Those Sweet Words (Misfit Inn 2)

“SO, FLYNN SEEMS TO be pretty settled in,” Abbey observed.

Pru used the excuse of digging in the china cabinet for platters to hide her face. “I suppose a gypsy learns to settle quickly wherever he goes.”

“Must be nice having that in the house.”

“That?”

“A guy who looks like that. I mean, damn. You can’t tell me you haven’t noticed he’s hot.”

“A woman would have to be dead and six months buried not to notice that,” Pru conceded. She passed platters to Abbey and straightened, heading for the fridge.

“He’s certainly got an eye for you. He watches you whenever you’re in the room.”

Pru made a noncommittal noise and grabbed some bacon. What was she supposed to say to that?

“The air seems to crackle whenever you’re within ten feet of each other.”

“Crackle? Really?” Pru kept her voice dismissive as she began to peel some pears for an appetizer.

Abbey clutched a platter to her chest. “Oh, come on, Pru. Admit it! There’s something going on between you and the Irish hottie.”

She’d admit no such thing because the last thing she needed was something about that getting back to Kennedy. “There’s attraction, yes.” Pointless to deny that. “But Flynn will be leaving soon. What sense would it make to get involved with him?”

“Oh honey, being with a man like him would have nothing to do with sense. He’s the kind to make you lose your senses.”

He certainly was.

“Doesn’t make it any less worth it.”

Pru hoped she was right.

> The front door opened. A moment later, the sound of Logan’s voice echoed from the foyer. “Pru?”

“In the kitchen!” she called.

He came straight back, his arms loaded down with two stacked cardboard boxes. With one look at the trays and platters scattered over the counter, he set the boxes to the side. “What’s the party for and why wasn’t I invited?”

“It was kind of a last-minute thing. Flynn met Ford McIntosh at the wedding and found out he was a fellow musician. Since he decided to stick around until Kennedy gets back, he invited Ford over for a jam session, and apparently Ford called every musician in the county. They’re all out back.” Even as she spoke, the tones of conversation and laughter gave way to more music as somebody began picking on a banjo. “Abbey, you want to go ahead and take those extra drinks to put in the cooler?”

With a look that said their discussion about Flynn wasn’t over, she grabbed up the bags of drinks. “On it!”

Logan strode over to the back door as Abbey slipped out and looked at the gathering. “Holy shit. There must be near to twenty people out there.”

“Twenty-two. Hence all the food.” Pru slid a tray of bacon wrapped pears into the oven and moved to the boxes containing this week’s farm share from Logan’s CSA program. “What have we got this week?”

“Some fresh broccoli, carrots, and sugar snap peas, if you wanna put together a veggie tray. Assorted greens, tomatoes, peppers. A couple of onions. Zucchini, of course.”

She mentally reviewed the other ingredients she had on hand and figured she could put out crudités with an herbed cream cheese—Athena had left an easy recipe—and maybe make some quick blender salsa to go with the bags of tortilla chips from the pantry. She grabbed what she wanted and took it to the sink to rinse. “Thanks so much for bringing this by this week. Things have been so crazy trying to juggle my clients and the inn with Kennedy being gone, I just couldn’t get down to the farm.”

“Not a problem. Everything going okay? Need me to pitch in with anything?” She loved that he’d offer.

“No, thanks. This was great. We’re managing.” Largely because of Flynn, but she didn’t see the need in saying that.

“Have you heard from the newlyweds?”

“Not a word, which is as it should be. They deserve a chance to be cocooned in their own little world.” And it meant she avoided any awkward questions about Flynn.

“So, Flynn’s still around.” It wasn’t a question but Pru was determined not to feel awkward.