Third Time's the Charm Read Online Free Page B

Sloane crossed to the couch and knelt
down in front of her to show the box of Popsicles. “Sorry you’re feeling sick.
I don’t think Band-Aids will fix this one.”
    A smile emerged from Paisley. Watching them, Liz thought of
how she’d kept the other men she’d dated out of sight from Paisley. Liz knew
her daughter barely remembered Garrett; he’d left when she was four. And that
was almost three years ago. But Sloane was different, namely because Paisley
already knew who he was.
    “What color do you want?” Sloane said to Paisley.
    “Purple!”
    “I thought you might.” He looked up at Liz and smiled. Apparently
he wasn’t germ-a-phobic.
    Liz thought her heart might melt. I need to text Gemma. Instead, Liz picked up the movie rental Sloane had left on the side table. “ Brave ?”
    “Have you seen it?” Sloane asked, looking at Paisley.
    She nodded. “But I want to see it again.”
    “She’s only seen it once,” Liz said, marveling that Sloane
would get a definite kid movie—a Disney one at that. “Which means we can still
watch it at least three more times.”
    Sloane chuckled. “Don’t give away the ending then. I haven’t
seen it yet.”
    Which means he’s staying? Apparently he is. Sloane settled on one side of Paisley, leaving the other side of the couch or
the overstuffed chair as the only options for Liz.
    She crossed the room and put the DVD in. A glance in
Sloane’s direction made her realize he looked pretty comfortable in her living
room, sitting next to her daughter. Sloane had unwrapped a purple Popsicle for
Paisley and a red one for himself.
    Liz’s heart flipped. She sat on the other side of Paisley,
trying not to think about how normal it felt to have Sloane in her living room,
although she was profoundly aware of his every movement. Tonight he wore jeans
and a dark blue button-down. No tie.
    Paisley leaned against her and fell asleep about thirty
minutes into the movie.
    “Do you want me to carry her to bed?” Sloane asked.
    “Are you sure?”
    He cracked a smile. “Do you ever let anyone help you without
giving them the chance to back out?”
    Heat rushed to her face. “Not sure that I do.”
    Sloane stood and lifted Paisley easily in his arms. Liz led
the way to her room and turned down the Cinderella comforter. Once Sloane had
her settled, he straightened and glanced about the room. “Disney fan?”
    Liz followed his gaze. Disney princess decals decorated the
walls, and character Beanie Babies were lined up on the pink shelves. Liz
noticed Paisley’s closet door was open. Before she could shut it, Sloane had
walked over.
    “Wow. Looks like a warehouse.”
    Liz shut the door firmly. “I just like to organize the few
items I find on clearance.”
    “The few items?” He smiled. “Like two dozen tubes of
Colgate?”
    “They were only fifty cents each,” Liz said and pushed him
out of the room.
    Once in the hallway, he turned and caught her hand. Maybe
she shouldn’t have pushed him—he’d been encouraged by the physical touch.
    “Doesn’t toothpaste have an expiration date?” he asked.
    Liz’s cheeks heated, but she didn’t know if it was from his
teasing or from his hand on hers. “Maybe.”
    He laughed, then quieted as if he remembered Paisley
sleeping in the next room. He tugged her hand and pulled her down the hall. He
didn’t let go when he sat down in the middle of the couch, giving her no choice
but to sit right next to him.
    “So, are you hungry?” His fingers threaded through hers,
making her pulse hammer.
    She hadn’t expected any of this to happen tonight. Not
Paisley sick, not sitting on her couch together with him, not holding hands.
    “I could go grab something or call delivery.” With his other
hand he thumbed through his phone contacts. “There’s a Thai place close by that
delivers.”
    Tell him you’re tired and send him home. Paisley might
wake up soon anyway. Instead, Liz said, “Never tried Thai food, but