Third Time's the Charm Read Online Free Page A

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standing much too close to her.
    “So if you want to skip the haircut, that’s fine with me,”
he said, his gaze holding hers. “I can just ask you out without any pretense.”
    “Okay,” she said, hardly daring to believe she’d agreed.
    “Perfect.” He reached for her hand, lifted and kissed it.
Then he winked.
    Liz was no stranger to kissing, but Sloane kissing her on
the back of the hand like a gentleman was extremely romantic.
    “How about tomorrow at seven?” he said.
    “All right,” Liz said, her voice faint in her ears.
    Sloane smiled and squeezed her hand. “By the way, you’re
beautiful when you blush.” He released her hand and walked out the door.

“Are you kidding me?” Liz said to her daughter. She’d fixed
Paisley’s favorite meal of chicken nuggets and mac and cheese, but the kid
refused to eat. Paisley’s mouth drew into a pout, and her eyes squeezed shut.
    “The babysitter will be here in ten minutes. Eat now, or you
don’t get any ice cream, Paisley-girl.” Why did her daughter’s stubbornness
have to be in full force tonight? Liz needed her fed and happy by the time
Sloane arrived.
    Liz wanted Paisley to be on her best behavior. But she’d
been cranky since coming home from school, and Liz figured if she got a decent
dinner into her, she’d perk up.
    Suddenly Paisley lurched forward and threw up all over the
table. She burst into tears.
    Liz stared at the mess, stunned. Then she jumped into
action. “Come here, baby.” She pulled off Paisley’s soiled clothing and dropped
the shirt and pants into the sink. Then she picked her up and carried her into
the bathroom. She set her shivering daughter in the bathtub, while she adjusted
the water temperature. “Sit down while the tub fills up.”
    Liz hurried out of the bathroom and cleaned up the mess in
the kitchen. The smell was awful, so she opened the window and lit a scented
candle. The night was over anyway. There was no way she could leave Paisley
now, and her mom was too far away to call at the last minute.
    She went back into the bathroom and turned off the water.
Just then the doorbell rang, and Liz hurried to the door. Brittney stood there,
with Sloane coming up the stairs. Brittney was late; Sloane was early.
    “So sorry, Britt. Paisley’s sick. Let me pay you anyway.”
She handed money over to the thirteen-year-old. Then she turned to Sloane, who certainly
overheard everything.
    “Is there anything I can do?” he said.
    Liz leaned against the door frame. “I should have known it
when she came home so cranky from school. She just threw up, so I’m sure I’m in
for a long night.”
    “I can go get some Popsicles and a movie. My mom used to get
us Popsicles when we were sick.”
    Liz smiled. “I don’t think you’d want to be around her
germs.”
    “Ask Paisley if she wants a Popsicle, and see what she
says.”
    Since he seemed completely serious, Liz shrugged. “All right.
Wait here—the place needs to fumigate.” She left Sloane at the door and walked
to the bathroom. She could hardly believe that Sloane wanted to become involved
in this.
    Paisley was lying back in the water, her hair submerged.
    “Hey Paisley, do you want a Popsicle?” Liz asked.
    She sat up and nodded, her face pale.
    “Are you sure?” Liz said. “My friend Sloane said he’d get
one for you if you want it.”
    “Okay, but it has to be purple.”
    Liz smiled. “All right, Paisley-girl.” When she left the
bathroom and walked down the hall, Sloane was still in the doorway. Apparently
he didn’t scare off too easily. “She said yes, as long as it’s purple.”
    “All right, I’ll be back soon.” He took off down the stairs
before Liz could change her mind.
    By the time Sloane returned, Paisley was bundled up on the
couch, her little face looking less pale.
    Paisley watched Sloane as he came in. Then she turned to
Liz, her eyes wide. “Mom, it’s the Band-Aid man!”
    Liz smiled. “Yep.”
    Paisley straightened up as