Page 123 of Pack Choice

“I think he might be right.”

“The most beautiful and the most trouble.”

“The best girls always are,” I tell her and Colt winks at me.

“Do you think my daddy’s handsome?” the little girl asks.

“Well … what do you think?”

“Yes, but his farts are pretty stinky.” Colt grimaces. “So if you want to marry him and sleep in his bed with him, you’ll have to put up with all the bad smells.”

“I think your dad smells pretty awesome.”

“Not when he eats beef burgers.”

“Okay, thank you, Harper, that’s enough of that,” Colt says.

The others come to join us and Colt introduces me to Sissy, who can’t contain a smile when Colt tells her I’m his new assistant.

“Is Ford your boyfriend too?” Harper asks, observing all of us as Sissy enquires about my first few days at the office.

“Ford?” I choke. “You’ve been introduced.”

“Yes, River said Ford was your friend. And then Ford’s ears turned red just like how Jimmy’s do when we say he wants to kiss Mia.”

I glance at Ford and find sure enough the tips of his ears are glowing crimson.

“I think he’d like to be Molly’s boyfriend,” River says, leaning in to whisper loudly in Harper’s ear.

“And you too?” Harper asks.

River winks at me, then addresses Harper. “You know you’re the only girl for me.” He points to his cheek and she lands a wet kiss there.

“How about we all go inside for a glass of juice and some cookies,” Sissy says.

Harper slides out of her daddy’s arms and takes my hand. “We baked them ourselves.”

“Really? I love baking,” I tell her and the little girl’s face lights up.

“I wanted to put icing on the cookies and pink sprinkles but Sissy said no.”

“Sissy was right. Your teeth will rot,” Colt says.

“Spoil sport,” I say, “cookies always taste better with icing.”

“Can we go add some now?”

“Harper,” Colt says.

“We have guests, sweetie,” Sissy adds, “we don’t want to be in the kitchen.”

“I don’t mind,” I say, meeting Colt’s eye.

I see the hesitation there and now I understand it. Harper’s mom gave her up. He doesn’t want her hurt again. I want him to know I understand. I lost my mom too and it hurts every day. I’d never do anything to make this little girl’s pain worse.

“Pleeeeaaassse,” Harper begs.

“As long as you don’t mess up the kitchen.”