But did Zoey believe he could do it? Was that one of the reasons she was determined to keep them a big, dark secret? Call him sensitive, but her insistence on keeping him apart from her life with Hazel was like a small burr under a saddle. It wore on him. Poked at him.

His grandmother appeared at his side, blowing kisses at Gavin while patting Mike’s shoulder. “Food will be ready in twenty minutes, so someone better start grilling some meat. I think Finn fired up the grills already, but right now he’s guzzling beer at the table with Zoey and Owen. Bridget is putting Moira down for a nap. Can you take charge out there?”

“Sure, Nana.” He didn’t want to, but he couldn’t tell her that without saying why. Because the why was drinking wine at the outside table, right next to the grill. “But I’ve got this little guy...”

He knew that excuse wouldn’t fly. Nana lifted the boy with an exaggerated groan. “My God, child! You’re growing like a weed.”

Mike stood, giving himself a mental pep talk. He could do this. He could be Zoey’s buddy for the afternoon. Just pals. And maybe later they could pay a visit to the repair shop...and that sturdy old office desk.

The problem was, he was beginning to want more than stolen moments. More than being friends with benefits. He wanted all of Zoey. And she’d made it clear that wasn’t going to happen anytime soon.

CHAPTER TWENTY

ZOEY WAS ON EDGE. And that sucked, because Mary’s house was usually one of her favorite places to be. Her friend had an effortless style—which Mary insisted should be called exhaustion—when it came to entertaining. She treated everyone like family, and she figured family should be very forgiving of toys on the floor and a little dust on the shelves. And if they couldn’t deal with that, they were welcome to leave. McKinnons were like that. Love me or go. Your choice.

Like the way Mike had left as soon as she’d stepped outside. As well as she knew him, she hadn’t been able to read the emotions skipping across his face when their eyes met. A quick smile. A frown. A wrinkled forehead. Then up on his feet and gone.

Yes, she’d been extra firm about them not doing anything obvious to give their new relationship away with so many people around. But she never meant they should treat each other like strangers. She smoothed her hands down the yellow dress. Was it the dress that had thrown him off?