Page 51 of Patio Lanterns

A frozen pizza. That would have to do. It would be fast and hot, and while it was no four-course, gourmet-quality meal, in another half hour, it would really hit the spot. He slid the pizza into the cold oven and set a few extra minutes on the timer.

Robin had swapped her pretty dress for shorts and a vintage El Mocambo tee that looked years older than she was. She was so fucking cool.

“Wow, look at all this,” she said, eyeing up the tub. “This is practically a day spa compared to the wash bay I set up for Mutt yesterday.”

“You ready to get started?” Rick asked.

“Yep.” She dropped a bag with some dog food and the shampoo on the ground. Then she let her hair down, shaking her curls loose before refastening her ponytail higher and tighter on top of her head. She was a natural beauty, effortlessly appearing to look both casual and chic at the same time. “Gah, you would not believe the game of Twenty Questions I just had to play with Lark.”

“Oh, I can imagine,” Rick said, releasing Mutt from doggie jail and leading him to the tub.

“Why are you back? Where have you been? Did you find Mutt? Where was he? How come he’s not with you? Why did you change your clothes? Now where do you think you’re going?” She rolled her eyes. “I swear, it’s like hopscotching through a mine field.”

Rick lifted Mutt off the ground and into the water, then kneeled beside the tub while Robin positioned herself on the other side.

“Oh God, I thought he was rancid before.” She coughed and gagged at the same time. “But this is downright offensive.”

“Just breathe through your mouth,” he advised, as they wetted down Mutt’s fur. “How’s the celebration of life going?” he asked, keeping the conversation going to distract from the stench.

“It’s going,” she said with a heavy sigh, squirting shampoo into her hands. “I ordered the refreshments and decorations, and Crawley’s is going to cover all the costs.”

“You’re kidding,” Rick said, impressed. “How did you manage that?”

“I guess I never got around to telling you, but earlier, I made a barter with Mrs. C. Said I’d work for her in the store this week in exchange for having my order paid in full. Oh, and I offered to design a new logo for Crawley’s.”

“That was incredibly resourceful of you,” he said, proud of her for cutting such a shrewd deal. “But why aren’t your sisters helping you out with the expenses?”

“Money is kind of a sticking point between us right now, so it’s best not to bring it up. Besides, I told them that I’d do this all on my own, and I will.”

“Yeah, but at the same time, it can’t be cheap,” he said, lathering up Mutt’s tail and hind quarters. “How much do you need? You know I’m happy to help.”

“That’s sweet of you Rick, but I really want to show Lark and Dove that I can do this on my own,” she said, sloshing suds as she scrubbed. “I need to prove to them that I’m responsible and capable of making good decisions, so that—”

When she fell silent, he looked up and met her eyes. “So that… what?”

“So that my inheritance won’t be locked up in a trust,” she quietly admitted. “Lark is the executor of Mom’s will. She thinks if I get my hands on the money now, I’ll squander it away.”

Rick was disturbed by the notion of anyone underestimating Robin, but this was becoming a pattern. Parker. Lark. Why couldn’t they see her the way he did? Bright, ballsy, bighearted, not to mention blessed with common sense. She had keen instincts, and a savvy about her that only came from living and learning. It made no sense to him how anyone could misjudge her as being less than capable.

“I’m very sorry to hear that,” he said. “It’s none of my business, so it’s probably best I keep out of it.”

“Please don’t say that. You know I value your opinion.”

“Then my opinion is that it’s total bullshit. You deserve what’s rightfully yours, and you shouldn’t have to prove anything to anyone to have it,” he said. “There. I’ve said my piece. In the meantime, if you change your mind about the money, my offer still stands. Anything you need, I’m your guy.”

She sat up higher on her knees, raising herself above the wash tub. “Anything?”

He met the devilish twinkle in her eyes before his gaze slipped down to her chest, her dampened t-shirt clinging to her tantalizing rack. She blatantly shimmied for him. “Woman…” he growled, “how dare you attempt to seduce me while I’m elbows-deep in your dog’s crud?”

“Sorry, not sorry.” Robin giggled as she got back to work massaging suds into Mutt’s fur. “So… the thing with Aidan in the kitchen. That was pretty awkward, right?”

“God, yes. Although I’m used to that around Aidan. Things have been strained between us for a long while.”

“Yeah, I picked up on that.”

“We have a complicated relationship, and I know most of that’s on me,” he said. “I wasn’t around for him much. And while I wish I could go back and do it over again, that’s not possible. I moved here hoping that we’d be able to work on things.”

“But that hasn’t happened?” she asked.

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