“Sure.”
He tugged her into one of the empty rooms and shut the door, keeping his voice low as he told her what he needed. Then he had to slap a hand over her mouth to keep her squeal from echoing down the stairs.
“Shhh! Do you think you can do it?”
“Well duh. I’m going with you. You know that, right?”
He grinned. “I thought you might. Go work your magic. I’ll change and work on convincing her to let you off for the rest of the day.”
Ari saluted. “You can count on me.”
“Get your face under control or she’ll ask questions.”
The girl immediately pokered up.
“Nicely done, cailín beag.”
She slipped out into the hall like a burglar, and he repressed a laugh. That kid was too much fun.
After he’d changed, he found Pru in the kitchen. “I went ahead and stripped and changed the sheets from the Simpkins’ room. Figured we could get started turning that since they checked out this morning. Bed’s remade, but the room will need fresh towels and such.” He carried the linens to the laundry room, added them to the partial load waiting in the washer, and started the machine.
“I was going to get to that,” she said.
“And now you don’t have to.” He brushed his lips lightly over hers, meaning to offer just a friendly peck. But she sighed and melted into him. That instant surrender just did him in, every time. He wrapped his arms around her and slid deeper into the kiss. Not raging heat, just a quiet comfort that he found more appealing than he’d have imagined.
A throat cleared.
Flynn was surprised and pleased when Pru didn’t bolt away but rested her head on his chest as she stayed in his arms.
“Might as well get used to it, kid,” she said.
“I learned how to walk loudly with Kennedy and Xander. I got this.”
Flynn snorted.
“You think she’s kidding. She’s not.” Pru eased away.
“Did you ask her?” Ari demanded.
“Ask me what?”
“I was hoping you’d let me borrow Ari for the rest of the day.”
“For what?”
He’d given this some thought and decided they’d add this to the trip. “She’s expressed some interest in learning to play the fiddle. As I’m going to be here for a while, I want to get her one. There’s a shop in Gatlinburg.”
Pru’s mouth dropped open. “That’s incredibly generous.”
Flynn hooked an arm around Ari’s shoulders, surprised and pleased when she swung a companionable arm behind his back. “Talent like this should be nurtured.”
“I wish I could go with you, but I need to stay here to deal with guests.”
“We’ll make a day of it, if you don’t mind. And you can have an afternoon more or less to yourself. The Talbots were off to Blowing Rock for the day, so maybe you can relax a bit. Have a bath. Do some reading.”
She gave a considering look. “I could—”
Flynn gripped her by the shoulders. “Don’t say catch up on paperwork. Do something for yourself.”