Page 69 of Renewal After Dark

“I’m sure she’ll appreciate the support. She may even be there tonight.”

“I feel so bad for her. What a tough thing to see a child through.”

“For sure. But she and Blaine are a strong couple. They’ll love her through it.”

“Love her through it. What a sweet way to put it.”

“Cut it out with that sweet crap.”

McKenzie laughed. “Sorry, but I only speak the truth.”

“Maybe I should finally get some tats on my face to make me look tougher.”

“Even if you do that, I’ll still think you’re sweet.”

“Damn it. Clearly, I’ve played this all wrong.”

“From where I’m sitting, it seems like you’ve played it all right.”

“You really think so?”

“Uh-huh.”

“So, like, if I was to say, ‘Hey, McKenzie, you want to go out to dinner with me sometime?’ you might actually say yes?”

“Ask me and find out.”

“Oh, um, so, like… I should ask you now?”

“Were you doing something else?”

He gave her a side-eyed look. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

“Very much so. Aren’t you?”

“Not as much as you are.”

That only made her laugh harder.

“Keep laughing at me, and I might not ask you anything.”

“You will.”

If only he still couldn’t feel the exact spot where she’d kissed his cheek. He would never wash that spot again.Now you’re just being ridiculous. That might be true, but not even his internal narrator could ruin the euphoria of realizing that she liked him as much as he liked her and if he asked her out, she’d say yes.

Since they were approaching the marina, he decided to save that question for later.

When they were out of the truck, he took the baby seat from her and carried it toward the pier, where a crowd had gathered inside the restaurant and around the picnic tables outside.

Evan McCarthy and Owen Lawry were seated on stools outside with their guitars.

“You’re in for a treat. Those two are great together.”

“Who are they?”

“Evan McCarthy and Owen Lawry.”

“Evan McCarthy who sings ‘My Amazing Grace’?”

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