Page 65 of Off Limits

“You made the sauce?” I asked Asa.

He nodded, his cheeks coloring slightly. “It’s about the only thing I can make.”

“It’s really good,” I repeated.

“Thanks.”

The rest of the meal was filled with idle chatter from the kids as they told me about things that happened at school, dropping so many names I could barely keep up with them all.

“Can you take them to the TV room while I give Ruby her bath?” Asa asked when we’d finished cleaning up.

“Yeah, sure. Do you need me to do anything else?”

“Nope, just keep them occupied while I fight with little Miss. She hates baths.” He clicked his tongue stud against his teeth. “I have a feeling it’s going to be a battle tonight.”

“I can do that.”

“Come on, Ruby. It’s bath time,” Asa said, raising his voice so she could hear him from across the room.

“No bath.” She shook her head emphatically.

“Yes bath.”

“No.” She put her hands on her hips and shot him a look that was way too sassy for a three-year-old.

“Yes.” He held out his hand.

“I don’t wanna.”

“I know, but the sooner we get it done, the more time you’ll have to play before bed.”

She shot him a glare that was both cute and weirdly reminiscent of Asa’s own angry face.

Jesus, they looked like. They could be mistaken for full siblings, or even father and daughter, considering their age gap.

“That doesn’t work on me,” he said calmly. “It’s bath time.”

Her glare melted into a pout. “Fine.” She stomped toward him dramatically.

“Ruby has to take a ba-ath,” Tanner sing-songed at her, drawing out the word just to be extra obnoxious.

“I wouldn’t tease her if I were you,” Asa said as Ruby stopped in front of him and raised her arms for uppies. “It’s your turn next.”

His gleeful expression dropped, and he stared at Asa like he’d just told him he had to sleep outside tonight. “What?”

“You know the routine.” Asa picked Ruby up and settled her on his hip. “Ruby first, then you, then Chloe.”

“But Dex is here,” Tanner said, like that somehow absolved him of needing to bathe.

“He is, but that doesn’t change that it’s bath night.”

Tanner looked like he was about to argue, but he just turned back to the iPad Chloe was holding.

“Chloe,” Asa said. “Can you show Dex your safe channels?”

“Yup.” She didn’t look up from the screen.

“Safe channels?” I asked, feeling more than a little inept.

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