Page 29 of Every Little Kiss
He hopped out of the Jeep, andwoo wee, was the man big. Funny, built, and did amazing things to his uniform. Half the town was in love with him, and the other half were men.
“Scrapbooking Saturday has been moved to Tuesday nights at my place because it conflicted with summer T-ball practice,” he said, resting a hip against the grill, dead serious. “You’re always welcome to join in. You can even bring Paxton. The kids all play in the backyard.”
Oh yeah, when he wasn’t flying his chopper and saving lives, he was the single parent to an adorable little girl, making him the complete package. Only, for whatever reason, his package didn’t do anything for her.
“I’m not really into scrapbooking, but I’m branching out.”
“I have more stickers and paper than I could ever use.” He winked. “And I make a great cosmo—just ask the ladies.”
“I bet.” Liv laughed easily. She knew Harris well enough from the kids’ preschool, but he was also related to Avery’s husband, so they socialized from time to time. “Is Emma enrolled in superhero camp?”
“Yeah, and Friday is my day to bring Popsicles, but we won’t be here. I was hoping to see if someone would swap days with me.”
Liv put on her bestone with the communitysmile. “Well, I don’t have a Popsicle day. I could fill in.”
“No Popsicle day?” he asked in mock horror.
“I was late in signing Paxton up for the camp, so I didn’t make it to the parent meeting. Actually, I was surprised when they called and said they had an open spot, all paid for. I heard that this camp had a waitlist that’s like a year long.”
“It does,” Harris said in a tone that she couldn’t decipher. “Moms start registering their kids before their second ultrasound. I guess you just got lucky.”
“I know,” Liv said. “So since I didn’t get an official day, I’ll just take yours, if you’ll do me a favor.” Harris lifted a brow. “I’m helping out with Wagon Days, creating a new and improved family fun zone, and I need help with permits and crowd control. Irene’s binder said that was all handled by Sequoia Elite. Will you help me with all the paperwork?”
His lips tilted up at the corners. “As long as you don’t yell at me like you did when I tried to carry your trash cans up your driveway.”
“I didn’t yell,” she said. “I was just letting you know that I was getting to them and they were on the list.”
“It was almost time for the next garbage pickup.” She didn’t even bother to argue, and that seemed to appease him. “Come to the station on Friday, and I’ll help you file everything that needs filing.”
“And I’ll bring Popsicles,” she said, patting herself on the back and telling herself that wasn’t so hard.
“Oh, you can’t just take my day. No, no, no. That’s not how’s it done. It all needs to be cleared through the TSP.” When Liv just looked at him, he laughed. “The Stroller Patrol. It’s on par with the president’s cabinet, only instead of running the country, they run our kids’ social lives. It’s fascinating. You haven’t lived until you’ve gone to a TSP meeting.”
“I’m not really a committee person.” Even though she’d just joined one. “I was just going to introduce myself.”
“Good luck with that.” Before she could ask what that meant, he threw an arm around her shoulder. “Afterward, we’ll talk about your shirt.”
Liv looked down. “What’s wrong with my shirt?”
Harris didn’t answer, just dragged her toward the group of moms, who all perked up the second he came into view. The closer they got, the more animated the mothers became.
“Hey, guys,” Harris said by way of greeting. “This is Paxton’s mom, Olivia Preston. She’s offered to cover my Popsicle day for me.”
Liv waited for the polite nods, when instead, the head mom, an elegant brunette with perfect hair and a yoga butt, clasped her hands in delight. “Thanks, the kids really look forward to Popsicle day. I’m Kimberly, by the way, Will’s mom, and this is Lara.”
One by one, Kimberly named off every mother and respective child, then turned back to Liv.
“Nice to meet you all,” she said, looking up at Harris as if saying,Well, that was easy.
She went to move toward the field so she could see Paxton when Harris anchored her in place. “Liv is also in charge of entertainment for Wagon Days this year.”
“Thank God they have one of us on the committee,” Kimberly said as if Martha Stewart herself had appeared.
Liv looked at Harris. “One of us?”
“The TSP,” he told her. “I guess you’re an official member.”
Liv almost asked if she was going to be pinned with a bright red TSP button, but she held her tongue.
