Page 9 of My Stupid Heart

His grin caused her insides to liquify.

“Half-pint showed me the list of things you need done around here, so we’re going to head to the hardware store once she’s dressed.”

Sasha rolled her eyes.“It’s my summer break, you know.I should be sleeping in.”

“Not on my watch, kiddo.You’re up by oh-eight-hundred every day to help me.”

Sasha glanced at her phone.“It’s oh-seven-hundred.Does that mean I can go back to bed for an hour?”

“Not today.”He flipped a few slices of French toast out onto a plate.“Too much to do.”

Sasha reached for a slice of bacon off the plate and gnawed on it.“I like it better when you’re less bossy.”

“I’m never less bossy.You were just younger and therefore couldn’t help me as much.Now, you’re fourteen, as tall as a giraffe and with a dancer’s muscles.I’m putting you to work.”

Sasha glanced at Molly with a beseeching look.“Help,” she mouthed.

Molly snorted.“When I’m gone, Ryker’s in charge.”

Sasha’s pout was mostly fake.Then she perked up, cocked her head to the side and squinted.“You have giant bags under your eyes.Did you sleep?”

Molly cleared her throat and glanced down at the marble island top, cradling her mug in her hands.“I uh … too much sangria.Got a bit spinny.”She slid onto the barstool just as Ryker brought down plates for all of them from the cupboard.

“Eat up, ladies.”

As always, breakfast was delicious.Ryker knew just how much vanilla and cardamom to add to his egg mixture to bring the French toast to life.Staring at the bottom of her empty coffee mug, because she had a hard timenotstaring at Ryker’s handsome …everything, she finished chewing the last bite of bacon, then slid off the stool.“I need to go get dressed.”

“Can I go hang out at Paula’s after dance practice?”Sasha asked, staring at her phone, then lifting her gaze to Molly.“She says her mom will pick us up and can even bring me home.”

“What time is practice?”Ryker asked.

“Four until seven,” Sasha replied before Molly could.

“I’ll take you to practice,” he said.

“Let me text Rita and verify,” Molly said, pulling her phone from her shorts pocket.She shot off a quick message to Paula’s mom, Rita, who replied almost instantly to confirm the girls’ plans.“Sounds fine to me.”

“If for whatever reason Paula’s mom can’t drive you home, I can come get you,” Ryker said.

Sasha grabbed the last piece of bacon off the tray.“Maybe I should see about sleeping over at Paula’s so I can sleep in tomorrow.”

“Not happening,” Ryker said with way too much of a fatherly tone that caused both Molly and Sasha to look at him funny.

He must have realized he was overstepping a bit and cleared his throat.“What I mean is that until things with Adrian settle down, I think it’s best you’re under the same roof as your mom—and me—at night.Okay?”

Sasha nodded, but then she couldn’t stop herself from teasing him.As was the nature of their relationship.“Jeez, over-protective much?You going to bubble wrap me before we go to the hardware store, too?”

“Don’t tempt me, kiddo.”He locked eyes with Molly a moment later and winked, which only made her panties flood and those stupid butterflies to wake up from their slumber and go crazy.

She needed a cold shower—and not just to wake her up.

Molly finished work at the dental office at five and Ryker was there to pick her up, even though that meant he followed her home in his rental truck, since she drove herself.But he never let even one vehicle come between them.A police cruiser was parked outside her house like it had been when she left that morning, and she waved at Officer Linden as she pulled into her garage.

It was book club night and six women were coming over for wine, conversation and possibly a brief discussion about the book they all just read.She always hosted since her house was typically the quietest.She just had the one child, no spouse and only one neighbor.

Thankfully, everyone brought something to share, and they put the variety of appetizers on the island while they all sat in the living room with their wine and books.

Ryker was already in the house when she entered from the garage.The smell of fresh paint met her before anything else.

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