“I brought on Mandy’s friend Sloane.” Greer nods toward me. “She’s gonna be helping out on Fridays.”
Thora’s eyes bounce to me. “Good to have you.”
She holds out her hand, and I shake it.
“Thanks. I’m looking forward to it.”
“I hope my sister didn’t give you a rough time.” Her lips tilt at one corner.
“Not at all.”
“You must have caught her on a good day.” She laughs, causing Greer to roll her eyes.
“Please, I’m a peach.”
“Sweet as they come.” Thora elbows Greer, and just as I’m about to laugh, the faint sound of voices carries across the field.
When I look over, I find a little girl with long brown curls running toward us.
“Rue, slow down!” Jace calls, running after her, but she’s like a typhoon.
“I’m not done yet, Daddy!” the little girl yells back. “I wanna pet the sheep first!”
Greer smirks, arms folded. “Here comes Miss Trouble.”
Rue’s blue eyes are bright and mischievous as she skids to a stop right in front of us, Jace shaking his head as he finally reaches her.
“Hi, Auntie Greer, Aunt Thora, Mandy…” She pauses when she spots me, hands on her hips, eyes thinning with curious sass. “And who are you?”
Though I’ve seen Jace’s daughter around, I’ve never actually met her. Clearly she’s all personality and confidence. It’ll do her good in the world we live in.
“I’m Sloane. And you are?”
Her chest puffs just a little. “I’m Rue. Are you staying here?”
“Manners, Rue,” Jace says. “She doesn’t owe you any explanations.”
Rue rolls her eyes dramatically, then flashes me a toothy grin that says she’s not even a little bit sorry while her aunts laugh softly behind me.
“You’d better figure out how to unroll those eyes real quick, young lady,” Jace warns.
“Sorry, Daddy.” She lifts one shoulder, innocently resting her head against it in this sweet way that has him melting into a puddle of goo at her feet.
Nicely played, kid.
She’s got him wrapped, and she knows it.
He glances back at me. “I hope everything worked out with the job.”
“Yeah. Greer was great. I’m starting this Friday.”
He snorts. “Greer and great in the same sentence. That’s a first.”
She snickers. “Don’t make me show you how great I can be.”
He raises his palms in the air with a small chuckle. “My apologies.”
“Ignore my brother. He seems to have lost his manners too.”
