Page 29 of More Than a Little Spark

Then he gives it back.“Thank you.Have a great day.”He points to the gate, and the bar is lifting.

And off I go into a neighborhood that is way too nice for the likes of me.

When I get to the house, Daphne is waiting on the sidewalk.

I jump out and help her get loaded.“You look great!”

She runs a hand down the front of her baggy sweater.“Thanks.I’ve had to modify my jeans because of my foot.What do you think?”She kicks up her bad foot, showing off the bow framing a slit at the bottom of the leg.”

“That’s cute.I’d do that but the bows would get ratty, dirty.Wouldn’t look good.”

Hands on my chest, she leans in close as she laughs.“You’re funny.Where are we going to shop?Your timing is good because I have a few gifts yet to buy.”She buckles her seat belt.

I slide in behind the wheel and shift into gear.“Where do you need to go?We’ll start there.”

As I shift into gear, a McClaren turns into the driveway, and Daphne waves.“That’s my boss.”

“I was curious about the explanation before, but now I’m super interested in what’s going on.”

She rests an open hand on the center console, and I lace my fingers with hers.“I stayed with Rose for the first few days, but have you ever been so bored that counting strands of hair seemed entertaining?That’s how bad it got.It was fine when someone was around the house, but Rose and Dallas have stuff to do, and Floofy sleeps way more than I do.I love cats, and someday when I don’t live in an apartment, I’ll get one.But anyway, tangent.I was bored and wanted to go back to work.”Her thumb grazes the side of my hand.“But I can’t drive, and I work really close to here, which isn’t really close to Matchmaker Ranch.Definitely too far to walk, especially on crutches.So I asked my boss about working out some way to forward calls and letting me work remote.And I explained the whole situation.He and his wife offered me a guest room.So I’m staying here for a week or two.I’ll go to Rose’s for Christmas.She insisted.”

“Have you talked to your mom?”I give her hand a squeeze, wanting to encourage her because I know that family is a hard topic.

“I called her.She said she was sorry I wouldn’t be able to make it to Christmas.Mom lives in a third-floor apartment.”

Anger bubbles up inside me.How can a mother treat her child so badly?With so little care?

“That’s terrible.I’m so sorry.You’re amazing, Daphne.It’s not right that she treats you that way.”I pull her hand to my lips.“I wish things were different.For your sake.”

“It is what it is.And I’ve learned that even if I don’t get everything I want, I can still carve out a truly happy life.”

“That’s a great takeaway.”

She shifts in her seat so that she’s facing me.“You can kiss my hand like that anytime you want.I liked it.And I’m glad you aren’t weirded out that I’m staying at my boss’s house.I was worried that you’d?—”

“Think you were too fancy for me?Worry that he secretly has a thing for you?Feel insecure about a super wealthy guy sending you flowers and offering you his guest room?Those thoughts barely crossed my mind… barely more than a few hundred times since we pulled away from the curb.The dude has an awesome car though.”

“You seriously have nothing to worry about.I swear.Austin is happily married and besides that, he isn’t my type.”

“What’s your type, Daphne?”No one says that their type is chubby guys who make them laugh, but I’m curious about what she will say.

She shrugs.“Don’t know.I just know when someone isn’t my type.It’s not about what a guy looks like or how much is stashed in a bank account.I’m more interested in that spark.That little intangible something that makes my entire body light up when they come around.I don’t know if that makes any sense.”

“It does.”Prior to the night we met, that description would’ve made no sense to me.But with Daphne, it all makes sense.There’s an attraction, for sure.But also an unexplainable connection.“Now that I’ve met you.”I kiss her hand again.

Grinning, she sighs.“I’m sad that my car was completely wrecked, but I’m thrilled that we met.And I’m not going to say that I owe the stupid driver thanks for hitting me—I’m still mad at him—because we would’ve met at the party if I hadn’t flipped my car.I can’t tell you how happy I was when you ran up to my window.For one, I was alive, and having you speak to me kind of confirmed it.Also, you were so kind and funny.And you didn’t freak out when I put my hands all over you trying to find your phone.”

“That was… a tad awkward.”I wink at her.“Definitely an ice breaker.”

Her delightful laugh echoes in the truck.“I wasn’t really thinking straight that night.I was in shock and massively attracted to you.Common sense was absent.So I’m sorry.”

“Don’t even worry about it.It’s all good.”

For the next several hours, we make our way through stores, snagging last-minute gifts.And getting to spend time with her makes me feel like Christmas came a bit early.

Chapter12

Daphne

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