Love Me Back (Amelia and Daniel) novel Chapter 208

Ruby was about the same size as the little boy—maybe even a bit shorter and daintier—but there was nothing small about her wit. She flashed a sweet smile. “Thank you, ma’am, but I can find my way back myself. Please don’t let me keep you from your work.”

Turning to the boy, Ruby’s tone shifted from syrupy to stern. “I’m talking to you, you know. It’s rude to ignore someone when they’re speaking.”

The little boy just stood there, wide-eyed and silent, and pushed through the revolving booth door. Ruby slipped in right behind him.

Everyone at the table—except Daniel—looked up with interest.

“Well, well,” someone slurred, already a few drinks in and loose with his words. “James goes out for a stroll and comes back with a bride.”

Daniel had little interest in dinner and even less in teasing the absent-minded “bride.” He scrolled idly through financial news on his phone, not bothering to look up.

Ruby puffed out her cheeks in protest. “I’m not anyone’s bride, sir. That joke’s not funny. If you take it back, I won’t hold it against you.”

The man laughed, amused by her boldness. “You’ve got quite a mouth for such a little thing. But no, I won’t take it back. What are you gonna do about it?”

Ruby marched right up to him, her face all innocent curiosity as she tilted her head back to look at him. “Sir, you’ve got something in your eye. Didn’t wipe it off properly.”

Instinctively, the man reached up, trying to clear away imaginary sleep from the corner of his eye.

Ruby’s voice was gentle. “People who don’t clean their eyes properly can’t see things clearly. But I’m nice, so I won’t blame you.”

The whole table burst out laughing. The man’s face went scarlet; who’d have thought a grown man in his twenties could get played by a pint-sized kid?

Daniel’s interest was finally piqued. He glanced up just as Ruby’s gaze met his.

Their eyes locked.

Finley had just finished wiping his son’s mouth when he turned and saw Daniel staring, unblinking, at Ruby. Finley followed his gaze, then suddenly sucked in a sharp breath.

Daniel looked up, catching the sound.

Finley swallowed the exclamation. Even if he’d figured it out, he wasn’t about to say a word. He’d gone to all this trouble to throw a birthday party, hoping it might help Daniel finally move on from the past. And now, out of nowhere, here was this little girl who looked so much like Amelia.

Unbelievable.

Daniel turned back to Ruby, fixing his eyes on her face. “How old are you?”

Ruby beamed. “Two!”

Daniel wasn’t sure what he was looking for, but he pressed on. “What’s your name?”