CEO Daddy (Crescent Cove 6.50)

Upon closer inspection, the other woman did appear a bit older than I’d guessed from my first fast glance. Grandmother, all right, I suppose I could see it. But great-grandma? Wow. I needed to invest in her skin care regime. She looked fabulous.

“Oh, I’m very serious. Turning sixty-eight this year.” She tilted her head. “And you, you’re just a youngster.”

“Not that young.” I threw back my shoulders and drew myself up to my full height. Average all around, that was me. “I’m twenty-three.”

“Yes, definitely a youngster then.” But something in her smile grew sly.

I didn’t know why, so I leaned down and smiled as Lily stuck out her gummy hand to me. She’d just had it in her mouth, then Latte’s, but who was I to stand on ceremony? I pretended to shake and she giggled, her deep brown eyes dancing. “Hello there, Lily Louise. Pleased to meet you. I’m Hannah. You’ve already met Latte—and Latte’s tongue.”

Latte turned his head to give my wrist a lick in a show of solidarity.

“He’s quite the spiffy little guy. With surprisingly large gifts to leave behind.”

“Oh, God, I forgot. Sorry.” I stumbled up and turned around, wrinkling my nose.

“Here, let me help.” Before I could say a word, the chic older woman hustled around the stroller to take the leash from me. “Look at that, we match.” She held the leash up against her purple sweater and motioned down to her purple suede boots.

“Oh, those are killer.” I stared down at them wistfully and hoped she didn’t check out my ratty tennis shoes. My budget didn’t extend to such hot boots. “Thanks—”

“Bess,” she filled in when I paused, holding out her hand for a quick shake. “Sorry I didn’t introduce myself sooner. Usually, the kid gets all the attention. As she should. Look at those cheeks.” She reached down to pinch the baby’s ruddy cheek and Lily giggled, clapping her hands.

“She’s gorgeous. And um, sorry, but I have to…just one second.” I shifted to scoop up Latte’s little present and tied off the bag. Then I glanced around for a place to dump it off. Discreetly.

Bess cleared her throat and nodded to a small green receptacle for just such items to the side of the pizza shop, right above a bowl of water on the ground for their “canine customers.”

“Thank you,” I mouthed, jogging over to dispose of the baggie. I’d have to remember that was here, especially if I expanded my dog-sitting business as I hoped to.

Multiple ways of making a living. That was the ticket. And a sure way to stave off boredom too.

As well as thinking too much about sexy men I’d slept with a mere block away from the spot where I was now standing.

Nope, I was definitely not thinking about that.

After spritzing my pocket bacterial spray on my hands, I hurried back to Bess, Lily, and Latte, the l

atter of whom was now leaning against Bess’s leg and gazing up at her adoringly.

Miniature con artist.

“Looks like you’ve found a new admirer.” I smiled and accepted his leash, although the furry beast was in no hurry to leave Bess’s side.

“I have. And so has she.” Bess chuckled as Latte pitched himself at Lily’s lap yet again. The baby giggled and slapped her hands, reaching for the dog over the stroller barrier that separated them. “She so would love a pet. Snug would too, if he’d let himself.”

“Snug?”

Bess grinned. “Oops. He would kill me if he knew I was using his nickname in front of strangers. Not that you’re a stranger. You’re a friend now. So, friend, feel like a stroll?”

Maybe I should’ve felt a little bowled over by her take charge attitude, but I didn’t. Friends were few and far between in my life, and ones who could spend some time walking with me and my canine companion in the middle of a weekday were even scarcer.

Besides, one of the things I loved most about Crescent Cove was the small town atmosphere. Everyone was so welcoming here. So, why not?

I smiled as she tucked her arm through mine and we started walking up the street in the direction I’d just come from. With her other hand, she pushed the stroller while I held onto Latte, who seemed equally excited to have added on to our walking party.

We crossed at the crosswalk to the lake, making small talk about the surprisingly nice March weather, our strides keeping pace despite the difference in our ages. Clearly, Bess was used to a walking regime and I so was not.

That needed to change. My slightly too tight jeans agreed.

We wandered up the sidewalk along the wide swath of still ice-encrusted grass. Stubborn pools of snow remained, seemingly impervious to the warm sun. But the sound of melting icicles grew near every building and everyone we passed on the walkway wore a smile.