Page 58 of The Mr. Right Checklist

“Wait, are you telling me Little Miss All About Love has experience with casual dating?”

“Well . . .” Her eyes spark with mischief. “It’s recent and more along the lines of fake dating a friend, but I think it’s similar enough that the rules can be the same.”

“No, they can’t. I’m not as good of friends with the women I casually date as I am with you. You don’t have a hidden agenda, and in my experience, most women go into casual dating hoping for more, even when they deny it, so I don’t want them hanging out at night with me and Molly or fishing with us.”

“You know you have major trust issues toward women, don’t you?”

“Yup.”

Her eyes narrow, and she lowers her hands from around my neck. “And I’m not good at hiding things, which is why you’re okay with our arrangement, isn’t it?”

“I hadn’t put the two together, but it probably has something to do with why I originally spent so much time helping you. But now that I know you better, I like you and I trust you.”

“Good, because you should, so you can stop worrying. The way I see it, we already set up guidelines about the future, so we can do anything we want without worrying it’ll be taken wrong, including kissing in public if we feel like it.” Her brow wrinkles. “Unless you don’t want that?”

“What I want is not to worry about every little thing we say and do, so as long as we’re on the same page with this thing not leading to more . . .” I tug her back into my arms and lower my lips to hers, giving us both my answer. My cell rings, and I groan. “What is this? Grand Central?”

She giggles and heads over to the picnic basket, while I answer the call. Molly follows her like she’s the Pied Piper.

“Hi, Mom.”

“Hi, honey. How are you?”

“Good. How are you?” I watch Destiny open a bag of chips and walk back into the water as she eats them. Molly lies down at the water’s edge, watching her.

“I’m fine. Your father and I just got back from a nice walk. What are you up to today?”

“I’m fishing.”

Destiny drops a chip into the water, and she bends at the waist like she’s studying it.

“How nice. I’m glad you’re taking a break. You work so hard. Are you at your cabin or at Lake Whatchacallit?”

“Lake Whatchacallit.” Destiny purposefully drops another chip into the water.

“Ohmygosh! The fish like chips! Fletch!” She spins around, sees I’m still on the phone, and covers her mouth as Molly bolts into the water, splashing her, and we both laugh, the sound ringing out.

“Who’s with you?” my mother asks. “Is that Destiny?”

“Yes. She came fishing with us.” Destiny looks over and points at Molly, then at the potato chips. She steeples her hands, mouthing, Please? Just one? I nod, silently reiterating, One. She wiggles her shoulders and gives Molly a chip.

“How wonderful that she likes fishing, too. Chuck said she’s quite an impressive young lady, and from what he and Jimmy have said, she seems like a bundle of Southern sass and charm. Did you know she baked him cookies to thank him for helping her?”

“Yeah, I know. She’s a sweet one.”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve heard you sound this relaxed and happy. I don’t want to keep you from her. I just called to give you the date for your father’s birthday dinner. We’re thinking of doing it next Friday at six, at Rich’s restaurant. Do you think you and Destiny can make it? We’re anxious to meet her.”

“I don’t know what her schedule is, but I’ll be there.”

“Okay, sweetheart. Let me know this week if you can, so I can make reservations. Tell Destiny I look forward to meeting her whenever she has the time. Have fun today. Love you.”

“Love you, too, Mom.” I end the call and glance at Destiny eating chips as she walks through ankle-deep water with Molly, singing about someone bringing her coffee in the morning and bringing them inner peace. I realize with surprise that I wouldn’t mind if she came with me to dinner with my family, but I’m not about to commit to that.

Chapter Seventeen

DESTINY

Fletch offers me his hand as I climb out of his Range Rover at Piper’s house in Sweetwater. He looks handsome and comfortable in a gray T-shirt and navy shorts. He’s sporting a tan that makes his eyes pop, and he didn’t shave or trim his scruff this morning after all, making him even more irresistible.