Not sure if she was trying to con me since she didn’t want to leave or if she was telling the truth, I asked, “How much does it hurt?”
“A bit.”
“So it’s best we get home sooner, then. Maybe an earlier flight?”
“No,” she answered immediately, shooting me the stink eye.
“Morning.”
My attention switched to a sleepy-looking Pearce.
“Morning,” I responded, focusing hard on making eye contact. “Coffee?”
“As if you need to ask.”
I grinned, more than aware Pearce didn't function well without his morning caffeine fix. I set about organizing his coffee, half listening to Lottie trying to convince Pearce to talk me into us staying.
“… and he said no.” A dramatic huff followed. “It's not like he doesn't talk about you all the time and visit you,” she continued.
I cleared my throat, ignoring the heat rising up my neck. “Lottie, enough.” I narrowed my gaze at her before smoothing my features and handing Pearce his coffee.
“What did I do?” I had a feeling she was rolling her eyes, especially based on Pearce's low chuckle. “Okay, he doesn't talk about youallthe time,” she drew out. “Not when Wayne's around.”
She made her feelings for Wayne completely clear from her tone alone. I struggled to hold back my wince, knowing when I got home, I’d have to follow up with the “talk” I’d promised Wayne.
Convenience wasn't worth it.
“Oh yeah, what's wrong with talking about me in front of Wayne?”
I caught Pearce's gaze and stared at him pointedly when he attempted a wide-eyed innocent expression. I wasn't buying his nonchalance.
“Let's wrap up this conversation,” I interrupted with a clap of my hands. “Lottie, you stink. Go shower.”
Lottie twisted her lips before lifting her arm high and taking a whiff of her armpit. “I do not.” She shot me a pointed look that reminded me of her mom. “But I will shower, simply because hygiene is important.”
“You do that, and I'll order breakfast. Pancakes?”
She grinned, her eyes widening in delight. “Yes, please. With strawberries and a ton of maple syrup.”
I chuckled at her enthusiasm. Pancakes were my girl's weakness. Well, that and basketball. “I'll see what I can do.”
“You're the best, Dad.” She spun on her heels, but paused, whipping her attention to Pearce. “No messing with my pancakes.”
I clamped down on my lips to stop laughing as Pearce held up his hands, palms out. “Hey, what did I do?”
“The last time I had pancakes you exchanged the whipped cream with cottage cheese.” Lottie gagged for good measure.
“What, a man can’t make an honest mistake?”
Pearce was so full of shit. The guy was renowned for being a pain-in-the-ass prankster. Sure, they could be super funny, but I’d never tell him that. It was more fun to grumble and act put out.
“Hmm.” Lottie apparently wasn’t buying it as she did the whole “I’ve got my eyes on you” finger point at her eyes, then his. A beat later, she headed to her bedroom, leaving me and Pearce alone.
“I'm up for pancakes too.”
I quirked my brow at him. “You are, huh? Without cottage cheese?”
He smirked, looking ridiculously handsome when that butter-wouldn’t-melt look appeared on his face.
