AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You two having fun yet?” Holding back a chuckle, Jamison came up the walkway.
Hoping she wasn’t blushing all the way to her toes, Sandra took a quick step back. “We’re talking trees.”
“Trees?” This time Jamison flashed a full-blown smile that seemed to shout that he didn’t believe a word she’d just said.
“What are you doing here?” Paxton pulled his hands out of his pockets and crossed his arms.
“I’ve got a few hours free. Thought I’d give a hand. Unless, of course, you don’t need it.”
Paxton pushed away from the truck he’d been leaning against. “The more the merrier.”
Jamison actually sputtered.
“Don’t even think about it,” Paxton scolded his cousin.
Holding his hands up in the air, Jamison shook his head. “I didn’t say a word.”
“No.” Paxton moved forward his expression almost menacing. “But you were thinking about it.”
Knowing where their minds had probably gone, the interaction between the two cousins was almost as fascinating as the plans for the landscaping of her new house. She’d always enjoyed being a part of the large Farraday clan, but at the moment, with his fists clenched at his side Paxton looked ready to slug his cousin. “Gentlemen,” she interrupted.
Both heads whipped around to face her.
“Don’t we have work to do?”
The two men nodded at her.
“I’ll head on in the house and see where I’m needed.” Jamison nodded at Sandra and darted up the front steps into the house.
“I guess it’s my turn to apologize. Sometimes my cousins are more childish than their children.”
“To quote a friend of mine, no worries.”
As she’d hoped, that made him smile. But too soon the smile slipped and a serious tone took over his face seconds before he started to reach forward and then quickly, instead, shoved his hands back in his pockets. “Since tomorrow is Saturday, is there any chance I could talk you into joining me for dinner? As much of a pain as Jamison can be, he runs a fun pub.”
All the air in her lungs rushed up and caught in her throat. Was this dinner as in a date, or as in friends?
“I’m sorry.” He took a step back. “I shouldn’t have—”
“No.” She cut him off. “I mean yes. I’d like to join you for dinner tomorrow night.”
A broad smile appeared and made his eyes sparkle. “Great. I’ll pick you up after David’s bedtime. Is that okay?”
“Perfect.” The air had returned to her lungs and her cheeks hurt from smiling. She still didn’t know if this was a date, and had no idea what she wanted, but one thing she did know, she really wanted to have dinner with Paxton, and she wouldn’t mind another hug too.
Chapter Eleven
Paxton looked around at his siblings and cousins pushing away from the table, carrying empty plates and glasses into the kitchen. With a brood this size and growing, Aunt Eileen ran the household with more efficiency than the Marine Corps. Even though he’d never been in the military, his cousin Ethan constantly confirmed the Marines had nothing on his aunt.
Owen brushed up beside him, his wife Connie only a few steps behind.
“Bro, what’s got you so quiet?” Owen asked.
“Not much.” He glanced at his aunt standing by the sink and smiled. “Just thinking about the immortality of the crab.”
“Oh, I’ve heard that one before.” Chuckling, Connie walked past the two brothers.
The truth was that Paxton had been thinking about Sandra and that unexpected hug pretty much all day. He could not remember the last time he looked forward to a date as much as he was to their date tomorrow.
