Good. I struck a nerve with little Elle. She deserved a door in the face after she had tried the same thing on me moments before. I loved crawling under her skin, where I didn’t belong, and leaving her uneasy. Goddamn squeamish and weak in the knees. The same way she had responded to me back in the kitchen earlier while I stared down into those cinnamon eyes and made the mistake of getting far too close to her. Her sweet scent had filled my nostrils, and I wanted to bury my face in her hair. I’d never want to come up for air, drowning in wave after damn wave of her locks. Tangled up in her until I died in her arms.
Fuck.
I needed a drink.
“Do you got any beer, kid?”I asked.
Faith scrunched up her nose like her mother does when she’s pissed off at me. “Beer? What is that?”
Right. Faith was eight. Little Elle played everything safe with her child. She probably didn’t even know what an alcoholic beverage was.
“It’s an adult drink.” I shook my head. “Never mind.”
“Oh, those!” A light bulb blinked to life in those innocent eyes. “Daddy calls them that.”
Damn bastard. Faith’s father sounded like a real winner. A true dickhead, who had cheated on Noelle and disrespected his family.
I knew the whole backstory. I didn’t give a shit, but Logan Lancaster was scum. He gave me the urge to deck him one too many times for everything he had done. I might hate Elle, she may get to me, but she was my best friend’s daughter. Nobody messed with the people I cared about, especially not with this sweet child, who didn’t ask for a careless father who only thought about his damn self.
“He does, does he?” I grumbled.
“Yep.” Faith popped theP. “Mommy has some. Don’t worry, Mr. Timber. I’ll get you one.”
Shit, Elle will kill me.Abort.
“Ah, no thanks, kid. I’ll take an apple juice on the rocks,” I said.
“What does on the rocks mean?” Faith asked.
I’m an idiot. I sucked at this kid stuff.
“Crap, ah... I mean... Shoot.” I rubbed my temple nervously. “On the rocks means with ice. You got apple juice and ice?”
Faith beamed. “We do.”
Faith went toward the kitchen. I followed her lead as she opened the fridge door and got a stool to reach the cupboard. I watched her take a glass, place it on the countertop, and get the apple juice. The carton was harder for her to manage, so I took it out of her tiny hands and poured the juice for her while she gathered some ice cubes.
“Jeez. You do this often?” I asked.
Faith impressed me thoroughly.
“When my mommy lets me.” Faith plopped in some ice and juice spilled on the counter. “Oopsie daisy. Let me clean that up or else Mommy will find out.”
“My lips are sealed, kiddo.” I swore secrecy.
I couldn’t rat on such a cute face. Sure. Fucking children got on my nerves, but this child was different.
I took a sip of the apple juice, and the refreshment hit the spot. Faith cleaned up her mess, and she waved at me to follow her. She took me straight toward the living room, where she sat down on a couch and let her legs sway. Back and forth her feet with unicorns on the socks went while she stared at me.
I plopped down across from her on a leather recliner; the material groaned with every movement I made and echoed in the silence. The quiet wasn’t awkward, and there was a hint of challenge in the airwaves between us. I placed my drink down on the table, my gaze never wavering from Faith, and realized this had turned into some sort of weird staring contest. A fucking competition of who had the best stare of all time where if either of us blinked that person was the sore loser, but I didn’t lose to anyone.
I went along with Faith’s game and watched her closely as her little nose wrinkled. Even her eyes squinted at me, but she didn’t turn away. Damn. She was good.
Faith raised her eyebrows and opened her sweet colored raisin specs while she tried to psych me out. I couldn’t fucking believe this damn kid!Holy shit.Genius move on her part.
Faith stuck out her tongue at me, fully focused, without a single blink. Smarty pants.Game on, kiddo.
I crossed my eyes and saw two expert girls in front of me. Faith and her double never flinched but, fuck, man. I was dizzy.
