Page 43 of Piece Of Me

“She told me.”

“She did?” He kinda liked the idea she was talking about him.

“What did she say?”

Lacey chuckled. “That you make the best damn cookies in Montana.”

“That it?”

The look on Lacey’s face told him that it wasn’t nearly it, but she wasn’t giving him any more information. He grabbed his girls’ hands and helped them into the truck. “See you tomorrow.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

He drove away before anyone else could corner him and less than ten minutes later was sitting at the kitchen table in his mother’s house. The girls were busy showing Martha the popsicle stick houses they’d made during craft time, and only stopped their chatter when it was time to eat. Once the girls were fed, he took them into the bathroom and stayed with them while they had their bath, washing their hair and brushing it out after. They put on their pajamas and fell asleep in front of the television, watching The Lion King.

Taz put them to bed and after kissing each of them good-night, closed the door. His mother met him in the family room.

“Cold beer?” she asked, sitting down on the overstuffed chair by the window.

“I’m good. Thanks for supper.”

“I’m glad you came in.”

He sat down across from her and relaxed. It was closing in on eight o’clock and his phone had been blowing up with guys telling him to meet them at the Sundowner. He was considering it. An empty house wasn’t exactly what he was feeling at the moment. He thought of Scarlett and wondered what she was up to. He pulled out his phone and sent her a text, asking that very thing.

“Who you chatting with?” The question was asked lightly, but he knew his mother. She didn’t ask unless she wanted to know, and when she wanted to know something, she was like a dog after a bone. He wouldn’t be sidestepping this one.

“Scarlett.”

If she was surprised, she didn’t show it. “Scarlett from the girls’ birthday party.”

He nodded.

“I like her,” Martha said slowly. “She’s Manley’s daughter, isn’t she?”

That made him sit up. “You know her dad?”

“He comes to town Sundays for the beef special at the Sundowner. I’ve run into him a few times.” She set down her teacup. “He’s a widower.”

“Yes,” Taz responded slowly, watching his mother. “He’s had some issues. You know that, right?”

“Honey, we all have issues.”

“With drinking.”

“I’m aware.”

Huh. They’d gotten to the part of sharing stuff. How long had this been going on?

“When am I going to meet Scarlett?” Her gaze was steady on him.

“You already have.”

“I mean, properly.” She paused, those eyes of hers narrowed. “This girl is different.”

There was no sense in avoidance and Lord knows he couldn’t lie to his mother. “I like her.” An image of her face swam in front of him, and he smiled. “I like her a lot.”

“Good,” she replied. “I’d like you to bring her by for Sunday dinner.”

---