She reached out and pointed to one. It had smiley faces on it. He drew the ice pack off her foot, resisting the urge to kiss her boo-boo as Lara suggested.
Carefully, he put the band aid on the small scratch. “How does that feel?”
“Much better,” she said quietly. She reached out as he stood, grabbing his wrist. “Ink?”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you. I’m not sure anyone has ever looked after me so well.”
He groaned. “Babe, you have got to stop.”
“Stop what?” she asked, looking startled.
Stop getting me with those big, sad brown eyes. Stop making me feel things I shouldn’t for you. Stop making me want to wrap you up in bubble wrap and keep you safe from the world.
“If you’re sure you can walk okay, let’s get back in there. You’ve still got to make me dinner.”
“You mean…” She gave him a look filled with such hope it made his insides hurt. “You still want to…with me…”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“I’m not sure. I guess I keep expecting you to figure out that I’m more trouble than I’m worth.”
“Nope.”
“Nope?” she asked.
“Nope.”
“That’s it? That’s all you’re saying? Nope?”
He grinned. “Yep.”
She just shook her head and watched as he put everything away. Then he stood and held out his hand. “Come on. This time you can make me a proper dinner. No green stuff.”
“You have to learn to eat your vegetables.” She paused as they reached the door and he looked down to find her worrying her lip.
“You have got to leave your poor lip alone,” he told her, reaching out to free it.
“Sorry.”
“What’s wrong?” he asked, expecting to have to drag it out of her.
“Did I get Lara in trouble?”
He frowned. “Why would you think that?”
She shrugged. “When she came over to play, I got all stiff and unsure. I’ve just never…I mean this is the first time…and then she got into trouble. If I’d just played with her…”
He reached out and tilted up her face. “You are not responsible for the actions of others, Betsy. You cannot control what other people do. All you can do is what you think is right, understand? It’s not your fault Lara is in trouble. Besides, Zac is completely and utterly twisted around that Little girl’s finger. I can guarantee she is already up and creating havoc and mischief.”
Sure enough, when they entered the room, Lara waved at them from where she was setting up a tea party.
“Betsy! Want a tea party?”
He glanced down at Betsy, feeing her stiffen. He opened his mouth to let Lara down gently when Betsy spoke up. “Yes, please.”
Well, then.