“Hello?”Myla asked through the telecom.
“It’s me,” Kaleb said.
“Okay, I’ll buzz you up.I’m on the second floor, the first door on your right.”
Kaleb looked around the building as he climbed the stairs.He liked what he saw.It was clean, and the security was as good as it got in these types of places.
He knocked and waited.His breath caught in his chest at the first sight of her.The night before, she’d been wearing her work clothes.That night, she wore a long, feminine skirt and a sleeveless blouse.Her hair was down, just as it had been the night before, and flowed past her shoulders in silky, blonde waves.He liked that she didn’t wear much makeup.She had the girl-next-door look, mixed with a pinup model style he’d seen on a poster before.If he only knew she’d accept him as a daddy, it would make everything perfect.
“Hi, come on in,” Myla said with a smile and stepped back.
He stepped forward and watched as she closed the door behind him.He could tell she was nervous, and it bothered him when she wouldn’t meet his eyes.
“Hey,” he said gently.
Myla’s eyes darted to his.
He curled his finger at her.“Come here.”
She took steps to stand in front of him.Her head was tilted back, and waited.
He used the palm of his hand to cup the side of her face.“What’s wrong?If you’ve changed your mind, it’s okay.We can do this another time.”
She shook her head and gripped his wrist with both of hers.“No.I want to be with you.It’s just the first time I’ve had a man in this apartment.”
He rubbed his thumb against her cheek.“I know we don’t know each other yet, but please know I would never hurt you.I’d rather cut off my arm.”
She stared into his eyes for a moment.“I believe you.For some reason, I trust you already, and that’s not like me at all.”
He rubbed his finger over her chin.“I like hearing that.”His eyes roamed over her features.She was so beautiful, he didn’t think he’d ever get sick of looking at her.
She cleared her throat and took a step back.“Are you ready to go?”
He lifted his hand to her shoulder to stop her before she opened the door.“You know what I find amazing?”
“What?”
“That you haven’t looked at my face once.”
“But I have.And I have to tell you, I’ll probably never stop either.”
He chuckled.“No, I mean the scars.”
A frown puckered her brows.“What about them?”
His grin widened.Even his own mother had a problem looking at them.Oh, he knew it was because it reminded her that she just about lost him, but it still sometimes made him vulnerable and self-conscious.
He cupped Myla’s face with his hands.“You act like you don’t see them.With everyone else, it’s the first thing they see.”
She reached up and laid her hand over the cheek that had been injured.
“I don’t see them.I didn’t last night either.All I see is you.Your scars don’t define who you are,” she whispered and then shrugged self-consciously.“Now, do you want to know something that does bother me about you?”
He smiled at the twinkle in her eyes.“Yes.”
“Your height.You’re ginormous.”
He tipped his head back and laughed.“I’ve never been called that before.A jerk, a pig, and even a monster, but never that.”
