“We’re going on a trip?”
“Yes, we are,” I told her, and who the hell knew why. It was all just tumbling out of my mouth. “We’re going to visit Korea, and you’re going to meet all the family you have there. I’m even going to teach you Korean.”
She nodded, her two pigtails bouncing against her cheeks. “Is it hard to learn?”
“Not if you start when you’re young.”
“Am I young?”
I chuckled. “Yep, afraid so.”
“Did you learn when you were young?”
“I did.” Pulling out the cutting board, I started chopping the onions and green peppers.
“Did your mommy teach you?”
I shook my head. “I had a Korean tutor who taught me.”
“Were they nice?”
Smiling, I flicked her cute little nose. “You know, they were very nice. I think that’s why I liked learning Korean so much. It’s so much more fun when you have a nice teacher.”
“My teacher is nice,” she mused. “He let me haveallllthe cotton candy I wanted.”
“Mmh, yes, I know. That’s why I gotallthe cotton candy you wanted all over the backseat.”
That set off another round of giggling.
“So, I was thinking,” I began. My knife blurred across the cutting board. “I can’t deliver on that brother or sister, but what do you think about a cousin?”
She cocked her head. “Cousin?”
“That’s right. What do you think about an adorable little cousin named Taylor? She’s five years old, loves puppies and horses, and she can’t wait to play with you. Interested?”
“Hmm.” Lily scrunched up her face, looking up to the ceiling. “I’m not sure. I’ll think about it.”
I almost choked stifling a laugh. “Yes, ma’am. Take all the time you need.”
Onion fumes stung my eyes. I turned, rubbed away the tears, then turned back. “But what— Ah!” I shrieked, startling Lily, but only raising Alex’s brow.
He appeared out of nowhere, strolling into the kitchen to fall in beside Lily. The sweet, woodsy scent of his body wash filled the kitchen—tickling my nose. He was dressed simply in a plain black tee and shorts, and still my heart skipped a beat like the silly mare I was. Why did this guy have to look good in everything?
Even a sneer.
“Who is Taylor?” he demanded. He put his arm around Lily like I was a threat to her. “She’s not Lily’s cousin, so who the hell is she?”
Lily giggled at the slight swear.
“Why do you want her to meet this kid so badly?”
I met that guy’s eyes and sneered right back. He may be hot, but this was the same jerk who locked me outside with a bear. I wasn’t too fond of him right then either. “Not for whatever nefarious reason you’re inventing in your head.
“Taylor is Courtney’s daughter. My friend from high school,” I admitted. “I met up with them both today, and Courtney mentioned that she’d love for the girls to have a playdate.” I winked at Lily. “Queen Nari is considering it.”
“She doesn’t do the considering, Sue. She’s six,” he said slowly, like he was speaking to an idiot. “You’re supposed to discuss these things with me before getting Lily’s hopes up. If you had, I would’ve told you straight out that the answer is no. We don’t let our daughter have playdates with strangers.”
“She—!” I amended my tone, not wanting to yell in front of Lily. “She’s not a stranger. I just told you Courtney is my best friend.”
