Page 56 of Play With Me

“Sort of.”

Which meant that he didn’t. Still, I watched as she swept her finger across the screen flipping through what looked like a private file of Jax’s photographs.

“Gave, took, it’s all in the family. Here, look at this bulldog.”

“That’s an interesting choice.”

I took a sip of my water, nodding at each photograph.

“Or a pit bull. I like those too. They’re strong.”

She swept her finger across once more and stopped on a picture of naked Jax splayed out in the middle of a bed, barely covered by a thin sheet and what looked like strong wood lifting it from underneath.

“Those are daddy’s balls.” Sophie pointed.

The water fountained out of my mouth and onto the grass, drawing everyone’s attention.

“I lived there a long time before I was born.”

“Who told you that?”

“Jax, I mean, Daddy. He doesn’t like it when I call him by his first name, but he’s not here so he doesn’t really know it.”

“Sophie?” we heard Jax call out from the other side of the deck. “Sophie, where’s my phone?” He checked his back pocket and finally caught us. Focused on the phone Sophie was holding in her hand, he marched toward us.

“Looks like you’re in trouble,” I whispered.

“Here, just put your arm around me.” She grabbed my arm and wrapped it around herself.

“Why?” I asked.

“It’s safer. Daddy’s afraid of women. He runs away from them when he’s confronted. A little bird told me that too. You’ll see.”

Afraid of women?Just as Sophie had predicted, Jax grabbed the phone out of her hand, turned on his foot, and left without saying a word. I could see why Sophie took so much to Brook. He seemed more fun and attentive. I bet he was a good uncle.

“So, tell me something I don’t know about your Uncle Brook.”

“He’s the best. Likethebest. He takes me to rescue shelters when I’m sad, and he makes the best hot chocolate chip cookies. But don’t tell him that because that’s our secret. It can be yours and mine as well, but only yours and mine, okay? Do you have any kids?”

Whoa!“No, I don’t.”

“Too bad. I think you’d make a good mom.”

For the second time tonight, I cut my breath short. “How would you know?”

“Because I’m seven. Almost seven. I know things. Daddy always watches this show late at night, and he always repeats that he knows things. All the time. If he knows things, then I know things too, because you get older every day, which means that you learn every day.”

“Yeah, but only smart people like you and me get that.”

She grinned from ear to ear. That smile on her face made my heart melt.

“Lola? Are you going away to work with Uncle Brook?”

“Yes, we’re taking his truck first thing in the morning.”

“Can I ask you for a favor? Can you take care of him? He needs a woman, and I like you.”

Well, having Brook’s niece’s approval had to count for something. I popped my bubblegum, and Sophie gasped.

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