Page 139 of The Merry Matchmaker

Later he drove her home while Jenn and her man watched over Corky.

“Did you have fun?” he asked.

“I did. I like your sister.”

“She’s okay. I owe her big-time for keeping on me. I want to keep this going.”

Stef smiled. “Me, too.”

“Have you got plans for New Year’s Eve?”

She cocked her head to the side. “Let me see. Chris Hemsworth was asking. I haven’t said yes yet.”

Griff chuckled. “Good. Then how about spending it with me? I’ll get my parents to take Corky for the weekend. You can come with when I drop him off if you want. My mom’s itching to meet you. Jenn’s already told her all about you.”

“Good things, I hope?”

“Of course. So, how about dinner at La Bella Vita, then dancing at Carol’s Place?”

“And he dances, too,” she cracked. Total love lottery win.

“I can manage a couple of steps,” he said. “So, what do you say?”

“I say yes.” To anything he wanted.

“It looks like William finally figured out how to win over Elinor. Does she even remember who Mitch is?” Adele joked when the family gathered around her table for their Sunday evening dinner.

“I don’t know. Right now, William is pretty high on her hero list,” said Frankie.

“That’s so romantic,” Natalie said with a sigh.

“Hey, I’d pull you out of the way if a car was coming at you,” her husband said to her.

She put a hand to Jonathan’s cheek. “I know you would.”

“Warner, you want to grow up to be just like your daddy,” Adele informed her great-grandson.

“Daddy’s the best burper,” Warner said, and tried a big burp of his own.

“You don’t need to become a great burper,” his mother informed him, and frowned at her husband, who smirked.

“It looks like it’s going to be a great new year for us all,” Adele said.

Yes, it did, thought Frankie as she smiled at Mitch.

Stef’s phone rang, and she stepped away from the table to answer, cooing a hello.

“Gee, I wonder who that might be,” Adele teased.

“Oh,” Stef said, sounding disappointed.

All three women at the table exchanged worried glances.

Until Stef said cheerfully, “No, that’s not a problem. In fact, I think that will be fun.”

“What was that all about?” Adele asked when she rejoined them.

“It was Griff. His parents can’t babysit for New Year’s Eve. They’re sick.”

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