Protected By My Grumpy Hero: An Off Limits Age Gap Romance by Ella Sloane

Author:Ella Sloane [Sloane, Ella]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-05-01T16:00:00+00:00

21

CALLIE

“Look at him,” Elsie said, gesturing at Blake. He stared at us, frowning.

“I think he’s trying to work out what we’re laughing about.” It had been a potato that looked like a pig’s face. I’d held it up, and it now sat in Elsie’s bag. She wasn’t sure she wanted her mom to cook it, but she had to buy it to show everyone. The way Blake squinted, even as he returned Elsie’s wave, it was easy to think he was wondering if we were laughing about him.

We went to the booth with the homemade jams and preserves. Elsie said the apricot preserves were to die for, so I bought a jar too. Then we walked slowly, browsing, while Elsie chatted about her upcoming audition, and I encouraged her.

Then she changed the subject.

“Do you like my Uncle Blake?”

“Do—do I—what?”

She grinned, looking far wiser than her twelve years. “Do you like him?”

“Of course,” I said, pretending to examine a basket full of fresh asparagus. “He’s a likable guy.”

“He is.” She ran her tongue over her braces. “I think he likes you.”

I’d never been so close to grabbing a tweenager and demanding every detail of her evidence.

She’s twelve. She likes me. Normal wishful thinking.

Somehow, I kept it together. “Yeah?” I said with a calmness I didn’t feel. “Why do you say that?”

“He’s different around you.”

I tested the weight of two apples in my hands and cleared my throat. There was no way she was picking up on anything, surely. It had been one night, and both of us had been a little awkward all morning. It wasn’t like we were putting out some kind of signal.

Fortunately, she kept talking before I said something stupid. “When you were helping me the other day, I noticed how different acts when you’re in the room.” She glanced over her shoulder at Blake, who was talking to his mom and sister but still watching us intently. “And now it’s like he’s different all the time.”

I should have changed the subject to something safer. Back to her audition. Her grandma’s baked goods. Her mom. Instead, I said, “Different... good? Or different bad?”

“Good! Even my mom mentioned it.”

I snapped my head in her direction. “Your mom?”

“Yeah, after you helped me with my routine, Mom said he’s less grumpy with you around.”

I laughed. “Good lord. If he’s less grumpy now, I can’t imagine him before.”

“He grinds his teeth a lot. Had to go to the dentist and everything. Mom said they gave him a guard to wear at night, but it turned out he only does it when he’s awake.” She leaned close and whispered, “And P.Oed.”

I mouthed the words, “Pissed off?” She laughed and nodded, so I shook my head. “Hard to believe his teeth aren’t worn down to nubs since I showed up. I’m pretty sure I ‘P.O.’ him on a daily basis about something or another.”

She bought a tiny soap shaped like a kitten on a pillow. “But when he’s grumbling and you’re around, his eyes are smiling.

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