with him and Tuti. And you’re tutoring his daughter.” She eyed him through the spokes. “News travels fast in a small town. There’s nothing going on between us.” A shock of dark hair fell over his forehead as he worked. “Hey, I didn’t say there was.” “So don’t make a federal case out of it.” “It was an innocent question.” He gave her a wink. “But now I’m wondering.” “Oh, for God’s sake.” Katie picked up a pebble from the gravel driveway and tossed it back and forth in her hands. “John was against me cycling off road on my own.” “He’s got a point,” her father said, returning with a sheet of sandpaper. He began scraping the rust off the fenders. “It’s dangerous.” “I’ll be fine.” Katie frowned. “Why does everyone think I’m so incompetent?” “Not incompetent. You just have different strengths.” Riley pulled the last bit of tire away from the rim. “John says you two made a pact to be friends.” Friends. The reality was so much more complicated, as she was finding out. “We’re making a stab at it. For Tuti’s sake.” “Only Tuti’s sake?” her dad said, rasping away. “Shame. I always liked John. I thought you two were a good couple.” “I used to think so. But it turned out he wasn’t like you were with Mum—totally devoted, solid and loyal.” Half-jokingly, she added, “You are my model of a perfect husband. I’m still waiting for the guy who can live up to your example.” Barry stopped his task to frown at her beneath his bushy gray eyebrows. “Hmm.” Then he went on sandpapering. “Got it.” Riley pulled the inner tube away from the tire. “Let’s take this inside to the sink. I’ll show you how to find a hole in the inner tube by watching for bubbles under water.” Katie tossed the pebble and stood. “Coming, Dad?” “Nah, I’ll finish shining up these fenders and give the chain a grease,” Barry said. “Thanks. You’re the best.” Katie gave him a hug. Then she followed Riley into the house through to the laundry room. As the sink filled with water her thoughts went back to yesterday and the subtle power struggle between her and John. She’d had no right to discipline Tuti, but she would have thought he would at least respect her experience and knowledge of handling children. And having been drawn into the situation at John’s house she couldn’t ignore it. “What happens if you have to discipline Jamie for some reason?” she asked Riley. “Does Paula get bent out of shape? Do you agree on an approach?” Riley turned off the tap and leaned against the counter. “When Paula’s around, I keep my nose out of it. Jamie’s her kid. She’s raised him for six years and knows what she’s doing. I’m just an amateur. Why do you ask?” “Tuti took my shoes when I was at their house yesterday and climbed a tree with them. John went all Rambo dad on her and scared her farther up. It was dangerous. He wouldn’t even listen to my suggestions. I’ve been dealing with kids in that age group for ten years. By his own admission, he doesn’t have a clue.” “He’s got a bunch of nieces and nephews.” “It’s not the same. I bet he just plays with them. He doesn’t have to make them behave.” “True, but…” Riley took the inner tube from Katie and plunged it below the water. “Bottom line, Tuti’s his kid. No one wants to hear someone else yelling at their child.” “I didn’t yell. It was good cop, bad cop. I was the nice one.” “Did Tuti get down all right?” “Yes, but she gave John—and me—a scare.” Riley shot her a look. “So what’s the big deal? So he didn’t listen to you. He still got her down. Getting a little hot under the collar over a simple disagreement, aren’t you?” Okay, so maybe she was making more of this than it warranted. But she was proud of her child-handling skills and John had called them into question. They had a history of clashing on