Page 22 of Only One I Ever Wanted

Danny stiffened a moment, before he relaxed again and laced his hands behind his neck. “Hi, Dad.”

“Hey, bud. How was school today?”

He shrugged. “The substitute teacher is really nice.”

“Yeah? Girl or guy?”

“Miss Stacey. She’s super pretty.”

I turned my head to grin at him. “Is that so?”

His face reddened. “Yeah, it’s no big deal.”

“My prettiest teacher was Mrs. Gallows. Red hair like a cloud and loved to use colorful chalk on the board. Pretty sure she’s the only reason I know the difference between your and you’re.”

Danny was quiet, but his bright blue eyes were trained on me for once. “Did you go to my school?”

“Sure did.”

He turned his gaze back to the sky. “I like school. Mom never let me go.”

My chest ached. I mirrored his pose with his laced fingers behind his neck and stared up at the sky with him. “You never have to leave school again.” My voice was rough, and I had to swallow down the lump.

“Good.”

Trouble flopped between us and stuck his head into the crook of Danny’s neck until he was laughing.

And damn, that sounded good to me.

Chapter8

Nora

I was a little early.I forgot how everything was so close together in town.

I grabbed the bouquet of Gerbera daisies and the bakery box on my passenger seat and got out. A dog barked as I shut my door. I glanced over at the yard and found Sully and Danny laying on the grass. They both sat up and I was struck by how alike they looked.

And then came the double shot of longing I’d never felt before.

What would it be like to have a man like Sully and his mini me?

I shook off the thought and braced for impact as the dog came at me.

Danny headed after him. “Trouble, no!”

His father was faster and scooped up the wriggling chocolate lab puppy just before he could jump on me. “Sorry, not for you, idiot.”

I laughed. “Good save.” I slumped against my car.

Sully handed the dog to Danny. “Can you go feed him? We’re going to eat at Gram’s in twenty.”

Danny nodded and took off with the dog who wiggled until he could look over Danny’s shoulder at me. His big tongue rolling out, giving him a goofy smile.

He took the box from me. “You didn’t have to bring anything.”

“My mom would roll in her grave.” I tucked the flowers in the crook of my arm.

“I was sorry to hear about your mom.”

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