Page 48 of Free to Live

“About what happened to you?”

I let out a deep breath. “Yeah.”

She pulls away to lean against the railing. I’m both amazed and disturbed to find I miss the warmth of her next to me. “Enough to understand she”—she nods to where Tiffany was standing—“would have made you uncomfortable.”

“She’s pretty much the nightmare of most single dads. And a few of the married ones.” I reach for my drink and take a sip. I decide to ask a question that’s been on my mind. “You don’t have any kids?” Even though I didn’t notice any of hers at the farm the other night, she could be divorced and sharing custody.

She shakes her head. “Nope. Thirty-two and still single. I have one nephew, two nieces, and a soon-to-be step-niece. And two yet-to-be determineds.” I smile at her phrasing of Ali and Keene’s future babies.

“Can I ask a personal question?” She raises her eyebrows. I lift a hand. “You can tell me it’s none of my business.”

“Fire away,” she says smoothly.

“Are the men around here idiots, or is your single status by choice?”

She chuckles. “If you were on the date I was the other day, you’d understand better.”

I nod sagely. “Idiots.” Holly’s musical laughter rings out in the night.

“To be fair, I’m also not looking for forever,” she concedes. “I want someone I can go out with where there’s no pressure to be…” I interrupt her.

“More than friends?”

She nods.

I let out a deep sigh. “That’s been the hardest part since I lost Mary,” I admit. Her lips tip in empathy, but she doesn’t say anything, so I continue. “I want to be able to enjoy some of the things I used to and not feel like…”

“A fifth wheel?” Holly inserts dryly. “Extra baggage with all the happy couples? A permanent target for all the fix-ups?”

“Oh, God. You just became my new best friend. I’m dumping Brett the minute I go back inside.” Holly’s smile washes over me. Grinning, I add on, “Since he’s been my best friend since we were kids, this will devastate him for about point two seconds before he gets another beer and says, ‘Whatever.’”

“That reminds me of the night my sisters and I declared we were going to marry each other and become ‘sister wives,’” Holly chortles. “In fact—” She tips her head back toward the entrance of Tide Pool. “—it happened right inside while we were sitting on the bar.”

I choke on my laugh. “Isn’t that illegal in all fifty states?”

“None of us are biologically related; we could have made it work. But after the liquor wore off, Ali kept threatening to disown us, so we gave up the idea.”

I throw back my head and laugh so hard, I feel wetness spring to my eyes. I’m wheezing trying to get my breath when I hear her say, “Smile.” I know I have a wonky one on my face when the flash on her camera goes off, but I do.

And damned if it doesn’t feel right.

I have no idea what tricks this red-haired witch has up her sleeve, but I can’t think of a single time in the last three years when I’ve laughed so much or smiled so hard.

“Holly, let me ask you something?” Her head swings my way, and I feel a punch in the gut from those golden eyes that I’m so not ready for.

“Sure.” Her uncomplicated simplicity makes liking her very easy.

“Keene and Ali mentioned you do photography outside of the wedding stuff.” I wait for her nod. “I don’t know how much you charge, but I was wondering if you have an opening…maybe I could schedule some time for me and Grace. I know Mother’s Day is coming up soon, but my mother does so much to help out with Grace…” My voice trails off when I feel the warmth of her hand on my arm.

“Joe, it won’t take more than an hour or two. And that kind of photography is fun for me. Do you have my number or just the office?”

“Whatever Ali gave me on her card.”

“Give me your phone,” she says, holding out her hand face up. Digging in my pocket, I pull it out and unlock it. Quickly she programs herself in and then dials. A phone rings in the cold night air. Slipping her phone out, she programs my number in. “I figure your schedule is fairly hectic, but if you can, give me a day’s notice. Dress Grace in cute, casual clothes. Nothing super fancy. We’ll hit the park or something like that.”

“How much am I looking at?” I ask warily.

“A couple of cups of coffee and the cost of printing the pictures. I don’t charge friends of the family for my services.”