Page 72 of Bring me Back

“Do they?” she challenged.

Three girls got inside a car, but not before waving their goodbyes to the woman beside me. I arched my eyebrow at Hallie.

“I guess it went ok.” She shrugged, but I heard her delight loud and clear.

Impatiently, I waited as one by one all the students left and the only thing I could think about was getting Hallie to come back home with me.

My mind was certain; my bed was where she belonged. I hooked my arm around her waist, flushing her side to my chest.

“I know how to cook two dishes. Are you hungry?”

She looked up at me. “Only two?”

“Yes. Butreallywell.”

Hallie giggled, turning her body toward mine, her hands laced behind my neck.

“Let me feed you, Hallie,” I insisted.

She tilted her head, biting her bottom lip. I followed her movements as she smiled timidly and came for a small peck on my lips.

“I’m going home.”

“I’m not opposed to cooking for you at your house, but I have to say, I’m a messy cook.”

Hallie bit a smile back, shaking her head. “I have a lot to finish before the first try of the costumes. Those four days threw my schedule for a loop. I’ll be locked in my sewing cave. Sorry, Dan.”

I got almost distracted by how much I loved when she called me Dan. I buried my hand in her hair, messing up the ponytail.

“Can the kids just wear whatever they have at home?” I asked, knowing the answer.

Her face fell. “No.” I had to chuckle of her vehemence.

“And Dad is collecting me. I texted him already.”

“Cricket…” I groaned. I could at least bring her home. My truck was just a few feet from us, exactly where I left four days ago.

“I have pants to tailor, Dan.” She told me with fake impatience. “Do you understand how hard it is to tailor them?”

“No,” I deadpanned.

She bit her lip. Her hands fell to my chest, picking invisible lint.

“Well, dresses I can drape. I can pin them first and have in front of my eyes how they look before I stitch. But pants? That’s pure math. I need to concentrate and we both know I won’t be able to achieve that around you.”

“We could buy pants,” I said, just to tease. “What am I saying? You probably have a reason why the pants can’t be bought?”

“A good reason,” she confessed, a little sparkle in her eyes. “They will mimic a goat’s leg. I really think it will work, but I might need stuffing in some parts. Sometimes I see things perfectly in my mind, but I need to test around to be sure. We’ll see.”

I loved how much she loved her work, and even though I’d liked to keep teasing her, I accepted the pants had to be done first. So I grabbed her waist, gripping tighter as I asked, “Saturday?”

“Saturday what?”

“Can I feed you Saturday?”

She chuckled a little. “Are you sayingfeedbecause you’re scared to ask me for dinner?”

I tsked. “Remember the shy girl who barely talked?”

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