“I’m going to need to keep you at an arm’s reach, aren’t I?”
“Why would you do that?” I ask.
“You’re a wild woman. I need to pace this, or you’ll be barefoot and pregnant in a month.”
I cock my head to the side, giving him a look I’m sure he can clearly understand. “Right. I have self-control, Denver. Don’t you worry.”
“Do you?” he asks, placing a kiss beneath my ear. The sensation from his warm, wet lips forces an electrifying sensation down through the center of my body.
“Yes!” I shriek.
“Mmhm,” he says. “I don’t know about you, but I need a cold shower right now.”
I think I suddenly understand the meaning of a cold shower and why it can be helpful.
Chapter Fifteen
Denver
“Today’s the day, kiddo.”
“I like it here,” Aya whines. “It has a pretty pool, and Kai is here. Can’t we just stay a little longer?”
“Aya, you know how we’ve talked about money and how things cost a lot sometimes, and we can’t just keep spending because our money doesn’t grow on trees?” It’s just thrown at my ass now.
“Yeah, but what’s the difference between paying for this place and paying for the new house that’s not this place?”
“About four thousand dollars a month,” I tell her, knowing that probably doesn’t make a difference in her mind.
“Hmm,” she says. “You should start working harder.”
I control myself from snapping back at that comment because it sounds like something her mother would say, but I’ll chalk it up to a typical little girl comment, spoken out of innocence. Plus, I’m already working my buns off ... oh, why am I the only one who is ever around to hear my own jokes?
“I had your room painted,” I tell her. “It’s purple like you wanted.”
“Really? Like, unicorn purple?” What the hell is unicorn purple?
“Yup!”
“Thank you, Daddy!”
Daddy.
She only says that when I’ve done something to earn the extra sweetness lately.
“Okay, hop in.” As I boost her into the truck, I feel kind of bummed about leaving the hotel. For me, whenever I stay somewhere longer than a week, it feels like a residence. I’ve moved around so much, it just happens naturally now.
“I invited Kai over for dinner tonight,” Aya says naturally. “You don’t have to work. Remember?”
“I do have to work tonight, actually. I don’t have to work tomorrow night, though, and don’t forget, I promised you we could go to the luau at the hotel if you behave.”
“Well, I guess it’s just Kai and me tonight then.”
“I don’t think so,” I tell her, closing the back door.
As I slide into the driver’s seat, Aya sighs. “Dad, I have it under control, okay?”
“I don’t even know what you’re talking about.” Aya rambles and makes up stories a lot, so I try to pepper in my “Oh yea’s” and “That’s so cool’s.” Otherwise, she’d know I was only half paying attention and then quiz me after. I love that little girl to pieces, but the talking never stops. There’s only so much information I can take in on unicorns in one day.
