Page 48 of Hungry Hearts

Putting Ruby first and me second just skyrocketed him to the top of whatever list I could possibly make on what makes the perfect man.

“Okay,” I say, stupidly again.

“Tell me when and where.”

I’ve never brought a man to our home before, so I name a local chain restaurant that’s a favorite of Ruby’s. As soon as I do, I regret it. Ryder is used to fine dining. He’s not going to want to go to a place that specializes in mac and cheese and chicken fingers.

“That was my favorite place when I was a kid.”

“Since we’re no longer kids, maybe we should go somewhere else.”

“Ruby’s a kid. If that’s where she likes to eat, that’s where we’ll go.” Someone speaks in the background. “Shit. I gotta go. I’m hiding out in my office, but we’ve got another issue in the kitchen. I’ll see you tomorrow, Angel. And don’t wear anything too sexy. I’m going to have a hard enough time keeping my hands to myself in front of your daughter.”

“Not a problem since I don’t own anything sexy.”

“Babe.You’refucking sexy. Shit. Gotta go. See you at six.”

“Can we get ice cream after dinner?” Ruby asks from the backseat.

I glance at the rearview mirror and watch her play with her Barbie and a Little Mermaid doll. “Maybe on a different night. You have school in the morning so we’re not staying out too late.”

“But we have ice cream after dinner sometimes at home on school nights.”

My little girl is too smart for her own good. “True. But we don’t usually go to a restaurant on a school night.”

“Is it somebody’s birthday?”

We don’t eat out a lot. For one, it’s expensive and Ruby’s eyes are often bigger than her stomach. She begs to order something enormous and I end up eating more than half her meal. “It isn’t anyone’s birthday, sweetie, but we are meeting one of Mommy’s friends there.”

“Is it her birthday?”

Herbirthday. Because why would Ruby assume my friend is a man? “No. It’s not his birthday either.”

I watch her reaction in the mirror. Her cute little nose squishes up as she processes the pronoun.

“Your friend is a boy?”

“Yes.”

“Like Joey is my friend?”

“Right. Like Joey is your friend.”

“Is he special too?”

Joey has cerebral palsy and is nonverbal and in a wheelchair. Ruby befriended him on the first day of kindergarten and has become quite protective of him.

“He is special but in a different way than Joey.” I turn into the parking lot and find an empty spot. I shouldn’t be nervous about Ryder meeting Ruby. If seeing my daughter scares him off, then he isn’t the right man for me. That’s what scares me. Because I want him to be the right man.

Ruby’s hands are full of her dolls so I help her out of the car and we walk up to the entrance. Ryder is waiting outside, leaning against the building. He shouldn’t take my breath away, but he does.

Dressed in jeans, low-top Converse, and a dark blue short-sleeved button-down, he’s casual yet obviously trying to make a good impression.

“Hi.” I stop in front of him, wanting to wrap my arms around him and greet him with a kiss, but I give him a smile instead. “Thank you for meeting us for dinner.”

“It’s my pleasure.” Ryder licks his bottom lip and pierces me with those baby blues that eat me alive with a sparkle and a flash. When he gives me his lopsided grin, I’m a goner. I clench my thighs and remember why we’re here.

“Are you Mommy’s friend?” Ruby asks, breaking the spell.

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