It'll be a long hot summer

 Lily was ready to jump for joy, but she knew she better not do it around Rafe or he'd surely be right at her throat asking what that was about. Funny, how he couldn't keep his sights on anybody else but her. It made her furious, but she gave him the usual cold shoulder.

A part of her wondered where it had all started with him, but she wouldn't think it. Not now. Not with Boone around. Honestly, he was so refreshing. He wasn't the kind who looked at her all snooty and wondering what no good she was up to. Yes, that was Rafe in a nutshell. If only she could remember to write it all down in a letter and send it to him some time. Oh, what would be the point?

Besides, summer was looking up. Her Gram was going on a cruise with her best friend (Brick's grandmother). AND..and Lily would be home alone. Well, there was that father of hers who might check up on her, but she kind of doubted it. After all, he had a full load of summer classes to teach in Art History most of the summer.

Oh, the things she knew. Yes, it wasn't like she was hiding away from her own family, but it was a snooze fest. And then..and then there was Boone.

Why had she felt so giddy around him? He was naturally at ease for one thing. He wasn't being Mr. Mystery. And that was Rafe. Oh, God..she was still angry with him from the moment she saw him. He was not nice to her. He was just so into himself. There she went again full of angst the moment she thought of him.

"It's not nice to be this way," her gram reminded her she needed to be nice. Even to Rafe. She felt certain she'd really pulled the rug out from under him and he'd fallen into some tough times. "You said you'd be friends."

Lily kept a closed mouth about it. Even now. She didn't say much of anything to him. He stomped around as if he was ready to be in a punk show of some kind. No, she was here to support that poor kid, who was going to learn how to make dough and bake stuff, too.

"Now, don't be too hard on him," Lily batted her lashes hoping Ste would notice back in his bakery kitchen, but of course, he didn't. He was watching bread dough mix in the huge mixer.

"Well, I'll be easier on him, than my brother was with me," Ste was even-lipped as he looked blankly at Lily. "It'll be fine. He's already been studying the recipes and he's been taking notes."

Lily hoped it was enough. She sighed. Well, she'd be here to pick up the pieces if it didn't go swell like Ste assumed. She couldn't think it would be easy. After all, Ste did have his moods. He was an Englishman, wasn't he? Of course, she hadn't seen him snap in a long while. Perhaps that wife of his had tamed him. But Lily knew Ste was born a rowdy footballer and he'd always be one if given a chance.