Page 31 of Too Good to Be True

She reminded herself that Deanna had sent a suggestive message with sexual undertones, while Nick just wanted to rake her lawn! The realization tickled her funny bone, and she burst out laughing.

She typed out her address and tapped SEND. She purposely hadn’t added anything lest he get the wrong idea. She’d welcome his help with yardwork, but that was all. Afterward, it would be back to business as usual.

Her phone pinged again.

What time should I come?

Over.

What time should I come over?

She reread the messages and shook her head.

I hope you didn’t just change your mind.

She laughed, but not as boisterously that time. How could he have picked up on her discomfort that easily?

Unless… Is he flirting with me? No way. He hadn’t flirted with her before, or had he?

She sifted through their interactions in her head, searching for signs, innuendos, or looks that she might have mistaken for friendliness. She couldn’t identify anything untoward and decided it was just her active imagination working overtime.

“Damn book club pick!”

Are you still there? Did you delete my name from your contact list?

She chuckled, enjoying his playfulness despite herself. At least he couldn’t see her current smile, the one that showed too much of her gums.

Stacy?

I’m still here. Just busy putting on the new bedding.

Right after she sent it, she threw her hands in the air. “Ohmigod. Now he’s going to think I’m flirting!”

How does it look?

She stared at the words. Some other woman might respond with something suggestive, such as: Why don’t you come over and see for yourself? or You can check it out tomorrow.

However, like she’d told Kelsey, she wasn’t that woman. I could be, but I shouldn’t be. Right?

Her fingers hovered over the keys, and then she typed a boring, respectable response.

It looks nice.

What about the candle? Did you light it yet?

Again, she thought of some flirtatious replies, like: I’ll wait until you’re here, or I’m saving it for a special occasion. Instead, she typed: Not yet.

Well, I’ll let you get back to work.

Seconds later, her phone pinged again.

You never told me a time.

She hesitated, thinking the sensible thing would be to cancel on him. She could say that something had come up, just like he’d mentioned at the donut shop. She couldn’t bring herself to lie, though. She hated lying, even more so after Cole’s deceit. Aside from her unfortunate attraction to Nick, she enjoyed his company, and he would probably make yardwork a lot more fun.

She could consider this a test, and as a teacher, she was good at tests. She could do this. She could be friends with a hot younger man without crossing the line.

How about two o’clock?