“Spend as much time with Ella as you need. Would you like to stay for dinner?”
“That would be great.” The thought of eating alone in a restaurant was not appealing.
Ella reached up and pulled on Corrie’s arm. “Play with us, Corrie. You can have Buttercup. She wants to dance with…um, what’s your name again?” Ella turned her questioning eyes to Preston.
“Preston,” he prompted.
“Dance with Preston,” Ella insisted.
Corrie sat next to them and gave Preston an amused look. “Okay, Ella, but only for a minute. Then maybe we should play something else.”
Preston bounced his doll back and forth next to Corrie’s, although his eyes were trained on the wall behind her. He could ham it up for Ella, but having Corrie playing along ramped up the embarrassment ten-fold. Somehow it reminded him of slow dancing with a girl for the first time at a seventh-grade dance. He hadn’t been able to make eye contact then either.
Better with You: A Change in Plans Book 2
Paige Parker has no time for romance. She’s too busy building up her house-flipping business. But when a charming guy comes between her and the house she wants, Paige is a little more torn than she expected. For a girl who’s always gone with her firm business sense, she’s not sure how to trust her heart.
When it comes to dating, Shaun Randall is not about to get serious with anyone. He has his mother to take care of and enough family secrets to keep him running from any girl who gets too close. Spending time with Paige starts out as a means to get the house he wants, but every time he thinks it’s time to bail, he finds himself drawn in a little more.
When is it worth taking a chance on love?
Here is a first page sneak peek:
Shaun Randall could spot a bad date from a mile away, and this one at a nearby table was obviously not going well. The guy’s first mistake was bringing a girl to a sports bar and sitting where he could watch the game, while she sat and toyed with her lemonade.
The football game only mildly interested him, and he couldn’t help checking back, more and more certain this was a first, maybe second date scenario and not a girlfriend/boyfriend situation. There was definitely an awkward newness vibe going on between the two. Plus, she was way too dressed up for a sports bar, while her date was in cargo shorts and a T-shirt. Watching the guy down his third beer and order another one gave Shaun the push he needed.
Thanks to his six foot, four inch height and his bright red hair, Shaun stood out for all the wrong reasons. He was not the best-looking guy there. But he did have one gift, and that was understanding women and how to talk to them. It didn’t always mean he said the right thing. He liked messing with people almost as much as he liked flirting. In this case, he could do both. He took a last sip of his Coke and went to make his move. If things went badly, it would be a fun story for later.
He planted his hands on their table and waited until she noticed him. “Hi, cuz. I’m so glad I found you. Your mom’s been trying to get a hold of you. Is your phone on silent?”
Dark brown eyes framed in long lashes stared at him, her forehead knotting in confusion. She was even more beautiful up close.
“Hey, man, you’re blocking the TV.” Her date weaved his head around him, groaning when the play didn’t go the way he wanted.
“Oh, you’re right.” The girl held up her phone, hiding a slight smile. “I did miss some calls. Jeremy, I need to go. Sorry to cut our date short.”
Jeremy looked at Shaun and then at her, finally paying attention. “Come on. I need you to be my designated driver. And who’s this guy?”
“My … cousin.” She pulled out a couple of bills and dropped them on the table. “Call a cab, it’s on me. Sorry the date didn’t work out.” She strode off, throwing her purse strap over one shoulder, and Shaun had to jog to catch up.
She glanced back at him. “Look, dude. I had it under control. I’d already texted my sister to come pick me up. But it’s nice to know I’m not the only one who thought that blind date wasn’t going well.”
Shaun pushed open the heavy front door of the restaurant and held it open for her. “No prob. Just trying to be helpful.”
She sat down on a cement bench outside and hugged her purse. “Thanks, but I’m good now. My sister is only five minutes away.”
She spoke with confidence, but her hunched shoulders told him she was nervous. The light over the bench flickered, and the guys hanging out for a smoke nearby were potentially worse companions than her blind date.
Shaun cocked his head. “Actually five minutes away or is this your way of telling me you’d rather sit here in the dark by yourself for a half-hour?” She turned to glare at him, and he threw up his hands. “Never mind, I’ll go.” It had been a stupid idea. This girl was not the type to want or need rescuing, and he was no hero.
He turned to head back inside when her deep sigh made him pause at the door.
“Okay. Have a seat.”
Shaun looked back and she patted the spot next to her. “Come on, cousin. You’re right. My sister doesn’t get off work for another ten minutes and it’ll take her at least another ten to get here. Come introduce yourself. I know you want to.”
