And then this morning, Flynn had announced his intention to attend the game.
Seeing her friend, Cindy waved at Katherine, who waved back while angling her head in Flynn’s direction.
No need to be subtle, Cindy wanted to shout. But Flynn hadn’t seemed to notice. Relieved, she walked the girls around the small field.
Tom approached with a grin. “So, how are the four most beautiful women in town?”
Cindy winked, recognizing Tom’s harmless teasing.
He responded by tugging her pert ponytail, making the girls giggle.
Since Tom was much like a brother, she only shook her head in bemusement.
He knelt down, bringing his gaze eye level with the triplets. “So. You going to clap and cheer for Daddy or for me?”
“Daddy!” they chorused loyally.
He whistled. “Tough crowd.” Standing back up, Tom reached for Cindy’s cooler. “I’ll carry this over to the bleachers.”
“Thanks. That gives me at least one free hand.”
“Cute kids, Cindy.”
“Yeah, they really are.”
Tom glanced down, seeing that the girls weren’t paying attention. “Lucky break Flynn decided to move to Rosewood.”
Cindy withheld the sigh that had been building inside since Flynn’s first mention of relocation. “Yeah, lucky.”
Tom slowed his steps. “Everything okay, Cin?”
She met his concerned gaze. “I finally have some family here. It’s spring. What could be wrong?”
He hooked his arm with her free one. “Remember, you can tell me if something’s wrong. I have a sturdy shoulder.”
She glanced up at him with a heartfelt smile. “So you do.”
“Cindy?” Flynn snagged her attention.
Startled, she glanced at him, not aware he’d walked over to their little group. “Yes?”
He glanced at her arm, still loosely linked with Tom’s. “Are you sure you can handle all the girls by yourself?”
Tom discreetly dropped her arm and self-consciously she pushed at the hair that fell across her forehead. “Of course. Why?”
Flynn glanced once again at Tom. “They can be a handful.”
She shrugged. “I brought treats.” She motioned with her head to the swing set, slide and seesaw in the park beside the softball field. “And there’s plenty to keep them busy. Besides, they can’t wait to see you play.”
“Daddy play!” Beth demanded.
Flynn scooped her up. “In a few minutes.”
Mandy tugged at his pants leg, as well, but Alice hung on to Cindy’s hand. Flynn obliged by picking up Mandy, giving both girls a hug, then putting them back down.
“We have to let Daddy go practice,” Cindy explained.
“Me play, too,” Beth demanded.
“No,” Cindy told her firmly. “This is Daddy’s day.”
“She could walk to the field with me for a few minutes,” Flynn replied.
Cindy wanted to thump him. And he thought she was spoiling them? “I spent quite a bit of time explaining to the girls that this is a grown-up game, that little girls don’t get to play.”
“I didn’t intend to let her play.”
“No, but I’ll spend the entire time keeping her off the field if you take her out there.”
“That’s an exaggeration,” Flynn replied.
Tom cleared his throat. “I’d better get back to the practice.” He held up the cooler. “I’ll put this on the bleachers.”
“Thanks,” Cindy replied, wondering why Flynn was scowling as though he had ants in his shoes.
“Sure,” Tom replied, walking away quickly.
“What’s with you?” Cindy asked.
Flynn’s scowl didn’t lighten. “Problem?”
“You just chased away one of the nicest people here. Some special reason why?”
“You tell me.”
Puzzled, Cindy grasped Alice’s hand a little tighter. “So, are we going to grapple over taking the girls on the field?”
He looked at her for a long moment. “No, I don’t guess we will.”
Then his gaze shifted toward Tom. “Nothing to argue about at all.”
Confused, Cindy stared after him as he stalked on to the field. And for the life of her, she couldn’t imagine why he hadn’t taken to Tom.
“Men,” she muttered.
“Men?” Beth asked.
“Yes, sweetie. We’ll talk more about them when you’re older. For now we’ll stick to Cinderella and Prince Charming.”
Mandy drew her brows together. “Like Daddy?”
Yep. However, Cindy was the only girl in the world whose glass slipper wouldn’t fit. At least not for Prince Flynn.
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