Page 61 of Love in Riverbend
I nod. “He’s also still sexy and” —my cheeks heat— “he kisses even better than he did.”
Mom grins. “It sounds like Ruth’s plan of making the two of you spend a few days together is working.”
“If her plan is to get my heart broken again, she’s on target. Why invite him to dinner?”
“He said he asked you out to dinner, and you refused.”
“I didn’t refuse. I don’t want to leave Molly. She’s not your responsibility?—”
Mom grins. “Now you have both. Dax also said he wanted to talk to me and your dad.”
My head starts to ache. “Wow, this will be fun.”
“What’s fun?” Molly asks as she comes from one direction, and the back door opens, and my brother comes in from the other.
I do my best to glare Justin’s way. “Seriously?”
As he takes off his cap, I see that his hair is mussed from work and his jeans and shirt are covered in dust and dirt.
“Seriously what?” he asks. “I live here.”
“We all live here,” Mom says.
I turned to her. “Do you know Justin punched Dax?”
“What?” Molly asks, her eyes big as saucers.
Inhaling, I shake my head, having momentarily forgotten I had little ears listening. “I’m sorry, sweetie. Can you please go find Grandpa?”
“Uncle Justin hit Dax?”
Justin comes forward and laying his hand on Molly’s head, fluffs her hair. The pigtails from this morning are gone. Her hair is now hanging down her back and wavy. “It was a joke,” he says. “We were just playing around.”
I hold back a laugh as my daughter turns on Justin with her little fists against her sides. “Mrs. Pollard says never to hit.”
Justin’s gaze meets mine as he grins. “Mrs. Pollard is right.” He lifts his right hand. “I promise not to do it again.”
Molly nods as if she’s just settled World War III and sets off looking for her grandfather.
“Unless he deserves it,” Justin adds once Molly’s out of earshot.
“Well,” Mom says, “let’s all get ready for dinner. Our guest will be here soon.”
When Justin turns toward the steps without a word, I shake my head. “Justin knew that you invited Dax?”
Mom nods.
“Why not tell me?”
“It was a surprise.”
That’s what Dax said.
With the realization that nothing I can say or do will stop this dinner, I ask, “Do you need help with dinner?”
“Nope. The lasagna is in the oven, bread and oil are ready, and I’m about done with the salad.”
“I can set the table.”
