“You seriously bought her new everything?”
“Yes, and she loves it, so you better not yell at me in front of her.”
“I didn’t doubt that she would love it, but you didn’t have to do that.”
“Obviously. Consider it an early Christmas present.”
“It’s June.”
“Then consider it an early, or late, birthday present. When is her birthday?”
“Next month. The 23rd.”
“There you go. Happy early birthday to her.”
I only shook my head and watched as she drove in little circles. “As much as I would like to hang out, I still have to work, and I suggest you two move along home because the women inside are deciding who gets to be in line first to have your babies.”
His eyebrows shot up, looking around me to the diner. I didn’t even need to turn back to know that the group of women was still looking out here.
“Where does the line start?” he asked.
“I’m assuming they would have to trip over each other to line up in front of you wherever, but I’m not sure of the rules.”
He rolled over on the dirtbike until he was right in front of me.
“Well, look at that, Daze. Looks like you’re first,” he said, smiling up at the women with a wave.
They waved back, and I turned to him.
“Funny.”
“Do you come home with me now to get that done? Or just go behind the building? I can try to make it romantic either way, or go get a milkshake if you feel like getting wild.” His eyebrows jumped, and he smiled.
Well, damn.
Younger Kye was hot. All the reckless, unruly energy he had, the way he had been so obsessed with me.
Grown Kye was worse, though. That same recklessness was there, but now he was a little more free somehow. Funnier, sweeter, caring. Calmer in a dangerous way.
And I suddenly knew that he meant every word. I was worried that if I asked, Kye would figure out how to do exactly that.
I really wanted to ask.
“Stop talking. Please, stop talking,” I said, needing to get away from him before I took him up on that offer. I hadn’t stopped wondering if Kye could affect me the way he used to. So far, even him being close to me was turning me on, but I knew that every time I had touched him was worse.
It made me wonder if he felt the same or if the wild way he liked touching me had disappeared like he had thought it would.
“Go ride your bikes and try not to get worn out before she does.”
Instead of dwelling on those thoughts more, I kissed Bailey and told her to behave.
“You, too, Kye. Behave.”
“I always try to behave.”
“Right, try being the keyword there. You both try to behave. I’ll be home in a few hours. Please let there still be a house when I get there.”
He nodded, and they took off, Bailey hitting the gas and the little bike speeding up the slightest bit. It couldn’t be going any faster than a peddle bike, but she had to feel like it was flying. Kye moved alongside her, popping the front of his bike up onto one wheel again and watching as Bailey tried to do the same, but never making it more than an inch off the ground.
I realized that all I had done with letting Kye babysit was give my Evil Knieval daughter a teacher.
THIRTY-EIGHTDAISY
I walked in, already hearing the sounds of laughter coming from the living room.
“Bailey, no, that part tickles,” Kye said, prompting Bailey to laugh harder and continue with what she was doing.
I didn’t think any part of me was ready to see what was happening, though, and when I turned the corner, my feet stopped moving, frozen as I watched.
Neither of them seemed to have heard me and continued on with their game.
Their game being Bailey with a pile of markers, washable thankfully, and Kye on his back, letting her draw all over him.
He laughed again, his stomach shaking, and Bailey threw down a hand.
“Hold still!” she shrieked. “You are going to mess up my drawing!”
His lips pressed together as he tried to stop it, but as Bailey scribbled, it got out of control again.
