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practical garden shed, but you don’t have much in the way of outdoor living space. And you
do
need a garage, even if you’re not the little old lady I expected.”
    I didn’t want to be rude, so I tried to weasel out of the situation as politely as possible. “I’m very sorry if Natasha misled you. We could probably help you find someone more deserving of a yard makeover.”
    He nodded and made a little whistling sound. “What if we built you a fire pit?”
    “I
have
a fire pit.” True, it was the kind you buy ready-made and plop on a terrace, but it served my purpose.
    “Um hmm.” He cast an unappreciative eye at it. “Outdoor kitchen.”
    I laughed. “I have to give you credit for trying. In a few hours it will be hot and humid. Who would want to spend time cooking out here unless it was on the grill? I don’t need an entire outdoor kitchen for that.”
    Natasha nudged me. “Could I speak to you for just a moment?”
    We walked a few feet away, and I braced myself.
    “You’re embarrassing me. You’re supposed to be thrilled and excited. Nobody turns down a star like Troy!”
    “I can’t help it if you misrepresented the situation. I happen to like my backyard, and I’m not interested in having Troy and his troops dig it up with a bulldozer.” I eyed her with suspicion.
    She winked at Troy. Was she
flirting
? Had she finally given up all hope that Mars would marry her?
    “Look, Sophie. You need a garage. You know you do. I cannot imagine why you would turn down a garage. It’s a big yard. You have”—her lips bunched up like it pained her to say it—“this big double lot. The garage will only take up a little corner. And think how wonderful it will be not to have to carry groceries from your car in the rain.”
    She had a point. I hated to admit that, though. And I still didn’t want my yard torn up.
    Troy ambled over. “Excuse us, Natasha.” He motioned to me, and we strolled toward my potting shed.
    “What if I said I could give you a garage and a fabulous outdoor living space you would love—without ripping out your flower beds. The only thing you would lose is that left back corner, which is mostly bushes anyway. Whadda ya’ say?”
    It was tempting. I felt guilty, though. Someone else probably needed a garage much more than me.
    A truck thundered along the alley that ran behind my fence.
    I looked up at Troy. “It’s too late to change your plans, isn’t it? I’m on the schedule, and everyone is already here, ready to work.”
    He grinned at me. A genuine grin, not the dazzling smile he used before. “Pretty much. They count on me talking people into it.”
    He was good at his job. “Has anyone ever turned you down?”
    “Not yet. C’mon, you’re getting a new garage!”
    I didn’t trust him. I wanted to, but I had seen the show, and I had a very bad feeling that his backhoe would run right over me if I tried to protect my beautiful plants.
    Nina poked me from behind and whispered, “Are you nuts? You’re the only person in the whole world who would turn this down. No nightmares with contractors who don’t show for work and no having to find people to finish or fix what someone else started.”
    “What if I don’t like what they do? What if they build something that looks like a gleaming steel tin can?”
    Troy held up his palms. “I have the design guidelines for Old Town. They’re fairly specific for these historic blocks. It will be a good change for us. We like to vary the shows, and I see this garage and backyard looking like they’ve been here as long as the house.” He clapped my back. “Have a little faith in me.”
    I relented. After all, how bad could it be? Nina was right, at the very least I would get a garage out of it. “All right.”
    “Roll cameras!” shouted Natasha.
    Troy quickly covered up his surprise at her audacity. Even if she had her own local show, it wasn’t her business to direct Troy’s show. I had a hunch we were in for some