Page 20 of Ocotillo Kisses
“It doesn’t just have to be us,” Austin pointed out. “I’m sure more people will be willing to pitch in.” He motioned to the tables around them. “We can put a sign-up sheet or something.”
“I think perhaps you haven’t met Sofia,” Caleb said with a laugh. “She doesn’t give up control that easily. If she could, she’d do all of this herself.”
Sofia scowled at him, but he just winked at her.
“So who has the most pull with Mr. Nazareth and Mrs. Lopez?”
All eyes turned to Con, who lifted his hands. “Why me?”
“I don’t know why, but they all do,” Sofia said. “All you have to do is tell them you have a favor you want to do for them. How could they say no to that?” Sofia asked.
“Then you ask them,” he countered.
“Come on, Con, how hard can it be?” Poppy cajoled, and he smiled at her.
“We’ll do it together,” Poppy said. “You name the time.”
“The sooner the better,” Sofia prompted, and made a note in her notebook.
Chapter Eight
Conshouldn’t be surprised Poppy was waiting for him outside the hardware store on Monday afternoon. She must have just come from school, because she looked cute, in a dress with a scooped neck, one that curved in at the waist and showed off her figure, which he already knew to be very nice after dancing with her. She even—was she wearing lipstick?
“Hey,” he said, stepping up on the sidewalk. “Sorry I’m running late.”
“It’s fine. I walked around and kind of measured out where I thought we could put the planters, you know? I think four here, four in front of the grocery store, two in front of Austin’s, four in front of the diner.”
“That’s a lot to keep up with,” he said. “Who’s going to keep them watered and cared for?”
“Me. And I’m planting native, drought tolerant plants. I have what I want, I just need the planters and the soil. Maybe one day after I get out for vacation, we could drive down to Del Rio and get some pottery. We could make a day of it, maybe go to the winery there.”
Was she asking him for a date? Their other friends had trucks, too. He thought about suggesting they make it a group trip, but he just nodded. “Sure, we could do that.”
The responding light in her eyes made him wary. He didn’t want to hurt her. But instead of saying anything to discourage her interest, he stepped over to the dusty glass door of the hardware store and opened it.
The older man behind the counter looked at them with his brows lowered when they approached. “What can I do for the two of you?”
