Love Along The Paperclip novel Chapter 6

It isn't awkward exactly, I decide. I sneak a glance at Colton, who seems absorbed in the film. It's just that we're not used to spending time together, one-on-one. It will take some getting used to, especially if we're going to be spending the summer together.

"Colton, OML, Mom's home!" Danielle shouts up the stairs.

The credits are rolling so I turn off the television.

"Perfect timing." Colton says, standing. He offers me a hand up. After a moment of hesitation, I take it, ignoring the zing that shoots through my body at the contact.

We trod downstairs -again, I lead the way, the only thing leading me is the gentle pressure on my lower back from Colton's hand -and into the kitchen.

A woman is standing by the door that leads to the garage, her back to us. She unwinds the scarf from her neck and hangs it on the coat rack by the door, where a smart black jacket already hangs. She turns and, catching sight of me standing in the doorway, breaks into a smile. "Hello! You must be Cassidy!"

"OML, Mom." Danielle corrects, swinging her legs from her perch on the kitchen counter.

Mrs. Pearce rolls her eyes. "I'm going to call her Cassidy until she tells me otherwise."

I grin. I like this woman. She's in her early forties, with Danielle and Colton's brown hair and vibrant green eyes. Her heels click on the hardwood floor with each step and a sort of lively energy seems to surround her.

"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Pearce." I say politely.

Mrs. Pearce waves away my introduction. "Please, call me Hillary. It doesn't make me feel so old."

"What's for dinner, Mom?" Colton asks from behind me.

"Pizza." Hillary sighs and shoots an apologetic look at me. "We don't normally eat like this; it was just a long day at work and I really didn't feel like cooking."

"It's ok." I say honestly.

"It's more than ok," Danielle says, her mouth full of cheese. One of her swinging legs gets a bit too energetic and bangs against the cupboard below. I glance at Hillary, expecting her to wince or tell Danielle to get off the counter, but she doesn't even blink.

"Right, well, help yourselves," She waves vaguely at the pizza box. "I desperately need to get out of these heels, ouch." She disappears upstairs.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify