I’m still holding onto his neck as if my life depends on him. “I don’t have words to describe what I’m feeling,” I tell him.
“I hope I didn’t let you down,” he says.
I look into his eyes, fighting the smile growing across my lips because it’s going to be hard to kiss again while I’m smiling, but I reach up and wrap my legs around his waist, feeling the falling water pound against my knees. I kiss him this time, inhaling his breath then holding it inside my lungs as if it would give me a high. I press my fingertips through his wet hair, and when I need air, I pull away shyly. I don’t know what came over me.
“You just skipped so many parts of the kissing game, I don’t even know what just happened,” he says.
“There’s a game?” I ask quietly.
“No, but I wasn’t expecting you to be so frisky.” His words mildly embarrass me, but I’m not ashamed. I obviously can’t control myself with him. I feel like he popped a cork that’s been holding in a lot of carbonation and angst. There’s no stopping whatever happens next. I’m already giving in and throwing my hands up with defeat.
“I’m going to need to keep you at an arm’s reach, aren’t I?”
“Why would you do that?” I ask.
“You’re a wild woman. I need to pace this, or you’ll be barefoot and pregnant in a month.”
I cock my head to the side, giving him a look I’m sure he can clearly understand. “Right. I have self-control, Denver. Don’t you worry.”
“Do you?” he asks, placing a kiss beneath my ear. The sensation from his warm, wet lips forces an electrifying sensation down through the center of my body.
“Yes!” I shriek.
“Mmhm,” he says. “I don’t know about you, but I need a cold shower right now.”
I think I suddenly understand the meaning of a cold shower and why it can be helpful.
15
Denver
“Today’s the day, kiddo.”
“I like it here,” Aya whines. “It has a pretty pool, and Kai is here. Can’t we just stay a little longer?”
“Aya, you know how we’ve talked about money and how things cost a lot sometimes, and we can’t just keep spending because our money doesn’t grow on trees?” It’s just thrown at my ass now.
“Yeah, but what’s the difference between paying for this place and paying for the new house that’s not this place?”
“About four thousand dollars a month,” I tell her, knowing that probably doesn’t make a difference in her mind.
“Hmm,” she says. “You should start working harder.”
I control myself from snapping back at that comment because it sounds like something her mother would say, but I’ll chalk it up to a typical little girl comment, spoken out of innocence. Plus, I’m already working my buns off ... oh, why am I the only one who is ever around to hear my own jokes?
“I had your room painted,” I tell her. “It’s purple like you wanted.”
“Really? Like, unicorn purple?” What the hell is unicorn purple?
“Yup!”
“Thank you, Daddy!”
Daddy.
She only says that when I’ve done something to earn the extra sweetness lately.
“Okay, hop in.” As I boost her into the truck, I feel kind of bummed about leaving the hotel. For me, whenever I stay somewhere longer than a week, it feels like a residence. I’ve moved around so much, it just happens naturally now.
“I invited Kai over for dinner tonight,” Aya says naturally. “You don’t have to work. Remember?”
“I do have to work tonight, actually. I don’t have to work tomorrow night, though, and don’t forget, I promised you we could go to the luau at the hotel if you behave.”
“Well, I guess it’s just Kai and me tonight then.”
“I don’t think so,” I tell her, closing the back door.
As I slide into the driver’s seat, Aya sighs. “Dad, I have it under control, okay?”
“I don’t even know what you’re talking about.” Aya rambles and makes up stories a lot, so I try to pepper in my “Oh yea’s” and “That’s so cool’s.” Otherwise, she’d know I was only half paying attention and then quiz me after. I love that little girl to pieces, but the talking never stops. There’s only so much information I can take in on unicorns in one day.
Surprisingly, Aya remains quiet for most of the car ride to the new house and seems excited when we arrive. I have a much better feeling this time since I picked it out. It’s a little more than I wanted to spend, but with the income from Man Buns, I decided to splurge for an ocean view.
“Kai is going to love this,” Aya says as she unclips her seatbelt.
I haven’t given Aya many details about my “friendship” with Kai in fear of her knowing too much too soon, which means I haven’t told Aya that I’ve fallen for Kai in the past week. She doesn’t know that we went on one date and have had alternating work scheduling conflicts over the past few days, preventing us from spending time together. Aya and I talk about most things together, so I’ve felt a bit guilty keeping this from her, but she’s a child, and it’s not appropriate to get her feelings wrapped up with Kai until I’m sure things will work out. I don’t want to get her hopes up. The truth is, I’m not even positive Kai wants to spend time with me. When she’s guarding the pool, she’s all work and little play. I get her smiles and passing comments, but I need to spend more time with her. I want to spend more time with her. I’ve been thinking about her way more than I probably should be, yet I don’t even have her phone number because I’m a jackass and can’t remember to ask her for it when I’m around her. There’s even a chance she thinks I don’t want it. I can never tell with women. They all pretend like they want one thing when they’re just playing with your mind. I’d like to think Kai is different, but I really don’t know.
I unlock the front door and wave Aya into the beaming sunlight shining in from the wall-to-wall windows on the opposite side of the house. I like the large space and openness. It’s comforting, so this felt like home from the second I spotted it.
“What do you think?” I ask Aya.
“It’s so pretty and white!”
“That it is.”
“Can I have your phone for a minute?”
I figure she wants to snap pictures since that’s the only reason she typically asks for my phone, but I’m a bit surprised when I see her pull a piece of paper out of her pocket and dial a number. “What are you doing?”
She places her finger up to her lips. “Shh, I’m on the phone.”
“Aya!”
“Dad, please.”
“Aya this isn’t funny. Who are you calling?”
“Hi, Kai,” she says. Oh my God.
“You’re not funny,” I tell her.
“Are we still on for tonight?” Aya looks at me and winks. “Oh sure, hold on. Dad, what’s the address?”
My head falls to the side, playing into her little game. “Six Hai Street.”
“Six Hai Street,” Aya repeats. “Oh, yay! I can’t wait to see you. Five, right?” Aya is smiling like a cheeseball at me. “Okay, see you then.”
“Very funny,” I tell her.
“Here, she wants to talk to you,” Aya says, handing me the phone.
“Hi, pretend Kai,” I say in a goofy voice.
“Hey.” Shit. She’s seriously on the phone.
“Uh,” I clear my throat from the goofy impression. “Sorry. I didn’t realize Aya was seriously calling you, or that she even had your phone number.” Aya looks so damn proud of herself right this minute. I’d like to tell her to go to her room, but she doesn’t know which one is hers yet.
“She asked me for my number this morning while you were at the pool and asked me to write it down. She also asked me if I could come over tonight. I know you have to work, but—”
“I am so sorry about that,” I tell her.
“But,” she continues. “I have nothing to do tonight, and Aya may have mentio
ned that Mrs. Hale is boring, so I have no problem hanging out with her tonight until you get home from work.”
Of course, my mind spins in happy little circles with the idea of coming home to Kai later tonight, but then a different wave of emotion pours over me when I realize she’s happy to come over and spend time with my daughter when I’m not even here. That’s like ... unreal. That doesn’t happen with beautiful women. I turn around so Aya can’t see me. “That’s very sweet of you to offer,” I whisper into the phone. “I’m sure Aya batted her pretty little eyes at you. You don’t have to do that, though.”
The phone is silent for a short minute. “Denver, I’d love nothing more than to hang out with your little ray of sunshine tonight. Honestly.”
“I’m kind of jealous of her. Is that weird?” I ask.
“No, that kind of makes me smile,” she says quietly.
“Well, if that’s the case, I’m FaceTiming you.” I look down at my phone and hit the FaceTime button.
“Den—” she says, trying to stop me before the phone connects by video. She’s still at the pool, working. “I’m going to get in trouble.” She’s looking around nervously before staring right into the camera. “You’re a troublemaker, you know that?”
“Our schedules sucked this week, and I want a second date.” I love watching her cheeks blush with a tinge of pink as she bites down on her bottom lip. “What about tomorrow night?”
“Tomorrow is the luau,” she reminds me.
“Shoot. Right. I’ve only been looking forward to that for the entire last week. I made sure Noa didn’t put me on the schedule for tomorrow night because I can’t miss your show a second time in a row.”
“It’s not my show, silly.”
“You’re the only star I’ll see,” I tell her, making it sound as corny as it is.
“Oh boy, you’re a ham,” she counters.
“As long as I’m not the ham, it’s all good.”
Her lips quirk, and she shakes her head. “You are something else.”
“What about Sunday night?” I ask her.
“I’m free Sunday,” she says.
“It’s a second date then. Although, I suppose a lot can happen between now and then, so maybe we shouldn’t put a number on it,” I tell her.
“You’re awfully optimistic, aren’t you?”
“Maybe,” I confirm.
“I hate to disappoint you, Denver, but I’ve been told I have the patience of a saint.”
“Who told you that, exactly?” I tease.
A look of shock quivers through her lips. “Are you questioning me?” Her hair blows in the wind, and the sound of static hits the mic on her phone. I almost forgot she was still working.
“You should go before someone drowns behind your back.”
“I should,” she says, looking around again. “What time do you have to be at work tonight?”
“Six,” I tell her.
“I’ll be at your house at four-thirty. I have your address now too, thanks to Aya,” she says with a smile.
“Can’t wait.” I give her a wink. “Enjoy the rest of your day, beautiful.”
Kai seems a little winded as she waves goodbye rather than saying anything. The moment I hang up the phone, I realize I have four stacks of boxes in the middle of the living room, and furniture pieces still covered with plastic that was dropped into places I don’t plan to keep them in. Then there’s the whole no food thing too. Shit.
“Aya,” I call out, noticing she’s run off, likely to find her bedroom. I follow the sound of feet slapping against the floor, picturing Aya doing spins around the mostly empty room. “Did you find your room?”
“It’s humongous and purple!”
“I’m glad you like it, sweetpea.”
“I can’t wait to show Kai tonight. She’s going to help me decorate.”
“With what?” I ask, laughing.
“Stuff,” she responds curtly.
“You need to ask me before you make plans like that again, okay? It’s fine for tonight, but you can’t do that behind my back again.”
“Why not? She’s my friend. That’s not fair.”
“She’s my friend, Aya, and even if she were seven and your friend, you know you still have to ask me before you make plans with anyone, right?”
“She can have more than one friend, but whatever, Dad.” She slaps her hands on her hips and gives me the stink eye.
With a raised brow, I cross my arms over my chest and clear my throat, the gesture she is overly familiar with. “I don’t think you should be speaking to me that way, do you?”
“I dunno,” she says.
“Well, the answer is no. You know better than to talk to me that way. I don’t know what’s gotten into you to lately, but I don’t like this new attitude of yours.”
“I think you just need to back off, Dad. I’m not a baby anymore, and you always treat me like one.”
She’s testing my patience and wasting time because I now need to get to the grocery store before Kai gets here in a bit. “Aya, enough. I know moving has been hard on you, and I know you haven’t had it easy these last couple of years, but I’m doing the best I can. I don’t deserve your attitude. Ya got me?”
“Fine,” she says.
I pull in a breath because if I don’t drop this, I’m going to end up in a long, drawn-out dad lecture, and I don’t have the time for that. “Look, we have to get to the grocery store because we have nothing in the house right now.”
“I can stay here myself,” she says.
“Aya! Quit it already. You’re not old enough stay alone. Go put your shoes back on and get ready to go. We’re leaving in five.”
“I don’t want to go.”
“I don’t care, Aya.”
She growls and tries to push me out of the room, followed by trying to swing her door closed on me.
“Are you out of your mind, young lady?” I slam her door back open and walk forward to remind her of my authority, and she backs up with a look of fear in her eyes. “Don’t you ever push me or close that door in my face again. Do you understand me?”
She doesn’t respond. Instead, her eyes fill up with tears. Aya doesn’t cry. She’s a strong kid, especially with everything she’s been through. She doesn’t even cry when she gets hurt. Stitches and all last year, she never shed a tear. “I want to be alone,” she says.
“No, I want you to tell me why you’re acting like this,” I tell her.
“It doesn’t matter,” she argues.
“Yes, it’s the only thing that matters right now, Aya. Tell me what’s wrong.”
She stares at me with a glare, not so much an angry one, but more of a painful one. “You’re not even trying.”
I don’t know what she means, but I know this isn’t going to be good, whatever it is. I take a seat on the edge of her bed and open my arms. “Come here.”
She’s reluctant at first but walks into my open arms and sits down on my lap. “You’re not,” she repeats.
“I don’t understand. What am I missing?”
“To find me a mom,” she states simply.
“Aya,” I sigh. She doesn’t understand, and I know that. I run my fingers through her curls and kiss her forehead. “It’s not that easy, baby. People have to find each other, spend time getting to know each other, maybe then they’ll fall in love, and the rest comes after that.”
“Kai is right in front of you, and you’re not falling in love with her. Why?”
“I haven’t known Kai very long, Aya. Love doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time.”
“I’m tired of waiting,” she says.
“Am I not doing a good enough job as your dad?” I’m not trying to make her feel bad or guilty. I’m honestly wondering what she feels because she asks for a mom so often, it makes me feel like I’m screwing everything up.
“Dad, you’re doing everything a dad should do, but I just—”
“Need girl time?” Is that what it is? I hope that�
�s what it is.
“Yes,” she says without thinking. “Mom isn’t coming back. I know. Even if she did, I wouldn’t want to see her. I want someone to love you and love me, and to make our home warm and pretty.”
“I understand, Aya. I do.” More than she can understand, I get it. I thought I had it with Isla, but shit happens.
“So, make it happen,” she continues. “Love Kai.”
“Aya, I like Kai. I really do, but I need to get to know her more. I need to spend more time with her. Time creates love, baby. I know it’s hard to be patient, but the things we wait for the longest in life are the most special.”
“Will you try?” She rests the back of her head against my chest and exhales heavily.
“Of course. If Kai likes us as much as we like her, who knows what will happen. We can hope, right?”
“I’ve been making lots of wishes,” she says.
“Good. Keep doing that. Every wish helps.”
Aya turns around and wraps her arms around my neck. “I’m sorry I pushed you. Are you hurt?”
I want to laugh, but I’ll let her believe in her strength. “A little, but I’ll be okay.”
“I won’t ever do that again.”
“Thank you. Can you help me at the store now? I need to fill our pantry and refrigerator.”
Aya looks over at her neon purple alarm clock she’s already managed to unpack. “We better hurry. We only have an hour, and I need to make the house look presentable before Kai gets here.”
My hand finds my face, covering my eyes, as I wonder how my sweet child has turned into a manhandling, matchmaking girl on a mission.
16
Kai
I’m kind of going through the motions of an internal battle, wondering if this was a good, or bad idea. Our one and only date was more than I could have hoped for, but there are so many more hurdles to jump over, even if Denver did ask me out for a second date. I know there’s a chance things may not work out, as it would be with anyone I might date, but when Aya asked me to come over tonight, I was like putty in her hands. She has these big Bambi-like eyes that could convince anyone of anything. Plus, she’s so sweet, and she reminds me of Lea at that age. I enjoyed our age difference back then because I loved acting like a pretend mom to her. Of course, I didn’t know then that I would have to assume the role for real some years later. I miss being needed now. I got used to it, I guess.
The Man Cave Collection: Manservant, Man Flu, Man Handler, and Man Buns Page 100
