Page 18 of Resorting to Romance

Kai steps up to the island at a spot between me and Noah where we’ve got all the flour, butter, salt and other ingredients spread out for our baking project. He looks down at me and smiles warmly.

“Sorry. I should have known you’d be on top of that. It’s your business.”

Noah looks between me and Kai, and a rush of embarrassment floods through me. I don’t know why.

Kai came and fixed the sprayer last night. That’s all.

“I appreciate you following up.” My voice is softer than usual until I clear my throat.

I’m not sure why thanking Kai nearly chokes me up. He’s the only man who checks up on me. Sure. I have other contractors and workers who help out, but Kai’s different. He’s always insisting we’re like family to him. He rarely accepts pay from me. And then he does things like this—coming by in the middle of the afternoon to make sure we’re okay, and advising me to have Jason assess potential damage.

I’d say Kai’s like an older brother, but it’s different with us. I never had a guy friend. Brad and I dated from highschool on, and he didn’t like the idea of me being friendly with other boys, so I stuck to my girlfriends. Kai’s the first man I have had a genuine friendship with.

“Can we make cookies, or what?” Noah asks, obviously eager to get the first batch in the oven.

“Definitely,” Kai says. “Tell me what to do, boss man.”

Noah giggles, but his chest puffs in a way it never does with me. I could be jealous, but I’m not—not at all.

“Are you sure you have time?”

It seems like a man in his early thirties would want to spend an afternoon doing anything besides baking cookies with a single mom and her son.

“I’ve got nothing going on. I cut out of work early.”

“To check on us?”

“To bake cookies with my favorite seven-year-old.” Kai winks at me.

“Tell Mom more chocolate chips makes them better, Unko.”

“True story.” Kai nods at Noah. “I think more chocolate chips makes most things better.”

We form balls of cookie dough out of the batch Noah and I just finished preparing and plop those on sheets which we place in the preheated oven. Then Kai and Noah make another batch together while I prep supper for my guests.

“What are you doing for dinner?” I ask Kai.

“Leftovers with that dog.”

“Shaka?” Noah asks.

“Yeah. That’s the one.”

“I loooove Shaka.” Noah’s eyes go all dreamy. “I wish I could have a dog.”

“Well, I wish I could give you that one, but I think my sister would miss him. You could come play with him, though.”

“Can I, Mom?”

“We’ll see. You need to clean your room first. And then we can talk about privileges.”

“Awww.”

Kai gives Noah a look and shakes his head lightly. Noah straightens up and says, “Okay, Mom. But can I ask Kai my important question first?”

I nod.

“What’s up, buddy?” Kai leans his elbows on the island and lowers himself so his head is level with Noah’s.

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