Page 95 of The Paradise Plan

“My sister,” Cass said on his other side.“Her husband Cole.”

“Nice to meet you both,” Harrison said.

“I want a mimosa,” Kara said, and both of her daughters looked at her sharply.

“Orange juice now,” Bob said.“Milk later.Cold milk.Put ice in it if you have to.”He looked at Cass, who’d started giggling.Harrison wasn’t sure if he should join her or keep staring and trying to keep up.

“Diet Coke,” she said.

Harrison’s turn, and he looked up at the waitress.“I want that orange-pineapple-banana smoothie I saw out front.”

“You got it.”She moved on to Liz, who also ordered soda pop, as did her husband.

“You’re drinking this early in the day?”Liz asked casually, her eyes down on her menu.Harrison volleyed his gaze to her mother, who narrowed her eyes at her daughter.

In that moment, he felt like he’d just been trapped in another generational argument.He could just hear and see Sariah saying something like that to Cass.In fact, shehadgiven Cass a casual jab only yesterday.

“She’s an adult,” Cass said, clearing her throat.“Daddy drove, and Momma can have a mimosa if she wants one.”

That brought silence to the table, and Kara’s eyes as wide as a meerkat.Harrison wasn’t sure if he should laugh, cough, or get the heck out of there.He did duck his head and smile, and when he cut a look over to Cass, she was looking at him too.

She leaned toward him, and he met her halfway so she could whisper in his ear, “Hey, at least I’m learning this lesson, right?”

He chuckled and shook his head, then secured her hand in his beneath the tabletop.It almost felt forbidden and intimate, and he looked over to her parents to find both of them watching him and Cass.His face heated, and he said, “I think I’m gonna get the chicken fried steak and eggs too, sir.It’s one of my favorite things.”

“What would Cass get?”Liz asked.

Harrison swung his attention toward her.“Is this a quiz?”

Her sister grinned at him and perched her head in her hand.“Yep.”

He looked back at the menu, glad Cass had exhibited her excitement about the hand pies already.“Let’s see…” He saw a couple of things right at the top she’d like.“She loves deviled eggs, and these come with candied bacon.I could see her ordering that.”

“I—”

“You say nothing,” Liz said, and Cass snapped her mouth shut.

Harrison shifted in his seat, his collar suddenly too tight.“Uh, she’d order that from the appetizer menu, and sometimes she’d eat it as a meal, depending on how long it’s been since she’s eaten.”

He didn’t look up again, and he decided to just get this over with.If Cass liked him at all, she’d just agree with him no matter what he said.“I’d then go with the Belgian waffle with raspberries, not strawberries, and then a bacon and egg hand pie.”He looked up at Liz, as she was the quiz-master.

She cocked her eyebrows and leaned forward to look at Cass.

“That’s exactly what I’m ordering,” Cass said.“All three of those things.”

“Cole,” Liz said, turning toward her husband.“Can I get three things?Cass is.”

“Get what you want, sugar,” he drawled at her, clearly not interested in the game being played at the table.

“We’re buying breakfast,” Bob said, and a couple of people at the next table over looked their way.Harrison wondered if he needed hearing aids or if he just yelled.He’d have to ask Cass.

Two days, he told himself.She’d be back on Hilton Head in two days.

“So,” Kara said.“Are you two serious?”

“Momma,” Cass warned.“I told you no questions like this.”She glanced from her mother to Harrison and back.“We’re—”

“I don’t know about Cass,” Harrison interrupted.“Since we’re only three or four months in, but I’m pretty serious about her.”