Page 47 of The Payback Adventure
“Instead of a date, you and Theresa could hit the town for a girls’ night out.”
“We haven’t done that in a long time.” Too long, Elisabeth realized.
“You could have fun.”
“Why are you so interested in me having fun?”
Henry widened his stance. “You work harder than anyone I know. You need a break, if only for a few hours. Away from the bistro, the farm, and the kids.”
“Three kids can be a lot of work. Think you can handle them?”
“Yes.” Confidence laced the word. “Caitlin goes to bed early. Abby likes to read. Sam and I can figure something out or just talk.”
Elisabeth raised a brow. “Talk to Sam?”
“Or look through his comic books.”
Henry did know the kids pretty well. He was good with them. As long as cooking wasn’t involved, she wouldn’t worry about their safety. Not with Sam there. Abby was mature for her age. Caitlin would describe everything to Elisabeth, down to the smallest detail the next morning. Maybe this could work. And she did need time away. Not from the farm or the kids. But from Henry. “I’ll talk to Theresa.”
“Do,” Henry encouraged. “Ask her about this Friday night.”
“I will.” Her feet dragged on the way to the house, and she glanced back. The way he was looking at her made her heart beat triple time. “And, Henry…thank you.”
A dazzling smile lit up his face. “My pleasure.”
Great. He was pleased because she had agreed to go out for a night. Without him. She’d wanted some distance, and she’d gotten it. So why wasn’t she just as happy about it?
* * *
Friday—girls’ night out—arrived. Henry was prepared. Elisabeth had cashed his second paycheck for him that morning. He’d spent his entire first check on supplies for the nearly finished porch swing and a few extra treats for Elisabeth, but this week, he had money left over after shopping for tonight’s activities—a tea party for Caitlin, a build-your-own ice cream sundae science experiment for Abby, and a rented video game system for Sam.
Almost time.
Henry was itching to get started. He rubbed his palms together.
The Wheelers’ fairy godfather had found his groove.
It was all he could do not to write out an itinerary for Elisabeth and Theresa’s girls’ night out. Doing so would be overstepping his bounds, but he felt odd not being able to ensure she would have a good time.
Elisabeth walked down the stairs. “How do I look?”
Henry’s breath caught in his throat. He was used to seeing her wearing jeans or her server uniform or a Sunday church dress or her bathrobe. But all dressed up…
Whoa. She cleaned up well.
Her powder-blue button-down shirt matched her eyes. Her above-the-knee khaki skirt made her legs look longer. Good thing he’d decided not to play matchmaker. She didn’t need one. What she needed was a bodyguard. Henry swallowed. Hard.
“You’re stunning.” He forced the words from his dry throat.
Elisabeth glanced at the brown mules on her feet, and her cheeks reddened. “Thanks.”
“You’re wearing makeup.”
She touched her cheek. “Is it too much?”
“No, it’s just right. And your hair, too,” he said. “The men of Berry Patch had better watch out.”
Her sparkling gaze met his. “You’re so sweet.”
