“Annie, this is quite literally the best sloppy joe I’ve ever had.And these buns.”
The redness that had finally receded from her face threatened to return.“Brioche buns.They’re key.If you like the recipe, I can send it to you.It’s really easy to make.”
“Yeah, Dad, get it,” Bella said.“This needs to be on our evening rotation.”
Miles pulled his phone from his pocket.“Do you mind, Annie?”
Butterflies took off in her stomach.He wanted her number.Just for a recipe, but still.No one had asked for her number in decades.Certainly not a cute firefighter.
It was silly to be excited, but she was going to hang on to this feeling, if only for a little while.
She cleared her throat.“Sure,” she said, rattling off her number.
They finished dinner without further incident, and Bella and Miles stayed afterwards to help clean up, despite Annie’s protests.
They didn’t have a dishwasher, but Miles had worked in a restaurant in his younger years and was surprisingly efficient.Bella was like a trained busser, clearing the table, drying the dishes, and then putting them away.
“We need to hire you two on full time,” Clara said.
Annie let the comment go.Her nagging had no effect, the twins needed their baths, and her mom needed to relax whether she wanted to admit it or not.
Annie refused Bella’s offer to help with the kids, thanked her again, and slipped her some cash for her time.
“Thank you so much,” she beamed.“I’ll put this right into the Babysitters Club fund.”
Miles eyed her warily.“How much are you charging?I think we need to talk fair rates.”
Annie smiled.“It was more than fair.She’s a huge help.”
Bella beamed.“I’d probably do it for free, but that wouldn’t be very good business practice for the Babysitters Club.”
Annie nodded solemnly.“It wouldn’t be.”
Bella disappeared through the door, and Miles lingered for a moment, his tall figure looming against the dark evening sky.
“Thanks for taking her on,” he said.
“It’s my pleasure.Honestly, I love having her around.”
He paused, his gaze so intent that it set the butterflies off again.
“We both love being around,” he said, his voice low and husky.
Annie gaped at him, blinking.He was so close, leaning in, it seemed like he was going to hug her goodbye.
Or kiss her.
No, that was absurd.
Still, the thought of it rendered her speechless.“Oh,” she finally managed to choke out.
He flashed a smile and nodded a goodbye before ducking out of the doorway.
That night, as she lay in bed next to her snoring mother, Annie saw that smile every time she closed her eyes.He was the hunky firefighter calendar come to life, his sultry gaze, his deep, quiet voice.
We both love being around.
What did he mean by that?Was it the sloppy joes?It couldn’t be.They weren’t that good.
