Her Summer Crush. Linda Lee Hope

again, and Cody walked with Sylvie. Nobody said more than a few words, and when they reached Cody’s SUV and Ben’s truck, their goodbyes were brief and polite.

      On the drive home, Luci thought about trying to make conversation, but, in truth, she didn’t have the energy. Ben lapsed into his characteristic silence. No, not characteristic. Sylvie had pushed a button and, like a mechanical doll, Ben had come to life.

      “Thanks for dinner and the nice evening,” she said when they reached her apartment.

      “You’re welcome. I’ll walk you to your door,” he added but made no move to silence the truck’s engine.

      “No need. It’s right there.”

      “Okay. Good night, then. When you want to talk more about birds, give me a call.”

      “I most certainly will.”

      * * *

      “SO WHAT WAS that all about, Sylvie?”

      “What was what all about?”

      He took his gaze from the road long enough to meet her innocent eyes with a glare. “You know what I’m talking about. You were flirting with Ben.”

      She pressed her lips together and fingered her purse, which was balanced on her lap. “I couldn’t help it. I took one look at him and our eyes met and, well, I just knew that he was special.”

      “I thought you’d sworn off men. After Eddie gave you such a bad time.”

      “I thought I had, too, but, well, our eyes met and—”

      “You already said that.”

      She shrugged. “There’s not much more to say.”

      Cody set his jaw. He’d wanted to help Ben and Luci, directing the conversation, seeing that they got to know each other better. And Sylvie? Well, she was along for...for the seafood salad, like she’d agreed. Only she hadn’t fulfilled her end of the bargain.

      “You should know better than to try manipulating people,” Sylvie said.

      “I wasn’t manipulating, I was, ah, assisting, guiding, mentoring.”

      “Manipulating,” she said, more emphatic than before.

      He slowed the SUV to turn off Main Street, heading for Sylvie’s house. “So what now?”

      She shrugged. “What do you mean?”

      “Did he ask to see you again?”

      “As if that’s any of your business.”

      “I think it is. I’m the one who got you into this.”

      Sylvie heaved a deep sigh. “Okay, no, he did not. But he will.” She nodded, setting her topknot in motion.

      Cody snorted. “How do you know that?”

      “A woman just knows, that’s all.”

      “Are men really that transparent?”

      Sylvie grasped her purse, lifted it and plunked it down on her lap again. “I’d better shut up, before I give away too many secrets of the sisterhood.”

      Cody shut up, too, and they rode on in silence.

      They reached her house, which was enclosed by a rickety fence strung with fishnets, colorful buoys and pieces of driftwood. The yard was a mixture of sand and crushed seashells, with tufts of grass sprouting here and there.

      She opened the gate and led them up the path to the front door. A wind chime made of seashells hanging next to the door clacked in the light breeze.

      “Thanks, Cody.” Sylvie stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek.

      “You’re welcome—I think.”

      She turned to slip her key in the lock but then stopped and faced him again. “Oh, I almost forgot. Can I have one of those pictures you took of Ben and me tonight? I want to put it on my Facebook page, to let Eddie know I’ve moved on.”

      “Sure, but you just said Ben didn’t ask to see you again.”

      “He will,” she said and smiled. “He will.”

      * * *

      “WHAT CAN I help you with, Mom?” Luci asked. After a stressful week at work and the so-called date with Ben Shapiro last night, she looked forward to a relaxing Sunday with her family.

      Anna stood at the island in the spacious kitchen, slicing a head of lettuce on the chopping board. She pushed a lock of hair from her forehead with the back of one hand. “Hello, honey. You can work on this salad while I baste the roast.”

      Luci sniffed the air. “It smells wonderful.” Picking up the knife where her mother had laid it, she sliced the lettuce while Anna crossed the room to the stove.

      The children’s voices drifted in from the screened-in porch adjacent to the dining room. “Sounds like the kids are having a good time,” Luci began, but just then a scream rent the air. “Uh-oh, somebody’s not happy.”

      Anna closed the oven door and straightened. “That sounds like Megan. She has trouble getting along with the older kids, sometimes.”

      Arliss entered the kitchen, holding a tearful Megan by the hand. “Maybe Grandma can find something you can help with,” Arliss was saying. “Oh, hi, Luci. How was your date last night?”

      Luci’s mouth dropped open. “How’d you know about that?”

      “You forget Don and Cody are buddies?”

      Anna handed Megan a stack of paper napkins. “Here, darlin’, put one of these at each place at the table. Okay?”

      Megan pouted, but she nodded, took the napkins and trotted off to the dining room.

      “Buddies, humph,” Luci said. “More like gossips.”

      “So how was it?” Arliss lifted a pot of potatoes from the stove and moved to the sink to pour off the water.

      “It was...okay.”

      “You like Ben?”

      “He was nice.” She looked around. “Where’s Fran?” Usually the four of them worked together in the kitchen.

      Arliss set down the pot and gave a dismissive wave. “Oh, she’s on her phone. Big open house today in Oceanside.”