Lincoln only narrowed his eyes and waited.

“Something more medium town, with a touch of Southern to keep things interesting.”

It took Lincoln all of thirty seconds to get where Cassidy was going with this. “North Carolina. You want to send me to Charlotte.”

“Strictly optional. If there’s another city you’d prefer, I’m open to it so long as it gets you away from the Northeast and bad memories. But I’ll throw it out there that Daisy’s big old mansion has a fully furnished guesthouse, fancy kitchen, private—”

Lincoln tilted his head back and laughed, although there was very little joy in it. “You’re either trying to set me up, or you’re trying to assign me a babysitter. I’m not sure which is worse.”

“It’s neither,” Cassidy said calmly.

Lincoln’s laughter died as he realized his boss was serious.

“Look, I’d never think to play matchmaker so soon after your loss. Neither would Emma. Even if I did, it wouldn’t be Daisy.”

He couldn’t help it. His gut clenched at the mention of her. He’d barely heard from her since he pulled back several months ago, even before Katie’s death. She’d sent him a message the morning of the funeral, just a simple I’m so sorry, and though he’d appreciated it, he hadn’t responded. Not to her, not to anyone.

“Why not Daisy?” Lincoln asked, before he could stop himself.

“Because she’s just as damaged as you are,” Cassidy said quietly.

Lincoln wanted to ask more about that, but didn’t. “So a babysitter then.”

“Why would you need a babysitter?” Cassidy asked, looking genuinely puzzled.

“Well there’s got to be some reason you’re sending me there and not a random, anonymous city.”

“Yes, two reasons. The first comes from me as your boss. The guesthouse and kitchen will be free, which means the only things coming out of my Oxford budget are your rental car, grocery bill, and whatever money you expense as you research the Charlotte dating scene.”

“And the second reason?”

His boss blew out a breath. “That one’s more personal. Because I care about you.”

Lincoln shifted in embarrassment. Cassidy wasn’t exactly a man of words. None of them were, except maybe Cole, and even Cole played it cool most of the time.

Cassidy picked up the ball, tossed it from hand to hand in the very same way Lincoln had earlier, before catching himself and setting it aside.

“I’m not exiling you, it’s just a…remote assignment. Neither you nor Daisy is in a place for romance, and neither of you is in need of a watcher, but there is something you both need quite desperately.”

“I can hardly wait to hear.”

Cassidy picked up the ball again, chucked it at Lincoln, who caught it just before it hit his face. “You need a friend, moron. More specifically, you need a damned friend you’ll actually talk to.”

“And you think that friend might be Daisy?”

Cassidy lifted his eyebrows in a challenge. “Don’t you?”

Chapter 14

“So let me get this straight,” Whitney said, trailing after Daisy with a glass of Chardonnay in hand. “The finest-looking man on the planet is coming to stay with you, and you’re putting him in the guesthouse?”

“Yes,” Daisy explained patiently as she rearranged some white tulips in a nonfussy vase. “Because he’s a guest.”

“But you don’t deny that he’s the finest-looking man on the planet,” Whitney countered, pointing her wine at Daisy.

Daisy laughed. “No. I don’t deny it. But he’s not coming here looking to get laid, so you can just put your boobs away.”

Whitney shimmied. “I wore a special pushup, just for him. When’s his plane land again?”

Daisy glanced at her watch. “Five minutes ago. But I imagine he’s got a bunch of luggage, plus he’s got to get the rental car, drive here, blah blah blah.”

Whitney wasn’t listening. She was too busy checking her cleavage in the mirror.

“Whitney.”

Her friend turned, and Daisy held her gaze. “You know I love you to death, but this man just lost his fiancée. And yes, technically he’s here to write about the Charlotte dating scene, but he’s not actually looking for…you know.”

Whitney’s face softened. “I know, Daiz. I mean, yeah, I wanted to give his eyes a little treat, but I’m not going to make a move, promise. You like him, which means I like him. Plus, I like that you won’t be alone all the way out here.”

“ ‘All the way out here’ meaning an easy drive from your place?”

“You know what I mean. There’s no neighbors, really. I hate thinking of you being lonely.”

Daisy wanted to reassure her friend that she wasn’t, but the truth was that she was a little lonely. When Emma had called and tentatively pitched the idea of Lincoln coming to stay, she had said yes practically before Emma finished her sentence.

Partially because she wanted company, partially because she wanted to help a man in mourning, but also…

Because she missed him.

She understood why he’d pulled back, even before Katie’s death. Really she did. And it had been for the best.

But she’d almost immediately missed their easy rapport. It had taken two lackluster blind dates for Daisy to realize just how clearly rare it was to click with another person, even on the friendship level.