Annie shook her head. “What does a television have to do with our video chatting on a computer?”
Crap. Why had he mentioned the television? He glanced Lori’s way. She held up a piece of paper that said “ignore the TV,” and she’d written what to say next. He turned back to Annie. “Are you mad about the princess and castle thing?”
“No, not at all.” Annie blinked rapidly again. “It seems strange, that’s all.”
He read the next sign Lori held up and then asked Annie, “Don’t you want to come home and be a family again?”
“Eventually, of course.” Annie waved a hand. “Which might be soon if we don’t get the next round of funding. You could help with the money, you know.” Annie sent him a tired grin.
His hopes rose at her lack of funding. “Nope. Asher and I need you here. The sooner, the better.”
Annie chewed her bottom lip. “I’m doing real work, Deek. I thought you supported my career.”
Lori waved another sign to get his attention. It said, “I need your help with something ASAP! Hang up.”
Confused, he said to Annie, “Lori needs something. I’ll call you tomorrow.” He hit the disconnect button and then asked Lori, “What do you need?”
“I needed your help making her jealous. I asked you to say that so you wouldn’t have to lie. Get it?”
“Ah.” He chuckled at how obtuse he could sometimes be. “That was smart.”
Lori sank to the side of the bed, leaving about an inch of clearance between both their knees. “Does she always call you Deek in front of Asher?”
He nodded. “She thinks labels and titles are overrated.”
“Oh.” Lori leaned closer. “Anyway, she seemed a little upset with you. We need to keep poking at that in the future. Jealousy is a strong emotion.”
“I wasn’t sure if it was that, or because I refused her the money for her dig. She’s asked me for funding before.”
Lori laid a warm hand on his thigh. “Don’t take this wrong, Deek, but any woman who would use you for your money is one you don’t want. Even if she is Asher’s mother.” Lori glanced at her hand and quickly moved it as if his leg was on fire. “You deserve someone who loves you just the way you are. Goofy T-shirts and all.”
She’d grinned when she mentioned his T-shirts, so she was probably teasing him about that part. But she’d seemed serious about the rest. “I know Annie loves us. She’s just super busy, and she shows love in her own…way.”
“Okay.” Lori shrugged. “I’m not judging. Only trying to be a good friend.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it.” Annie wouldn’t do that.
Lori just didn’t know Annie like he did. That was all.
5
GETTING BACK IN THE SADDLE DOESN’T COME WITHOUT ITS ACHES AND PAINS.
Lori stood before the floor-length mirror in her bedroom and frowned at herself. Should she wear the sexier blue dress instead of the more classic black one she had on? The thought of her date with Jason had made her sick to her stomach all day. It was either that, or she was catching the same flu the kids had the week before. It could be a plausible excuse to get out of her date.
No, she needed to pull the trigger and get it over with. Joe’s death was no reason to bury her life too.
She laid a hand on her rounded stomach and drew a deep breath. Why had she made irresistible cookies right before her first date back in the game? She’d probably had fifteen in the last week, dammit!
The doorbell rang and made her jump. Deek was going to sit with the kids, who’d decided they wanted to watch movies and play video games rather than go out.
Good. She needed a male opinion.
She was getting entirely too used to seeing Deek every day. When she refused to take money for her help with his daily Annie calls, Deek suggested he help her around the house for a few hours each day. They’d made some major progress with the painting and the sanding the past nine days in a row. The guy even worked weekends. And he looked so hot in a tool belt, that she’d found him jobs just so he’d wear it. And when he’d whipped off his shirt to rub it in her face after she’d started a paint fight, she’d practically drooled over his six-pack abs.
She’d begun to look forward to his visits way too much. So much so, she’d even started wearing jeans instead of yoga pants, and putting on makeup. But Annie had insisted earlier that he stop calling so often because she didn’t have time to chitchat, so her daily dates with Deek were going to end. She wished he had a clone. She’d go on a date with that guy in a heartbeat.