Her eyes widened. “You wouldn’t . . .”
It was my turn to laugh. “Not a moron, baby,” I said pointing a thumb at my chest. “What do you think I’d tell them? That you’re taking a nap.” I shook my head.
“They’re going to think I’m a lightweight for crashing.”
“No they won’t. You’re exhausted and you were ill yesterday and I still don’t think you’re at your best. I noticed you didn’t eat much breakfast and you were lagging on the run.”
She sputtered and glared at me. “I was not lagging on the run, you ass!”
One thing about Brynne? She’s as competitive as they come. I swear she could hold her own in drive and determination with some of the blokes I knew in the SF. And never insinuate she’s weak physically. It makes her spitting mad.
Damn, but she’s beautiful when she’s riled.
I bit my lip to keep from laughing outright and held up my hands in surrender. “Okay, you only lagged the tiniest little bit,” I soothed with kisses. “There’s nothing wrong with that when you were sick last night, baby. Your body needs to recover. Have a rest and feel better.” I nodded. “I want you to.”
She looked down at the blanket and plucked at it distractedly. “What are you going to do while I’m sleeping?”
“I have a date with a local beauty.” I shrugged. “She’s a real heartbreaker. Dark hair, big blue eyes, absolutely stunning. Very short, though.” I gestured with my palm. “Has a particular taste for ice creams.”
She laughed through yet another yawn. “I’m sorry I’ll miss seeing you on your date eating ice cream with the local beauty. She’s adorable. Take a picture from your phone for me?”
“I will, baby.” Another kiss. “Now go to sleep.”
My girl was already out like a light when I left the room.
6
? "Why are fish so smart?” Zara asked me.
I shrugged exaggeratedly. “I have no idea why fish are so smart. Do you know why?”
She nodded seriously. “Because they are always in schools.”
I laughed at her smug little face, smudged with strawberry ice cream, and tackling a new angle on her melting cone.
“Want some, Rags?” She offered her treat to the golden retriever sitting loyally beneath the outdoor table.
Rags took a couple of healthy licks with his long pink tongue and I scowled. Zara looked up at me to see what I would say, the little demon that she was. I shrugged at her. “I don’t care if you want slobbery dog germs on your ice cream. Do what you want.”
She giggled at me and kicked her dangling legs in the chair. “Brynne talks funny.”
“I know. I’ve been telling her that for a long time, but she doesn’t listen.” I shook my head sadly. “Still does it.” I pulled out my mobile to take some pictures of her and got canned poses the instant she understood what I was doing. Zara cracked me up something fierce. Her parents were in for it once she became a teenager. Good. God.
More giggling. “She talks like the words on SpongeBob SquarePants.”
My mouth fell open in mock surprise. “You know, you’re right! Will you tell her?”
She shrugged. “She’s nice and I think she can’t help it.” Zara gave me a look of censure and went back
to her strawberry ice cream. Something along the lines of: Only a real dickhead would make fun of how someone talks, you idiot. She was so her mother’s daughter.
“Nice one, E. Letting your niece share with the dog. I saw the whole thing from the window of the shop.” Hannah looked disgusted with us both as she joined us. “I step away for two minutes—”
“He said he didn’t care, Mummy,” Zara interrupted, selling me out with no trouble at all.
“Oh, Raggsey is pretty disease-free, I think.” I gave the dog a nice pat on the head. “And you are a little traitor!” I pointed a finger at Zara. “So sue me, Han. I’m just the uncle here. Letting them run amuck in wild abandon is my role.”
“Yeah, well, I haven’t had the indulgent auntie role . . . yet.”