Oliva turned to Heath and gave him a gentle kiss on the lips. He started to turn to give her a better kiss, when Ivy cleared her throat again. Heath pulled back and almost stumbled, when Ivy threw herself against him to hug him.
“Thank you.”
Heath stood frozen for a moment, but he wrapped an arm around her and held her close. “You did all the work.”
“You taught me.”
He guessed, he did. Maybe, he wasn’t as bad with kids, as he first thought he’d be. Olivia had warned him how leery Ivy was of men, but she hugged him for helping her. She was shy, but given time and patience, she would become more confident. Ivy just needed a gentle hand.
“What do you say we win your mom a prize?” Heath suggested.
“Yes,” Ivy jumped up and down excitedly.
“Good, let’s find another booth to win her something.” Something more in his wheel house than ring toss.
They moved along the other booths, when a man called out from the shooting gallery. “Try your luck. Shoot six ducks, and you win a prize.” Heath really wanted, too. He knew he could win the prize without really trying.
“Do you mind?” Heath asked Olivia.
Ivy looked anxious, as Olivia gave a hesitant nod. Heath paid the fee for the six shots and picked up the rifle. It was for a much smaller person, but he could make do. He hit six targets in rapid succession.
“Wow, that was incredible.” Ivy stared at him in wonder. “Maybe, I do want to learn now.”
“Which one do you choose?” Heath asked Olivia proudly.
Olivia just stared blankly at him a moment, before shaking her head. “What? Oh, the elephant.”
“Are you okay?” Heath looked her over. She seemed suddenly pale. He hoped she wasn’t sick.
“I’m fine. That’s some impressive shooting.” She wagged her eyebrows, as she accepted the elephant.
If she only knew the half of it. “I’m decent enough. Security, remember?” He waved it off, as an excuse. He shouldn’t have shown off like he did.
“Right,” Olivia gave him a saucy wink.
He suddenly felt like he did something wrong, but he didn’t know what. Olivia was still acting her flirtatious self, but it felt more forced than a few minutes ago.
“Can I learn, Mom?”
“No,” Olivia said quickly, her playfulness instantly gone. “How about we go ride the zipper?” She suggested, tossing her hair over her shoulder.
Heath didn’t know what the zipper was, but he knew she was changing the subject. Something about guns set her off. He would ask her, when they were alone, which he hoped was soon.
Chapter 31
“So, your place or mine?” Heath asked, after they dropped Ivy off at Kathy’s. The kid was weighted down with all the stuffed animals and food. Olivia had gently scolded him for spoiling Ivy, but she had also thanked him many times throughout their date for it. After the shooting incident, Olivia had loosened up again, and the incident momentarily forgotten. As much as he wanted to ask her about it, he didn’t want to ruin the mood and start an argument.
“We can go to yours. I just need to stop at my place for an overnight bag.”
Heath would have suggested her skipping the bag, but since he didn’t allow people to stay over to sleep at his house, he didn’t have any spare toiletries.
He navigated the windy streets of the trailer park easily and pulled in front of her trailer without needing to ask for help. “That was quite impressive.”
“Driving?” He teased.
“Knowing how to get here. It took me a while to learn the streets.”
“Once I’ve been somewhere, then I know how to get there.” He shrugged. “Let’s go get your stuff.” He hopped out of the truck first.
