Killian

  “Wouldn’t what?” Autumn interrupts. “Killian, would you –" She points at Olivia, then walks away with her hand over her mouth like she’s about to be sick.

  “She wasn’t feeling well earlier,” Luke explains. “Help Olivia into her booster seat, will you? And stop looking like I asked you to pick up a grenade. She’s a toddler, not potential explosive material.”

  “I’ve smelled her when she has a dirty diaper, Luke,” I call as he walks back to the kitchen. “She’s basically a ticking time bomb. Aren’t you, Olivia? But you’re not going to poop while I’m holding you, right? Say, 'No, Uncle Killian, I’d never do that to you, because the last time you were here you got vomited on and I know that pooping on you would be too much for you to handle.'”

  Olivia giggles. “No poop. No, no, no.”

  “Glad you’re onboard, kid.” I slide her into her booster seat at the table, fumbling with the buckle for a good minute before I figure it out, as everyone gathers around.

  We’re all here – my brothers, River and Tempest, Cade and June, and their kids – and everyone’s talking and laughing and passing food and Autumn’s cider around the table.

  Then Luke and Autumn make their announcements. I know that Luke is going to ask her to marry him, and we all know what her answer is going to be. That much is plain as day. But when he gets down on one knee and tells her that he never thought he’d want to be tied down until he met her and Olivia, it even gets me in the gut.

  Elias leans over and whispers, “You look like you’re getting a little misty-eyed there.”

  “Shut the hell up. It’s obviously allergies.”

  Elias snorts. “Such a romantic.”

  He doesn’t snort when I punch him in the leg.

  Then Autumn announces that she’s pregnant, and Luke’s face… well, I’ve never seen him so happy. “I promise, I’ll love this family of ours forever."

  I get the same pang of jealousy that I had before, sitting here in the middle of my brothers and their happy families. But I recognize the look on Luke’s face. I think it might be the same way mine looked the other night at Lily’s place.

  Which is why I get out my phone right then and there to text her. So she kicked me out of her house after sex. So what?

  Saturday. You and me. Date.

  I get a response about a minute later.

  Romantic, caveman.

  I smile as I text her back.

  I knew you’d appreciate that. Saturday night, I’m picking you up. Real proper-like.

  It’s a few minutes before she responds.

  You, proper? I’ll believe it when I see it.

  I text her back right away.

  So that’s a yes, then?

  The phone buzzes a few seconds later.

  That’s a yes.

  After dinner and all of the congratulations and excitement, I catch Luke in the kitchen and tell him that I’m going to need his help.

  “You want me to teach you to cook something impressive? This wouldn’t have anything to do with the bakery girl, would it?”

  “What bakery girl?” Autumn walks in and interrupts, Olivia following close behind her.

  "Mommy!" Olivia hollers.

  “The girl that Killian has a crush on.”

  “I don’t have a crush, shit.”

  “Language,” Autumn warns.

  “Shit, shit, shit,” Olivia repeats.

  Autumn narrows her eyes as she looks at me.

  “Oh, sh– I mean. . . darn it, she’s cursing.” I think I’m supposed to be appalled by that. Is it wrong that I want to laugh instead? Shit, this is exactly why I shouldn’t be a parent. If I hung around Lily and Chloe, Chloe would be cursing like a sailor in no time. And then I’d be dead, because Lily would murder me.

  Luke snorts. “She’s repeating it because she’s heard it before.”

  “It’s not going to be so funny when she’s saying it in kindergarten, boys.” Autumn glares at us as she takes Olivia’s hand and leads her toward the living room and out of the kitchen, probably to get her away from our terrible influence.

  “Don’t give me any fucking grief. Just teach me a couple of bullshit recipes or something.”

  Luke crosses his arms. “A couple of bullshit recipes?”

  “You know. Some of that fancy shit. Nothing to do with cake. Or baked goods.”

  Luke laughs. “Alright, when do you need to be a chef by?”

  “Saturday.”

  “Dude, that’s like two days. Seriously?”

  “What? You’re an idiot savant in the kitchen. Just come up to the cabin and let me absorb your knowledge.”

  “Hilarious.”

  “Tell me what I need to buy and I’ll go to the store.”

  “Alright, alright. This girl must be something else.”

  I shrug, feigning nonchalance. “Why?”

  Luke raises his eyebrows. “Because you’ve never asked me to help you go to any lengths to impress a girl.”

  “I’ve only been back here for a few months, so how do you know? Maybe I was impressing the pants off tons of chicks out in Texas.”

  Luke laughs. “Yeah, dude. That’s real likely.”

  30

  Lily

  “You’re going to wear something other than that, aren’t you?” Opal stands in her doorway, her lips pursed as she surveys me from head to toe.

  “Yes, Judgy McJudgerson, I’m going to change.”

  Chloe looks up at Opal. “Miss Opal, mom said we could watch Cinderella if you said it was okay. Not the cartoon one, though, that’s for babies – the one with people.”

  “There’s one with people?” Opal asks.

  “Yeah. We brought the DVD. Do you want to watch it?”

  “Of course I do. We’ll have popcorn. Will you help me make pizza first?”

  “With pepperoni?”

  “Are you kidding? I have all the fixings.”

  I squat down to look at Chloe. “You’re going to behave for Miss Opal, right?”

  “Ugh, mom, yes.”

  “I’m not going to be back until a little bit later, probably after you fall asleep.”

  “Miss Opal, you’re going to let me stay up late, right?”

  “Of course I will. Your mom said you can stay up until ten o’clock, even.”

  “Ten o’clock?” Chloe squeals, throwing her hands around my neck. “You’re the best mom ever.”

  I laugh. “And all I had to do to get called the best mom ever is let you stay up until ten o’clock.”

  “And have ice cream.”

  “Now you’re pushing your luck. Give me a kiss. Are you sure you’ll be okay?”

  “Yes!” Chloe kisses me quickly on the cheek and then runs to Opal. “Let’s go make pizza! Will you let me help water the flowers on the porch with the red watering can?”

  “Sure thing, kiddo. Go grab it from the mudroom.” Opal gives me a pointed look as Chloe darts inside the house. “She’ll be fine. Come get her whenever you want. Although if it’s past midnight, I’ll be asleep too, so you’ll be out of luck. It’s totally fine if she stays the night, though. The guest room is kid-proofed for when Mary and Theo come by, anyway.” Mary and Theo, Opal’s grandchildren, visit frequently. Chloe loves Mary’s half of the guestroom. It’s so posh, Chloe said after the last time she visited. There’s a picture of the Eiffel Tower on the wall.

  I exhale heavily. “I don’t know. I don’t want to put you out.”

  Opal rolls her eyes. “Makes no difference, picking her up at midnight or in the morning. She’ll be asleep regardless. She won’t know any differently.”

  I sigh again. “I don’t know. I’d feel guilty.”

  “Lord, you’ll feel guilty about anything. Go, have fun! And for goodness sake, put on some makeup.”

  “Do you really think I’m going on a date looking like this?” I ask.

  “What’s a date?” Chloe appears in the doorway with a watering can in hand.

  “Your mom is going to din
ner with a friend,” Opal explains.

  “With Killian?” Chloe asks, matter-of-fact.

  “What? No.” The words leave my lips automatically and I clamp my mouth shut. I can’t lie to my kid. “I mean, yes. I’m going to dinner with my friend Killian.”

  Chloe shrugs. “He’s funny. Can you fill this up with water for me, Miss Opal? Do you have strawberries yet?”

  “Let’s go check on the plants together and we’ll see what’s producing.” Opal looks over her shoulder at me. “Have fun. And Lily?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Relax a little.”

  “Can I sleep in Mary’s bed?” Chloe squeals.

  “I have it all made up for you,” Opal replies.

  “Yay!” Chloe screams. “Mom, can I sleep here?”

  “I’ll think about it.”

  “Please? You said I could stay the night.”

  “I said I’d be back after you fell asleep.”

  “I know. So I can sleep here, right?”

  “You can fall asleep here,” I tell her. I’m still not certain whether I can drop her off with Opal even even if she wants to sleep over and Opal is more than happy to have her spend the night. It just seems irresponsible for me to drop her off at Opal’s house so I can spend the night with my boyfriend.

  Not my boyfriend, I correct myself.

  “Go, before you’re late.” Opal shoos me away.

  “Bye, mom!”

  “Holy…” Killian wolf-whistles under his breath. “You look hot.”

  I choke back a laugh, even as heat rises to my cheeks. “Um…thanks.” Applying a little makeup and changing into a sundress and cardigan paid off, I guess.

  “Or something. . .you know. . . more eloquent than hot.”

  “I’ll take hot.” I don’t add the rest of what I’m thinking, which is that Killian definitely looks hot, standing on my front porch in faded jeans and a heather grey t-shirt. Jeans and a t-shirt seem to be as much as Killian gets dressed up for anything, which is okay with me, because he looks damn fine in them.

  I must be staring scratch that, I know I'm staring. In fact, there's a distinct possibility that my mouth is actually hanging open and I'm drooling as I blatantly ogle him. I can hardly be blamed for that, though, not with the way the grey in the t-shirt sets off his eyes and the way the fabric pulls across his chest.

  Killian clears his throat, shaking me out of my trance. "Obviously the feeling is mutual."

  Heat warms my cheeks. "Oh, shut up."

  He shrugs. "I'm used to the ogling. It's not easy being this good-looking."

  I roll my eyes. "Or modest."

  "I never said I was modest, cupcake."

  "If there's one thing you aren't, it's disingenuous."

  "I hope you're not going to use your ten-dollar words all night." A smile tugs at the corners of his mouth.

  "Don't worry. I'll tone it down just for you."

  "Much appreciated, ma'am." He slides his thumbs through belt loops on his jeans and gives me a cocky grin, sending a tingle of electricity through me that heads directly for its destination between my legs. Clearing my throat, I turn around and put the key in the door to hide the flush I'm sure is evident on my cheeks. Calling me "ma'am" in that drawl and then standing there grinning at me like that? If I don't lock the door, I'm not sure we'll actually make it out of the house tonight.

  Which might not be so bad, now that I think about it. The thought of going somewhere in public with Killian effectively a public service announcement to all residents of West Bend: "Killian Saint and I are officially dating!" makes me nervous.

  Screw nervous; it makes me petrified.

  "You've been standing there with the key in the lock now for a good minute," Killian points out. "You didn't just fall asleep, did you?"

  Taking a deep breath, I spin around and force a smile. "No. I'm fine. Are you ready?"

  "Whoa, now. You look like you're about to be put in front of a firing squad."

  "I do not." I smooth the dress I'm wearing and step down from the porch, averting my eyes as I pass Killian on the way to his truck. "Are you coming?"

  He opens the passenger side door for me and I climb inside. Thankfully, he doesn't press the subject. At least, not until we're a couple of miles down the road and passing the turn-off to Main Street, which is where pretty much all of the restaurants in West Bend are located.

  "We're not going downtown?" I ask.

  Killian snorts. "I'm not that stupid, cupcake."

  "What's that supposed to mean?"

  "If I take you downtown, the old ladies in West Bend will be planning our wedding before the week's out."

  "Oh." I exhale a huge sigh.

  Killian laughs. "I don't think you're supposed to be so relieved."

  "Did you hear that? I didn't think I sighed that loudly."

  "Trust me, I think everyone in town heard that."

  I stick out my tongue at him. "Whatever."

  "Your maturity is really impressive."

  "I spend most of my time with a seven-year-old. I've adopted her mode of communication."

  "Is Chloe at Opal's tonight?"

  "Yes. So my clock expires at midnight."

  "That's very princess-like of you."

  "This would make you the prince in this scenario, right?"

  "I don't think anyone would confuse me with Prince Charming."

  "Maybe the Beast."

  "Is that the same story?" Killian turns down the highway -