Page 82 of Irresistible

“Thank you.”

She smiles at me again, this one intentional and…somehow, I can tell that she already knows about me and Wyatt. How is that possible?

“I wish we’d been there to welcome you back at the resort.” She motions for me to follow her inside. “I heard there was quite the goodbye,” she says over her shoulder, laughing at the shock on my face. “Secrets don’t last in Landmark Mountain…”

The kiss in the parking lot.

“Wow. I guess I should’ve known that, but…that was record time,” I say, feeling a little winded.

“What’s a record time?” Dakota asks.

I squeeze her again and laugh, unsure of how to respond. It’s way too soon to be telling my little girl I have a boyfriend when I’m not even sure that’s what he is yet. And she still doesn’t even know Cash and I are divorced, just that we’re not living with him anymore.

Geez, you haven’t complicated this at all, I snip at myself.

“Peg and Helen just said there was a fun goodbye with everyone at the resort,” Grinny says, appeasing Dakota. “And record time means traveling fast, or like when you and Owen were running fast across the yard and Owen saidit’s not a race…”

“He said that because I kept beating him,” Dakota says, her shoulders shaking as she laughs. She slaps her hand over her mouth.

Grinny throws her head back and laughs. “That’s exactly right. You’re the smartest little thing,” she says. She looks at me. “Did you have a good time?”

“It was wonderful,” I tell her. “I can’t thank you enough for keeping Dakota. I didn’t know how much I…needed that little trip.”

Grinny squeezes my shoulder. “I’m so glad. We had the best time, didn’t we, Dakota?”

Dakota nods. “Owen had to leave before me. But Grinny’s a good player too.”

Grinny laughs again. “Well, this old bag of bones isn’t as much fun as Owen, but I’ll do in a pinch, won’t I?”

Dakota’s face drops. “Where is the bag of bones?” She looks around Grinny and me, and then she turns to see if it’s behind her.

Grinny shakes her head, wiping her eyes. “That’s what I get for talking about myself like that,” she says, still laughing. “There are no old bones here but mine, honey. And they’re feeling like new today just getting a dose of you.”

I stifle a yawn and Grinny smiles at me.

“You look like you could use a good nap. I expect I’ll be taking one myself,” she says.

“Not me,” Dakota says proudly. “I don’t need a nap.”

“How about we watch a movie when we get home?” I ask, picking up her bag.

“Oo, yes. I like that. I haven’t watched a movie in twenty years,” she says.

Grinny holds out her arms. “Can I have one more Dakota hug?”

Dakota runs over to her and hugs her tight, her eyes squeezing shut.

“Tell Grinny thank you for everything,” I urge her.

“Thank you for everything, Grinny,” she says. “And for the waffles and berries and the bath toys...oh, and the meaty loaf. I very loved it.”

My eyes get wide. Meatyloaf?

“You are so welcome, darling. I had such a fun time with you here. You come back any time, okay?” Grinny grins at her and then glances at me. “This little one ate two big helpings of my meatloaf. I think she liked it more than Owen and it’s his favorite.”

“I’ll have to try yours sometime. My mom scarred me with hers, and I haven’t had it since leaving home,” I admit.

Grinny claps her hands together. “It’s a date then. Next time you come over, we’ll have my meatloaf.”