And wasn’t this going to be a whole new way to have fun?

He and Molly waved cheery see-you-laters to the Calebows. As they walked away, he thought he heard Dan muttering to Phoebe, but he caught only one word.

“Slytherin.”

Molly waited until they were far enough away before she let her agitation show. “You have to get your things out of the cottage! I don’t want them to know we’ve been sleeping together.”

After the way they’d looked coming out of the woods, he figured it was already too late, but he nodded.

“And don’t let Dan get you alone again. He’ll just give you the third degree. I’ll make sure one of the kids is always around when I’m with Phoebe.”

Before he could reply, she took off toward the cottage. He kicked at a clump of gravel and headed for the B&B. Why did she need to be secretive? Not that he wanted her to say anything—things were rocky enough as it was. But Molly didn’t have to worry about being traded to Detroit like he did, so why didn’t she tell them to go to hell?

The more he thought about it, the more her attitude bothered him. It was okay for him to want to keep this private, but somehow it wasn’t okay for her.

Chapter 20

20

In olden days a girl who liked a boy always made sure he won when they played cards and board games.

—“Playing Rough”

article for Chik

They changed out of their suits in time for Molly’s tea in the gazebo, which she’d decided to hold at three o’clock instead of five because it would be better for the kids. She complained to Phoebe that the paper plates and store-bought cake disqualified her from a photo spread in Victoria magazine, but Kevin knew she cared more about having a good time than bringing out the good china.

He nodded at Lilly, who’d walked over with Charlotte Long and Charlotte’s friend Vi. He’d already noticed the cottage residents shielding her from the curiosity of the more transient guests at the B&B. He thought about going over to talk to her, but he couldn’t think of what to say.

Molly kept herself surrounded with scampering poodles and noisy kids. She had a red heart barrette in her hair, pink jeans, a purple top, and bright blue laces in her sneakers. She was a walking rainbow, and just looking at her made him smile.

“George!” Molly bounced up and down waving at Liam Jenner as he got out of his pickup around four o’clock and walked toward them. “George Smith! Thanks for coming.”