Page 1 of More Than a Little Spark

Chapter1

Carson

Since taking custody of my nephew, I can count the times on one hand that I’ve gone out on a Saturday night.I don’t regret adopting Fred, not in the least.But gosh, this year has been a steep learning curve.For both of us.

I think all the single-digit years in a kid’s life are just training parents for the double-digit years, and I missed out on all the training.

And that poor kid had it rough before coming to live with me.

Moving added an extra layer of chaos, but that decision is one I’ll never regret.Stargazer Springs Ranch offered both a job and a place to live, but the best part is that Fred found a best friend.He and Mason hit it off instantly, and Mason’s parents, Kent and Poppy, are the reason I’m dressed in a Hawaiian shirt unbuttoned down to my navel and driving to a costume party.I don’t have a fancy red sports car, but I’m rocking a fabulous mustache.Hopefully, this is enough for people to recognize who I’m supposed to be.The gut hanging over my belt doesn’t help.I don’t look anything like Thomas Magnum.Maybe I should’ve ordered a life-size Higgins cut-out to take with me to the party.

Weeks ago, when Dallas invited us all to Rose’s party, Kent and Poppy offered to keep Fred for a sleepover.And that’s the day I started growing my ’stache.The finishing touch on my costume.

I may look ridiculous, but isn’t that sort of the point of a costume party?I’m never going to get oohs and aahs, but I can get laughs.

As I shift into the left lane to pass a Civic on the right, a muscle car zooms up beside me and tries threading the needle.I tap the brakes, knowing he won’t have enough room.

But that doesn’t stop him, and he makes contact with the left rear corner of the Civic, then continues down the road as if nothing happened.

I slam on my brakes as the Civic spins, and when a tire gets off the pavement into the dirt, the car starts flipping.

It’s like a scene straight out of a movie.As the event plays out in slow motion, fireworks of panic explode in my head.

Stuff like this is why I have a dash cam.

I skid to a stop on the side of the road and race back to the car that’s now upside down in a ditch.

Bracing for a sight that’ll give me nightmares, I drop into the dirt to check on the driver.

A woman, who is dressed as Daphne from Scooby Doo, blinks, her face and body covered in powder from the deployed airbags.Making jokes about Danger-prone Daphne would be in very poor taste, so I keep those thoughts to myself.She’s alive.That’s better than the alternative.

I yank open the door and ease onto my belly.“Are you okay?”

She turns to look at me, her eyes red.“He hit me.”

Fake red hair is hanging toward the ceiling, and the edge of her skirt is behaving similarly.Gravity and all that.But her seat belt is keeping most of the skirt where it covers her thighs.Not that I’m looking all that closely.

I keep my voice calm in spite of the chaos in my brain.“I saw.And hopefully the whole thing was caught on my dash cam.”

She reaches for the seat belt.

“Wait!Don’t unbuckle yet.”I worry that moving her is a bad idea, but I can’t leave her hanging upside down.I’m not even sure it’s safe to stay in the car.I scan her body for visible injuries.“Can you move your arms, hands, fingers?”

Nodding, she waves both hands.“Yeah.”

I reach in and turn off the engine.“Now your feet.Just want to check before I even touch you.”

She moves her feet, then yelps.“Ouch!My ankle.”

I can’t see her feet, but given the state of the car, I’m not surprised she’s injured.Hopefully, it’s minor.“Okay.I’m going to get you out of here, but I’ll need your help.”

She bounces her head, clearly afraid.And after glancing around, she frantically tries to hold the bottom of her dress against her legs.

That’s when it clicks that she’s in a costume on the same country road that I’m on.What are the chances we were headed to the same party?That’s not something I need to think about.It doesn’t matter.She’s cute, but now that I’m a chubby guy with a preteen, my chances of dating are slim to none.Women like her don’t typically look twice at guys like me.I’m a firm believer in leagues, and she’s top tier.

I push up onto my knees.“We don’t want you landing on your head.But if you hug my neck, Daphne, I can unbuckle your seat belt without you falling.”

Twisting, she maneuvers and then wraps her arms around my neck.“Do you know me?”

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