Flirting with Forever: A Hot Romantic Comedy(14)

“For sure.” I might have to move an appointment around, but I’d make it work. “Are you displaying some of your paintings?”

“Yeah, three of them I think.”

“That’s awesome.”

“We’ll be there, too.” Mom sipped her tea and the way she met my eyes over the rim of her mug was very suspicious. “I’ve been thinking, the weather has been so good, it would be fun to get everyone together for a barbecue.”

“Yeah?”

She set her mug down. “Normally, we’d be happy to host, but your father decided the backyard needed to be torn up and redone.”

“And?”

“And Angie doesn’t really have a good backyard, and of course Maggie’s family lives in a condo, so they’re out.”

Here it came. “Mm hmm.”

“Dallas and Tori have been so busy with that big case they’re working on. I’d hate to impose on them.”

“But you have no problem imposing on me.”

“You have that lovely backyard. We should use it more often.”

“We?” I asked with a laugh.

“Yeah, Dad,” Riley said. “It would be fun.”

That clinched it. “All right. Barbecue at our place. When?”

“Does two weeks from Saturday work?” Mom asked.

I grabbed my phone and swiped to my calendar. I had an appointment that day—working on a client who already wore a lot of my work. But I’d be done by the afternoon. I’d just have to tell Kari to keep the rest of my day clear.

“I have to work but we could do it after.”

“Good.”

I met her eyes again. There was something in her tone. “You already invited everyone over, didn’t you?”

She batted her eyelashes, as if she were innocent. “You kids are all so busy. It’s hard to schedule anything.”

That was my mom for you. I didn’t really mind. We all had busy lives and it had gotten harder over the years to get together regularly. I hadn’t seen Maggie in almost a month, which was weird.

“What would you have done if I’d been too busy?”

She stood and patted my cheek. “We would have worked it out.”

“Sure, Mom.”

“I have to get going.” She took her mug to the sink and gave it a quick rinse. “I need to swing by the store before I go home. Riley, honey, thanks for spending a little time with me. Love you.”

“Love you too, Grandma.”

“The bounce house will be delivered that morning but as long as they have access to a power outlet, I don’t think you need to be here. I’ll make sure they know where to put it.”

“Bounce house?”

She picked up her purse. “The kids are going to love it.”

“I’m sure they are. Any more deliveries I should know about?”

“No, but can you handle the grilling?”

“That I can do.”

“Perfect. Thanks, honey.” She placed a quick peck on my cheek.

I gestured toward the front door. “I’ll walk you out.”

Mom and Riley exchanged a goodbye hug, then I followed her out to her van. I opened the driver’s side door for her.

“How was Ry when you got here?”

“She seemed fine. Why?”

I glanced away. “I don’t know. There’s been a lot of teenage stuff lately.”

“That seems pretty normal, considering she’s thirteen.”

“Maybe. Did she say anything about school or her friends or…” I didn’t want to say it but I couldn’t pretend it wasn’t a possibility. “Boys?”

“No, just the art show. And she was in a perfectly cheerful mood. I didn’t get the impression that anything was wrong.”

“Cheerful? Are you sure you’re not mixing her up with someone else? One of Angie’s kids, maybe?”

“Positive. She wasn’t even holed up in her room when I got here. She was outside.”

“Was she really?”

Mom nodded. “Chatting with your neighbor.”

My brow furrowed. “Which neighbor? Phil?”

“No, the one next door.” She got a dangerous glint in her eyes. “The very attractive woman next door. What’s her name? Nora?”

“Mom, don’t.”

“You should invite her to the barbecue.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Why not? Knowing our family, we’re going to wind up spilling into her yard anyway. We might as well feed her.”

“Mom, please tell me you didn’t already invite her.”

“No, I didn’t get a chance to talk to her. But you should.”

“No.”

“She seems nice. And Riley sure likes her.”

“How do you know she’s nice? You just said you didn’t talk to her.”

“She waved and it was a very nice wave.”

“I’m not inviting her to our family barbecue.” Although it did occur to me I should probably warn her about it.

“You’re so stubborn.” She slipped on a pair of sunglasses. “Love you.”

“Love you, too.”