Page 55 of Fateful Hearts

Hailee grins so wide I know she has something crazy in mind. “I want to go to Rockin’ Roller Rink.”

I burst out laughing as Blake furrows his brows. “What’s a Rockin’ Roller Rink?”

“Roller skating… disco style.” I laugh.

Blake goes white as a sheet as Hailee bounces on her seat. “We’re the Breakfast Bandits. A superhero isn’t scared of roller skating…is he?”Hailee teases.

Blake purses his lips. “Me? Scared of roller skating? No. I’m going to show that ice who’s boss.”

I chuckle as Hailee bursts into hysterics. “That’s ice skating. This is roller skating. You know… four wheels?”

He rolls his shoulders and pours the maple syrup over his pancakes. “Well, Starshine, today is all about you. So if you want to go skating, we’re going skating.”

My body lights up inside as he shoves a giant piece of pancake into his mouth, even though I can tell he is quietly freaking out about this. All the while, Hailee is bouncing in her seat excitedly.

“But I’m going to need to head home first and change. This suit is annoying me.”

Hailee giggles. “That’s okay. I’d love to see your place.”

Blake dips his chin. “Then it’s settled. We eat breakfast, head over to my place, then we’re going skating.”

Hailee has the brightest smile as my eyes meet Blake’s. “Thank you.” I mouth to him again, and he winks at me.

***

As we walk through the front door to Blake’s apartment, Hailee’s eyes widen as Blake throws his keys in a bowl on a small table by the door.

My first impression is that this is definitely a bachelor pad, with all the creams and brown tones throughout the place, but I must admit it’s sleek and stylish.

So incredibly him.

“I’m just going to change. Make yourselves at home,” he says, then takes off down the hall.

Hailee glances around the medium-sized living room, where the sofa is much bigger than ours at home. The suede looks so soft and comfortable that I want to jump right into the cushions.

“His place is big for one person.”

Nodding, I smirk. “It sure is, Starshine.”

She huffs, then starts walking off down the hall. “Hailee.Hailee!”I call back, but she’s not listening as she wanders off.

“Jesus Christ,” I mumble as I take off after her.

I scurry down the hall, but I can’t see her anywhere. The hall is long and clinical, and I glance through each door until I spot her. I push the door back and walk into an office, but my eyes widen as it’s not just any office but what looks like a very well-stocked library. Every wall is covered in bookshelves.

Hailee stands by the shelves perusing the books, smiling wide. “He has his own library, Mom. He’s the Beast fromBeauty and the Beast!”

I can’t help but smile at her analogy as I step up, running my fingers along all the paperback spines. Some modern, a few old classics—there are so many amazing books to choose from.

I had no idea.

“Look, Mom,” Hailee says, pulling out Madame de Villeneuve’s originalBeauty and the Beast. “I knew he was a Disney fan.”

Smiling, I tilt my head. “This is the original, baby girl. It’s not quite the same as the Disney version, but Iamsurprised he has it.”

Blake steps into the office, pulling his leather jacket over his shoulders with a smirk. He’s wearing a simple white tee and faded blue jeans. The guy looks all kinds of freaking hot right now and the complete opposite of the suits he normally wears. It’s an entirely different look for him, and I totally love it.

“My mother is into the arts, and as I grew up, she taught me about all kinds of things, literature being one of them.”

---