Page 125 of Playing Mr. Perfect

“Because it’s big and new and scary, and we’re moving fast, which you know is not my norm.”

“Yes, but love is supposed to be big, and for many of us, it has to be scary.”

“Why? Why can’t it just be easy and not make my heart race and my mind follow?”

“Because some of us are too busy to see what’s right in front of our faces. If it wasn’t scary and didn’t feel bigger than anything else we’ve ever experienced, it wouldn’t rattle us to our bones, forcing us to give it the attention it deserves.”

Ravi’s voice tramples through my mind. Any guy who can get you to blow off work and rattle the unflappable Dr. Montgomery must have rocked your world.

“This is a big change from the girl who spent so much time running from him,” my father says, bringing me back to the moment.

“I didn’t run from Clay.”

He gives me a pointed look. “Are you saying I don’t know my daughter? Because every time he showed up, it sure looked like you were skipping town faster than the Road Runner running from Wile E. Coyote.”

I pop another piece of funnel cake into my mouth. “Okay, fine. Maybe he did rattle me.”

“That’s a good thing, honey, and maybe it’s moving fast because that’s what your heart wants.”

I mull that over, nervously eating the funnel cake as we make our way toward Clay. When we break through the crowd, nearing Dash’s booth, it’s swamped with kids. I spot my mother, Grace, and Reed talking with Clay, who’s holding Emma Lou. I’m pretty sure my ovaries are going to explode at the sight of my sweet little niece in his strong arms.

“That’s quite a sight, huh?” my father says.

Realizing I stopped walking, I wince inwardly. “Yeah.”

“He looks good with a baby in his arms.”

“Yeah, he does.” I look at my father, and it suddenly feels important that he hear the truth from me. “Dad, I like my space better with Clay in it.”

He gives my hand a squeeze. “I know you do, princess. Otherwise he wouldn’t be here. For what it’s worth, we all really like him, too.”

I nod, relieved that my family is supportive of us. “You never told me how you knew Mom was your one and only.”

He glances at my mother with the same depth of love I’ve always seen in his eyes, and then he turns that loving gaze on me and says, “I liked my space better with her in it, too.”

My throat thickens.

“Gwampa!” Emma Lou shouts, breaking the moment. She’s beaming at us, with red hearts painted on her cheeks. “Auntie Peppa! Clay’s heah!” She wriggles from Clay’s arms and runs to us, adorable in red-and-white striped leggings and a white sweater with a big red heart on the front.

I scoop her up and hug her. “Hi, sweets. Are you having a fun day?”

Nodding energetically, she pats my cheeks with both hands and presses her tiny lips to mine. “Love you!”

“I love you, too.” I catch Clay watching us with a new expression I haven’t seen before. It’s warm and enticing in a different way than all the others, and I like it.

Emma Lou leans toward my father, her arms outstretched. “Gwampa!”

“Here, let me take that plate.” Clay takes the empty plate from my father, and I hand Emma Lou to him.

“Pepper, honey. It’s so good to see you.” My mother looks pretty in a V-neck wine-colored sweater and jeans. She embraces me, and her brown hair tickles my cheeks, her familiar scent enveloping me.

“Sorry I ate your funnel cake.”

She waves her hand dismissively. “There’s plenty more where that came from. Clay was just telling us how you helped come up with the idea for his new foundation, and you hired someone new to work in your office, and you’re close to getting funding for another project. Honey, it sounds like you’re on fire.”

“There’s been a lot going on.” I look curiously at Clay, surprised he’d say so much about me.

“I was just catching them up on how hard you’ve been working,” Clay says.