“Good boy.” Flynn chuckled and then grew serious when he heard the crunch of gravel as a vehicle came down the road toward the house. “It’s too soon for April and Nessa to be home. They’ve only been gone thirty minutes. Maybe Jackson is stopping by on his way back. You just might get a ride home, Tex.”

When the vehicle came into view, Flynn stood up. It wasn’t Nessa’s SUV or Jackson’s truck but a small compact car. “Someone has gotten lost. Nanny Lucy would give those people the big-oak-tree directions. You know what that is, Tex? It’s when she would say, turn around and go back to the road, go north so many miles, or south so many blocks, then turn left at the big oak tree. I always wondered how many big oak trees there were in Texas.” He laughed at the memory and waited for the car to stop so he could give directions.

His whole body stiffened when Tilly slid her long legs out of the car and waved. “Hey, just the man I wanted to see.” She slammed the door and started toward the porch. “I came to kidnap you, Flynn O’Riley. We’re going dancing tonight at the Lonestar Bar and Grill in Paris. Go change those shoes for some dancin’ boots.” She stopped on the bottom step and let her eyes roam all over him.

He had worked in the oil fields in the hot summertime. He’d spent sweaty hours in Jackson’s workshop. But the way Tilly let her eyes linger on the zipper of his jeans made him feel like he needed a shower more than any other time.

“Thanks for the invitation, but . . .”

She butted in and held up a palm. “There are no buts. Either we go dancing tonight, or else we spend time together right here on this porch.”

“But I have other plans. I was just going out to my truck to go to Paris when Tex showed up and I stopped to pet him.” Flynn hoped that God realized his little white lie was better than the much bigger sin that Tilly had in mind. Besides, he could go to Paris, get one of those waffle cones of soft yogurt, and call that his plans.

She squinted her overly made-up eyes at him. “That’s too bad, darlin’. I got the feeling we could be good together, both in vertical dancing and horizontal. Is it another woman you’ve got plans with?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Flynn lied again, and then his conscience pricked his very soul. “But come on up here on the porch and sit a spell. I’ve got a few minutes.”

With a big smile on her face, she swaggered over to the porch and sat down on the steps beside him. “What do you want to talk about, darlin’?”