Page 25 of Falling for Keeps

“I can meet you there tomorrow and take a look. Give you my opinion. Or Monday, if that’s better.”

“Penny starts school Monday, so how about we meet after I drop her off?”

“Sure. What else does the place need?”

“Everything, but I think I’m going to tackle one thing at a time.”

“Okay.” He accepts what I say easily, which I appreciate. “How’s Penny adjusting?”

I look up and find her squealing, her face lighting up as she gets better and better at spinning in a narrow circle. A knot in my chest loosens, but it’s mired in so much tangled rope, I’m not sure how much of a difference it makes. “We’ll see after the first few days of school. I’m nervous, man.”

“No one blames you for that. You’re doing your best, and she couldn’t have a better dad.”

Oh, how badly I needed to hear that. “I owe you, Ben.”

He laughs, his deep voice coming through the phone. “Salmon spawning is coming up. We oughta get you a license.”

“I’m there.”

We chat a little longer about the best time to go fishing as a car comes down the road and slows in front of our house. I don’t recognize the little white Corolla, but when it pulls into the driveway across the street and stops in front of the detached garage, I know exactly who it must be.

She would drive such a sensible vehicle.

Emma steps out, wearing a tight green dress that goes to her knees, with long sleeves. It fits her like a personalized glove, and I can’t help but stare. I remember—my hands remember—those curves vividly.

“You there?” Ben asks.

“Yeah,” I say, clearing my throat. “I need to go.”

“Okay. See ya later.”

I say goodbye and turn off my phone, sliding it into my pocket, my eyes tracking Emma the entire time. That dress is similar enough to the one she wore to that bachelorette party, it’s sending me back a week to the highlight of my month. I want to cross the road right now, put my arms around Emma’s waist, and kiss her soft lips.

No. That’s insane. It’s the dress talking and my hormones replying. All these lonely feelings are flowing through me, giving me a weird desire to jog to where she’s standing and⁠—

“Owwww!” Penny cries, crashing to the unforgiving concrete walkway. She lays at an awkward angle, blood seeping from her scraped elbow.

“Pen,” I say, going to her side and crouching at once. This is exactly why I can’t let beautiful women distract me. “Where does it hurt?”

Her green eyes glisten, scrunching up with the rest of her face. “Everywhere!”

“Be more specific, honey.”

“My leg and my elbow.”

I note the red gash on the side of her leg and wince. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”

Heels clack behind me as Emma runs toward us. Her legs are the actual last thing I should be thinking about right now, but she goes and puts them right in my face. I can’t help but admire them.

“I saw the fall,” Emma says. “You okay, Penny? It looked painful.”

“No.” Penny sniffles, getting distracted by our new addition. I guess it runs in the family. “Why do you look so fancy? You didn’t have a braid like that last time I saw you.”

Because that’s enough to pull her from her mourning moans. A braid.

“I had a wedding today,” Emma says.

“You got married?”