Charlie licked a milk mustache from her upper lip. “A couple dozen of these might make a nice wedding present.”

“I can do better than that,” Julia said.

“Okay. How about a couple dozen every week for a year?”

“Enough about the cookies.” Tess pulled a notepad from her tote. “How about the cake?”

“Ooh, the cake. I’ve got some pictures.” Addie rummaged through her scuffed, sagging tote and hefted a thick pile of bridal magazines onto the counter.

“Not the magazines.” Charlie shoved her milk aside and buried her face in her crossed arms. “Anything but the magazines.”

“Let me see, sweetie.” Julia slid onto the stool next to Addie and opened a bloated magazine bristling with sticky markers. “Now, isn’t that pretty?”

“We could use fresh flowers to decorate the tops of the layers,” Addie said. “Fresh flowers would work, wouldn’t they?”

“They add a nice touch.” Tess licked her fingers and craned her neck to peer at the photo over Addie’s shoulder. “I like the way those are draped and swirled over the edges. What do you think, Charlie?”

“I think I want another snickerdoodle.” She crossed the kitchen to the oversize bin near the cooktop.

Julia set the oven’s timer. “I’m leaving you in charge, Miss Addie. You see that this pie gets pulled out and set on the rack when that buzzer goes off, or you’re going to have me to answer to.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Addie grinned as Julia lightly flicked her arm with a tea towel.

“All right. Let’s get down to business,” Tess said when Julia had gone. She opened her notepad and clicked a pen. “Where do we start? Cake? Flowers? We should probably start with the flowers, because-What?” she asked when she saw the look that passed between Charlie and Addie.

“I heard you got sent to the principal’s office at Adams Elementary School,” Charlie said.

“Oh, that. That’s not exactly what happened.” Tess tried to wave it off, but Charlie crossed her arms and rested on the island, settling in to hear the whole sordid tale. “How did you hear about it?” Tess asked.

“Jason Cardoza’s mother was dropping off some flyers at the school office,” Charlie told her.

“And who is Jason Cardoza?”

“One of the boys on Jack’s Little League team.”

Tess narrowed her eyes. “Sometimes I think this town’s grapevine needs some serious pruning.”

“What we want to know is, what were you doing at the school?” Addie asked.

“Picking up Quinn’s daughter.”

“Hmm.” Charlie gave Addie another of those annoying looks. “Interesting.”

“There was nothing ‘interesting’ about it,” Tess said. “I was doing him a favor. That’s all.”

“You’re turning red.” Addie studied her over the rim of her glass. “You wouldn’t be turning red if it was just a favor.”

“Maybe she’s been doing other favors for Quinn.” Charlie wiggled her eyebrows. “Favors we don’t know about. Yet.”

“We could ask her,” Addie suggested.

“I have an idea,” Tess said as she stood and gathered her things. “Why don’t we continue this interrogation outside. You can plan for the wedding and torture me at the same time.”

“Okay.” Charlie straightened and headed toward the door leading to the back hall. “Dibs on the thumbscrews.”

“We can’t go outside yet,” Addie said. “I have to wait for the pie. And we don’t mean to torture you,” she told Tess. “We’re just curious about what’s going on between you and Quinn.”

“What makes you think something’s going on? What?” Tess asked. “There’s that look again. Stop giving each other that look.”

“What look?” Addie asked.

“The we-know-she’s-hiding-something-from-us look.”

“Guilty as charged.” Charlie returned and swung up on one of the stools. “So-what are you hiding from us?”

Tess tried staring them down, but she was outnumbered. “All right, all right. For crying out loud.” She inhaled deeply and blew out a put-upon sigh. “There was…this…kiss.”

“I knew it.” Charlie slapped the counter. “I knew there was something going on the night you two came over for dinner.”

“Just a kiss?” Addie asked.

“You sound so disappointed,” Tess said.

“She’s not.” Charlie shook her head. “I’m not. It’s just that we’re a little worried about you. Usually you’re…”

“Getting more than kisses?” Tess asked.

“Happier.” Addie ran her hand down Tess’s arm. “Aren’t you happy, Tess?”

It was the reassuring, uncomplicated gesture that did Tess in-the contrast between the sweet simplicity of that touch and the terrifying complications casting shadows over her personal life.

“I don’t know.” Tess swallowed, mortified by the sting behind her eyes and the burn in her throat. “I don’t know what’s going on, what’s going to happen between Quinn and me. I want an affair, but I know it’ll be painful and messy-there’s no avoiding it.”

“Are you sure?” Addie asked.

“He’s an alcoholic,” Tess said. “He’s got a kid. I’m working with him. How much worse could it be?”

“He could be married,” Charlie pointed out.

Tess huffed out a shaky laugh. “You’re right. Things could be worse. But I don’t do those things. I don’t do messy and painful. So I’ve been asking myself why don’t I just give up on the idea?”

“Because he kissed you,” Addie said.

“Yes, he did.” Tess shivered, remembering. “He kissed me. I mean, he kissed me, and omigod, I want him. I’m scared to death how much I want him. There,” she said, glaring at her friends. “Are you satisfied now? Totally-in-control, love-’em-and-leave-’ em Tess Roussel has been brought to her knees by a moody, troubled man, with just one kiss.”

“Must have been some kiss,” Charlie said.

“Take my word for it.” Tess sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “The man may have his faults-and plenty of them-but he knows how to kiss.”

ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON Quinn sat in the local minor league field bleachers with his daughter and a crowd of people he barely knew. He drank lukewarm lemonade, watched his newest crew member strike out twice in the first four innings and listened to Tess’s low-level whining about the sticky seat, the flat soda, the rude couple two rows down and the high price of the sandals she wanted for a new dress. He closed his eyes, tipped his head back and let the sun warm his face.

Life was good.

He still couldn’t believe he was here, instead of checking the equipment at the job site. But he’d thought Rosie might enjoy the outing. And when Mick and Jack had ganged up on him to twist both arms-not-so-subtly pointing out that Tess would be here, too-he’d agreed to help with the chaperoning duties for Jack’s Little League team.

Tess jostled his elbow as she scooted her feet out of the aisle, scrunching back and turning her face to the side to avoid a nose-to-butt-crack encounter with the fan heading to an empty seat farther down their row. “Gee, Quinn. You sure know how to show a girl a good time.”

“I’m having fun.” Behind them, Addie noisily slurped the last of her soda and then yelled at the ump. “I haven’t seen a Wildcats game in years. I forgot how exciting it can be.”

“Glad you’re enjoying it.” Quinn stole a handful of popcorn from Tess’s bag and shoved it into his mouth.

“Don’t get too impressed with yourself.” Tess brushed a stray fleck of popcorn from her light blue pants. “Addie doesn’t get out much.”

The batter caught one high and inside, sending a pop fly into left field. Addie gripped Tess’s shoulder as Mick went deep, deep, loping into position and making the catch look as easy as pie.

“He’s wonderful,” Addie said. “And incredibly cute.”

“Think so?” Tess leaned forward, giving Mick a squinting once-over. “Quinn can introduce you after the game.”

“No,” Quinn said.

“Why not?” Tess dug into her bag and pulled out two fluffy kernels. “He’s single. Addie’s single. And she’s right-he is sort of cute.”

“Bad combination,” Quinn said.