Page 72 of The Single Dad Project

“Hey, Flo! We’ve been looking everywhere for you,” Leo called out as she approached them, Sydney by her side.

“Translation,” Sydney said, tone dry. “She’s been all over this picnic trying to keep away from Owen.”

Flo arched an eyebrow, glancing at her sister. “Why are you avoiding my brother-in-law?”

Leo heaved an exaggerated and much aggrieved sigh. “Because we’re supposed to take shifts at those bouncy things with Bono. My turn miiiight’ve started—” she flipped her wrist and peered down at the slender gold watch there “—an hour ago.”

Mira snickered, and Leo grinned and extended her hand toward the producer.

“I’m so rude. Hi, I’m Leontyne, Flo’s sister. But you can call me Leo.” As Mira shook her hand, her sister dipped her chin toward Sydney. “This is our sister-in-law, Sydney.”

“It’s nice to meet you.” Mira clasped Sydney’s hand next. “I’m Mira Heron, producer ofVintage Renovation.”

“I love your show, by the way,” Sydney said. “It’s amazing what you guys do with those houses! And I’m always so jealous of the people who get to live in them.”

“Same,” Mira admitted with a chuckle. “And thank you. I never get tired of hearing how much people enjoy the show.” Glancing at Flo then back at Sydney and Leo, she added, “If you will excuse me. I’m going to fix myself a plate before the savages I work with destroy everything.”

She strolled off with a wave goodbye and made her way through the crowd. Flo chuckled as she was waylaid by their unofficial town matriarch, Eva Wright.

“How much you want to bet your producer friend will find herself volunteering for some kind of fundraiser while she’s here?” Sydney drawled.

Flo snorted. “I don’t take fools’ bets. Mira will be volunteering,andmembers of the TV crew will end up filming it. For free.”

The three of them burst out laughing because Eva was that persuasive and commanding. Not many people could withstand the efforts of the older woman. And those on that short list included Superman and Thurgood Marshall—one wasn’t human and the other dead.

“Hey, seriously, though, I have been looking for you,” Leo said, turning to Flo, and the abrupt switch in her sister’s demeanor set off frissons of alarm.

“Why? What’s wrong? What happened?”

“Nothing’s wrong,” Leo quickly assured her. “I just wanted to give you a heads-up. Dad and Moe are here.” She paused, and before she even finished, Flo knew what would follow. The constricting around her chest clued her in. “So is Noah.”

That band squeezed tighter.

She hadn’t been back to the inn since that last conversation with Noah. Yes, she’d called and spoken with her parents—had even met up with Moe at the studio and took her over to the renovation where she hung out with Flo and Jussy for a couple of hours. But no, she’d been avoiding her childhood home. And Noah was the reason.

Now he was here, and The Glen that had seemed so huge just a second ago shrank to the size of a postage stamp. And though she didn’t suffer from claustrophobia, grasping fingers of panic scraped at her throat.

No. She wasn’t ready to see him again. Wasn’t ready to confront the murky, convoluted snarl of emotion he evoked. Not yet.

“Hey.” Sydney reached out, gripped Flo’s hand. “If you want us to run interference, just say the word. We got you.”

“Absolutely,” Leo agreed. “Haven’t I proven today just how amazing I am at subterfuge?”

Despite the anxiety clawing at her, she chuckled. “Yeah, you’re a regular 007.”

“Please.” Flo sneered. “Since Idris was nixed for Bond, I’m boycotting. Nope, call me Evelyn Salt.”

Sydney frowned. “Uh, wasn’t she a double agent?”

Leo popped up a finger. “Abadassdouble agent. Aaand, Angelina Jolie.”

“That’s fair.”

Flo shook her head at their customary byplay, not distracted from the news Leo dropped, but thankful she had these two women at her back. But she wasn’t a young girl needing her big sister to shield her. She had to fight her own battles. Still, she appreciated and loved Leo and Sydney for standing by her.

“Thanks for the heads-up. And—” she arched an eyebrow at Leo “—if I need you to stop, drop and roll, I’ll let you know.”

“That’s fire safety, but whatever,” her sister muttered.

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