Page 93 of On the Wild Side

“You’re a girl after my own carb-loving heart.” I kiss the top of her head. “You can have whatever you want. Let’s do it.”

“Wait. We’re going on a date, and I’m not wearing a pretty dress.”

“Sometimes, you can go on a date in casual clothes.”

“You can?”

“Sure. You don’t always have to get fancy. I think you look beautiful no matter what you wear.”

That makes her smile and her cheeks darken with happiness. “Okay, then, I’m ready.”

“Me, too. I’mhungry.”

“I could eat a wholehouse!” She hops along beside me as we walk out to the 4Runner, and I get her settled in her seat before I take off from the house, headed the short distance to Old Town Pizza. Abbi told me that the new rooftop area is great, so I’ll see if we can get seated up there.

“Well, hello, you two. No Abbi tonight?” Heather asks when we step inside. She smiles down at Daisy, who holds my hand and suddenly gets shy, pushing her face into my side.

“Not tonight. I’m on an important date, so I was hoping we could sit on your fancy new rooftop.”

“Well, of course, you can,” Heather replies with a bright smile. “I have just the perfect table for the two of you. Follow me.”

She leads us up some stairs to the rooftop area. Abbi was right. It’s great up here. There are sunshades to keep the hot sun at bay, lots of tables and chairs, and a bar at one end.

It’s pretty busy up here, but Heather leads us to a table with a great view of town.

“Here you go, you two.” She sets the menus in front of us. “What can I get you started to drink?”

“Can I please have a Shirley Temple?” Daisy asks shyly.

“Absolutely. And you?” Heather turns to me.

“Sweet tea sounds good. Thanks, Heather.”

“You betcha. Melody will be your server tonight.” Heather winks and then bustles off, and I smile over at Daisy.

“It’s really nice up here.”

She nods, looking around. “I can see my school. Can we see all the way to the ranch from here?”

“I don’t think so.” I shake my head and point down the street. “Wait, come here so I can hold you up, and we’ll look.”

Daisy hurries around the table, and I bend down so she can hop onto my back, ignoring the way my knees sing when I stand up, and I walk closer to the edge.

“Do you see Millie’s coffee shop?” I ask, pointing down the block.

“I see it. Is that Grandpa walking out the door?”

“I think it is,” I confirm with a grin. “He must have come into town for a coffee. Oh, there’s Grandma following him.”

“I love them,” she says, resting her chin on my head.

“Me, too. There’s Polly’s shop over there.”

She’s patting my head, but in a soothing way that makes me grin. Being with Daisy feels natural. I don’t feel like I’m babysitting her at all, but more like I should have been with her all along.

She’s mine, just as much as her mother is.

“Can I interrupt just for a minute so I can take your order?”

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