Page 84 of Single Chance

“But first we’ve gotta take care of the cookie fiend.” Ben peered in at Esmerelda. “Yes, I mean you.” His voice dripped with affection.

“Question of the hour,” I said, “did she get a cookie?”

“How do you think we got her in the van?” Ben asked, laughing.

“If I ate as many cookies as she does, I’d weigh twice as much,” Emerson said.

“At least she gets a workout walking to the bakery, huh?” I joked. “So you’re taking her home, then coming to the Fly?”

“That’s the plan,” Ben said. “Bertie has the kids tonight, so we just need the animals to behave.”

“We’ll hope to see you there.”

“Nice to meet you both,” Rowan said.

Sheriff Lopez came toward the van. “You got her all tucked in?”

“Sure do. We’ll get her out of here and locked in the barn,” Ben said. “Appreciate your help. Again. Sorry for the trouble. Again.”

The sheriff laughed. “If Sugar’s cookies weren’t so good, I might not be so understanding.”

“Blame it on Sugar.” I grinned and nodded at the sheriff. “Good luck getting her home,” I said to Ben as I ushered Rowan beyond the van.

It felt natural to put my arm around her and rest my hand on her waist as we headed down the sidewalk.

“I feel like I’ve earned official resident status now that I’ve met Esmerelda,” Rowan said.

“You’re one of us.”

“It’s crazy, but”—she peered up at me, looking invigorated and so damn pretty—“I sort of love it.”

Affection and happiness shone in her coffee-brown eyes, making me wish for a moment those feelings were aimed atme. I knew I should shut down on thoughts like that, but I was tired of fighting them. Tonight felt special. We didn’t have to guard our secret anymore, and so far Rowan was okay with me touching her in public. Why not just relax and savor this rare evening out together?

“Told you it’s a special place,” I said.

I opened the door to the Fly and kept my hand on her…possessively? Maybe. I wasn’t okay with some other guy trying to win her affection. Obviously that was something I’d have to get over in the long run, but for tonight, she was here with me. Knowing she wasn’t up for entanglements, I intended to stick close and provide a layer of protection from any assholes who thought they could win her over.

The bar wasn’t crowded, as it was still a good two hours before people normally packed themselves in. That made it easy to spot Holden and Chloe, sitting at the bar in the front room, their backs to us.

Taking Rowan’s hand, I led her toward them, weaving us between tables and people.

“Hello,” I said, sticking my head between Holden and Chloe, who had an order of fries in front of them.

They both turned and greeted us. Chloe and Rowan hugged, and Rowan sat on the stool next to Chloe. They easily fell into conversation.

“Romantic night out, huh?” I teased Holden.

He laughed. “With a little one at home, you take what you can get. You might not remember what that’s like, but you’ll have a big refresher soon. Chloe didn’t want to miss Everly.”

“Where’s Sutton tonight?”

“At her grandparents’. My dad and Faye’s house has become like a weekend bed-and-breakfast service for the under-ten crowd. They love it.”

“The kids or the grandparents?”

“Both,” he said with a laugh. “They’ve got Mason and Eliza’s three as well this evening, so Sutton’s having cousin fun.”

I’d met Mason and Eliza North a few times. The North family and the Henrys had become one big clan when Holden’s sister, Hayden, had married Zane North, and then the Henry patriarch, Simon, and the North matriarch, Faye, had fallen in love and gotten hitched as well.

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