Page 5 of Stolen Kisses

“Hang on, I’ll get you a smaller glass.” I tip some of the contents into a small scotch tumbler I have and hand it back.

We get through the remainder of lunch relatively smoothly and all I can thinkaboutis that I’ll have todo this all over again for dinner. What in the hell do I feed a four-year-old?

“Come on. Let’s get your bedroom set up.”

“But you said my bedisbwoken.” Her bottom lip wobbles. “Where Igonnasleep?”

“I fixed it. That’s why I was in the workshop. I had to unpack my tools so I could put it back together.” I stack our dishes in the sink for later, then help Kenny down from the stool.

She takes off for her bedroom, which isquitestark at the moment. I might need to think about painting it. “What’s your favorite color?”

“Mommy’sfavowitecolor is pink. That’s myfavowitecolor now.”

I huff out a sigh. I know pink was Anna’s favorite color. Ever since she was little, everything had to be pink. She even dyed her hair pink on occasion.Scrubbing my fingers through my short beard, I look at my niece. “I know your mommy’s favorite color was pink. But what’syourfavorite color?” I point at her to make my point.

“It used to bebwue, but now it’s pink.”She finishes with a wide smile.

I file away the information. “Okay. Let’s get you set up.”

I realize it’s important for Kennedy … damn it …Kenny,to feel settled, so we spend the afternoon unpacking some of her things. I’m astounded at how much crap a four-year-old needs—we’re not going to get through all of it this afternoon. I’ve only unpacked a few basics in the kitchen, Ihaven’t even started on the rest of the house. I guess I’ll be sleeping on my mattress on the floor tonight.

“Emma mentioned a park down the end of the street.Youwannago check it out with me for a little while before we start thinking about dinner?”

“Oh yeah!” She jumps up and down, her smile taking up all of her face. “I get my shoes.”

I leave her to get readyas Iget my own shoes, phone, and keys before meeting my niece at the front door.

“You ready?”

“Yeah. Let’s go.”

As we step onto the front porch, I automatically look across next door to check if Emma’s still working in her garden. I can’t see her, and I’m …disappointed. I shake the wayward thoughts from my head. I can’t be attracted to my neighbor, no matter how sexy she is—I doubt her husband would appreciate me drooling all over his gorgeous wife.

Kenny tears me from my thoughts as she slips her tiny hand into mine—my heart skips thencatches. She’s so small and she’s trusting me, a stranger, to keep her safe. I look up to the sky, sending my thoughts up to my sister—I hope I don’t let you down (again), Sis. Kennedy skips along beside me, swinging my arm back and forth, as we make our way to the park. A large black dog that looks like a small horse, frightens the hell out of Kenny as it jumps up, resting its paws on top of the front fence to bark at us. The deep tone of it vibrates right through my chest,as Kenny climbs up my body like a tree.

Wrapping my arms around her, I try my best to settle her. “It’s okay. It’sonlya dog. He won’t hurt you if you stay back out of his way.”

I carryher the rest of the way to the park, her little heart beating rapidly against my chest, her head tucked into the crook of my neck. I find a bench in the middle of the playground and sit my ass down with Kenny in my lap. “Yougonnago play?”

She pulls her head away from me, looking around the entire space before deciding it’s safe enough to leave my lap. Running over to the playground, which seems a little small to me, she climbs up the ladder to the slide. Once I’m happy she’s entertained, I pull out my phone to check my emails. I packed up my carpentry business to move back home and it means I have to start from scratch in terms of clientele. Some of my happy clients from back east gave me glowing recommendations to family and friends over here, so I’m hoping those will lead to something to get me started. I generally rely on word of mouth from happy clients.

“Uncle Theo, push me, push me.”

“In a minute. I need to check some things.” I open my emails. I have a couple sitting in my inbox. Before I can open them, Kenny huffs out a heavy sigh as she sits on the bench next to me. “Why aren’t you playing?”

“Got nobody to playwiv.” She brushes her messy hair out of her face, then crosses her arms as she swings her legs back and forth. “It’s no funwivoutfwiends.”

Rolling my eyes, I reluctantly put my phone away. “Come on, I’ll play with you. Where do you want to play?”

She jumps off the bench. “Yay!Swings first.”

She sprints forward and I follow behind.It doesn’t take me long to catch up to her with my long strides. Helping her up onto the seat, I begin to push. She squeals and giggles as she moves through the air, swinging her little legs back and forth. My own smile grows witnessing her happiness for such a simple thing.

I’m not sure how muchDadtold her about our new living arrangement. I don’t know if she understands that she’s going to be living with me from now on. Dad’ll still take her now and then, but I’m her legal guardian.

It’s what Anna wanted.

I don’t know why. She knew I’d never had anything to do with kids. I have no fucking clue what to do, but I’m getting the feeling that no matter what, Kennymustcome first. I can’t leave her to her own devices for very long. When I noticed she wasn’t where I told her to stay earlier today, I almost had a heart attack.

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