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“Name it.”
“No more meeting at work. I’ll bake with Bella, of course, but no more time alone.”
“Why the hell not?” I tilted toward her, needing to understand her reasoning. And to be closer. I always needed to be closer.
“Because I can’t get flustered like this twice a day.”
I couldn't help but grin. "Why? I think it’s great."
"Chad," she chastised.
“All right. The deal is on. Let’s see who breaks first.” I leaned in as close as I dared. “I have a hunch that it’s going to be me.”
Chapter Thirteen
Scarlett
––––––––
"Darling, I almost forgot. I’ve made you the most gorgeous sweater,” Mom said a few days later as we were wrapping up our conversation. We caught up with each other about twice a week. “It’s light, perfect for New Orleans. I’ll mail it today.”
“Aww, thanks, Mom. I can’t wait to get it.” It warmed my heart that she had time for hobbies nowadays. She loved knitting. While I was growing up, she’d always been working two, sometimes three jobs. We rarely went on vacation—the one time we did, we came to New Orleans. Maybe that’s why I remembered it so vividly.
“Listen, I have to hang up. I just arrived at the restaurant.”
“Have a great day!”
“Thanks! I love you.”
I was so excited to start every day. I loved baking with Bella. We were having so much fun!
And Chad had kept his promise—in fact, he took it a bit too seriously. The man kept at least five feet between us at all times. But it was impossible not to be aware of his presence. He simply consumed me.
I was getting antsier as more of the week passed by. I kept researching events, googling upcoming festivals. There were always a million things happening in New Orleans, but I didn't think Chad was taking me to any of them. Since he was sticking to his part of the promise, I was doing my best to stick to mine.
After Bella and I proudly finished a pecan pie on Friday, she asked, "Dad, can we eat it too?"
"No, we don’t have time. You'll be late for school if we don't hurry."
She pouted. "I want to be late."
"That's not possible, though, cricket," Chad said as I took off her bonnet. She didn't have pigtails today, and her dark hair was absolutely gorgeous.
"I liked kindergarten more," she said. "We played and had naps. Now it's all learning and boring." She looked at me sideways with a playful grin that I'd seen on her dad a few times.
"Scarlett, can you make my hair look like yours?" she asked softly.
I frowned. I wanted to ask,"You mean like a bird's nest?"But instead I said, "I don't really have a style, though. It’s just an updo.”
"I want to look like you."
My heart soared. "I have a hair clip in my bag." I glanced at Chad. He was leaning against the opposite counter. "If that's okay?"
"Sure. Go ahead. I'll cut the pie in the meantime.”
While I pulled Bella’s hair up in a messy updo, he focused on the pie. Once I’d finished fixing her hair, she looked at me with a grin.
"I'm going to the bathroom to look in the mirror. And wash my hands," she announced.
