His eyes popped open. “Sounds good.” He set off quickly, his long legs covering a lot of ground in a few steps.
Tansy hurried to catch up, sloshing coffee onto her hand. She took a long sip, needing it now more than ever.Even if it is tepid.
Annie rested her head on Dane’s shoulder, her breathing deep and even.
Oh, my heart.There was something about the giant-ness of Dane holding little Annie that did, in fact, cause Tansy’s heart to stumble over itself for a few beats. It would have been the same reaction if it was another giant man being sweet—not that she personally knew any man as giant or handsome or as incredible a kisser as Dane.Am I going to think about that kiss every time I see him?Tansy frowned and took another sip of her coffee.
After ten minutes of asking around, they were directed to the lost and found center on the edge of the park. The woman working there took one look at Annie and frowned.
“I’m on my own today—my partner called in sick. I can handle purses and phones and that sort of thing but I’ve got a bum knee and I’m not all that quick on my feet.” The woman frowned. “I don’t suppose you two could help me out?”
Tansy glanced at Dane at the same time he glanced at her.
“There’s a children’s area.” The woman pointed. “Why don’t you-all take her there and I’ll radio our security officer to be on the lookout. He can bring her folks to you.”
It wasn’t the answer Tansy was hoping for but it made sense. Leaving Annie here would probably upset her all over again. At the moment, she was dry-eyed—and hanging on to Dane for dear life. Even if they wanted to leave her here, it’d take a lot of effort to pry Annie off of Thor. “That one?” Tansy nodded at the oversize fenced-off booth.
“Yes.” The woman smiled. “They have arts and crafts and cookie decorating and all sorts of fun.” She patted Annie’s back. “Doesn’t that sound nice.”
Annie nodded. “I like cookies.”
“Me, too.” Dane shifted her to the other arm.
Tansy took that to mean they’d stay with Annie.It is the right thing to do.
The woman pulled out her walkie-talkie. “Bert? Over? It’s Glenda over at the lost and found.”
After a few seconds static: “Bert, here. What can I do for you, Glenda?”
“I’ve got some nice folks here that found a lost little girl. I need you to call your friends over at the station, pronto, so we can find her folks.”
“I could use a cookie to go with my coffee.” Tansy nudged Dane into motion as Glenda relayed the details over the walkie-talkie.
He sighed but followed her. “I could use some coffee to go with our cookies.” The closer they got to the children’s booth, the louder the noise. Most of it was happy—but it was still a lot.
“I’m definitely going to need coffee.” Dane winced at an especially shrill squeal.
“My daddy likes coffee, too.” Annie leaned back and peered up at him. “My mommy likes tea.”
“My aunts drink tea. I’ll drink coffee or tea.” Tansy pointed out an empty table along the edge of the partitioned off space. “Someplace visible.”
“Tea.” Dane’s grin was sly. “Weren’t you-all considering some sort of new tea line for your shop?”
“I don’t think so.” Tansy had no idea what he was talking about. “How about I go get us cookies to decorate?”
Dane sat, smiling as Annie sat close enough to almost be in his lap.
Tansy leaned forward. “Should I get extra cookies, Annie? I bet Thor eats more than one at a time?”
Dane’s eyes narrowed.
Annie glanced up at him, then nodded. “I bet he eats at least three.” She shrugged. “Maybe ten.”
“Three sounds good. With extra sprinkles.” Dane nodded at Annie.
“Maybe my momma will be here to share some?” Annie asked, her eyes welling up again.
“Maybe we should make one for her?” Dane sounded so gentle as he spoke to the little girl.
