Ohhhh.
That made sense.
I appreciated Lainey thinking about Ruthie’s health.
Bonus, I’d be able to hide in the kitchen, away from Mr. Gorgeous still wearing the navy-blue and grey Henley t-shirt that I’d ruined, who had to think I was the lamest woman on the planet.
Then he said, “Let me know when you’re done, and I’ll come back there to meet her.”
So much for hiding.
Fortunately, Ruthie’s cries got louder, so I excused myself without responding to the man’s request.
****
Alan
I turned to see Lainey with her brows raised and her hand on her hip, staring at me.
“What?” I asked, refusing to avert my gaze.
“What did you just get done promising me?”
First of all—I didn’tpromiseshit.
“How does meeting her daughter equate to asking her out?”
Lainey narrowed her eyes. “I don’t know, but I thinkyoudo, and that’s why I’m suspicious.”
I tsked at her, murmuring, “So untrusting…” as I brought the mug to my lips.
“I’m not kidding, Alan Callahan!”
“I believe you.”
“Ugh! You’re as infuriating as your brother!”
“Well, since you’re living with said brother, we must not be that bad.”
A smile escaped her lips as if she was thinking about Adam, and she murmured, “No, you’re right. You guys are actually pretty great.”
Then she leveled me with a look.
“Don’t play games with that girl. She’s not battle-tested like you.”
“I don’t know what you’ve heard about me, but I don’t play games—period. And why is meeting her daughter and getting to know her a little better such a bad thing?”
Lainey’s mouth turned down and she sighed a defeated sigh. “You’re right, it’s not. I just feel protective of her. Us single moms gotta stick together.”
Jade piped in, “Yeah, I’m not sure you get to call yourself that anymore.”
I agreed.
My brother was head-over-heels for both Lainey and her son and would do just about anything for either of them.
Jade continued, “And don’t forget, Alan did help save your life, not to mention he helped Brian and me get home from the Cape when the paparazzi was chasing us. He really is one of the good guys, Lain.”
Yeah!
