Page 72 of Sweet Surprises

“They said they didn’t ask me to hang out before because they all thought that I was only quiet because I thought I was too good for them,” she said, shaking her head in disbelief. “But thenwhen I threw myself into the part, they started texting me. And they’re actually really nice.”

As soon as they’d reached the carnival today, a crew of five giggling girls had descended on Olivia, and with her father’s permission, she had disappeared with them to get in line for the rides.

“I know all their parents,” Tag had told Charlotte defensively.

“I’m so happy for her,” Charlotte had replied.

And she meant it too. She would have loved to spend the day with the precocious thirteen-year-old, but Olivia deserved to have some actual friends. And the ones who had chosen her seemed like lovely girls.

Though it would definitely be a new experience for Tag to have his daughter disappear to spend time with her peers instead of with him and Chance.

“Are you sure you want to leave?” she asked him when he got into the truck. “We can stick around tonight, and do a date night tomorrow.”

“My parents are there, and so are most of my brothers,” he said. “Both kids have got lots of eyes on them, don’t worry. Unless you’re trying to weasel out of having dinner with me?”

“Definitely not,” Charlotte told him. “I’m starving. And besides, I promised to give you a chance.”

They both knew that this was more than a chance. It was a beginning. Hopefully, a fresh and wonderful beginning, now that they could each admit what they wanted.

They traveled for a while in companionable silence as Tag drove. When he turned into town, Charlotte smiled at the beautiful sight of the little downtown and park, all decked out for the holidays with twinkling lights and boughs of pine and holly.

“You love that, don’t you?” Tag asked her.

“Do you ever get used to it?” she asked.

“Never,” he told her. “Sometimes I’m too busy worrying about something else to really appreciate it. But it’s always…”

“Wondrous?” she offered.

“Yeah,” he said with a crooked smile as he gazed out the window at his hometown and then his eyes returned to hers. “Wondrous.”

He took a parking spot near the ice cream shop and got out quickly.

Charlotte knew he was coming around to open her door for her, yet she still got the same little thrill as the first time he helped her down to the sidewalk.

“Look at this place,” he said, indicating the ice cream shop. “I hear it’s under new management. Much nicer than before.”

“But they ran out of ice cream last week,” she said, amazed at his silliness, but playing along.

“Only because it’s so delicious and the place is so much cooler now,” he said. “I hear the new manager is dating one of the owners.”

“Is she?” she asked, deciding she loved this playful side of him.

“Oh yes,” Tag replied, lowering his voice, like he had the juiciest gossip of all. “And I heard he made anidiotof himself over her, and his own family was furious with him for not making her his girl when he had the chance.”

“That does sound foolish,” Charlotte agreed. “But I heard he’s a smart guy. I guess that’s how he got her back.”

“I only wish I’d earned my second chance by being smart,” he said, suddenly not playing anymore.

“I think groveling in front of half the town was a pretty smart idea,” Charlotte said, unable to hide her smile.

“It wasn’t even my idea,” he admitted.

“But you recognized it instantly,” she told him. “You were very smart to listen to your sister.”

“I am a good listener,” he said thoughtfully.

Charlotte had to giggle. She hadn’t thought of it before, but he really was a good listener. Maybe not being a big talker made him a listener by default. But it wasn’t just about letting other people do the talking. Tag had a way of letting her know he was paying attention, and that he actually cared about what she had to say.

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