“Hey, Tabby.” He crosses to where I’m standing like a deer in headlights. “I was going to stop by later.”
“Chad! Chad! Chad! Sher-riff Chad!” Coco hops around me to where he’s standing, still pumping her fist.
He scoops her up so fast it takes my breath away. His muscles flex, Coco throws her arms around his neck in a hug, and that big hand sliding up and down her back so gently… His dimpled smile.
It’s possible my ovaries exploded.
Wait—I don’t want kids! Shit! Panic throws cold water on my lust-filled reaction. If Coco says anything about tequila or babies or the man you’ll marry, I will drop dead.
Coco sits back on his arm. “I’m spending the night with Aunt Tabby tonight!”
“Is that right?” He bends forward to put her down. “Where’s your mamma?”
“She’s learning how to make roses.”
A little wrinkle is between Chad’s brows when he straightens, and those whiskey eyes do a quick scan from my head to my toes before locking his gaze with mine. I feel like I’ve been mentally undressed good and proper, and my panties are burning up.
Clearing my throat, I explain. “It’s a cake decorating class.”
“What’s going on out here?” Betty Pepper’s loud voice makes me cringe. “Tabby! Chad? Is that Coco with you?”
“I’m spending the night with Aunt Tabby!” Coco hops over to the bar and climbs on a stool. “Mr. André’s making me mac and cheese.”
“He most certainly is not!” Betty Pepper scolds her. “You know the Fall Festival for the church is tonight. I expect you all to come right over and get some Boston Butt. André, that includes you.”
“Ew!” Coco cries.
“Stop that fussing, Colette. We have a hayride and a dunking booth and games and cotton candy. You might win a goldfish!”
“Cotton candy!” Coco’s entire attitude changes. “But I don’t want to eat a butt. I want mac and cheese.”
Betty’s hand goes on her hip. “It’s not a butt like your behind. Boston Butt is like… it’s like brown chicken.”
My nose wrinkles at that metaphor, and I try to rescue us from this hijacking. “Oh, thanks, BP. We’re just going to take it easy tonight. I loaned Emberly my car and—”
“I could give you a ride.” Chad is warm at my back, and I pivot, looking up at him.
His smile is still there, along with my favorite dimple, but something in his eyes has changed, it’s grown hotter, panty-melting hot.
I go to where Coco’s sitting so I can think straight. Church functions are not my thing, even if I am keeping a four year old. “You don’t have to.”
“We are not serving alcohol at this event, so you should be fine to drive.” Betty’s eyes narrow, and I swear, I am going to punch Jimmy Rhodes in the nuts next time I see him.
Chad exhales a chuckle. “See? I can even get you home as well.”
“Yay! Brown chicken!” Coco pumps her little fist.
I catch it in my hand and lower it. “We’d planned to watch a movie… and I don’t have any cash. Aren’t these events cash only?” Thank the Lord, I saved us.
“We got a brand new credit card reader. One of those little white square things?” Betty’s hand is on her hip, and she gives me a final nod. “I expect to see you all there in a half hour.”
She stomps to the back of her store, headed to her office, and when I look at Chad again, he’s still grinning. “I was actually planning to stop by this evening and see if you wanted to go out again.” He closes the space between us, and my resistance melts in the presence of his hotness. “What do you say? It sounds fun.”
“It sounds terrible. Brown chicken?”
“Cotton candy… I could win a goldfish!” Coco’s hopping again, and I know I’ve lost. “Nevermind about the poboys, André. Looks like we have a change in plans.”
Twelve