Free No Place Like Home: The Coming Home Series, Book 1 by Jennifer Kacey Page B

He looked wet, so he must have been dunked at some point. She waved and he waved back just as someone else stepped up to try her hand at dunking him. It was an older woman with a little girl in her arms wearing red shoes.
    She set the little girl down and then one of the other volunteers handed the little girl a ball. She couldn’t have been more than four or so. Tossing the ball with all her might, she wasn’t even reaching the space with the target. They moved her forward. For each ball they did the same and Cole egged her on, making funny faces and laughing with her. On her last ball she hit the side of the target but not hard enough to trip it.
    “Better luck next time, sweetheart,” Cole called out to her with his hand cupping his mouth so he could be heard over all the people. But the little girl skipped over to the target and jumped up, hitting it with both hands.
    Cole yelled a bit as his platform released and into the water he went. Laughter filtered through the crowd and Charlie joined in. The little girl squealed as water sloshed over the side of the tank and she ran back to the other woman, who gave her a high five. She took her hand and the little girl waved at Cole as he popped out of the water. He shook his head, throwing water everywhere, and blew the girl a kiss.
    Charlie’s heart melted just a little bit more for him. He really would make a great dad. She hoped he got the opportunity. Any boy or girl would be so lucky.
    “So, how much for kisses from both of you lovely ladies?”
    Charlie blinked, knowing she shouldn’t be so focused on Cole. He wasn’t hers and she had to keep that in perspective.
    A much older man stood in front of the booth with his wallet at the ready, and a twinkle in his eye.
    Kia spoke up. “Five for one of us and ten for both. And don’t even think about trying to get fresh with me, Herb. Your wife’s got the ticker of a sixty-year-old and I don’t want her chasing me down.”
    “Both of you? A sure thing?” He plunked a ten-dollar bill on the counter and took off his hat. As he finger-combed his thin gray hair he added, “Best money I’ve spent in years. And Ms. Bianca?”
    “Just call me Charlie.”
    “Charlie, my wife taught you years ago. You were one of her favorite students. Always so eager to learn , she used to tell me.”
    “And who’s your wife?” Charlie asked as she slid off her stool and got ready to pucker up.
    Kia kissed him on one cheek and Charlie kissed him on the other.
    His eyes twinkled and he winked at her as he slipped his hat back on. “Mrs. McAdams.” He grabbed his cane and trundled off in the direction of his wife, who was still throwing baseballs.
    “That’s awesome. Tell her I said hi.”
    He tipped his hat at her and kept walking, preening and grinning from ear to ear with the big lip marks on his cheeks.
    “Bibi?”
    The dreaded nickname made her cringe as she faced a group of three guys stepping up to the booth.
    “God, it’s really you.”
    “In the flesh, and I go by Charlie now if you don’t mind.” She smiled, recognizing two of the three guys as people she went to school with.
    “Why Charlie?” one of them asked.
    “Charleston is my last name, so Charlie happened when I was in college. Much better than an infant’s pacifier.”
    “Well, you look great. How’s life?”
    “Hey, are you guys here to flirt or kiss? We have a children’s wing to build and there’s a long line of people behind you.”
    Charlie leaned to the side and gasped. Their line of guys rivaled the line of women for the dunk booths.
    “Told you they’d come to see you,” Kia whispered as she took money from all three guys. “All right. Pucker up, buttercup.”
    “Me?”
    “Yes, you.”
    “You’re hot,” the one guy she didn’t recognize blurted out.
    “Thanks.” She reapplied lipstick before she kissed each guy and Kia pocketed their moolah.
    They walked away and more men stepped up. Old men, young men, men with little babies,