“I have no idea, but I’m glad that Nessa was with me, or I might be the one running and hiding.” Jackson chuckled.

“What’s your secret?” Flynn asked. “I’m trying to get my life straightened out, not dive into more trouble.”

“Stay away from the known spots where women like Tilly will ambush you,” Jackson answered. “Bars and Weezy’s.”

“And church?” Flynn added.

Jackson cocked his head to one side. “You’ve picked up women in church?”

“One of the best places,” Flynn answered. “If you’re going to church, they think you’re a stand-up guy who would never sleep with them and then not call or send flowers the next day.”

“You’ve been a little bit of a bastard, haven’t you?” Jackson asked.

“I learned it from the best. You already know all about my dad. But now I’m doing my best to unlearn it and start over with a clean slate.” Flynn looked at the hope chest he’d been working on. It had started out as raw wood, and to get to be a finished product, it had to endure screws being sunk into it, the sanding and staining processes, and then varnish. That was the way his life had been since he’d decided to come to Blossom and get a new start. It had been a lot and would be even more, a lengthy process from start to finish. Some of it might not be pleasant, but when he was done, he hoped to be more like his mother—like his father had said. “Did you and Nessa have a good time on your cemetery date? Now that’s one place I’ve never picked up a woman.”

“Me either.” Jackson’s grin got bigger. “And that was the first time I ever took a date to the cemetery.”

“Not even in high school on Halloween?” Flynn asked.

“We went to the cemetery once on Halloween, but it was just a group of us kids goofing off, not a date with a single girl,” Jackson answered.

“Yep, same here.” Flynn wiped away the stain on the end of the hope chest. “Nessa came in all aglow and happy. But as a friend, I should warn you that both of you better think about this. You’re neighbors, you know.”

“Big-brother cousin giving advice?” Jackson asked.

Flynn shrugged. “I’m in no place to give anyone advice on love or relationships. I’ve had lots of women, but I’ve never been in love or been in a serious relationship. Things could get weird between you two if they didn’t work out. And I’d hate to lose my job here if . . .”