Why would I say that? How am I going to survive teaching her anything when I can’t stand looking at her for more than a few minutes without feeling like a creep?
“I mean, if you want, that is, you don’t have to. You don’t have to know another language. Just one is fine…” I’m rambling now, but I can’t make myself stop.
“Really?” Kat cuts me off, and I sigh in relief, thankful that she stopped me before I could make an even bigger fool of myself.
“Of course.”
One second she’s smiling at me, and the next she’s in my arms, her face pressed to my chest and her arms wrapped around my center, threatening to squeeze the air from my lungs.
What a way to die, though.
“Oh god! I’m so sorry!” She releases me before quickly moving back a few steps, her face turning a shade of red that’s so deep it puts her red hair to shame. “I didn’t mean to literally throw myself at you. I was just excited. Fuck… I mean, crap.” She glances over at Addy, who seems lost in her own little world as she stacks books in piles that mean nothing to me, but I’m sure have some kind of meaning to her.
“Sorry, I was just excited. But honestly, you don’t have to if you don’t want to. I’ve never been good with language. Inhigh school, my Spanish teacher told me that language isn’t for everyone, despite his board saying, ‘Spanish is for everyone.’” She chuckles, but it sounds forced, and I kind of hate it.
What kind of teacher would say that to someone?
“Fuck him,” I say before I can really think about it or where we are or even who might be listening.
Kat’s eyes snap up, her eyes wide as she looks at me, and yeah, I don’t swear often, and even if I do, it’s what Des calls soft curse words.
“Don’t worry about what he said. I’ll have you speaking multiple languages before you know it.”
She smiles up at me, and holy shit, I’m fucked, just like the rest of them, aren’t I?
“Let’s grab the books you guys wanted and head back. I think Alex had dinner plans for us tonight.” I move to help Addy get her towers to the register and can’t help but smile when I see that Kat has a few she wanted, too.
I’d been worried she would fight me about it, but I won’t say I’m not grateful for her leaving that for Des and Nathan.
I take the bag, which is much heavier than I’d been expecting, and Kat takes Addy, who looks exhausted. It’s easy to forget how much traveling takes out of little ones.
We make it down the street before I hear her soft snores.
“I guess we wore her out,” Kat says fondly, pushing her hair behind her ear and tucking her head under her chin.
It’s so mundane, so domestic…perfect.
This time, I don’t hesitate as I reach out, lacing our fingers together, and she doesn’t flinch or move away like I fear she might. Just like last time, she gives a soft squeeze before moving closer so that our arms touch.
Anyone looking would probably assume we're a family—mother, father, and daughter—and while that might not be what we are, I know we’ll be tied together forever.
For the first time since I found her in the kitchen that morning, I’m fucking grateful for that.
“Thank you for letting me intrude on your day with her,” Kat says with a soft smile as we walk back up the property toward Nonna’s house. I can see the guys scattered around on lawn chairs, near the garage, in the window. None of them are doing a great job of looking nonchalant the way I think they’re going for, but I ignore them.
“It’s not an intrusion. I enjoyed the day and look forward to doing it again.” I pull our joined hands up to my face, pressing my lips to the back of her hand gently. “Maybe next time, just the two of us.”
She sucks in a breath, and again, my cock stirs just looking at her.
I release my hold on her hand and move into the house to collapse because these books are damn heavy.
It was worth it, though; maybe everything has been if it got me here, with them…and her.
“What do you mean she’s gone?” I hiss into the phone as I push to my feet, sending the girl who’d been dancing on my lap tumbling to the ground.
She’s got red hair, but she’s too thin, too forward.
She’s not my Kit Kat.
