Rumor Going 'Round (Lyrics and Love #3) - Lind, Samantha Page 0,24

to hide anything about who’s got me wound up like a bull in a shoot, ready to be released with a rider on his back.

“Nice girl, good family, and ties to the community. She works over at the hospital, yes?” Dad questions.

“Yep, a nurse in the ER,” I confirm. “We’ve spent some time together as friends, lately, and there's been some sparks. Something that I’m interested in feeling out, so I asked her out, and we’ve got a date tomorrow night.”

“What are your plans for said date?” Dad asks.

“That, I’ve still got to figure out. All I know, so far, is that I’m picking her up at five.”

“You’d better get things figured out.” Dad laughs at my expense.

“No shit, Sherlock,” I deadpan. “I was thinking of driving over to the fall festival at the fairgrounds. We can take in the food and vendors, hang out and listen to the free concert that will be going on.”

“Is Paisley going to be with you?” he asks.

“I was hoping that she could stay the night here?” I ask, knowing that my parents, nor Paisley, would turn down the chance to have a sleepover together.

“Of course. Your mom will be ecstatic.”

“What will I be ecstatic about?” Mom asks, her and Paisley carrying a plate of warm cookies into the living room and handing them over to Dad and me.

“That Princess Paisley gets to have a sleepover with us tomorrow night,” Dad tells both of them. I hadn’t yet brought it up to Paisley but knew that she’d have no issues with it.

“Yes!” Paisley cheers, jumping up and down, throwing her fist into the air.

I snag one of the hot cookies, stuffing it into my mouth. The melted chocolate hits my tongue, and I have to hold back a groan. My mom’s always been a fantastic cook and baker. I swear she could put Betty Crocker to shame. Everyone just loves whatever she makes.

“So, what's up tomorrow night?” Mom asks, sitting down on the couch next to me.

“I’ve got a date with Lindsay,” I tell Mom, filling her in.

“About time you went after a wholesome girl,” Mom says. She’s asked me a few times over the years when I was going to settle down and possibly give her and Dad more grandkids. Seeing as I’m an only child, I’m their only shot at grandkids, and while I know they’d be happy as can be with just Paisley, they’d like to spread the love around to some more, if they come along.

“Daddy,” Paisley says my name all-seriously, or as seriously as a four-year-old can.

“Paisley,” I state her full name, so she knows she’s got my attention.

“What’s a date?” she asks, looking up at me from where she’s been splashing around in the bath.

“It's when two people go somewhere together, like to dinner or to the movies. Like what Mommy and Mike do sometimes,” I explain to her as best as I can.

“Who’s Lindsay?” she asks, all inquisitive.

“One of Daddy’s friends. I’ve known her since I was your age,” I tell her as I pull my phone out and open up Facebook. I find Lindsay’s page and tap on her profile picture, making it fill my screen. I flip the phone around, showing Paisley who I’m talking about. I know that they’ve met before; I just can’t place when and where that would have been. Probably at some town function.

“She’s pretty,” Paisley comments.

“She is,” I agree with my daughter. I help her wash her hair before rinsing her off and getting her out of the tub and ready for bed.

“How are you liking pre-school?” I ask once she’s brushed her teeth and is picking out a book for me to read to her before she falls asleep. Lilly thought that it might be a good thing for us to try with her this year, especially with the new baby at their house, plus, it will just help with the transition to kindergarten next fall.

“I’s love it! We get to do art and play, and my teacher, Ms. Kristen, is so nice,” she rambles on.

“I’m glad that you love it,” I tell her, patting the bed next to where I’m already sitting, waiting on her to join me. She hands me the book and crawls up on the bed. I get her all tucked in and then dive into reading to her. With the book finished, I kiss her goodnight, her little eyes hardly staying open as I do.

“Night, Daddy, loves you,” she says just as I stand