Page 74 of Worth Loving
“Hi. Dad said you’re his girlfriend.”
His tongue slid between his teeth while he tried to figure out what to say.
He didn’t need to worry.
She covered well. “I guess I am. And this is for you.”
“What is it?” Jonah asked, jumping and trying to look at it.
“It’s a cake. Your dad told me you like cars. I’m not good at drawing, but I used a stencil.”
Jonah’s jaw dropped. “I love cake. What kind?”
“Chocolate. With cream cheese frosting and raspberry filling.”
“I love raspberries too,” Jonah said, reaching up but he held his son back to not knock it over. “Can I see it?”
“Sure, sugar up my kid.”
He leaned in and gave her a kiss on the lips. “Maybe I’m a little nervous he might not like me,” she whispered.
He had that fear too, but it didn’t seem like it’d be an issue.
“Come in. I want you to meet Carly.”
“Your house is enormous. I know they have big houses here, but I wasn’t sure where you lived until I got the address.”
The newer section but there were houses here much bigger than his.
He’d like to think he was in the middle but knew that was kind of a lie.
“It was available and met my needs.”
“I remember Ruby saying that.”
“And it’s nice to have the space for him to run.”
No reason to add that the house was a fraction of the one he grew up in.
She followed him through the formal living room and his office up front, then to the back where Carly was in the kitchen and getting all the dips and crackers laid out just right.
“Hi. I’m Carly, and I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“You have?” she asked.
“Dean has filled me in recently,” Carly said. “He wanted me to meet you but I’m not staying.”
“Oh, you can,” she said quickly, her eyes wide.
“See,” he said. “I’m not the only one wanting a buffer.”
“Figure it out,” Carly said, tapping his cheek. “Jonah, I’m leaving.”
“Bye, Carly. Can I come over later to visit?”
“No,” he said. “You know that. You don’t go to Carly’s house when she’s not working.”
Carly walked out the door off the hall in the kitchen. “Where does she live?” she asked. “I didn’t see a car in the driveway.”
