Page 51 of Laws of Love
“You should keep your hands to yourself next time, because something more embarrassing than being punched in the face by a nine-year-old girl could happen to you,” Kaley stated.
Aiva sucked her cheeks in to keep from laughing. Kaley was serious with her comment, and she could tell the boy was embarrassed at being punched by someone younger than him.
“We have to leave,” Kaley stated, holding up Aiva’s phone for her to see the time after the boy walked off. “Our movie starts in forty minutes.”
“We’ve got time. It isn’t that far of a drive,” Aiva responded.
Kaley slid off her lap, and Aiva grabbed her purse, took the phone her sister was handing her, and the four of them left the building. Once in the car, they headed toward the theater, with Knox and Yasmine following them. She hadn’t expected her day out with her little sister to turn into a playdate between her and Yasmine, but it was what happened, and Aiva didn’t mind that.
24
Aiva pulled into the parking lot of Knox’s condo building Wednesday morning. He’d asked her if she could meet him at his place, and they could leave from there. She thought it was a good idea and would volunteer to drive. That way, she could bring him back home and head to work once they were finished. Her first appointment wasn’t until eleven-thirty, so she had three hours before she needed to be at the office. She’d gotten everything together for the client the previous day before leaving the office to give herself more time.
She walked into the building, made the quick journey to his unit, and knocked on the door. When it opened, he pulled her into his chest, and his lips descended on hers.
Aiva was caught off guard for a moment, but she kissed him back, followed the movement of his lips on hers. He pulled her inside, and she heard the door close, but she was too focused on how he kissed her to pay any mind to it.
“I wasn’t a fan of being unable to do that Saturday,” he said against her lips when they finally pulled apart.
Aiva seconded that. They were dating, but she hadn’t wanted to overstep any boundaries with his daughter and her little sister being there. She knew Yasmine was still adjusting to living with Knox full time and maybe even with her parents being separated. Aiva in no way wanted to cause any additional issues in that regard. She also did not want Kaley to get the wrong idea, or rather, the right one, and tell anyone in their family who would listen.
She wasn’t keeping her relationship with him a secret. Her sisters knew, but Kaley liked to tell their sperm donor things, and Aiva did not want him in her business. She knew her baby sister wasn’t old enough to realize that Edison didn’t need to know everything, and she couldn’t fault her for that. She was careful with her personal life around the child.
There was a delicious aroma wafting through his condo that Aiva hadn’t noticed before because she was busy having her lips devoured by his. She looked to her right and spotted his dining room table filled with serving plates. There was bacon, sausages, omelets, French toast, skillet potatoes, fresh-cut fruit, and a glass pitcher of orange juice. Swan folded napkins sat on both dinner plates on the table.
When she suggested a breakfast date, she assumed they would go out somewhere. However, she shouldn’t have been surprised that Knox had other plans. Their previous dates had been thought out, personal and romantic. She didn’t know why she assumed this would be any different. He’d admitted that he was ruining dates for her with men who weren’t him, and he was living up to that claim.
Aiva turned her attention back to him, wrapped her arms around his neck, and softly kissed him. When they pulled apart, he led her to the table and pulled her chair out for her. She ran her hand over the napkin as he took his seat.
“Did you fold these?”
“I did,” he responded. “Folding napkins is not as easy as an origami swan or crane.”
She would take his word for it. She’d never attempted to fold cloth napkins or do any origami. It looked so pretty that she didn’t want to mess it up, but she knew some of the form would fall as soon as she moved it from the plate. So, she bit the bullet and picked it up, placing it in her lap.
“This all looks so delicious,” she complimented.
“Thank you, gorgeous.”
Once the food was on both plates, Aiva said a quick blessing before tasting the omelet. It tasted just as good as it looked. The first half of their breakfast was filled with silence as they enjoyed the food.
“You’re going in later today than usual. Was there a reason?” Knox asked.
“Not particularly. I think Finx was trying to give me a bit of a breather after a specific case I’ve been working on. My client’s soon-to-be ex-husband is a piece of work.”
“I’m sure you’re handling him well.”
“He and his lawyer hate me, but I don’t care.” Aiva couldn’t talk much about that, so she shifted the conversation. “When is Yasmine out for spring break?”
“Next week. Which I’d completely forgotten until dropping her off this morning when my mom called. So, if you would rather do dinner on Sunday, we can.”
“Whichever is easier for you works for me,” Aiva responded. “Do you have something planned for the two of you to do over the break?”
“I will be left to my own devices for most of it. My parents are taking Yas to visit some family. It’s the first spring break that they could get her, and since I’ll be taking her on a couple of vacations this summer, I didn’t see a problem with her spending some of the break with her grandparents. Honestly, she probably prefers it, since they spoil her rotten.”
Aiva laughed. “You’d never be able to tell. Most spoiled children are little brats, but Yasmine is such a well-mannered child.”
Knox smiled at her. “Thank you.”
