“Siri, mostly,” he confessed. “And she’s not nearly as sparkling a conversationalist as I’d like. I asked her on a date last night, but she told me her lack of a corporeal form would only get in the way.”

The last of Helen’s dejection fled, and she laughed. Ford had the benefit of knowing that her usual good humor was restored, but he bit back a sigh anyway. There were times when he regretted his tendency to resort to heavy-handed flirtation as a way to handle any social interaction with the opposite sex. What had started as an easy way to maintain emotional distance in the wake of his divorce had become a habit so ingrained that he didn’t know how else to act anymore.

It worked with Helen just fine, obviously, and a reputation for playful irreverence ensured that he never sat alone at school functions. Still. It would have been nice to be a little bit less like the village fool.

With someone like Lila, for example.

“Alexa, now, she’s a little more receptive to my allure,” he joked as he finished unloading the van. “So far, she’s got me strictly in friendzone territory, but I think I’m making headway. We cooked an Alfredo sauce last night that was to die for.”

Helen laughed. She also pulled out her keys so she could unlock the front door for him while his hands were full. It was a small gesture but a thoughtful one, and typical of the women on this street. They carpooled and arranged playdates. They shared house keys for emergency lockouts. They babysat during last-minute appointments and always, always had children’s aspirin on hand.

They were, to put it simply, a godsend. He’d never have been able to do any of this without them.

They were wonderful. And so very exhausting.

“Oh, you,” she said playfully. “Don’t you take anything seriously?”

“Not if I can possibly help it. Haven’t you heard? I’m an unreliable rogue.”

“I like a good rogue,” she said with a grin.

He winked. “You only say that because I haven’t called you to help me hide any bodies yet.”

The banter had its intended effect, which was to send Helen on her way without any major rift in their relationship. She’d continue to believe him an incorrigible flirt, yes, but that was how the game was played. Since it was the same treatment he afforded all the single females of his acquaintance, she wouldn’t lose any sleep over him.

He waited only until her retreating form moved down the driveway before sagging against the doorframe. One of these days, he was going to import a real girlfriend from Canada and save himself a lot of trouble.

“Are you done making Ms. Helen laugh now?” Emily asked, picking up on the cue at once. “Jeeves is getting cold.”