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“What about your dad?”
Mariana smiled. “The sugar and cinnamon is too messy.”
Brenna laughed and I couldn’t help but join in. “Looks like that dimple and those brown eyes aren’t the only thing she inherited from you. Congratulations daddy, it’s a smartass!”
“I’m full.” Mariana made the pronouncement with a sigh and patted her belly for good measure.
“That’s how you know its time to quit when it comes to birria tacos. A little goes a long way.” Brenna wiped her hands and mouth and smiled. “Now it’s time to walk off these calories.”
“Wait.” Mariana mistook her words for a farewell and sat up taller with wide eyes, filled with panic.
“What’s up?”
She looked at me and then back to Brenna. “Dad says it’s time I make my room my own since I’m staying, and I need some help. Me and Mama didn’t get around to that before, you know.”
“I know. What can I do?”
“Take me to pick stuff out for my new room? Dad says that’s girl stuff and he’s colorblind.”
“That explains all the gray and white t-shirts,” she said in an amused tone. “Are you sure you want my help? I’m not exactly the style icon of Pilgrim.”
Mariana nodded. “You wear what you want and Mara says it works for you. I want to figure out what I want and what I like too.”
“Well now I have to agree, don’t I?” She laughed and helped clean Mariana’s face. “Sure, honey. Let’s figure out a day real soon and have a just us girls shopping day, all right?”
Mariana punched the air. “All right!”
I kept my expression neutral but I was thrilled Brenna had agreed, because if nothing else, it meant I’d get to see her again.
Brenna
“What the hell was I thinking, agreeing to this Shannon? It’s a recipe for disaster.” I sat in my car parked at the end of Grant’s driveway, trying to muster up my courage to finish the drive and knock on the door, and more, preparing myself to see Grant again. “I needed a cold shower after the Book Festival and we had a tiny chaperone the entire time!”
Shannon’s laugh was loud on the phone and I rolled my eyes. “You were thinking that Mariana has been through a lot and if she decided you’re her favorite grownup, that was a pretty damn good thing.”
“Yeah,” I sighed. “She is pretty great. But until this moment I didn’t factor Grant into this day. You don’t think he’ll want to come, do you?”
“Shopping? No. But maybe later, as a thank you?”
“Very funny,” I growled, and Shannon only laughed harder.
“Seriously, just say good morning to him, gawk a little and then grab Mariana and take off for the day.”
“Yeah, I can do that. Thanks.”
“Good luck today and call me when you get home. Bye.”
I shoved the phone in my cupholder and finished the trip to the lake house, walking slowly up the stairs to steel myself for Grant, sexy and disheveled first thing in the morning. He opened the door just as I rang the bell. “Brenna. Good morning.”
“Mornin’ Grant. Mariana ready?” Yeah, this was easy. I could handle a few seconds, no problem.
“Almost. She had a last minute wardrobe change. Come in?”
“Naw, it’s nice. I think I’ll enjoy the lake air before we’re stuck inside all day. How, uh, are things?”
He smiled as if he knew what I was doing. “Good. Getting better every day. I think so, anyway.” He shrugged and took a step onto the porch, his fresh from the shower scent, invading my senses. “How have you been?”
“Good,” I sighed. “The salon is busy and that’s good, so I’m good.” It was painfully awkward between us and I hated that, but it was better than the sparks from the festival. “So, about the shopping today?”
“Right.” He produced a credit card and put it in my hand. “She has a full size bed and a nightstand, but I think she’ll need a desk and maybe a dresser?” He sighed and shook his head. “I don’t know, Brenna. Get her what you think she needs and try not to max out the card.”
I laughed. “That’s not what you should tell a woman after you hand her a credit card, but I can work with those limits.” He smiled and I smiled back, feeling the pull of attraction between us. I missed Grant too, but those were dangerous thoughts, so when Mariana rushed onto the porch with a wide smile, I allowed myself to relax. A little.
“I’m ready!”
“Perfect. Let’s get going so we can shop until one of us drops.”
“Okay! Bye Dad!” Mariana ran to the car and hopped in the front seat, capably fastening her seatbelt before she turned to me. “Ready!”
“Have you thought about what you want your room to look like?”
She shrugged. “A little. My old room was really girly with lots of pink and purple everywhere. Mama did it for me and it was nice, but-,”
