Rick nodded. “I told you it was spectacular.”
“You weren’t kidding.” The camera would love it. She turned to him. “You understand that our coming here would forever change the peace and quiet. We couldn’t leave this place as it is now. For months, it would be chaos with the contestants and crew. We’d clog your streets and your businesses, and leave the mess for you to clean up. And then the gawkers would descend.”
“What I know is that it would bring jobs and money to people who need both more than you know.” He pointed at a home with a tree house in the backyard. “It would mean Steve wouldn’t lose his house.” He pointed to another with a covered porch. “Or that Shelly could feed her kids this winter.”
Elizabeth closed her eyes. She knew what it was like to be hungry. What it meant not to know if there would be dinner that night. “I can’t guarantee Devon will go for this idea.”
Rick settled back into the seat. “You tell him it’s either you have me here or I don’t do it at all.”
“That’s a pretty big threat.”
He reached out and touched her hand. “I won’t let you lose your job over me, but I won’t lose myself in the process, either. I’m not going to lie, the idea of doing the show again is making me quake in my sneakers. But as long as we can establish some ground rules, if we can do it my way, then everyone will be happy.”
Uh-oh. His way? She was the producer here, not him. “You ask for a lot.”
Rick shrugged. “So do you.”
She watched the emotions play over his face. He wanted to save this town, but at what cost to himself? He was a good man. Too good for this business. Elizabeth reached out and touched his face, then snapped her hand back as if he’d burned her. What was she doing?
“Lizzie.” The hoarseness of his voice seemed to shock even him.
“Elizabeth.”
He leaned back and looked out over the treetops. “Come to Sunday dinner tomorrow afternoon at my mom’s.”
After the confrontation in the food tent, that was a shock. “Why?”
He turned to her. “Because that’s what I do every Sunday. Spend it with my family. And maybe if we talk some more, we can figure this out. Give my mom a second chance. Isn’t that what you’re offering me here?”
Was it? Elizabeth wasn’t sure anymore.
* * *
ELIZABETHADJUSTEDher black skirt and straightened her pink linen jacket while wondering for the eighty-ninth time why she had agreed to do this. She’d gone to great lengths to secure contestants in the past, but this topped them all.
She exhaled as she saw Rick come down the back stairs from his apartment to where she waited by her convertible.
“Good morning.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek.
She glanced at her watch. “It’s technically afternoon.”
Rick grinned and shrugged. “Close enough.” He moved next to her to lean against the car. “Ready for this?”
Elizabeth’s insides vibrated with tension, and she clutched her stomach. “I’m not hungry.”
“We’ll eat. Talk. Maybe watch a ball game. And have a great afternoon.” He bumped her shoulder with his. “My family wants to get to know you.”
Why? She was about to change Rick’s life again. Maybe coming here hadn’t been a good idea. If she hadn’t been so worried about her job... Instead of asking, she smiled. “Then I’d love to.”
Rick’s shoulders sagged in what looked like relief. “Thanks. You’ll be saving us from a week of leftovers—roast-beef sandwiches, roast-beef salad, beef pâté.”
Elizabeth wiped the sweat off the back of her neck. “Your mother made a roast in this heat?”
Rick shrugged. “She likes to cook.”
What would it have been like to have grown up with a mom like that? Elizabeth couldn’t even begin to imagine. “Is that where you learned it?”
He nodded. “She taught me everything I know. She’s the best.”
“Which you obviously use in your job.” She turned and looked at him. “Did you know the diner would be your life the last time I saw you?”
He took so long in answering her, she thought at first he hadn’t heard what she’d said. At last, he sighed. “No, it’s not where I pictured my life passing. I imagined ball fields and team buses. But things changed after the car accident. And the diner stepped in and took the place of that dream. I spend most of my days there because it’s easier than looking at my life and wondering what the future holds.”
“So what do you want?”
He patted his stomach. “To go to lunch. I’m starving.”
She unlocked her car door and stood in the opening while she looked at him. “Should I follow you out to your mom’s?”
Rick peered past her to the inside of her car. “Actually, I’ll ride with you. Can we put the top down?”
She shook her head. “You’re worse than a kid.”
He grinned at her, and a punch landed in her stomach. Wow.
With his help, they put the soft top down on the convertible and she settled into the driver’s seat. He bounced slightly in the seat and tried all the knobs on the dashboard. She playfully swatted his hand, then turned the key in the ignition. “It’s a car, not a toy.”
He chuckled and settled back in the passenger seat, eyes closed and sun streaming onto his face. “I love Sundays.”
“I can tell.”
He opened one eye and looked at her. She turned her gaze back to the road. “You don’t?”
She shrugged. “In my world, it’s just another day. Another day of phone calls, meetings and... Why are you staring at me like that?”
“You really need to find a hobby.” He turned his focus back to the road. “Turn left up here, and we’ll follow the lake to the house.”
* * *
RICKHELPED LIZZIEout of the car, then walked around the house to the back door.
He opened the door and popped his head inside. “Mom?” The smell of roasting beef tickled his nose, so he knew she was around somewhere. He turned back to Lizzie. “She’s probably changing from her church clothes.”
Lizzie looked down at her suit. “Do I look okay?”
He smiled. Always worried about how she looked. He wore his Detroit Tigers T-shirt and favorite jeans. He didn’t have to worry. “You’re not meeting my family as a girlfriend, so stop worrying. They’ll love you.”
“Until they find out I’m bringing you back to the show again.” She shut the door behind her. “We really need to talk.”
He held up a hand. “I know. Later.” It was definitely a conversation that could wait.
His mom entered the kitchen and walked over to him. She kissed him on the cheek. “My handsome boy.” She turned to Lizzie. Her expression changed from affection to distrust. “I’ve agreed to be civil, for Rick’s sake.” Lizzie fidgeted until his mom looked her over and sighed. “Rick’s right. You need some fattening up. I hope you’re hungry.”
Rick took a step between Lizzie and his mom. Better to keep them at a distance for now. “Is Danny here yet? I’m starving to death.” He patted his empty stomach again.
His mom rolled her eyes. “Never mind him, Lizzie. He’s always hungry.”
“Elizabeth.”