“What do you like to eat?”

“Cereal or whatever.”

“How about pancakes? You like them?”

“I love them.”

“You’re in luck. I’m a master pancake maker.”

They went into the kitchen, and she told him where to find everything he needed to make the pancakes.

“I’m glad your new uncle keeps you guys in the good stuff from Vermont,” Grayson said when he broke open a new jug of Colton’s syrup that he found in the pantry.

“He sends us a jug a month,” Simone said. “We love it.”

“There’s nothing like the real thing.” While he kept watch over the griddle, he said, “Tell me about this birthday party today. What’s the plan?”

She told him about the party planned for her friend Talia at a pizza place that also had indoor games.

“Your mom left some money for a gift. Where should we go?”

Simone’s green eyes sparkled when she said, “Can we go to American Girl?”

“Wherever you want.” He couldn’t miss the somewhat guilty look that crossed her expressive face. “What?”

“Mommy would say there’s no need to go all the way uptown when we have stores right around here where we could get something.”

“Hmm. Well, would your mom be mad if we went there?”

“No, but she’d tell me I took advantage of you.”

Grayson laughed, because how could he not? “If I know you’re taking advantage and I don’t mind, would that be okay?”

She thought about that for a long moment. “I suppose she couldn’t be mad at me for that.”

“Then that’s what we’ll do.”

“Really?”

“Sure, why not?” He served up the pancakes, with butter and syrup. “You need help cutting?”

“I can do it, but thanks.”

Grayson leaned against the counter while a second batch of pancakes cooked. “Let me ask you something else.”

“Sure.”

“The night we met, you told me that your mom loves to dance but never gets to.”

“’Cuz of me,” she said matter-of-factly.

“She would say that she’d much rather be with you.”

Simone shrugged. “I guess.”

“So where does she like to dance?”

“I’m not sure, but I could ask Auntie Lu.”

“That would be great. And if I wanted to take her out tonight, do you think your grandpa would be willing to stay with you?”

“I bet he would. He likes when I sleep over. He says it’s more fun when I’m there.”

“I have no doubt about that.”

“You do know it’s New Year’s Eve, right? And that’s kind of a big night in New York.”

“So what you’re basically saying is I won’t be able to take her anywhere tonight because I didn’t plan it out months in advance.”

“Possibly.”

“Hmmm.”

“Do you need to go somewhere to dance with her?”

“Not necessarily.”