Free Charming for Mother's Day (A Calendar Girls Novella) by Gina Ardito Page B

knew where I lived, so what was the point of continuing to put him off? “Okay, fine.”
    He held up his index finger. “And you’ll need a doctor’s note saying you’re okay to work.”
    I slapped a hand on the table. “Are you kidding me?”
    “Nope.” He grinned to let me know he used my normal denial intentionally. “Make up your mind fast. I’ll take you to the stat center right now before Sidney gets back with Ariana.”
    Oh, this was so unfair! “Don’t make me do this, Colin. Please?”
    “Those are the conditions, Lucie. Take ‘em or leave ‘em.”
    “I’ll have to leave them.” I dropped my gaze to the table, too embarrassed to face him. “I can’t afford a doctor visit.”
    “You were in a bus accident. The bus company is responsible for your medical expenses.”
    “Maybe so, but the stat center will expect payment up front.”
    “I’ll pay for it.”
    I shook my head so hard my brain sloshed. “I won’t take anything from you.”
    “For God’s sake, I’m the one insisting you get checked out, I’ll pay the fee. Consider it a business expense. I won’t allow you to work in the restaurant without medical clearance.”
    I debated with myself for a long time before I finally relented. “Okay. But I hope they find something really expensive wrong with me to empty your wallet and take up all your time. Like a brain tumor.”
    “Or maybe the doctor will restart your heart,” Colin rejoined.
    Fat chance.
     
    Ariana
     
                  I followed Grandpa out to his car and climbed into the back seat. Once he settled in the driver’s seat, he started the engine then craned his neck to check on me.
                  “Buckled up?”
                  I nodded.
                  He started driving, but glanced in the mirror at me a few times. I stared at my shoes, out the window, at the people in the car next to us when we stopped at the traffic light.
                  “Okay, doodle,” he said. “What’s on your mind?”
                  I love that about Grandpa. He knows when I want to talk and when I want to just be quiet. Abuela always gets it wrong. “I was thinking...” I said as I clicked the tops of my sneakers together.
                  “Yes?”
                  “Belle has the Beast, Ariel has Prince Eric, Sleeping Beauty has Prince Philip, Jasmine has Aladdin. All those princesses are pretty and all, but I think Mom is prettier and works harder than all of them.”
                  “I agree.”
                  “Mom needs a prince.”
                  He didn’t laugh or ignore me. “You’re probably right, but princes are hard to come by these days.”
                  Yeah, I knew that. “I thought we could make one.”
                  Twisting in the driver’s seat at the next red light, he faced me with one eyebrow raised. “Make one?”
                  “Uh-huh. If we find someone who looks and acts like a prince, and teach him what Mom likes, we could make her fall in love with him.”
                  The light turned green, and he drove on, but I caught his frown in the rearview mirror. “I’m not sure you can make someone fall in love with another person, doodle. Not even when they do everything right.”
                  “We could try.”
                  His lips screwed up like he’d sucked a lemon. “Maybe. Do you have any idea who might make a good prince?”
                  “Chef Colin.”
                  “He might be a good choice. Do you think your mom likes him?”
                  I frowned and stared down at my sneakers.  “No.”
                  “Well, that makes him a tough sell. You might have to find someone else.”
                  My head shot up. “No! Chef Colin’s perfect.