You Belong With Me by Shannon Guymon

car was parked.
                  “Daddy? Do you think Layla is the most beautiful girl in the world?” Stella asked curiously. “It’s okay if you do. I think she is too.”
                  Michael raised his eyebrows. Living with females no matter how old they were could be complicated. “Honey, you know I think you’re most beautiful girl in the world,” he said honestly, watching as Stella’s face bloomed in a happy smile.
                  Of course, if Stella had asked who he thought the most beautiful woman was, he’d have to say Layla Kendall. Hands down.
     

Chapter 9 – Disturbance
     
                  Layla walked into the kitchen in a daze, forgetting she still had Bubba with her. Jane squawked at her and so she immediately turned around and walked down the hallway to the back door. She put Bubba in the backyard and made sure the gate was locked before returning to the kitchen.
                  “Sorry, I was just in shock and wasn’t thinking,” she said softly, walking over and sitting down on a bar stool.
                  Kit looked at her curiously as she flipped through a magazine filled with nothing but wedding cakes. “Shock huh? What’s going on? And where’s little miss sunshine?”
                  Layla looked at her sisters and grimaced, still so unsure of herself. “Michael took Stella home. Right after he asked me out for dinner tonight at six.”
                  Kit looked at her funny and took a step closer. “Oh wait a second here. How did you answer that question?”
                  Layla blushed, looking flustered and torn. “I think I just said yes.”
                  Jane’s head snapped up from the recipes she was organizing and transferring to her lap top and stared at her. Kit put her magazine down slowly and walked over to her sister. She put her hand on Layla’s forehead and tilted her head up to stare into her eyes. “Are you feeling okay? I could swear you just said you accepted a date. With a man .”
                  Layla pushed Kit’s hands away and laughed. “Knock it off. And I did accept a date. And yes, Michael is a man,” she said grinning at Jane’s joyful expression.
                  “Oh mercy, yes he is a man . A gorgeous one,” Jane breathed out happily. “Six o’clock tonight huh? That only gives you an hour to get ready. Yay!” she yelled and jumped up.
                  “I got a call that someone here is disturbing the peace.”
                  All three women turned around to see Tate standing in the doorway, smiling hopefully.
                  Kit snorted and walked over to grab a cupcake. “Yeah right Officer Matafeo. I do believe you just made that up,” she said walking over and handing him a cupcake.
                  Tate took the cupcake with a happy grin and walked into the room to lean against the counter next to Jane. “Well, in my defense, I did hear some yelling. Something about someone going on a date?” he said, looking with a frown at Jane.
                  Jane held her hands up and shook her head. “Don’t look at me. It’s Layla who just got snagged by a handsome real estate agent.”
                  Layla stared at her youngest sister with a frown, shaking her head in irritation. “Really Jane? Snagged? It’s a dinner date. That’s it.”
                  Kit laughed and leaned up against the counter on the opposite side from Tate. “She’s been snagged. You should see the way he looks at her. He smiles at us and it’s just this normal, boring smile. He smiles at Layla, and it’s like in the movies where the music starts playing and the lighting goes soft and there’s this beautiful close up. You really have to see it,” she said, sounding only slightly jealous.
                  Jane