“It’s not for free—it’s for the maze, remember?” She crossed her fingers under the table that she could wow Zayne enough to get him to agree. “I can get lots of sleep after the festival. And after I get this job.” She shuffled the folders in front of her, fanning them out on the table. “And after we make sure these kids have the class schedules and support they need. So...maybe by... Thanksgiving?” Tani wasn’t amused. Andrea sighed. “It’ll be better after this week. Between admissions and cramming in all this work for Zayne, it’s been...a lot. And naturally, my mother has suddenly decided she’s too busy to babysit Hudson.”

She gave Tani a tired smile. “He won’t have to use a rusty old spike to schedule his work anymore. The bookkeeping part will be on the computer too, and I’m making it super easy for him.” Which didn’t mean it had been easy to create. She just hoped it was enough to satisfy him, because she needed to know if the maze was a go or not. If not, she’d have to find a farmer with a cornfield, and she’d have to beg—really beg—them to let the festival carve a maze into it somehow. But first, she had one more shot to convince Zayne Rutledge to let her...er...the festival succeed.

That evening, as intriguing as she usually found Zayne’s company, all she wanted was for him to leave so she could finish setting things up and go home to sleep. Hudson was having a sleepover at Mary Trask’s home. Hudson and Mary’s son Nathan were best pals at preschool. The timing was perfect. She only had to upload the software program and data. Then she could drive home to a quiet house and a comfy bed and sleep for a day.

“You sure you want to stay here on your own?” Zayne was at the door. “If I’d known you were coming this late—”

“I need to get everything ready for tomorrow. And I have a day job, so it’s evenings or nothing.” She gave her head a little shake, trying to clear it so she could focus and just. get. this. done.

“Are you feeling okay?” Zayne’s voice went soft, which totally threw her. She wasn’t prepared for soft, caring Zayne.

“I’m fine,” she said briskly. “I just want to get this done, so, as you like to say, go away.”

“Where’s Hudson?”

“He’s having an overnight with a friend. I wanted to be able to concentrate on this.” She nodded at the computer, hoping Zayne would take the hint and leave.

“Maybe I should cancel this appointment.” He glanced at his watch.