Page 39 of A Little Taste

“I didn’t know that.” Britt’s body is angled to face him, and I study her sweet smile.

Edna’s words filter through my brain, and my jaw tightens at the thought of Adam touching her. His lips being where mine have been.

“Did you know zebras only have one toe?”

“One toe?” Britt’s nose wrinkles.

“Yep! They walk around all day on their tiptoes!” Now he has Zander dancing on the table.

“Take a breath, Owen, and let Britt eat her dinner.”

He twists his lips, making a face at me, but he makes a big show of taking another bite of hamburger. Britt’s eyes flicker to mine, and her smile is a shot of dopamine right to my chest.

After a few minutes of chewing, Owen tilts his head to the side. “Dad said it was okay that you taught me a card trick. He said he overreacted.” Her eyebrows rise, and she gives me another quick glance. I give her a little wink in response, and her cheeks flush.

Owen continues, undeterred. “I showed it to him when we got home, but I didn’t do it right.”

His little shoulders slump, and she pats his back. “Your hands are still growing. I’ll teach you an easier one next time.” Then taking a sip of beer, she smoothly changes the subject. “How did you learn so much about zebras?”

“I read a lot. My teacher, Mrs. Priddy, says readers are leaders.”

“I remember Mrs. Priddy!” Britt’s eyebrows rise. “Is she still teaching? She’s got to be about to retire.”

“I think she’s getting close.” I polish off the last of my burger, watching my son doing his best to impress our dinner guest.

“You’re nice, like a teacher.” He tilts his head up at her. “Do you like being a lady cop? Do you know how to shoot a gun?”

“I’m actually a forensic photographer, so the only thing I shoot is a camera.” Her nose wrinkles with her smile.

“That’s right! My dad said you take pictures at crime scenes.” His voice drops, and he leans closer. “Do you ever take pictures of dead people?”

“Sometimes,” Britt whispers back. “It’s my job to be sure no piece of evidence is left undocumented.”

Owen’s eyes blink wider, and I’m pretty sure he’s in love. “I want to do that when I grow up!”

A pretty smile curls her lips. “Maybe you can tag along and help me one day—if it’s okay with your dad.”

Owen jumps around in his seat, practically shouting. “Can I, Dad? I’ll be real quiet, and I won’t get in the way or anything!”

“You’ll be real quiet?” I lift a finger to my ear, and Britt exhales a soft laugh. “Maybe one day when you don’t have school. In the meantime, you need to head up and take a bath, get ready for bed…”

He jumps off the bench, hesitating a moment to hug Britt’s shoulder. “I like you! Your job is cool!”

“If you think my job is cool, you should meet my dog.” She smiles, hugging his small waist.

“You have a dog?” My son’s eyes are wide, and I wince, remembering how many times he’s asked for a puppy—that we have no time to care for.

“I do. His name is Edward, and he’s part bloodhound, which means he has a super sniffer. I’ll bring him to the courthouse one afternoon so you can meet him.”

“Okay!” Owen is definitely in love.

“Bath time now.” He takes off into the house, and I call after him. “Speaking of sniffing, I’m going to smell you, so you’d better use soap.”

He yells a grumpyokayon his way up the stairs, and I turn back to see Britt smiling, her green eyes warm. “He reminds me of somebody.”

“He’s a lot like my brother Adam.”Whom I have no reason to be annoyed with.

“I was thinking he’s a lot like you. He’s adorable.” She almost seems shy saying it as she stands, collecting her plate and Owen’s.

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