“Then Russ needs to get more people on it.”
“He will, as soon as he can.”
“What about you?” Finn’s tone skated high for him, sounding unusually desperate. “Can’t you work on it tonight too?”
She met Finn’s gaze. “Russ prohibited me from going anywhere near it.”
Finn stared at her. “Why on earth did he do that?”
She didn’t want to answer, but had to. “For some reason, he thinks you and I are an item.”
His mouth flopped open. “You denied it, right?”
“Yeah, but I must not have been very convincing.” Not a surprise. She couldn’t hide her developing feelings for this wonderful man, who save one big mistake would still be in her life.
Especially not after tonight.
11
Inhaling the sizzling scent of frying bacon, Ryleigh slathered raspberry jelly on a slice of toast that was a shade shy of burned. She set it on the plate next to the eggs cooked over easy to pick up her coffee brewed stronger than she liked.
So what if it was all a tad off? The breakfast cooked by Finn touched her more than many other things ever had. He didn’t know how to cook. He’d told her that many times when they dated. And yet, he was trying to be the best dad by making Avery’s breakfast.
Avery scooped up her last bite of egg and washed it down with orange juice, then looked at Finn. “Your burgers are much better than your eggs.”
Ah, the honesty of a child.
“Sorry, Peanut.” Finn ruffled Avery’s hair. “I try.”
“I know,” she said. “Maybe cereal tomorrow.”
“Maybe.” He grinned.
She smoothed her rumpled hair.
“Let me grab a brush to fix that.” He raced from the room.
Ryleigh took a bite of toast and savored the hearty wheat flavor and texture. She imagined Finn wearing an apron in the kitchen baking bread, bringing a smile to her face.
“What’s so funny?” Avery pushed her empty plate away.
Ryleigh told her.
Avery wrinkled her nose. “I don’t think I’d want to eat that bread.”
They laughed together.
“He does some things real good.” She leaned closer. “But the kitchen is kind of bad.”
Ryleigh nodded in silent agreement.
He returned with the brush and stepped behind Avery to start on a tangled mess.
The little girl glanced up at him. “I can’t believe you don’t know how to do braids. Especially French ones. Mom did them all the time.”
“In Finn’s defense,” Ryleigh said. “He’s never had much hair, so he hasn’t needed to learn.”
Finn ran a hand over his short hair and made a funny face.
