have my entire reading club talking about you! I have three dates lined up.”

“Dear God, no. Absolutely not.”

“Mazie’s niece is very interested.”

My stomach plummeted. “I am not going out with Rachel in this life or the next.”

My mother threw back her head with a delighted laugh. “We don’t need another unhinged woman in your life.”

“Thanks. I think.” I sighed. “Ma, I need you to work. your magic.”

“What am I fixing?”

“Not fixing. Just convincing.”

“I already invited Nora over for dinner. I think my magic is working just fine.” She looped her arm around mine and steered me toward my house. “First of all, you’re going to go have a shower.”

“That’s not what I meant. Though she did accept the invitation.”

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