Page 64 of Porter's Angel

Porter let out a growl seconds after the explosion died down. Everyone was still catching their breaths as he sprang out of the bushes at the teenagers. “Bring me your eyes!”

Screams met his demands. His timing was impeccable.

The guy telling the story shrieked the loudest. The silly string went off in his hand, and it shot a foam of colorful pink all over his face and hair.

The girls took one look at Porter and scrambled away. The other guy stumbled backwards, dropping the whipped cream in his haste to escape through the bushes. Porter picked up the whipped cream and shot it at the teenagers’ retreating backs.

Cadence sighed as their voices echoed in the distance.

“You jerk!” the girl berated her boyfriend. “Did you plan that? I almost lost my voice I screamed so hard.”

The boy’s resounding laughter sounded through the forest behind them.

Cadence picked up a flipflop that one of the girls had left behind, chuckling when her eyes rose to Porter’s dancing ones. “I feel like you’ve done this before.”

He shrugged. “What? It sure beats being a responsible human being.” He sprayed a thick mound of whipped cream into his mouth. “Mm, good stuff.” He burst into more laughter when he seemed to notice her shock and spit it out before he choked. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry! I’m a horrible prankster. That’s what I’m trying to tell you, I’mnotthat guy in Nashville that you met.”

That was for sure. “I know!”

“You do?” He straightened. “When did you find out?”

“Um.” She screwed up her forehead in thought. “I would say when I caught you hiding that hymnbook from your nephew, I realized the truth then.”

He stilled, as if digesting what she was telling him. “I don’t think that you get what I’m trying to say. I pulled a prank on you, and it was so incredibly stupid, but at the same time if I hadn’t done it, I never would’ve gotten to know you.”

Pranks. Pranks. When had he pulled one on her? He’d been teasing her since the moment that their lives had collided, but was he referring to that horrible date on Saturday? Had he meant that as a prank? Strangely, eventhathad turned out pretty fun.

“So I’m glad that I did,” he said, “but… it wasn’t my finest moment.” He trailed off, watching her face, for what she guessed was any sign of annoyance.

Why should she be angry? Even through that disastrous date, Cadence had never sensed the insincerity of Porter’s feelings. That was what she liked about him. He might love a good joke, but he was the most genuine man that she’d ever met. She felt absolutely comfortable with him, which she had to admit that up until this moment, she’d never felt with anyone else before.

“I’m not mad,” she whispered, but she was ready to have some fun with his apology. Porter deserved some punishment for his bad behavior. “I forgive you… but you’re getting yours!”

He looked surprised. “But I didn’t even tell you what I did, yet.”

She laughed. The guy didn’t have to tell her; she knew. Without another thought, she scooped her chocolate mud cream pie from the basket and smashed it into his face.

Porter’s hands went up comically, and he stumbled back, clawing at that beautiful crust that she’d spent the whole afternoon before making. Somehow that spread the chocolate even more over his face, but as soon as he wiped the pudding from his eyes, she saw how blue they looked in that mess of mud pie. “You are ruthless!” he said with a grin. “That was a real pie there!”

“And you totally deserved it.” Getting him back felt more satisfying than she thought.

He peeled away some of the crust and popped it into his mouth. “Oh wow, Angel, this is delicious.”

“Really?” she asked, pleased. It had been her first attempt at making pie. She couldn’t be prouder. Cadence scraped off some of the pudding, seeing how creamy it was. Her stomach growled in response. Yeah, she was starving. They’d better clean him off, so they could have their picnic. But clearly, he had other ideas. She’d come too close and now Porter’s hands found her waist. He brought her close so that she felt that creamy goodness smash into her face.

What had she started?

She writhed, trying to escape, but he was having too much fun to stop now. His apology, for the time being, seemed forgotten in what she’d done. “You’ve got to try this pie, Angel. It’s great.”

“Porter!” She tried to wrestle free, but he had her pinned. “You’re horrible.”

“Yeah,” he agreed.

Her back met the wide trunk of a tall oak and his fingers slid over her chin. He was getting that delicious pudding all over her face. She laughed when he swept the dessert helpfully into her mouth as easily as feeding a baby. The chocolate melted against her tongue. Its sweetness hit the spot. Dang, shewasa good pie maker.

His lips met hers next.

Those were even better.

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