Page 45 of Betting on Lizzie

“Sounds good.”

“I do want to keep it from Maya until we know though. You understand?”

“Yes, and I agree. I won’t tell my family either. They’re terrible with secrets, and trust me, the last thing we need is a town full of Parkers all up in our business.”

He laughed. “Well, I better get home before Maya returns from her sleepover.”

She walked him to the door. Kissing goodbye seemed too relationshipy, but hugging or shaking hands after what they’d done all night seemed inappropriate too. Before he could overthink it, she went up on her tiptoes and gave him a quick peck on the mouth, accompanied by a sultry look and eyebrow waggle.

“Bye, Jasper,” she said, bending to pet him. “Later, Mansfield.”

“Have a good day,” he said, chuckling on his way out.

He closed the door and then paused, staring at it. What had just happened? Could the last twelve hours have irrevocably changed his life? Was it possible to fall in love in that span of time? Or, like Lizzie said, was it lust?

She was so not his type. Young and hip, she liked to drink and have fun—the polar opposite of his stay-at-home-and-read-a-book lifestyle. Why was he so drawn to her then? Sure, she was pretty, but it was more than that. She kinda felt like…home.

Jasper nudged his leg. “You’re right. Way too early to be thinking all that,” he said to the dog. “Let’s go.”

It wasn’t even nine o’clock, so he was surprised to see Maya home already.

“Didn’t expect you back so early,” he said. “I was walking Jasper and taking some pictures.” Thank goodness he had the dog and the camera with him. A perfect alibi.

“Taylor had a soccer game this morning. She invited me, but I’ve got homework and stuff.”

“No crutches? Your ankle better?”

“Much. It still hurts a little, but I’d rather limp around than use those stupid things. Doctor said it would only take a week or so to heal, and it’s been about that.”

“Too bad the season will be over by the time you’re back to one hundred percent.”

Maya nodded. “I’m surprised you haven’t made coffee.”

“Oh, yeah,” he said. Normally, he put some on first thing. “Jasper was pretty anxious to get out. I forgot to set it.”

She had no reason to think he’d been anywhere but here last night, so she accepted the excuse. He felt like a hypocrite, lying to her after his big speech about how wrong it was, but then again, he was the parent. The dynamics were different.

“What were you taking pictures of?”

“Oh, the water, the boats. Just trying out the camera. Figured I’d start up photography again. I also have a date to play poker with some guys next week.”

“Good job, Dad,” she said, coming close to give him a teasing pat on the shoulder. “Why do you reek of smoke?”

Oh, geez. The fire. He’d forgotten about that. “When I took Jasper out last night, we came across a condo building on fire.”

“I drove past that coming home—saw the building roped off and one of the condos boarded up. I wondered what happened.”

“Yeah, well. We were walking by and saw the smoke. I knocked on some doors to warn people.”

“I’m pretty sure that’s the complex where Lizzie Parker lives. You remember her?”

“Uh-huh.”

“She lives on the other side, but still, that’s scary.”

“Yeah. All the people got out, but there were a couple of dogs trapped in the unit on fire, and one died.”

“That’s so sad. What about the other one?”

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