Page 41 of Laws of Love
“Maybe it’s just because I’ve been out of the game for a while, but I don’t remember dating being that connective in the beginning.”
“That’s a good thing. It means the two of you have chemistry,” his mother responded. “Where’d you meet her?”
“She was my lawyer.”
His mother turned to look at him. “I’m going to assume that since the divorce process is over, there are no conflicts of interest, and you waited until it was to ask her out.”
“Yes,” Knox responded. He figured it wouldn’t hurt to leave out that he’d clarified his intentions before then. The last thing he wanted was his mother lecturing him about putting himself in a position to give Mia more leverage or a reason for the judge to rule against him.
“Is a date like a playdate?” Yasmine asked.
“Yeah, just for adults,” Knox responded.
“Adults have playdates, too,” his father stated.
“You hush!” his mother ordered, and Knox snorted at the implication. His father laughed at his wife’s response.
“That’s good. I want to have playdates when I’m an adult, too!” Yasmine exclaimed, and Knox damn near choked on his spit.
“Let’s not worry about adult playdates until you’re thirty,” he suggested.
“I assume since you felt a connection, you’ll be taking her out again,” his father stated.
“I am. If she’s available next weekend.”
“Oh, that’s perfect. I was going to talk to you about getting Yas and taking her to Helen’s granddaughter’s birthday party, but if you’re going out, she can just stay with us.”
Knox nodded in agreement. He knew that his mother was enjoying this new unrestricted time she could spend with her granddaughter, and he would not rain on her parade yet, but he knew, at some point, he would have to let her know she didn’t have to keep Yasmine every weekend.
He was more than thankful for his parent’s help, and he knew it would come in handy during the transition, but he also wanted to be present in her life. Not just during the week. He didn’t want his daughter to feel as if she was getting a repeat of life with her mother. Being left with a sitter when she didn’t have school, so Mia could go out and do whatever she wanted without Yasmine as a responsibility.
After half an hour, his mother informed them she was going inside to start dinner. Yasmine’s interest in the dirt dissipated, and she pulled things out of her outside toy box until she found the bubble gun she was looking for. Knox helped her fill it with bubbles, and she ran around, spraying them out of the gun aimlessly until a butterfly gained her attention. The gun was quickly forgotten as she ran around, trying to get the butterfly to land on her.
“Sweet pea, if you stand still, it just may come to you.”
“Okay, Grandpa!”
Yasmine froze as if she were playing freeze tag, waiting for the butterfly to come to her. It didn’t and instead ended up flying out of the backyard, drawing an “Ah, man!” from his daughter. The disappointment was short-lived as she picked up her gun and began flooding the backyard with bubbles again.
21
Knox walked out of the bakery, box in hand. He got back into his car and headed toward Aiva’s office. His mother picked up Yasmine from school since she would be staying with them to attend the birthday party tomorrow. He planned on picking her up Sunday morning and taking her to the trampoline park, so he had the weekend free, which would be his last one for a few weeks since he planned on spending them with Yasmine.
When he pulled into the parking lot, he grabbed the box, exited his vehicle, and walked into the building. Finx was on the phone, and Knox waited patiently for him to get off. After a moment, the other man placed his hand over the phone receiver.
“She’s in her office if you want to go on back. I may be a minute.”
“Thanks,” Knox responded and headed down the hall. He found her office door open and knocked on the doorframe. She looked up from her computer screen and smiled at him.
“Knox, hey. Come in.”
He stepped into the office and placed the box on the desk before walking to her side of the desk, turning her chair, and leaning down to kiss her. He’d waited damn near a week to do it again, and he felt no reason to act as if he hadn’t missed the feel of her lips. Always one to go after what he wanted, his pursual of Aiva would be no different.
When he pulled away, he watched her bite her bottom lip before going back around the desk and taking a seat.
“To what do I owe this visit?”
“I come bearing sweets,” Knox responded. “And to see if you were available tomorrow night.”
