Page 86 of Back in the Saddle

He liked me.

I liked him.

I wanted this.

I wanted him.

His ex might be an issue, but…whatever.

He wouldn’t even let me stretch to get my own wineglass.

And he wouldn’t let me be alone in my gloom.

I had to give it to him.

If this worked, he’d find out eventually.

So I squared my shoulders and informed him, “Eric, I’m a Disney chick.”

He blinked again.

And then a repeat of him busting out laughing.

I shoved at his chest in affront.

He rocked back maybe half an inch before I was plastered to him again with his face in my neck.

“Holy fuck,” he said there, still laughing, and his next vibrated with it, “Disney.”

“A lot of people like Disney,” I defended. “There are millions of us.”

He pulled his face out of my neck to look down at me. “There are big crowds at those amusement parks.”

I didn’t meet his eyes. “It’s impossible to get pissed at rude people in one of the Magic Kingdoms. That’s the magic part of the kingdom. Among other magic they offer there.”

He chuckled. Loudly.

I huffed.

He framed my face in his hands and whispered, “I honestly didn’t think you could be cute. But you are. Adorable.”

“I hate to rain on your cuteness parade, but the go-to for neglectful parents is to park their children in front of kids’ movies, and some of my only good memories growing up were watchingThe Little Mermaid, Beauty and the BeastandMulan.”

That wiped the amusement off his face, and…damn.

I wished I’d kept my mouth shut.

“Honey,” he murmured.

“Jeff lovedRobin Hood. My favorite wasPeter Pan.”

He wrapped his hands warmly around the sides of my neck. “That tracks.”

Jeff: right wrongs and be a hero.

Check.

Me: escape to a magical world that didn’t have adults.

---