All the Way (Romancing Manhattan 1)

“I’ll explain later, but I need you to trust me right now. Gabby and I need to run out for a few things, but we’ll be back in about thirty minutes.”

“Okay,” he says immediately, and I step to him so I can speak low, out of Gabby’s range.

“I’ll also need to talk to you about someone apparently living in my playhouse. I don’t know if it’s true, Gabby mentioned it, but it spooked the hell out of me.”

“Jesus.” He runs his hand down his face. “I’ll call the police.”

“No, I can deal with it, but—”

“I’ll call the damn police.” His jaw is firm, ticking, and I know I’m not going to win this battle.

“Please wait to call them until we get back. This is important.”

His eyes narrow. He isn’t happy, but he nods once.

“Wait here,” I say to Gabby. “I’ll go get my car and pick you up in ten minutes.”

She smiles and I hurry as fast as I can to my house, gather my bag and keys and lock up, then drive over to pick up the little girl, who jumps right into my car and fastens her seat belt.

I drive us to a nearby drugstore and lead Gabby to the feminine hygiene aisle, where we hem and haw about which products she’d like to try. I end up grabbing two different kinds, along with a heating pad, new underwear for her, and a shitload of chocolate, which makes her happy.

“A girl needs lots of chocolate when it’s that time of the month,” I inform her. “I don’t know why, it just makes you feel better.”

“I like that part,” she says with a smile, and we pay for our things, then go back to Finn’s, where once inside, I take Gabby into the bathroom to show her how to use her new tools.

When we come back to the living room, Gabby hugs me tight and says, “Thank you.”

And then, to Finn’s absolute shock, she launches herself into his arms and hugs him just as tightly. “I’m sorry, Uncle Finn.”

She kisses his cheek and then runs up the stairs to her bedroom, shutting the door behind her.

Finn blinks rapidly and then stares at me. “What just happened?”

“She started her period,” I reply, and cringe when he hangs his head in his hand. “She didn’t know what to do, or who to talk to. So I just got her all set up with everything she needs, and I think she feels better. But it totally explains the mood swings, and her acting out so badly over the past few days.”

“Thank you,” he says, and then reaches out for my hand and tugs me gently into his arms for a firm hug. “Thank you so much for doing that for her. It’s just my luck that this happened when she’s with me.”

“You’ll be fine, just be gentle with her for a day or two.”

Dear God, his chest is hard.

And he smells so damn good.

I could stand here like this forever if my leg wasn’t screaming at me.

“Let me take you to dinner tomorrow night.”

“What about Gabby?”

“She’s going on a Girl Scout overnighter,” he says with a smile.

“You have to say yes!” Gabby yells from upstairs, clearly eavesdropping and making us both laugh.

“Well, sounds like I have to say yes. So, yes. I’d love that.”

“Excellent.” His dark eyes are still pinned on mine when he calls up to Gabby. “Go to bed, Gabs. We have some things to do down here.”

“Okay, good night.”

“Now I call the police,” he says, and pulls his phone out of his pocket. “If someone’s been squatting in that playhouse, you’re not going back over there alone.”

“Hi, I’m London Watson, an adult. I can make those decisions for myself.”

His eyes narrow again just before he speaks into the phone and explains the situation to dispatch. “Thank you. We’ll be waiting.”

“Are they coming?”

“On their way,” he replies. “You should stay here.”

“Hell no, I won’t stay here.” I stand my ground, my hands on my hips, glaring up at him. It seems Finn has a bit of a control-freak side. “It’s my house, Finn.”

He just shakes his head and leads me outside. Two squad cars pull into my driveway, and we meet them on my front porch.

“I’m London Watson, the homeowner,” I announce before Finn can say anything.

“Did you see anyone in your home?” one of the officers asks.

“I didn’t, no, but Finn’s niece says she saw a man living in the playhouse out back.”

The officer frowns and shares a look with his colleague. “So you didn’t actually see him?”

“No.” The officer nods.

“Okay, show us the way.”

I lead them around the house in the dark, thankful that I left several lights on inside to illuminate the way. Once we reach the playhouse, I stand back and gesture toward it. “This is it.”