Free A Fairy Good Match by Allison Lynne Page A

loudly.  “Kids should not be allowed in public areas.  They have no place in society.”  He jumped from his seat and exited the restaurant hastily. 
                  Katelyn and the little girl beside her laughed even harder as he stormed out of Italian Garden with a fairy on his back, riding him like a horse and using his streaming neck hairs as reins.
                  “I am so sorry.”  A masculine voice gave Katelyn pause as strong hands dabbed at the pink spots on her white sweater. 
                  “Oh don’t apologize.  I truthfully feel like I’ve been given a reprieve.”  Katelyn replied honestly as she looked up into the most vivid blue eyes she had ever seen in her life.  There were little crinkles at the corners and his lips twitched upward at her statement.
                  “Miranda.”  He commanded.  “You get over here and tell this nice lady you are sorry for ruining her supper.” 
                  The little girl who appeared to be about five or six slid between them and stammered “I…I’m sorry.”  When she turned up her face to Katelyn, her eyes were equally as blue as what could only be her father’s.
                  “I mean it.”  Katelyn reinforced.  “You saved me.  Let’s just say things weren’t going that well.”
                  “I knew he wasn’t the right date for you.  The fairy told me so.”  Her cherubic face beamed with pride. 
                  “Miranda!” 
                  “Sorry Daddy.  But I really did see a fairy.”
                  “Again, I am so sorry.  My name is Eric Bankston.  Would you please join us for the rest of the meal?  You can order again…”
                  Katelyn smiled.  “No, I am really full now.”
                  “Oh please, oh please share a dessert with me.  Daddy doesn’t like lemon pie and they have the best lemon pie here.  Please?”  Miranda begged.
                  Eric’s eyes twinkled in agreement.  “What do you say…?”
              “Katelyn.  Katelyn Watkins.”  She extended her hand.  “Glad to meet you.”
                  “Katelyn.”  Her name sounded nice on his lips.  “Would you please join us for dessert?”
                  As she spied Seymore’s boring beige sedan speeding from the parking lot, she shrugged her shoulders and agreed to stay.  What did she have to lose?
                  Miranda jumped up and down with joy.  It was then Katelyn noted the sticky liquid drying down her cheeks and dribbling on her chin.  “Let me wipe that off, honey.”
                  “It came out my nose.”  She stood on tiptoe.  “Did you see the fairy too?”
                  Kately couldn’t lie.  “Yes, I did.”
                  Eric remained politely quiet but was obviously skeptical.  “Why don’t you go to the little girl’s room and clean up, Pumpkin?”
                  “I can go with her and help.”  Katelyn volunteered.
                  “Thanks, but I think Miranda is big enough to handle this herself.  It was her silliness that started this situation, and she can clean up after herself.”  He used a fatherly stern voice.  “But we do come her often and the restroom is just over there.  I’m pretty comfortable with her going by herself as long as I can keep an eye on the door and the time.”
                  “I’ll be right back, Daddy.  Time me!”  She scurried away.
                  “She’s adorable.”  Katelyn stated simply.
                  “That she is.”  Erick knew what questions needed to be answered even before they were asked.  “It’s just the two of us.  Always has been.  Her mother and I thought we were in love, but her