Page 74 of From the Start
“Yep.”
“We’re not…” I don’t manage to finish my denial before Pearl asks her next inappropriate question.
“Are you going to marry her like Uncle Jaxon married Aunt Blossom?”
Kai’s gaze clashes with mine. “If I can convince her.”
My heart pounds in my chest. Is he seriously declaring his intention to marry me? We haven’t even had sex yet. What wedid at the office ofBootleggerdoesn’t count. Maybe sex with him is horrible. Maybe we’re completely incompatible.
“Someone grab the baby before Harper passes out!” Blossom warns.
I glare at her. “I’m not going to pass out.”
She raises her eyebrows. “Really? You’re hyperventilating.”
“No. I’m not.”
“Well, not now since I distracted you from wedding bells.”
Wedding bells? My chest spasms. She’s joking, right?
Dakota lifts the baby from my arms. “She’s teasing you.” She glares at Blossom. “Stop it.”
Blossom shrugs. “What? I want to win.”
“Ignore her. Blossom thinks being competitive is a good trait. What it is, is annoying.”
They must be referring to the stupid bet going around the island about Kai and me. I’m not discussing the bet. And I’m most definitely not discussing marriage or children with Kai. No way. No how.
I might be falling for the man but I’m not ready for any type of commitment. I have too much going on in my life. I want to take things slow.
Kai sets Pearl on her feet. “Have fun today, baby girl.”
“Harper,” Sloane hollers. “We have customers.”
My eyes widen when I notice the line forming at our booth. “Coming,” I start for her but Kai blocks my way.
“I’m serious. I’m working for you today.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “I’m not paying you, Goofy.”
“I didn’t ask to get paid.”
“You can’t spend the entire day working the booth and not get paid.”
He shrugs. “Okay. Pay me.”
I growl. He knows I can’t afford to pay him. I’m relying on the extra cash from the festival to pay Carl until the VA approves Dad’s application for medical assistance.
He sighs before wrapping his arms around me and drawing me near. “Let me do this for you,” he whispers into my hair. “I want you to have more fun. You work too hard.”
I bristle. “There’s nothing wrong with hard work.”
“And there’s nothing wrong with fun either.”
“Assuming you have time for it.”
“I’m giving you the time.”
