Page 52 of The Sweetest Thing
Annie’s lower lip wobbled but she nodded.
“Okay.” Tansy headed to the table with the large Cookie Station sign overhead. She grabbed three cookie kits, paid and carried them back to the table. “They’re huge, more like cookie cakes.”
Annie sat up on her knees, fully invested in watching Tansy open the cellophane-wrapped box. One large cookie, three small tubes of colored frosting, one large tube of white frosting and sprinkles. “There aresprinkles.” She smiled up at Dane.
“One of my superpowers is cookie decorating.” Dane opened his cookie box, his expression grave. “Don’t feel too bad if mine looks and tastes the best.”
“How can yours taste better?” Tansy rolled her eyes.
“Because it’s mine.” Dane pointed at his chest.
Annie turned to Tansy, adding simply, “And Thor is the best.”
Tansy laughed. “You’re right, Annie. I thinkThoris the best.” She studied Dane, cocking her head to one side. “The real Thor, that is. None of those wannabe Thors. They’re the worst.” She popped the seal off the frosting tubes and handed them to Annie as she spoke. “Acting important all the time. Wanting attention. Having to be right. Being condescending. Teasing all the time. Wearing too-tight shirts—”
“Don’t you mean ‘shirts that fit well’?” Dane interrupted. “Interesting that that’s one of the things that bothers you.” He smoothed his snug-fit T-shirt into place.
She’d actually said all of that out loud. While she scrambled to come up with some sort of excuse or comeback, she opened Annie’s sprinkles container.
“Annie!” A woman’s voice. “Annie, baby!”
Tansy turned, searching out the woman.
“Momma?” Annie stood in her seat. The moment she saw her mother, she was jumping up and down and waving. “Momma, look! Look who saved me. It’s Thor.”
Dane groaned and covered his face.
“It’s sweet.” Tansy pushed against his shoulder. “And now you can say you are, in fact, a hero.”
Annie’s mother scooped her up. “Baby girl. I’m so sorry. I’m sorry.”
Tansy couldn’t move, held in thrall by the scene playing out in front of her, by Annie’s mom. The way her face crumpled as she turned into Annie’s hair, the fierce hold she had on her daughter—as if she couldn’t bear the thought of letting go for fear of losing her little girl again. The pure, all-consuming love of a mother for her child.
Dane’s touch was the anchor she needed. She didn’t remember putting her hand on his shoulder or gripping the fabric of his shirt. His hand, covering hers, wrapped her in such warmth that she didn’t immediately pull away.
“This nice couple has been keeping an eye on her.” Glenda, from the lost and found, nodded at the two of them.
But we’re not a couple. They were the opposite of a couple. She let go of Dane and shoved her hands into her pockets.
“Thank you, so much.” Annie’s mother was sobbing, but smiling. “She went with her brother and then decided not to go with him but never made it back to me. We’ve been looking.”
“I was safe with Thor, Momma.” Annie pointed at Dane. “Will!” she shrieked. “Will, come meet him!”
Dane was an adorable shade of red. “I’m not—”
“Whoa.” The moment the boy saw Dane, he froze. “He’s... You’re... Whoa.”
Tansy laughed, she had to.
Dane’s blue eyes darted her way, not in the least amused.
“Thank you, both of you.” The mother nudged Will forward. “Say hello, Will. I’m sure Mr. Thor would be happy to meet you.”
Dane sighed.
As amusing as it was to watch Dane squirm, a flash of red beyond Dane and Annie snagged her gaze.Was that? Yes, it was.
Shelby Dunholm.
