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“Morning.” He looked at Rachel, then took her arm. “Come have some coffee with me.”

“Um…okay.” She turned back to Wilda. “Great job.”

*****

Milo dragged her to the kitchen. “What the hell, Rachel?”

“What? I didn’t know she was coming over. I was getting a cup of coffee.”

“She’s going to think…”

“I told her you saved me from a spider.”

“And you really think she believed you? Dammit.”

Rachel stepped away from him and put her hands on her hips. “You like her.”

“Shh.” He glanced toward the door. “No, I don’t. I just don’t want her to think I’m sleeping with the principal.” He pointed at her. “You shouldn’t want her to think that either.”

“She didn’t seem all that surprised. But I told her it wasn’t what it looked like. Do you want me to leave?”

“No point now. The damage is done.” He sat at the table.

“Let me get you some coffee, grumpy.”

He glared at her. “I’m not…coffee would be good.”

She poured him a cup, then sat across from him. “Should I call an exterminator?”

“For one spider? No.”

“Do you think your dad would come over and look for it?”

Milo took a sip of his coffee. “If you call and ask him, he probably will. He’s very fond of you.”

She smiled. “I like him, too. He’s like a father to me.”

“You have a father.”

“I know. But my father isn’t like your father. Your father is like Johnny Appleseed and Mr. Fixit. Your mom is so lucky.”

Milo cocked his head. “Do you have a crush on my dad?”

She laughed. “No. But if he were single…”

“Wow. Stop, please.”

“Do you want me to make you some breakfast?”

“That would perpetuate the ‘we’re sleeping together’ idea.”

“Right. I should probably go.” She stood, then hugged him. “Thank you for last night.” She smiled. “It was magical.”

“Shut up.”

“Do you want me to go tell her nothing is going on between us?”

“No, I’ll handle it.”