Page 31 of Pinch

“Oh no!” She cups her hands over her face, giving me wide eyes. “Was giving you up a possibility?”

“I don’t think so. Mom was a widow, but she always wanted to have a baby. Dad had plenty of money, and he’d never tell her no.”

“Your mom Kenny was a widow? That’s so sad. She must’ve been young.”

“She was, but then she met Slayde. Now they’re married with a daughter.”

“Yay! A happy ending!” Her face lights, and she does a little air-applause.

She’s so pretty, I wonder if she’d ever consider turning our truce into something more like friendship.

Then she jumps and pulls out her phone. “Somebody’s texting me… Oh. Oh no.” Her shoulders droop. “It’s Mrs. Higgins. I’m delinquent on my community outreach.”

“That’s a strong word. What crime did you commit?”

“I have to do some kind of community outreach every quarter, and since I fell off the parade float, I’m missing my project for this one.”

“Come with me to the hockey clinic tomorrow.”

“I’m not sure how that will help me.”

“We do a charity hockey clinic for little kids every year, and I bet they’d love to see a real princess, especially one who’s also a scientist. It’s our official community outreach, so I don’t know why it can’t also be yours.”

“Really?” Her pretty blue eyes blink wider. “I think it would count if a parade counted. What time?”

“10 a.m.”

“We’d better get going then.” She scoops up her phone and her iPad. “I’ll have to get up early to put on my face, and I can’t look hungover.”

“You’ve only had one drink!”

“Let’s go, Knight.” She grabs my arm, and I chuckle, leaving enough cash to cover the bill and a healthy tip.

That’s right, I’m her knight, and she took my arm that time.

We stepout of the ride share in front of our house, and Haddy wobbles back against my chest.

“Whoa.” I catch her like I always do. Like I’ve really grown to like doing.

“Sorry, I lost my balance when I stepped out.” She snorts a laugh, but her grip tightens on my forearm.

I escort her up the front porch steps to the door. “You really are kind of a lightweight. No wonder you fell off the float.”

“I fell off the float because I hadn’t had breakfast.”

Tapping in the code to unlock the door, I scan her slender frame in front of me. “You need dinner.”

“I think Mav’s gone to bed.”

“Nah, too early. He’s out.” Shaking my head, I open the door and hold out my arm for her again.

“I’ve got it!” She waves me away. “I just stepped out of the car funny.”

“Okay.” I hold up both hands. “I’ll make us some dinner.”

Fifteen minutes later, I’m sliding a perfectly toastedgrilled cheese sandwich from the cast-iron skillet onto her plate. “See what you think of that.”

She actually licks her lips. “It smells delicious.”