Page 23 of More Than a Hero
Her fingers curled around his for a brief, lingering moment before she gave him a soft smile. “You really think we can?”
He held her gaze, his own lips curving. “Iknowwe can.”
They stood and moved to the sofa in unison. Pete stretched his legs out, sinking deeper into the couch as he studied Angie. Her passion for this idea lit her whole face, her eyes shining with the kind of enthusiasm that was impossible to fake. He could listen to her talk for hours and never tire of it.
“How many kids are you working with now?” she asked, brushing her fingers through her hair as she tucked her legs under herself.
“Richard and I have ten that we meet at the YMCA weekly. Richard’s a middle school teacher. He was instrumental in helping pick the kids who could use us the most. But he’s also the second adult in the room, for both their protection and ours.”
She nodded, absorbing the information. “Ultimately, I’d love for a young person to be able to visit their adopted grandparent in their home. That way, they could see firsthand what challenges an older person faces and actually help in a meaningful way.” The second the words left her lips, she hesitated, waving her hands in the air as if trying to erase them. “Wait, that didn’t come out right.”
Pete tilted his head, amused. “Clarify for me.”
She blew out a breath, then brightened. “Okay, did you ever watch that old ’80s movie Sixteen Candles?”
“I think that was more of a chick flick,” he said with a teasing grin.
She rolled her eyes, waving her fingers at him in mock exasperation. “Whatever! Since you obviously didn’t watch it, let me explain. So Molly Ringwald’s grandparents were staying over for a wedding, right? And one set of grandparents brought a foreign exchange student with them. At dinner, they were bragging about how amazing he was, all the ways he helped them—yard work, fixing things, whatever. But it quickly became obvious that they were basically using him as free labor.”
Pete smirked. “Let me guess—this is not the dynamic you’re going for?”
“Exactly!” She pointed at him. “I don’t want a situation where kids are just running errands or doing chores. But I do think a genuine bond could form. Where both people are learning and giving something valuable to each other.”
He studied her for a long moment, then nodded. “I get it now. And I love the idea.”
She scrunched her nose. “But…?”
“We’d need to establish clear guidelines before we get too far ahead of ourselves. Then we’d have to gauge interest.” He paused, tapping his fingers against his knee before his face lit up. “Actually, why don’t I bring it up with the kids and Richard on Thursday? No hard details yet… just see if there’s an interest.”
Her eyes sparked with excitement. “That’s a great idea! I’ll talk to Belle Simmons at Careway Assisted Living. They have extended their campus to include a building next to the nursing home that has apartments for seniors. Financial need is established to see who can live there. We service most of them for various necessities. I have no doubt I can find older adults who’d love to be part of something like this.”
Pete nodded, watching her work through the idea in real-time, the wheels in her mind turning. “Have you thought about how you’ll determine who participates?”
“Yes,” she said, already ahead of him. “There are plenty of older people in the area with family nearby. While they might benefit, they wouldn’t be my first choice. The same goes for people who are already really active in the community—church groups, volunteer programs, things like that. The six who I take to the Y would be perfect.”
“Makes sense.” He took another sip of his drink, considering her words. “But at the same time, a complete shut-in might not be the best match either.”
“Right,” she agreed. “Ideally, we’d find people who want a connection but don’t have a natural way to get it. Maybe some who can still get around on their own, but who could really use the extra companionship.”
She laughed then, and once again, Pete found himself staring, caught up in the sheer joy of her. Angie was beautiful, but it was more than that—it was the way he felt when she was around. Like warmth on a cold day. Like sunlight after a storm.
She leaned back against the couch, scooting a little closer. His arm was already draped along the back cushion, and she fit right up against his side like she belonged there.
“I’m glad you invited me over tonight,” he murmured.
She tilted her head, her mouth curving in that way that made his stomach tighten. “Does this mean we’re having tomorrow’s date today?”
He chuckled as he brushed a lock of hair from her face. “Absolutely not. If you still want to spend time with me tomorrow, then we’re keeping our date. And, in case you’re wondering, I definitely want more time with you.”
Her smile deepened, and her eyes glinted playfully. “Perfect.”
Before he could react, she twisted, throwing one leg over his lap and straddling him. The move was effortless, confident, and damn near lethal to his self-control. His hands immediately went to her hips, steadying her even as heat surged through him.
“Is it too forward if I say I really want to kiss you right now?” she asked, her low voice teasing.
One hand slid down to cup the curve of her ass while the other snaked up her spine, holding her close. His eyes locked onto hers, dark with intent. “With me, you can be as forward as you want, Angie.”
And then he kissed her. Their mouths met in a slow, smoldering slide of lips and tongues, the kind of kiss that started like a match strike and burned hotter with every second. She melted into him, her fingers tangling in his hair, her body pressing against his. Pete groaned, his grip tightening, needing her closer, needing more.
