Chapter Six
Tanner
The ringing of the bell on the door is obscured by a squeal as I enter Darcie’s Drip for a mid-morning pick me up after my meeting.
“Prince Hero Tanner!”
The unmistakable voice has the corners of my lips tugging up. I glance toward the register where the yell originated just in time to catch Maisie launching herself into the air at me. Her complete faith in me catching her has my chest clenching.
When her spindly little arms encircle my neck, squeezing, my heart stutters. My eyes fall closed as I clutch her to me. The strawberry scent clinging to her curly blonde locks fills my nostrils as I inhale.
The sprite leans back, bringing her hands to my cheeks, rubbing them against the bristle of my short beard.
“I’ve missed you so, so much. You haven’t come back to sees me, and I’ve been being the bestest not going anywhere without Mommy.
Are you going to come visit soon?” A large gasp is the only pause in her word vomit.
“I know you can come for deener. Mommy’s making my favoritest paskety and meatballs.
Do you like paskety? It’s so very yummy and the meatballs are sized just for me.
I gets to help make them. I’m the bestest at it. Right Mommy?”
“Maisie! We do not run and jump on people like that!” Ella admonishes her daughter in a whisper yell.
“And you need to take a breath and give Tanner a moment to process that barrage of information.” Ella meets my eyes with pinched brows, and the corners of her mouth downturned.
She shakes her head. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know what has gotten into her. She’s never done that before.”
Maisie’s lower lip pops out as she glares at her mother, crossing her arms over her chest. “But he’s a Prince Hero. I knewed he could catch me, cause that’s what heroes do. And what’s a garage of infomation?”
I press my lips together, biting down to keep from chuckling at the pint-size spitfire I’m holding.
Swallowing down the urge to laugh, I bounce Maisie on my arm and tickle her while attempting to smooth over their argument.
“It’s okay, especially if you give me a warning so I can catch you, but you should listen to your mom.
She’s a pretty smart lady. A barrage means a lot of something, and you sure did give me a lot of information in a short amount of time. ”
There’s no stopping the grin on my face at her little giggle. “Otay, Prince Hero Tanner. You’re gonna reads me more stories when you come to deener tonight, right? I gots some new ones from the libarry that Miss Elsie says have princes in them.”
“This is probably one of the things you should check with your mom on first, Maisie-Girl.”
She slaps her hands together as if praying under her chin while batting her eyelashes at her mother. “Pwease, say it’s okay for my Prince Hero to come over for paskety Mommy. I’ve been the bestest girl and have been listening to you real good.”
Once again I find myself sealing my lips together and swallowing a chuckle at Maisie’s antics.
Ella’s full lips twitch as her hands fist on her round hips, indicating she’s not immune to her precocious child any more than I am.
Her cerulean eyes sparkle with amusement, lighting up her entire face.
Seeing her relaxed and enjoying herself like this is a balm to my calloused heart.
And while she may have my heart softening, she has another part of my anatomy hardening.
Her happiness makes her radiant. She’s not wearing anything meant to be provocative, just snug worn jeans and a fitted T-shirt, but they hug her thick curves in the most enticing of ways.
My fingers itch to run across her silky soft skin again.
It was torture witnessing her fall apart with the disappearance of her daughter. I was afraid it would cause long term psychological damage to them both. Maisie bounced back before we even returned to her house, but Ella, I was less sure about.
Leaving her when she obviously had no one to comfort her was damn hard, but it wasn’t my place to offer her the comfort she clearly needed.
I’m a virtual stranger, so I did what I could to make sure she knew she could reach out by giving her my card.
I probably shouldn’t have, knowing I locked my heart up, but I couldn’t resist the pull of these two so against my better judgment I gave her the option of reaching out.
Now it seems like, thanks to Maisie, we might not be strangers for much longer.
Ella narrows her eyes at her daughter. “You can ask Tanner if he would like to come over for dinner, but he might not be available so you will not throw a fit if he has to decline. Alright?”
Maisie squeals, nodding. Her pleading eyes whip to mine. “Prince Hero Tanner, are you abailble to come to deener?”
Even if I wasn’t available, there’s no way I’d be able to say no to this child. I’d cancel whatever plans I had just so I wouldn’t have to tell her no and I could spend time with both her and her mother.
“It just so happens I am free for dinner, and spaghetti is one of my favorites too,” I confirm with a wink.
Another squeal pierces my ears as she throws her arms around my neck, squeezing with all she’s got. My eyes meet Ella’s, and my dick twitches at the heat I find in hers. Which has me flustered because I’m still holding Maisie and that feels all sorts of wrong.
“Well, we need to be going then, so we can finish our errands and have dinner ready. We usually eat at 5:30 if that works for you. I know it’s a little early, but Maisie’s bedtime is 7 o’clock.”
“That’s fine. I’ll see you both then.” I set Maisie down and watch as they proceed across the shop, hand in hand. Maisie chatters nonstop about all her plans for this evening, pausing to holler over her shoulder as they exit, “Bye Prince Hero Tanner!”
I shuffle up to the counter where the shop’s owner and namesake is leaning and has apparently been watching the interaction play out. Her eyes crinkle at the corners as she smirks. “Your usual Prince Hero Tanner?”
My eyes roll of their own volition. I’m never going to hear the end of that name now.
My crew wasted no time in their torment of me by calling me that ever since Maisie first said it.
“You better make it a double. Though I doubt it’ll help.
At this point I need to head over to Linc and get a double with a little more kick,” I grumble in defeat.
That had been my original dinner plan, to grab a burger and a couple of beers at the Coyote Creek Bar and Grill—the other undisputed institution of the town.
Between Linc and Darcie, they’ve got all your culinary needs covered, each with their own specialties.
Pastries and caffeine at Darcie’s until noon and then burgers and brew at Linc’s.
Darcie chuckles, enjoying my dismay as she gets started on my order. “Aww come now, it’s not all that bad. Besides, I’m happy to see our newest residents are finding people to connect with. Those two could use someone in their corner. You’re a good man for stepping up for them, Tanner.”
I scrub my hand over my head. “Yeah, well, I’m not sure I’m the man for the job, but that little girl burrowed under my skin faster than a tick. I get the feeling things haven’t been easy for them, and I couldn’t be another person letting them down.”
She tips her chin, setting my drink on the counter. “Like I said, good man.” She shakes her head with a wink when I try to hand her my card. “It’s on the house today. Not every day do I get to serve a Prince Hero.”
I know better than to argue with the woman, but I do pull what little cash I have in my wallet out and stuff it in the tip jar. “I don’t care what anyone else says, you’re a good egg, Darcie.”
She laughs, waving me off. “Better get back to work saving lives.”
With a wave, I head out, making a stop to grab a few items for tonight before heading back to the office and what will no doubt be more ribbing.