Page 45 of RomeAntically Challenged
He let out a breath. “I’m keeping an eye on her. Trying to figure out how she ticks.”
Annie snorted. “She’s fifteen. She doesn’t tick, she explodes. Her goal is to be unpredictable and challenging and test every single limit to see how far she can push before one of you breaks.”
With a shaky laugh, he tossed his glasses on the dash and leaned back. “Then she’s doing a good job. She said a total of ten words to me today before she broke me. I don’t know how she did it, but I’m broken.” He turned to look at her and,oh boy, if this was him broken, she was in big trouble when he got back to his fighting weight.
His ballcap shadowed his face from the outside glow, but not so much that she couldn’t see his eyes. A warm whisky color that reminded her of caramel. Annie loved caramel. She also loved the soft way he was watching her, his gaze gently searching hers, as if reaching out to create a connection. But there was also a sadness there, and a jumble of other intense emotions she didn’t want to see.
“Is that why you wanted to hang out tonight?” she asked quietly.
“We were supposed to have dinner together, but she blew me off after dance committee. In the past, when there was a problem with Paisley, I’d go to Michelle and she’d help me see the female perspective, but Michelle’s not here and . . .”
“And I’m a female?” She laughed.
“And sweet,” he said. “Even when you’re yelling at me, you can’t hide it. I guess I needed a little sweet in my day.”
Even through his dark lashes, Annie could see the flicker of humor in his eyes. She didn’t know how to respond. It was probably one of the nicest things someone had ever said to her. But with Emmitt she could never decipher what was charm and what was real.
Thankfully her phone rang and an ABBA song played from her cell. She studiously ignored the call and groaned.
“Aren’t you going to get that?” he asked.
“Just a telemarketer.”
“Playing ‘Mamma Mia’?”
The call went to voice mail, and Annie sighed in relief. “My mom and, before you ask, no, I’m not going to call her back.”
“If she’s anything like my dad, I get it.”
“She’s not so bad. I’m just having a day.”
“My day started about three weeks ago and hasn’t stopped.”
She chuckled. “Having been a teenage girl once, I can tell you it is only going to get worse if she finds out you’re spying.”
“I’m not spying. I’m researching the subject. It’s step one of a four-part plan to get to know my kid better.”
“Give it whatever name you want, if she catches you breaking her trust, it’s game over.”
“Then she won’t catch me.” He took in her skirt and tank top, something she’d thrown on before leaving work, and whistled his appreciation. “Who areyouhiding from?”
“Nobody.” She exited her car and slammed the door. Shooting him a pissy glare over the hood, she said, “I need groceries. This is a grocery store. Have a good night.”
Without waiting to see what dark shadow he’d slink into, she headed toward the supermarket. The doors opened, and she was hit with a cool blast of sweet strawberry and fresh-baked bread. Annie took a moment to appreciate the slow rhythm and flow of the post-dinner-rush supermarket.
Annie picked the late hour precisely for this reason.
Leisurely shopping in a quiet store had become one of her favorite things. A great way to come down from a long day on the hospital floor. With no pressing matters to attend to, and no one waiting for her at home, she could drift up the produce aisle, past the butcher stand, and down the ice cream section, picking up nothing more than a basket of strawberries and vanilla ice cream.
The nurses at work had taken healthy to a whole new level. Annie didn’t think she could ever look at a kale smoothie again and not gag a little. Grabbing a basket, she headed to aisle six—cookies and candy and wine,oh my!
“Great thinking,” her shadow said, rolling up next to her with a shopping cart. “We can get food for dinner, then carpool home together. Good for the environment.”
“What do you mean, home? You still plan on staying?” Annie grabbed a box of multigrain crackers, a bag of chips, and a jar of olives—then crossed all three off her list.
“It is my house.” He picked up some cheese in a can and added it to her basket.
She took it out and placed it in his cart. “Which you rented to me.”
