“No.”

“We should ride sometime.”

“I…” She almost said no, but then she wondered why not? “That would be exciting, actually. As long as it’s summer. I don’t know how anyone rides in the dead of winter.”

“Maybe next weekend.”

He said it casually.

She had no clue what he meant by that.

Probably nothing.

Or did hewantto see her again?

She was annoying herself. “Sure. Hey, I wonder where those people got those ice cream cones?” She pointed to a couple in their sixties strolling by with soft-serve cones.

“I can ask.”

Before she could protest that it wasn’t important, Liam was standing up and approaching them. He had a few minutes conversation she couldn’t overhear, gesturing back to her at one point. The couple laughed. It was clearly a friendly exchange. Then he was waving to them and returning to the bench.

“There’s a stand right over there.” He pointed where the trail wound around the fountain. “Would you like me to go get you a cone?”

“I can go with you.”

“No, you sit here and enjoy the sun.” He reached over and squeezed her knee.

Lilly’s breath caught at the movement.

Liam heard it.

He slowly pulled his hand back, his nostrils flaring. He didn’t apologize though.

What the hell was happening? That felt distinctly like sexual tension.

“I’ll take a twist cone,” she blurted out. “If they have it. If not, vanilla. Please. Thank you.” Babbling. That was great.

“Of course. I’ll be right back.” He stood up and walked away with his coffee.

He had a really nice ass. Firm, muscular.

She’d never noticed that before.

“Oh, God,” she murmured out loud. Maybe this was some kind of sexual displacement. She was transferring her interest in Sullivan to his father.

The instant that thought popped into her head, she knew that was false. Sullivan had nothing to do with any of this.

Speaking of Sullivan. Her phone buzzed with a text from him.

I’m sorry I was an asshole last night. You can date whoever you want. In fact, I think you should date whoever you want.

She sighed. That should be more upsetting than it was. It just felt like confirmation of what she’d known all along.

Thank you. So you don’t care if I date your dad?

I don’t care if you date my dad. I promise.

There it was. In black and white. Clearly Sullivan didn’t care. In fact, he couldn’t even be bothered to call her or tell her in person. He’d just sent her a text.