Page 24 of Gifts

I frown. “I know to watch the fire.”

“I figured, but it makes me feel better telling you.” He grins.

I shake my head again. “Goodnight.”

“See you Monday.”

With that, he heads to his truck. I pull my phone out of my pocket and find five texts from Stephie demanding to know how it went with Mr. Sexy Eyes.

I shoot off a couple texts before finally telling her I’ll call her when the kids are settled. There’s just too much to say, I don’t even know where to start.

*****

Asa

We’re on our way home and Emma is back to quiet.

“Thanks for hanging out tonight. It was good to see you out of the house.” I look over to her through the dark cab.

She nods and leans her head back.

I have to know so I start carefully. “What do you know about Keelie Lockhart?”

She looks over with a little frown. “What do you mean?”

I grip my steering wheel. “I mean, do you know why she’s single?”

When I look back over, Emma’s eyes go big and she looks almost like she did when I told her we were showing up to Keelie’s unannounced. She demands, “Tell me this isn’t happening.”

I frown. “What?”

She groans and faces forward in her seat, dramatically shaking her head. “I can’t believe you. We just barged our way into Ms. Lockhart’s, you demanded they go to dinner with us, and you don’t know?”

I raise my voice. “Know what?”

“Oh shit,” she exclaims.

“Watch it,” I warn. “Your mom’ll jump my ass if she hears you talking like that.”

“Dad,” she groans using more syllables than necessary. “Her husband is dead. D-E-A-D, dead! He was killed in a car accident. I don’t even know when it happened. Everyone knows this. Everyone! Well, everyone but you, apparently. I can’t believe you. We were there all night and you didn’t know?”

I exhale and shift in my seat as I pull into my driveway. “How was I supposed to know? She didn’t tell me and you certainly didn’t, either.”

“That’s because I assumed you knew.” When I pull into the garage and throw it into park, she starts to scramble out. “I hope you didn’t say anything embarrassing.”

Emma slams the door and hurries into the house, no doubt to resume her hibernation.

Well, I’m not sure if telling Keelie I want to fuck her after washing her hair would fall into the embarrassing category, but if so, then yeah. I probably didn’t handle that well.

But, fuck. I’ve never wanted anyone so much.

I pull my phone out of my pocket and bring up my text. When I scroll down to Carson, I send him Keelie’s full name and address. I need every bit of information I can get on her. Going in blind fucking sucks.

I don’t know how normal people do it.

Chapter 6

Bending the Rules

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