After inhaling another whiff of the heady scent, she passed it over.
“Dad, I’m hungry.” Isabel sidled up to him.
“Me too. Let’s go home and I’ll scramble some eggs.”
Devyn bit her lip.
She ought to offer to buy them both breakfast to thank him for bailing her out. That would be the polite thing to do.
Also dangerous.
But Isabel would be along, and it wasn’t like the Myrtle was a high-end, candlelit restaurant. At this hour on a Sunday morning, it would be filled with noise and laughter and family groups.
Before she could change her mind, she took the plunge. “I’d like to thank you for your help in a concrete way. Why don’t you let me treat you both to breakfast at the Myrtle?”
Isabel’s eyes lit up. “They have the best blueberry pancakes in the world! Can we go, Dad?”
He slid his arms into the sleeves of his jacket, eyebrows pinching. “I don’t know, honey. I have several chores to take care of today.”
“I can eat fast.”
“I can too.” Devyn gave the girl a thumbs-up. “But if today doesn’t work, no worries. I know what it’s like to have a long to-do list.” May as well give him an out. If he didn’t want to accept her offer, a thank-you note would have to suffice.
“Please, Dad.” Isabel sent him a beseeching look. “We haven’t eaten breakfast at the Myrtle in ages.”
Aaron shrugged his jacket into place on his shoulders. Adjusted his tie. Cleared his throat.
Maybe he was weighing the risk level, as she had.
“Okay.” If hehadbeen thinking about potential peril, his capitulation suggested he’d reached the same conclusion she had. Either that or he didn’t want to disappoint his daughter again after nixing their usual Sunday donuts.
“Yes!” The girl’s face lit up. “This is going to be so much fun.”
Not for her dad, based on his wary expression.
But now that they were all committed to this impromptu meal together, may as well try to enjoy it.
And hope she didn’t end up regretting her impulsive offer.
18
He shouldn’t have caved.
Aaron tugged at his tie, loosening it a tad as he inhaled the fresh, salty air.
But Isabel asked for so little, and she liked Devyn. Her nonstop chatter with their host as they walked the block and a half to the restaurant was proof of that if he’d had any doubts.
Which he didn’t.
Devyn was easy to like.
Too easy.
Trying to tamp down his frisky pulse, he risked a sidelong glance at her over Isabel’s head.
The beautiful ballerina was giving his daughter her full attention, asking questions that animated the little girl and resurrected the natural enthusiasm that had lain mostly dormant for too long.
It seemed a kind and caring woman’s touch was doing more than the counselor’s visits had ever done to lift her spirits.
