Page 45 of Kind of a Dirty Talker

I can’t help thinking, as I cross the restaurant to join them, that I wouldn’t mind this being my life someday. Solo adventures are fun, but not nearly as fun as an adventure with a gorgeous, fun, big-hearted woman. And if that woman were also the mother of my child?

It’s a crazy thing to think, but I can’t help it. After the pregnancy scare with Darcy, I convinced myself I wasn’t ready to start a family.

But maybe I just wasn’t ready to start a family with Darcy…

“Hey there, I ordered a burger for you with a side salad since you said you wanted something healthy, too,” Tessa says, grinning up at me as I arrive at the table. “And now we’re drawing clown noses and extra horns on all the animals. Would you care to join in?”

“I’d love to,” I say, grabbing a crayon. “Can I give the turtle a mohawk?”

Maddie laughs. “That’s silly.”

“But we like silly?” I ask.

She nods. “I like silly. I make silly faces all the time in clown school.”

I arch a brow. “Oh yeah? Can you show me one?”

Maddie’s eyes fly open so wide she resembles an anime cartoon and her mouth rounds into a lopsided “oh!” that makes both Tessa and I laugh.

“Very good,” Tessa says. “Clearly a girl who excels at her craft. I vote mohawks for all the animals.”

By the time we add mohawks, clown noses, and a few heart-shaped tattoos to the coloring page’s menagerie, our food has arrived. We eat slowly, but Maddie’s aunt is still twenty minutes away when we finish, so we order a banana split to share.

When Aunt Frannie rushes in, her blue eyes the same hue as Maddie’s and her hair a slightly darker shade of blond, Maddie’s face is covered in chocolate ice cream and she’s laughing like we’ve all been friends for ages.

The relief on her aunt’s face as she crosses the dining room is palpable.

“Aunt Frannie!” Maddie jumps off her chair, dashing to her aunt, who swoops her up in a big hug.

“Maddie Bear,” she says, cradling her close. “Man, we were scared. I’m so glad you’re okay.”

Maddie pulls back, gazing into her aunt’s face. “I’m sorry. I already told mommy, I’m not going to play hide and seek ever again.”

“Sounds good to me,” Frannie says, glancing over her niece’s head to us. “Thank you two so much. We’re all so grateful that Maddie ended up with such kind people. What do I owe you for the dinner?”

I wave a hand, “Don’t worry about it. It’s our treat.”

“We insist,” Tessa cuts in. “It’s no trouble at all. Maddie was so much fun to hang out with. I hope you have a safe ride to your aunt’s house, Maddie. It was so nice meeting you.”

“Nice meeting you, too,” Maddie says, shier now that her aunt is here. She opens and closes her fingers to wave goodbye. “Thanks for the burger and fries and coloring and ice cream.”

“You’re so welcome,” Tessa says, beaming at the little girl. “It was our pleasure. Take care and hug your mama tight tonight.”

We say our goodbyes to Frannie and wave as she carries Maddie out to her car. When they’re gone, I turn back to Tessa with a smile, “You did a great job with her. You’ve really got a way with kids. Have they always fallen in love with you at first sight?”

She pales as she glances down at her hands.

“I’m sorry,” I say, sensing I’ve stepped in it somehow. “I just meant—”

“I need to tell you something,” Tessa says as she glances up, her eyes shining, “But I need to get back to feed Freya first. She’ll be upset if we don’t let her out of her crate soon.”

“Okay, of course,” I say. “Whatever you need.”

And I mean it. I want to give her whatever she needs.

I just need her to help me figure out what that is.

Chapter 18

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