Page 55 of Blitzing Emily

He gave a low chuckle, and seemed to relax a little. “I’ll let you sign mine.” His arm slid around Emily’s shoulders again. “She was rude to you, too.”

“Listen, bruiser, that was the least of it, wasn’t it? I’m fine,” she said.

“Yes, you are.” His fingertips stroked her upper arm.

Emily’s face was hot. She knew she was blushing.

“The kids are cute,” he mused.

They watched a toddler in a hot pink cotton romper and pink Nikes lurch through the sand. Her blonde pigtails bounced with every step, and her eyes were cobalt blue marbles in a rounded baby face. She chanted, “Mama Mama,” as she moved.

“She’s sweet, isn’t she?” Emily commented.

A woman Emily believed was the little girl’s mother hurried after her with a jacket, a bucket, and a small shovel. Princess must have been digging in the sand.

“You want one of those?” Brandon asked, inclining his head toward the little girl.

“Maybe. Someday.”

The little girl plopped down on a well-padded rump. She couldn’t decide whether to laugh or cry, and her mother swept her up in her arms. “We have to go, Kate,” she said.

Kate’s response was to screw up her little face. A couple of fat tears rolled down her cheeks. Kate’s mama put her down on the path in front of them, and Kate lurched toward Brandon at surprising speed.

She hurled herself onto his thigh, regarded him with wide eyes, and said, “Da.”

He laughed, and gently stroked her cheek. “Hello, Kate. I’m Brandon.”

She scrambled into his lap, sat up, and grinned.

“Katie, that’s not okay. We need to go.”

Two more big tears rolled down Kate’s cheeks. “Da,” she insisted.

“No, honey, Dada’s at work. We’ll see him later.” The woman hurried toward Brandon with outstretched hands and an apologetic smile.

“I should be so lucky,” he told Kate’s mama. “She’s beautiful.”

“How old is she?” Emily asked Kate’s mother. Kate crawled into Emily’s lap.

“She’s fourteen months old,” her mother said. “She’s fast.”

“I’ve heard about that,” Emily said. Emily gestured toward Kate, who leaned back against her chest. “Is this okay?”

“Sure,” her mother said.

Kate smelled like baby shampoo and laundry soap, overlaid with a sweet, clean scent. Her cotton romper was soft against Emily’s fingertips. Kate reached out for Brandon again. Emily relished the sweet weight for a moment, and then handed Kate to him.

“She’s in love with you already,” Emily said.

“I have that effect on women,” he deadpanned. “Katie, you’ve stolen my heart. What will I do?” He pressed a kiss onto her cheek. Kate let out a baby laugh and captured his face in her hands. She put her little mouth on his chin. To her surprise, Emily choked up.

“She’s giving kisses,” Emily managed to say.

“You’ll have one of your own someday,” Kate’s mother assured her.

Emily had heard that many times before, but she always dismissed it as something that happened to other people, not her. Today, Kate’s mother’s words pierced her heart.

“I have to get Kate to a doctor’s appointment,” Kate’s mother said, “or we’d love to stay.”

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