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at Mike. “You didn’t need to make such a big deal out of it, you know.”
    “Yes, I did. Weren’t you the one who said Brenda deserved honesty?”
    Melanie bit back a grin. “I was referring to your disinclination to go out with her.”
    He shrugged. “Honesty is honesty. I’ll work up to the other thing.”
    “You’re just afraid if you tell her, once and for all, that you’re not interested, she’ll start burning your burgers,” Melanie accused.
    “Damn straight,” he agreed without the slightest sign of repentance.
    “Can I ask you another personal question?” When he didn’t immediately shake his head, she went on, “She’s an attractive woman and she seems nice enough. Why aren’t you interested?”
    “My life’s complicated enough. I’m not looking for a relationship.”
    Melanie could relate to that. “And I imagine it’s a whole lot easier to give a rosebush what it needs than it is to deal with a woman.”
    His lips quirked slightly. “Couldn’t have said it better myself.”
    Even though she could relate all too well to where he was coming from, some traitorous little voice deep inside her couldn’t help murmuring, “Lucky rosebush.”
    Mike regarded her oddly. “What was that?”
    Oh, Lord, had she really said that out loud? “Nothing,” she insisted, her cheeks burning.
    “I thought you said something about the rosebushes,” he persisted.
    She feigned confusion. “Really? I was thinking about what you’ve been saying about what bad shape they’re in. Maybe I said something about that without thinking.”
    A grin tugged at his lips. “Now who’s being dishonest, darlin’?”
    “I’m not your darling,” she said irritably.
    “I notice you didn’t deny being dishonest, though. Maybe you’re just telling a little white lie to spare my feelings.”
    She frowned at him. “Are you always this impossible?”
    He laughed at that. “So they say.” He stood up and grabbed the check. “Gotta run, darlin’.”
    She was about to utter yet another protest at the endearment when she spotted Brenda heading their way. To Melanie’s shock, Mike leaned down and brushed a kiss across her lips. No doubt it was only meant to add to the impression that they were a couple, but Melanie’s lips felt singed, anyway. She couldn’t have uttered a word if her life depended on it. Instead, she grabbed her shake with trembling fingers and drank the last drops of thick chocolate. It was still deliciously cold, but it wasn’t half as frosty as the look Brenda gave her when she finally managed to make her exit. She had a feeling that through no fault of her own, she’d just made her first enemy in town.

3
    I t was the scent of lilacs that brought Melanie out of the house on a rainy Saturday morning the second week in April. It had been years since she’d smelled that aroma, and it never failed to remind her of her grandmother. For all the showy roses in her grandmother’s garden, it was the lilacs she’d loved most. She’d filled the house with huge vases of them during the short blooming season. And, rain or shine, she’d thrown open the windows for yet more of their sweet scent.
    Now, though, the clusters of lavender flowers were fighting for breath on the overgrown bushes that had been invaded by the twisting vines of honeysuckle. Melanie stared at the mess with dismay, understanding fully for the first time why Mike was so thoroughly disgusted by the neglect. These once-thriving bushes were about to be destroyed.
    Inspired to save the lilacs, she went inside, found the key to the garden shed, then headed outdoors with some trepidation to see what tools were available. With any luck, she wouldn’t find any snakeskins dangling on the hooks along with the clippers and rakes.
    It took several tries to get the old key to work in therusty lock on the shed, but inside she found every gardening tool imaginable, all kept in pristine condition aside from way too many spiderwebs to suit her.