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Only once ere up the stairs and in the kitchen do I turn to face Stevie

“I haven’t seen hi time,” I admit

Stevie, for her part, looked flushed Her cheeks are red and her eyes are dancing

“He really is a great kid,” she tells y And it’s kind of cute how…”

Her baby blues widen As if realizing she was about to say so she shouldn’t

“Problem?” I ask

Other than the fact that I want to make those blue eyes half-lidded with a totally different expression?

“Nothing,” she says quickly

“Just that…” she says after a minute, “he has your hair and eyes Almost like a mini-you”

“Aa bit to myself

I’ve had enough experiences with irate clients and distraught exes to know that I’ a kindhearted Samaritan, as fair as I try to be Seems to me that people never want to hear the truth Not until it’s twisted and distorted so er the truth at all

Stevie tucks a strand of hair behind her little ear while her head tilts my way uncertainly

“It’s just that I can be abrupt,” I explain, “but anyway, that doesn’t o off and enjoy your day, with your boyfriend or whomever”

An aard silence

What the hell was that about, Clayton? I wrenchdip of her lower lip Hopefully the answer isn’t as clear as day to her as it is to me

“I take all that to mean that you’d like me here tomorrow then, too?”

I nod without looking at her

“You can coet you all set up, and then … hold on a second” I shake hts bu around in there

“Toot”

The reasoning is obvious Since it’s Saturday, I shouldn’t actually need Stevie’s help at all

The next words come out before I can stop theoland?”

As confusion crinkles in the corners of her eyes, I continue quickly, “Of course, you’ll be paid as norht — Winston had so ht help for you two to bond more”