Aaron’s heart sank. He’d looked forward to watching the fireworks with her, but he couldn’t ask her to leave her parents. Not when she had so little time with them. “Didn’t you say the guy down the streets sets off a mini show? We can still see fireworks from the comfort of your home.”
“No, you guys should go.” Giada yawned—a fake yawn if Aaron ever saw one. “I’ll be asleep before dark.”
“Me too.” Byron mimicked his wife.
Rachel switched her gaze from her mom to her dad, and back again. “I don’t know what’s up, but if it’s that important to you, Aaron and I will go.”
“We’ll make sure Roxie stays comfortable and happy.” Giada left her seat and gathered the dessert dishes.
“I’ll have her back by eleven.” Aaron stood and helped Rachel to her feet.
Giada waved them away. “No hurry. Enjoy yourselves.”
Chapter Fifteen
“Were my parents acting weird?” Rachel closed her car door and buckled the seatbelt.
“No.” The knowing grin on Aaron’s mouth grew.
“You’re lying. What got into them?”
He chuckled and shifted into reverse. “You really don’t know?”
“No.” Her forehead wrinkled. She felt increasingly like a dunce.
“Fireworks, moonlight, romance.” His eyes danced. “They, not so obviously I might add, were giving us a chance to be alone.”
“Oh.” She smacked her forehead. “I feel stupid.”
“Your mom’s fake yawn gave it away.”
“I missed that.” Maybe then she wouldn’t have been so clueless.
“Now that you know we were set up, do you want to turn around and stay home?” His tone teased her, but also held a hint of sincerity.
“No.” She leaned over, only enough to make contact with his shoulder. “I rather like the idea of watching the fireworks alone with you.”
“Good. I was going to be awfully disappointed if we missed them.” He looked at her with impossible to resist puppy dog eyes. “I wanted to win a gigantic stuffed animal for you.”
“Want to know a secret?” She batted her lashes.
“You’d be just as happy winning the candy wheel?”
The answer was on the tip of her tongue when she realized he’d read her mind. “How’d you guess?”
He stared straight ahead, but she didn’t miss the twitch of his cheek from trying to hold back a laugh “Sweetheart, I’ve seen your candy stashes throughout your office and home.”
She ducked her head before deciding it was nothing to be ashamed of. “Every girl needs a readily available pick-me-up.”
“I’m not arguing. We all have our vices.”
Her phone rang. Though tempted to ignore it, she checked the caller in case her parents needed something at the house. When she saw Carl’s cell number pop up, a moment of panic struck her. “Why would he be calling?”
“Weren’t your church vans stopping by to take residents to the fireworks? He probably wanted to let you know they left.”
“Maybe.” Her gut said otherwise, and she answered the call. “Hi, Carl.”
“Can you get to the shelter? There’s been a problem.” Carl’s voice writhed with anger.
