Forever Curves - Piper Sullivan Page 0,40
This is soooo good,” Mariana proclaimed after her second taco, her smile stained with the red dipping sauce. “So good.”
“Right?” Brenna let out a laugh around another bite of taco and then returned to her role as teacher. “Now, when you get near the end, tip the bowl like this so you can dip the taco and pick up little bits and bops at the bottom.”
Mariana followed suit and groaned. “Yum!” She looked to me and her smile widened. “Do you like it Dad?”
“Not as much as you too, but it’s delicious.”
Brenna scoffed. “Your father was in the Navy and he’s used to things being neat and tidy. These tacos probably offend his sense of order.”
“It does?” Her innocent question brought a smile to my face.
“I’m just used to doing things a certain way, that’s all. But I was in the military because I believe that you should enjoy things the way you like, as long as you’re not hurting anyone. So, get as messy as you want.”
Her shoulders fell in relief. “Thank you for your service. Mama says its important to thank our military for lettin’ us be free.”
“You’re welcome, honey.” I risked a look at Brenna who had a hand to her chest, obviously touched by the tender moment.
“You are just the most precious thing ever! I swear.” She shook her head and offered up the last fried churro to my daughter. “A reward for being such a sweetheart.”
“Thank you, Brenna.” She broke it in half and handed part of it back. “We can share.”
“What about your dad?”
Mariana smiled. “The sugar and cinnamon is too messy.”
Brenna laughed and I couldn’t help but join in. “Looks like that dimple and those brown eyes aren’t the only thing she inherited from you. Congratulations daddy, it’s a smartass!”
“I’m full.” Mariana made the pronouncement with a sigh and patted her belly for good measure.
“That’s how you know its time to quit when it comes to birria tacos. A little goes a long way.” Brenna wiped her hands and mouth and smiled. “Now it’s time to walk off these calories.”
“Wait.” Mariana mistook her words for a farewell and sat up taller with wide eyes, filled with panic.
“What’s up?”
She looked at me and then back to Brenna. “Dad says it’s time I make my room my own since I’m staying, and I need some help. Me and Mama didn’t get around to that before, you know.”
“I know. What can I do?”
“Take me to pick stuff out for my new room? Dad says that’s girl stuff and he’s colorblind.”
“That explains all the gray and white t-shirts,” she said in an amused tone. “Are you sure you want my help? I’m not exactly the style icon of Pilgrim.”
Mariana nodded. “You wear what you want and Mara says it works for you. I want to figure out what I want and what I like too.”
“Well now I have to agree, don’t I?” She laughed and helped clean Mariana’s face. “Sure, honey. Let’s figure out a day real soon and have a just us girls shopping day, all right?”
Mariana punched the air. “All right!”
I kept my expression neutral but I was thrilled Brenna had agreed, because if nothing else, it meant I’d get to see her again.
Brenna
“What the hell was I thinking, agreeing to this Shannon? It’s a recipe for disaster.” I sat in my car parked at the end of Grant’s driveway, trying to muster up my courage to finish the drive and knock on the door, and more, preparing myself to see Grant again. “I needed a cold shower after the Book Festival and we had a tiny chaperone the entire time!”
Shannon’s laugh was loud on the phone and I rolled my eyes. “You were thinking that Mariana has been through a lot and if she decided you’re her favorite grownup, that was a pretty damn good thing.”
“Yeah,” I sighed. “She is pretty great. But until this moment I didn’t factor Grant into this day. You don’t think he’ll want to come, do you?”
“Shopping? No. But maybe later, as a thank you?”
“Very funny,” I growled, and Shannon only laughed harder.
“Seriously, just say good morning to him, gawk a little and then grab Mariana and take off for the day.”
“Yeah, I can do that. Thanks.”
“Good luck today and call me when you get home. Bye.”
I shoved the phone in my cupholder and finished the trip to the lake house, walking slowly up the stairs to steel myself for Grant, sexy and disheveled first thing in the morning.