Sitting in the corner at the drafting table, I studied the plan for a house BAM had recently purchased. It was in a great area, large and well built, but it’d had nothing done to it in years. The rooms were small and chopped up, and Liv wanted to open walls and move rooms, switching the kitchen to the other end of the house, adding a sunroom, and master bedroom on the main floor, as well as more changes to the second story. It would be a massive renovation, and although the end result would be stunning, it was my job to determine if the changes could happen, and if, cost-wise, they were a good investment. I liked seeing Liv’s designs and her notes and ideas, then making them a reality. She was intelligent and knowledgeable and rarely asked for impossible tasks. She understood load-bearing walls and structure, and her designs were always sympathetic to the limits we had to work within.
This time, however, her requests were long and complex. I began my list, room by room, of the changes she wanted, jotting notes and foreseeable problems.
A noise caught my attention, and I sat up, looking around, shocked to see I had been hunched over the table for two hours, engrossed in the plans in front of me. I heard the noise again, recognizing Liv’s voice and the high-pitched reply of a child. Sliding from my chair, I crossed the office, glancing down the hall. Listening, I heard Liv’s soft-toned voice.
“Soon, Sammy. Mommy needs to do a little more work.”
“I’m bored!”
“I know, baby. Why don’t you draw Mommy another picture?”
“I already drawed you three. Why can’t I go stay with Grammie?”
“Grammie isn’t feeling well today, Sammy. Mommy has to get this work done, and I have to do it here. I’ll be done soon, and we can go to the park.”
“Can I have ice cream?”
“May I,” Liv corrected gently. “Remember your manners, Samantha.”
“May I have ice cream, please?”
“Yes. Be good for Mommy and let her work for a while, then we’ll go to the park and get ice cream.”
“Okay.”
I walked down the hall and leaned on the doorframe, studying the picture in front of me. Liv was at her desk, surrounded by drawing pads and sketches. Sammy was stretched out on the floor, dolls and papers scattered everywhere. They had obviously been here a while, but I had been so absorbed, I never heard them. Liv was in a sweatshirt, long and dark, the sleeves rolled up to her elbows. Her hair was down today—something I rarely saw. It fell in long waves over her shoulders and down her back, the light catching the golden glints, making it shine. Her fingers were covered in dabs of color as she worked on a design, bringing it to life.
Sammy’s head was bent over a piece of paper, her hair the same shade as her mothers, except it was curly and wild, moving freely as she concentrated on her drawing.
Sammy noticed me first. She sprang to her feet, looking excited. “Hi!”
Liv looked up. Her beautiful eyes were round and startled, but she smiled when she saw it was me. “Hey, Van. I didn’t know you were here. Your door wasn’t open.”
I had pushed it shut for privacy after Jordan left. Often if a crew member dropped in, I lost hours of work as they chatted. I had wanted to concentrate.
“Liv. I was so busy I only now realized you were here.”
Sammy hurried to the door. “Hi. I’m Sammy.”
I hunched down, taking her tiny hand in mine. “Hi, Sammy. We met a long time ago. You’ve grown so much, I hardly knew it was you.”
She grinned wide. “I remember you. You’re Mr. Van. You work with my mommy and build stuff!”
I laughed. “That’s me.”
She edged closer. “I want a new shelf for my dolls. Could you build that?”
“Sammy!” Liv admonished.
I shook my head, holding up my hand. “It’s fine, Liv.” I addressed Sammy. “What kind of shelf do you want?”
She held her arms wide. “A big one!”
“You must have lots of dolls.”
“Books too.”
“Ah—books are good.”
Her responding nod was fast, making her curls swirl around her chubby cheeks. Aside from her dark eyes, she looked exactly like Liv, right down to the row of freckles across her nose. She was an enchanting child.
“Mommy reads to me every night.” Her eyes became round. “Do you like to read, Mr. Van?”
“Yep.”
“Mommy is teaching me. I can read a lot too, but I like it when she reads to me.” She leaned forward, her voice becoming secretive. “Grammie reads to me too, but she talks too fast and she doesn’t do the voices. Mommy does funny voices. I like them.”
I met Liv’s glance over Sammy’s head. She was watching us with a look of patience and exasperation. I grinned and threw her a wink to let her know it was all good.
“I bet she does.”
I stood, smiling down at Sammy. Her head tilted back on her neck as she peered up at me.
“Are you a giant?”
“Sammy!” Liv groaned.
“He’s taller than anyone I ever met, Mommy! You said the only way I would learn stuff was to ask questions.”
I waved my hand, chuckling at her response “It’s fine, Liv. No, Sammy, I’m not a giant.” I studied Sammy. “Although, you’re so tiny, you could be a mouse.”
A grin split her face, showing a small gap in her teeth. “I’m a girl, not a mouse.”
I stroked my chin. “Nope. I think you’re a mouse.”
She giggled.
I glanced at Liv, noting the fact that she looked tired. The need to help her in some small way was suddenly paramount. “How about I take this little mouse to my office and we can plan out her bookshelf while you work?”
Liv began to shake her head, but Sammy clapped her hands. “Oh, yes! Please, Mommy? I’ll be so good for Mr. Van!”
“You don’t need to do that, Van.”
“I’m not doing it because I have to, Liv. I want to. Mouse and I can stay busy, and you finish what you need to get done.” I met her gaze. “We’re ten feet down the hall. She’ll be perfectly safe.”
Sammy looked delighted. “Mommy, I have a new nickname!”
Liv’s lips quirked. “Yes, it seems you do. Mr. Van and Mouse.”
I smiled down at Sammy. “Sounds good, right, kiddo?”
Sammy beamed. “I love it!”
“That’s settled, then.” I glanced at Liv. “How about that drawing?”
Sammy’s tiny hand snuck into mine. “Please?” She beseeched Liv.
Liv grinned, clearly defeated. “Okay.” She wagged her finger at Sammy. “You be good.”
Sammy tugged on my hand. “I will. Come on, Mr. Van! Let’s go!”
Laughing, I let her lead me to my office.
* * *
Sammy tapped the paper with a sticky, impatient finger. “More of these.”
I had to bite back another chuckle. I wasn’t Liv, but I could render fairly accurate drawings. A bookshelf seemed pretty simple. I’d thought I could keep Sammy busy for a while and let Liv work. Sketch out a bookshelf and be entertained by her stories. I knew kids liked to talk. They loved a captive audience, and I found her easy to listen to. She was a bright, happy kid.
But this wasn’t just any kid, and it certainly wasn’t just any bookshelf.
This one had a top shaped like a castle. Nooks and cubbyholes as well as shelves for all her stuffed friends. It had to be pink. With glitter.
Lots of glitter.
“More turrets, Mouse?” I asked.
Her curls bobbed wildly. “Yes,” she hissed slightly, finishing off the Danish I had let her have. There were bits of icing all over the drawing, my lap, and her fingers and face, but she had loved it, and I wasn’t able to say no to her. She had been very polite and very excited when she spied the pastry box and asked if there was anything in it.
“I’m hungry, Mr. Van.”
I flipped open the lid and let her choose. Little minx took the last lemon Danish, then proceeded to devour it a
fter she climbed up on my lap and continued to describe the bookcase of her dreams.
I huffed, my breath moving her curls around her head.
“We have two. Where could I put more?”
She scrunched up her face, looking so much like Liv when she concentrated, I grinned.
She tapped the paper again, leaving a smear of icing. “On the side.” Her eyes widened. “Oh! Both sides, Mr. Van!”
I leaned back, snagging a wet wipe from the dish beside me. It held an assortment of condiment packets we kept on hand, and I remembered we had a few of the wipes in the dish too. Judging by the smears on the paper, I needed to clean her hands.
“Hands up, Mouse. Show me those sticky fingers.”
Immediately, she lifted them, and I gently wiped at the tiny digits on her hands, removing the traces of sticky icing clinging to her fingers.
“Let me see your face.”
She tilted up her chin, facing my direction. Icing was stuck to her cheeks and lips, and I grabbed another wipe and cleaned it off.
“Good thing I did that before Mommy saw you.”
“Before Mommy saw what?”
I looked at the door. Liv leaned against the jamb, smirking knowingly. It was sexy.
“I had a treat, Mommy!”
One eyebrow rose on Liv’s face. Her gaze was direct. “I see.”
“She said she was hungry.”
Liv shook her head. “She’s always hungry if there is something sweet around.”
“Sorry, I didn’t want to bother you asking. I guess I should have done so.”
She waved her hand. “It’s fine. We’re going to the park, so she can run off the sugar. I’ll get her a decent lunch.”
“And ice cream,” Sammy interjected.
Liv sighed. “Yes. As a special treat.”
Sammy clapped her hands. “Mommy, come see my bookshelf!”
Liv crossed the room, staring down at the paper. “That’s, ah, quite the shelf.”
“Pink,” I informed her.
“Ah.”
Sammy patted the paper. “With glitter here. And here.”
“Wow.”
“Glitter, I have been informed, is mandatory for castle bookshelves.”
“Makes sense.” Liv tapped Sammy’s head. “Go get your coat and stuff, baby. Mommy’s done.”
Sammy slid from my knee. Without prompting, she peeked up at me. “Thank you for the treat, Mr. Van. And drawing my bookshelf.”
“You’re welcome.”
She patted my hand, wrapping her fingers around one of mine. “You can come to the park with us. I could show you my slide and where I hang upside down on the bars.” She leaned closer. “Mommy doesn’t like that part, but I’m good at it.”
“I think Mr. Van has other plans,” Liv said quietly. “Maybe another time.”
Sammy’s face fell, but she didn’t argue. “Okay.” She paused at the door, looking back. “You can come to the park anytime, Mr. Van. It’s a happy place.”
She hurried to Liv’s office, the sound of her rushed footsteps making me chuckle.
“She’s amazing,” I said to Liv.
She smiled and indicated the paper. “May I take that?”
I frowned. “How will I know what I’m supposed to build?”
She looked confused. “I don’t expect you to build it, Van. Neither does she. It’s a drawing. I like to keep her ideas in a book so I can show her one day.”
I stood and took the paper to the copy machine and scanned it. I handed Liv the original. “I’m building it for her.”
“I can’t ask you…”
“You didn’t. She did. I told her I would, and I never break my promises.”
“I’ll pay—”
I interrupted her. “No, you won’t. This is between my new little friend and me.”
Her eyes were filled with wonder. “How can I thank you?”
Words I never thought I would utter came from my mouth.
“Can I go with you to the park? I like happy places.”
Van
Somehow, as we headed to my truck, Sammy’s hand slipped into mine, a tiny fist nestled against the callused skin of my palm. She chatted the entire way down the hall, telling me about her favorite grilled cheese sandwich at the diner we were headed to before the park.
“Do you like ketchup with your grilled cheese sandwich, Mr. Van?” she asked.
I found the way she addressed me amusing. It made me smile. “I don’t think you can legally eat it without ketchup. Or bacon.”
She peered up at me, her eyes round. “Bacon? I never had bacon on mine. I love bacon!”
“Well, we’ll have to change that today.”
Liv laughed quietly, shaking her head and mumbling about the two of us being trouble.
When we reached my truck, she paused. “Um, we should walk.”
I opened the back door. “I know what you’re thinking, Liv. I’ve got it.” With a few simple tugs and adjustments, I stood back, grinning proudly. “Voila! Instant child seat.”
“Wow.”
“It was a built-in feature. Surprisingly, it’s come in handy at times.”
A strange look flitted across her face. “Oh.”
“I’ve gone fishing with a buddy and his son a few times. Jesse is the same age as Sammy.”
“Oh,” Liv repeated, this time with a smile. “Handy.”
“Yep.” Leaning down, I picked up Sammy, lifting her into the seat, and strapping her in. She giggled as I made sure she was safe, tugging on the straps and ensuring her hair wasn’t caught in the restraint. Once she was settled, I opened the door for Liv. “Madam, your chariot awaits.”
She peered at the truck with uncertainty. I tried not to laugh at the look of trepidation on her face as she eyed the distance between the ground and the door. Without thinking, I looped my arm around her waist and lifted her into the cab. She squealed and grabbed my arm as I hoisted her up, settling her into the passenger seat. She was a small, warm weight in my arms. Close enough I could smell the scent of her floral perfume. Her hand looked minute clutching my biceps, and somehow, I liked the feeling of the way my size dwarfed her.
As though I were protecting her.
Our gazes locked momentarily as I hunched over her. Her beautiful golden eyes had flecks of brown and green that caught the light. The dark circle around her irises made them stand out. They were unique. A strand of her tawny hair drifted across her cheek, and without a thought, I tucked it behind her ear, my fingers drifting over the silkiness of her cheek.
“Do you need help with your seat belt?” I murmured, my voice pitched low.
Wordlessly, she shook her head.
My gaze dropped to her mouth, the rosy tone of her lips tempting me. Her teeth sank into the plump flesh of her bottom lip, and I tugged gently, freeing it from the attack. When my finger touched her mouth, she gasped quietly, the action causing her tongue to flick against my skin.
Instantly, the thoughts of what her tongue would feel like pressed to mine filled my head. How her mouth would taste as I kissed her. The way her hair would feel grasped in my fist as I explored her.
It was only when Sammy clapped her hands, giggling at the way I had lifted her mom into the truck that I realized how close I was bent over Liv. How rapid her breathing had become, mine matching her fast inhales. Had I dropped a mere few inches, our mouths would have fused together.
With a start, I realized how much I wanted that to happen.
Blinking, I stepped back, shaking my head to clear it. Liv’s gaze was shocked, confused, perhaps even a little disappointed as I met her eyes, then shut the truck door. I adjusted myself as I walked around the back of the truck to the driver’s side, wondering if this was, after all, a good idea. Spending more time with Liv and Sammy—it could prove to be complicated.
I hated complicated.
Yet, despite my misgivings, I found I wanted it anyway.
* * *
When we reached the diner, Liv scr
ambled out of the truck before I could get out and help her. Sammy raised her arms, letting me lift her from the truck. Once again, her tiny hand rested in mine as we walked into the restaurant. Her other hand was clutched in Liv’s as she chatted away. Her dialogue never ceased the entire meal, filling the silence that had fallen between Liv and me.
Our eyes met several times, holding briefly, then skittering away. I felt the occasional press of Liv’s knees against mine under the table as she would shift or turn to help Sammy with her meal. I observed her carefully as I sipped my coffee and devoured two grilled cheese and bacon sandwiches, plus a salad, and most of Sammy’s fries. Liv was an attentive mother, smiling and responding to Sammy’s never-ending questions and queries.
“Where does bacon come from, Mommy?”
“How come ketchup is red?”
“Can you push me on the swing, Mr. Van, when we get to the park?”
I startled hearing my name, but I quickly agreed.
“I can do that.”
“Will you catch me when I slide?”
“Sure.”
“Maybe you could come on the monkey bars with me.”
I had been to the park before, and I knew the playground. It wasn’t far from my house, and I liked to run through it during my spare time, often sitting on a bench and watching families together and imagining having one of my own. At times, I fought down the swell of sadness at my thoughts.
“I think I’m too big for the monkey bars, Mouse. But I’ll watch you.”
“Okay,” she agreed easily, finishing her sandwich, or at least most of it. Crusts, she informed me, were yuck. She giggled loudly when I shook my head in disagreement and made a point of eating mine first, telling her they were the best part. Liv laughed quietly when Sammy nibbled at the crisp edges, testing them out. Liv rolled her eyes at me as we shared the quiet joke of watching Sammy.
Vested Interest Box Set Books 4-7 Page 27
