Page 117 of The Route to You

“I knew I liked you,” he said with a grin.

Two hours later, armed with milkshakes, Kyle opened the door to Get Yer Bloomin’ Paint On on Main Street, half amazed he’d never noticed the name of the place while driving around town. Tara followed at his heels, her milkshake cup delicately balanced between two hands, straw in her mouth.

The bell of the paint shop jangled as they walked inside and a woman near the front with blue-streaked hair looked up at him. “Hi! You here for the paint night?”

“Yeah, both of us,” he said, setting his hand on Tara’s shoulder. “Two tickets.”

The woman laughed. “It doesn’t work that way. Take a seat,” she said, nodding toward the tables set up with paint stands, canvases, and brushes.

“We can paint?” Tara asked, her eyes sparkling with delight.

Kyle smiled down at her. “Sure can.”

He led Tara to a table, noting that most of the seats in the studio were still empty. As he pulled the stool out for Tara, he set her milkshake down beside her paint stand. “Now don’t spill this,” he muttered under his breath. “Deal?”

She nodded vigorously.

“There are smocks over on the wall,” the woman who’d greeted them said, coming up behind him. “Can I get you anything to drink? We have beer and wine at the bar in the back. And soda or water for your daughter.”

“She’s my niece, actually,” Kyle said with a polite smile.

Sloan’s voice came from the back as she stepped through. “Hey, Delilah, do you think—” She stopped short at the sight of Kyle.

Would she be mad that he’d come without telling her?

“Oh my God, what are you doing here?” Her pretty face relaxed into a grin before she crossed the space toward him. “Is this Tara?”

He nodded. “Tara, this is Uncle Kyle’s friend, Miss Sloan.”

The woman who Sloan had called Delilah jerked her chin up.

Sloan leaned down toward Tara. “Hi! It’s so nice to meet you,” she offered sweetly.

Tara ducked her chin shyly.

Sloan straightened, then looked from Kyle to Delilah. “Uh, Delilah, this is my roommate, Kyle.” She gestured to Delilah. “My boss, Delilah Bloom.”

Why do I get the feeling she knows who I am? Kyle extended his hand toward her. “Nice to meet you. So, you’re where the shop gets its name?”

Delilah gave a pleased smile. “Yup. I go heavy on the puns as often as possible. Let me get you both a bottle of water. On the house.”

She headed back to the bar section in the rear of the shop, and Kyle helped Tara onto her stool. He held out a milkshake for Sloan. “And this is for you. We picked chocolate because it’s the best flavor.”

“Wow, thank you.” Sloan took it from him and sipped it. Then she held a hand over her heart. “This reminds me of Granny Winnick.”

Tara gave her a look of surprise. “You knew my gate-ganny?”

“Sure did.” Sloan leaned down toward her. “She was great. Super funny.”

“I love Gate-Ganny,” Tara said with a little pout. “We don’t get to see her now.”

Kyle’s heart squeezed, and he tried not to think of the urn in his room. “I miss her too, kiddo. Let me get you a smock, okay? Want to show me which ones to grab, Miss Sloan?”

“Are you guys going to stay and paint?” Sloan asked, her eyes darting around the room as she led him to the side wall.

He nodded. “I figured it was a good date to take my girl on.”

Sloan’s cheeks reddened. “I’m not sure I’ll be very good.”