Page 82 of Save Me

A lump catches in my throat when Dae peers up at me from his stooped position. He slowly rises to his full height, making me tip my head to keep his gaze.

He bends down and brushes his lips across mine.

“This is how you usually spend your Saturdays?” I ask, my voice sounding breathy.

“When I can,” he answers. His lips part to say something else, but Amelia cuts him off.

“Come on, Mr. Kim and Ms. Kennedy!” She grabs Dae’s hand. “You’re going to miss the stingrays.”

Her big, brown eyes look between us with excitement and impatience mingling in them.

“Can’t keep the young lady waiting,” Dae says as he retakes my hand.

Yes, at this precise moment, I realize Dae Kim just stole another piece of my heart.

CHAPTER 24

Dae

“When can we go horseback riding?” Amelia asks as Kennedy carries her out of the aquarium. Those two have been attached at the hip all day.

Truth be told, the three of us have been because there’s no way in hell I’m letting Kennedy out of my sight, even for one of my favorite five-year-olds.

Amelia’s been obsessed with the topic of horseback riding ever since Kennedy first mentioned it over lunch.

“I don’t know.” Kennedy looks over at me. A mischievous expression covers her face. “When are we going horseback riding, Mr. Kim?”

I lean over so that my lips are right next to her ear. “You’re going later tonight. Bareback.”

The rhythm of that vein in her neck intensifies, but she side-eyes me. “In your dreams,” she whispers.

A chuckle spills from my lips. I’m sure she’ll be strapped to my bed before the night ends.

“When did he say?” Amelia brings our attention back to her.

“Soon,” Kennedy answers.

“Yay!” Amelia cheers as Kennedy puts her down so she can run and tell the other children. They all cheer in excitement as well.

“Now you’re on the hook,” Kennedy teases as she stares at the children, a warm smile on her face.

I pull her to me. “We’re on the hook.”

She peers over at me and raises an eyebrow. “You think I would miss Amelia’s first time on a horse?”

She shakes her head. “Oh, maybe I can get Stasi and Eve to come, too,” she says of her little sister and niece.

“The more the merrier.” I mean it. Though I hate the idea of my time with her being divided, a piece of me wants to see her with her family.

“Stasi loves animals, though she isn’t into horseback riding as much as I was at her age.” She presses a finger to her chin and wrinkles her forehead. “I don’t know if Eve’s ever been horseback riding.”

Her eyes swell as she looks over at me. “I’m a terrible aunt. How could I not know if Eve’s been horseback riding before?”

I bring her hand to my lips to kiss her knuckles. “You and the word terrible don’t belong in the same sentence.”

Her body relaxes, but she shrugs. “I’ve been so preoccupied with work that I’ve neglected many of my favorite hobbies and my family.” Her bottom lip pokes out.

I pull her into my arms. “Your family knows you love them.” I kiss the tip of her nose. “And we’ll make up for lost time with all of your favorite hobbies.” I then kiss her forehead.

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