“Andi?” She’s busy eating her third slice of bread with so much butter I’m a little fearful for her heart.
“Just pie, please, Izzy.”
Such good manners.
I gather up small plates, clean forks, several glasses, and the pie on a large tray. I’m about to lift it when big hands cover mine. “I’ve got this,” Nash says close to my ear. My goodness, that man is like a ninja. Plus, he smells yummy. “You grab the milk, babe.”
Babe?I shouldn’t like that, but I do. I grab the milk and am about to follow him out into the dining room when he leans down again and kisses my cheek. “Best meal I’ve ever had, Isabelle.”
It makes me blush. I don’t know why, but I liked the compliment. And I really liked the kiss even though it was just a kiss on my cheek. I haven’t always been a good cook. It’s taken a lot of years paying attention to my mom in the kitchen. Not to mention the Food Network. I’ve got to give credit where it’s due, after all. No matter, the pride I feel after what he just said fills me up. “Thank you, Nash.”
* * *
“Dad, how’s the pie?”Okay, I’m trolling for praise because I know he likes it since he just reached for a third slice.
“Great,” he says, nodding. “One more, and then I’m done.”
I give him my best smile. I love my dad. He’s the best sort of person––not just a man. He’s kind and caring, but he doesn’t put up with anyone’s bullcrap. He adores my mom, and she loves him just as much right back. Don’t get me wrong, my mom is amazing too, but there’s just something about a girl and her dad. I’m definitely daddy’s girl.
“Well, if you’re all done, let me clean this up.”
“I’ll help,” Nash says, standing.
“Sure.” I smile politely at Nash. I’ll take the help even though it’ll be awkward. “Mom and Dad, go relax.”
“I could get used to this,” Mom says as she walks out of the dining room.
“Andi, you can go play in my room again if you want.”
“Yay!” She jumps down from the table and is gone in a blink.
“Nash? Would you prefer to wash or dry?”
“Dry,” he says so fast I almost miss it.
We work as a team to clean up the dishes. It isn’t bad since I’d already done a lot of the cleanup before dinner. With the dishes washed, dried, and put away, Nash tosses the towel onto the counter. Leaning his slim hip against it, he watches me as I wipe down the remaining surfaces in the kitchen. Turning to face him, I see him staring, so I pause. “What?”
He shakes his head. “Nothing.” Pushing away from the counter, he steps past me. “We had a good time tonight. I need to get Andi home and to bed.”
“Right.” I check the clock on the stove. It’s already 7:30 p.m., definitely bedtime. I’m wiped too. My hangover is gone, but I’m still tired from the day. “Thanks for coming.”
Nash stares at me for another minute. His eyes squint like he’s not sure if he sees me or not. Either that or he’s thinking. “I forgot to tell you….”
“What?”
“Janine is coming over tomorrow.”
“She is?” I squeak. I didn’t mean to––it just came out that way.
“Yep.”
“Good.” I smile wide. “You won’t be sorry.”
“Hope not.” I follow him as he pushes through the kitchen door. At the landing near the stairs, he yells for Andi. “Come on, honey. We need to get home. Bedtime.”
Andi replies with the typical kid response to that. “Awe, Dad. Come on….”
“Nope. It’s gettin’ late. I need to check on Cy.”
