Chapter 4

Luke had almost finished the paperwork on an insurance claim when the bell above the door tinkled. He did a double take when he caught sight of Cindy walking in.

He grinned. “This is a surprise. Welcome to Like a Prince Rentals.” He looked up at the rack where they hung the keys. “Did Brent take you something that I don’t know about?”

“No.” She glanced at the street then back to him. “I came over so we could talk before the school bus arrived.”

Automatically he turned to the direction of the bus route. “Kat’s feeling better today. We watched a chick flick last night with cold hot chocolate and burnt microwave popcorn. It wasn’t my kind of movie, but Kat enjoyed it—something about Chihuahuas and Hollywood and some number in the title.”

“That’s Beverly Hills…” Cindy shook her head. “Never mind. I was just wondering about something. I’m sorry if I’m sticking my nose where it doesn’t belong, but I was wondering if Kat might want to come with me and a few of the kids from the youth group to Pike Place Market on Saturday. They’re doing a fund-raiser lunch after church on Sunday and want to buy all the fruits and vegetables from the market.”

“Pike’s Place is kind of far. Can’t they get good vegetables locally?” Ever since Kat had come to live with him he’d tried to buy more healthy stuff, like salad in a bag, already cut, with carrots and everything, at the local supermarket. He certainly didn’t have to go across the city to fight the crowds and pay a fortune for parking just to buy rabbit food.

“I think they asked me to go so they don’t have to carry big bags home on the bus.”

He couldn’t help but look at her hulking truck. “Just how many vegetables do they plan to buy?”

She grinned. “They’re going for the adventure. This would be a good way for Kat to make some new friends.” Her smile dropped and her expression became serious. “I’d like you to come, too. If you can.”

He turned back to Cindy, unsure of the reason for her request. He couldn’t count the times he had wished, even prayed, for exactly this to happen. Before he’d become Kat’s legal guardian, except for running his business, starting a relationship with Cindy had been foremost on his mind. But after last night that had changed. He’d thought Kat was doing okay, but all he’d done was call her by her name instead of her nickname and she’d fallen apart. With Kat sobbing her guts out and breaking down like she had, he’d almost lost it, too, and that wouldn’t have done either of them any good. For now he needed to help Kat, which meant concentrating all his time on her, not pursuing something that wasn’t likely to happen.

But Cindy was right: Kat needed to make some new friends. Texting her friends back home in Portland wasn’t the same as having someone close by. And she was doing less of it.

He nodded. “Sure.”

She watched him, waiting for him to say more, but no more was needed. Kat needed to make some new friends.

“‘Sure’? That’s it?”

“Yeah. Would you like to pick us up, or is it better for us to meet you at the church?”

“I guess it depends. Do you live between the church and downtown?”

“Great. I’ll pick both of you up on Saturday afternoon, if Kat says she’ll come. Let me know, okay? I need to get back to work.”

Great. I’ll pick both of you up on Saturday afternoon, if Kat says she’ll come. Let me know, okay? I need to get back to work.”

Cindy pulled up to a large house in an upscale neighborhood.

It appeared the co-owner of Like a Prince Car Rentals really did live like a prince, at least compared to her humble abode.

Just as she turned off the engine, Kat and Luke stepped outside.

Kat didn’t hesitate; she ran to Cindy’s truck, opened the back door, and hopped inside. Luke waited for a few seconds and looked at the back door then slowly opened the front door to get in.

Cindy didn’t know if she should be insulted.

“Hi, Cindy. I hope we didn’t keep you.…” His voice trailed off as his attention turned to the backseat.

“Luke, I’m sure you met Tyler at the practice on Wednesday. A couple of the girls were going to come, but at the last minute they got called in to work. Tyler has the list of everything we need, so it’s just us.”

Tyler sat in the back beside Kat, grinning like an idiot.

Luke’s eyes narrowed, telling Cindy that Luke did indeed remember Tyler from Wednesday evening. But today Cindy didn’t think that Luke was quite so scary, probably because he didn’t have a hockey stick in his hand.

Cindy turned the key to restart the engine. “I know you haven’t been in Seattle very long, Kat. Pike Place Market is a Seattle landmark and a lot of fun.” She put the truck into gear. “Buckle your seat belt and away we go.”