A Mother For Cindy. Margaret Daley

think of anything to say.

      “I’ll help you.” Nick stood, walked by Boswell and leaned down to whisper something in the man’s ear.

      Jesse followed Nick into the kitchen. “I don’t know if it’s wise to leave my grandfather and Boswell out there together. When Gramps gets going—” She let the implied threat trail off into silence.

      Nick’s chuckle was low. “I believe Boswell can hold his own. I reminded him that Cindy and Nate were listening.”

      “I wish that would work with my grandfather. He told me when he turned seventy a few years back that he had earned the privilege of speaking his mind whenever he wanted. I’ve gotten him to tone down his language, but even that was a battle. I love my grandfather, but he isn’t always the best male example for my son.” She peered out the window at the group left on the deck. “Well, I guess what you said worked. The two men are still seated and I don’t hear any shouting.”

      “That’s a good sign.”

      “I really don’t need your help. I was just trying to get Gramps away from the table.”

      “Really?” One of his dark eyebrows quirked.

      “And as usual, it didn’t work.” Jesse walked to the refrigerator to retrieve the gallon of homemade peach ice cream she and Nate had made earlier that day. “If you want, you can get the bowls from the cabinet and some spoons from that drawer.” She gestured toward the one next to the dishwasher.

      She slid a glance toward him as he opened the cabinet. They were alone. This was her chance to see about the kitten for Cindy and set her plan in motion for him to meet Felicia. She noticed the sure way he executed his task as though he was very familiar with her kitchen. This man seemed at home anywhere—even when Fred was attacking him yesterday morning. His well-built body—whoa! That wasn’t what she was supposed to be doing, ogling her guest, a guest she was planning to fix up with Felicia.

      Jesse tore her gaze away from him and asked, “Have you made up your mind about the kitten for Cindy?” There she was back on track with her plan—Felicia and Nick.