Page 26 of Falling for Brody

But everything just worked and by the time they finished lunch, Rhea was smiling ear to ear and Chip was enjoying himself, completely at ease with their table mate.

When the check came, Brody gave his card to Sandra and when he saw that Rhea had her card out to pay, he gave her a pointed look and a shake of his head. "Put it away."

She didn't fight too hard. Working together would give her plenty of chances to repay him later.

And this was not the time to argue. Not after all the fun they'd had.

As they got up from the table, Rhea saw Chip's steps slow as his head turned toward the windows at the front of the diner.

"Chip?"

"Mom, look!"

She took a step back to stand behind him and she followed his arm and pointed finger toward the park across the street. "What is it, sweetie?"

"Look at those kids!"

Rhea was relieved that it was a good thing that he'd spotted. In a big city all kinds of things could happen. Some of it was horrible.

In Fallport, she had hoped that things were going to be like this.

More wholesome.

Missus Hardy, who was walking along with them stopped and leaned toward the window squinting. "Looks like Tony Calhoun, Marissa Ross and a few other children." She looked up at Rhea. "I might not be teaching anymore but there isn't a child in town who I don't know on sight."

Chip turned to look at her. "And now you know me!"

"That's right, young man. I know you, too."

Rhea felt a hand on her shoulder and turned. Brody was standing right beside her, his gorgeous face just inches from her.

She realized why a moment later when he spoke in an almost whisper into her ear. "Can I take him across the street and introduce him to the kids?"

She blinked back at him struggling to pull herself together.

It was silly, really.

She was a grown woman.

A widow.

Sure, Brody Armstrong was what women might call a 'snack' but she had just eaten and had to work with him for long, long hours.

"Rhea?"

She snapped out of her reverie and tried to focus.

"I know you want to get going, but he'll be going to school with them soon and it might be helpful-"

"Yes," she agreed, latching onto the thought that it would help Chip in school. Any connection to the other kids would be helpful. "Please."

Brody grinned and his eyes lit up and her heart... Well, her heart squeezed painfully in her chest.

He was handsome every second of the day, but smiling like that?

He was drop dead gorgeous.

"Hey, buddy." He clapped a gentle hand on Chip's shoulder. "Why don't we head across the street, and I'll introduce you to those kids?"

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