Page 88 of Driven Daddy

“When it comes to Rita, I’m not sure what the hell I’m doing. I say the wrong thing every five damn minutes.”

“Maybe because she matters. You’re not used to that. The Masterson charm only works so long.”

“Tell me about it.” I walked to the fridge and pulled out a bottle that would go well with Italian. “I get the feeling she’s been hurt a lot. I don’t want to be another person who does that to her.”

“Knowing that is half the battle.” He set his brush in a holder and met me near the door. He gripped my shoulder. “When a woman’s important, you learn to be careful with them.”

“I’ve been fumbling a hell of a lot,” I confessed.

“Then you’ll do better.” He nodded for me to go in first. “Your mother’s lasagna is a good start.”

I grinned over my shoulder. “Think she’ll forgive me for springing Rita on her?”

“She’ll be the talk of her book club. I think you’ll be just fine. Now get in there. I’m hungry.”

I sure hoped so. And I hoped Rita would open up with me after dinner.

I wasn’t letting her leave without finding out what had her so twisted up.

She was becoming too damn important.

FIFTEEN

I pickedup my dish and brought it into the kitchen.

“I’ve got that, sweetie.” JoAnn followed me to the sink and took my plate.

“Oh, I can help. House rules, right? One cooks, the others do the dishes.”

“You’re a guest.”

I felt far too at home. More than I’d ever felt with anyone in my life, which said something since I’d been shuttled around to more foster homes than I could count or remember.

“Rules are rules.” I took the plate back.

She sighed and stood next to me. “Fine, then we’ll do it together.”

I couldn’t complain since it was her kitchen. “I don’t think I’ve had lasagna that good since I went to Italy for research.”

“You went to Italy?” JoAnn turned to me, her brown eyes wide with excitement. Those eyes were Penn’s eyes. “I’ve been saving to go there. Hank isn’t as excited about the prospect, he’s a homebody. Raised in Crescent Cove and never wanted to leave. I fell for the town too, so I guess I can’t fault him.”

“Where are you from?”

“Another small town.” She laughed as she twisted her braid up and away with a clip. “I thought for sure I would get away from Winchester Falls and go to the big city. Or at least one where everyone didn’t know all your business.” She took a plate from me. “Then I met Hank at a concert.”

I grinned. “Who?”

“Exactly that.” When she saw my confusion, she threw her head back. “We saw The Who.”

“Oh. Duh.”

“Me and my girlfriends snuck away to their concert in…gosh, had to be the early 80’s.” She bumped me with her hip. “We won’t talk about how the eighties are somehow fifty years ago.”

I laughed. “Some of the best music. When I was…” I trailed off. I didn’t generally share my background with people. But I’d also learned to keep other people talking so I didn’t have to share myself with them. JoAnn and Hank made it far too easy to get comfortable with them.

JoAnn took the plate from me and tucked it into the drying rack, then turned me to her. “You don’t have to share anything you don’t want to, honey.”

I sighed. “When I was fostered.”

---