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busy,” I
offered, then quickly added. “With the dandelions, I mean. Of
course. What else would I keep you busy with? I mean, you’d be
surprised what you can do with a dandelion.”
    A smile tugged the corner of his mouth, but
to his credit he kept walking. “I have to say I’ve never found
dandelions more fascinating.”
    “You just might be sick of them by the end of
the day,” I warned. It was probably best to just pretend I hadn’t
just accidentally propositioned him with dandelions.
    To that end, while he poured us each a cup of
coffee, I set about making a list of the supplies I would need with
a Crayola and a napkin.
    While I poured sugar in my coffee, he studied
the list thoughtfully. “You know, I think I have all of this around
here somewhere.”
    “I was hoping so.”
    “Just let me get enough caffeine in my system
to be coherent then I’ll see what I can round up for you.”
    “Fair enough,” I smiled a little at him. I
felt like a fool for doing it, but I couldn’t seem to control my
mouth muscles. “I hear I’ll have some company today.”
    “Yeah, well, I couldn’t just leave you alone
here all day. You could be a convicted felon that would make off
with the family silver or something,” he winked at me. I barely
noticed; I was too busy trying to bat down the panic that had risen
in my throat.
    “I solemnly swear not to make off with the
silver while you’re getting dressed,” I finally managed weakly.
“And I can promise I’ve never been convicted of larceny.”
    “Good to know,” the look in his eyes said he
wanted to know what I had been convicted of.
    “You’re much nicer to me now than you were
Saturday,” I knew I should leave well enough alone, but I wanted to
know what had changed his mind.
    “Would you prefer I go back to being
curt?”
    “No, no. I like this mood much better. Just
making an observation.”
    “To be honest, I’m still trying to decide
what to make of you.”
    “That’s okay. I’m still trying to decide what
to do to you. With you. Aw hell,” I shook my head and rolled my
eyes at myself. I was determined to stick my foot in my mouth
today.
    “Keep talking like that and we won’t get to
the dandelions,” he warned.
    “Dandelions. Yes. The dandelions. If you
could tell me where some of this stuff is, I can start cleaning
them while you get dressed. I mean, if you want to get dressed. Not
that you have to, because you look great in your pajamas. I mean…
dang it…. Sorry. I guess I haven’t talked to a man in a while. I
haven’t talked to much of anyone in a while.”
    “Hard time can be like that…”
    “Excuse me?” I think I forgot to breathe.
    “Prison… sorry, bad joke. Now I’m the one
that has to admit I haven’t talked to a woman over the age of six
recently. Well, except Anjelita and she doesn’t count.”
    “No, it’s okay. We’ll just stammer through
the day together,” I’m pretty sure I smiled at him. Feebly, maybe,
but it was meant to be reassuring.
    “So, should I change or not?” he teased.
    “Just point me in the direction of my
supplies and you can strip naked and streak through the town square
for all I care,” I tried to sound indifferent. Truth was—if he did
that, I’d probably be on the front porch watching. That thought
made me giggle. There was something very normal about being in
lust. I liked that. Maybe it meant there was hope for me yet.
    “Na, you’d enjoy that too much. You’d never
get your dandelions… well, whatever you’re going to do to them.” He
playfully tapped my nose. I startled like a deer, causing him to
apologize, then me to apologize.
    If for no other reason than to break the
awkwardness we kept stumbling onto, he rounded up the pans and
buckets I’d requested, then went to change while I began the
process of separating the dandelions into three parts. He returned
in a gray t-shirt and jeans, ready to help clean dandelions.
    I showed him how to cut the flowers so no
green