Page 84 of Truly, Madly, Deeply

“That makes me so happy. Thank you. Are you waiting for your dad?” He’d said he needed to take Kinny shopping today.

“Yes,” she said it dismissively, still focused on the ice. “That’s Lacey. She’s got a pink dress. That’s the one I want. I wish I could be in that class, but Daddy says I’m too little.”

Oh, Jaime. “How old are those kids?”

“Sixes and sevens.”

Exactly Kinny’s age.Of course, she wouldn’t point out the obvious.

Kinsley watched the kids with intense focus. “I can do that.”

“Yes, I saw. You’re a beautiful dancer.”

Her gaze was trained on the kids as though memorizing their moves. “I’m good at that. Daddy says I’m too young, though.” Kinny looked up at her. “But I want to.”

“I’ll bet you do.”Should I talk to him? Or leave it alone?

But before she could decide, Jaime noticed her. Guarding the net, he popped up, yanked off his mask, and gave her a look that sent a flashfire through her body.

And then, he came for her.

ChapterTwelve

When Jaime lookedover to check on his daughter, he found her talking to Gracie.

The sight of her never failed to blow through him like a gust of wind at the top of a summit. “I’m out of here. Got a date with my daughter.” He pulled off his mask and skated to the edge of the rink, waving to his two favorite girls.

He meant to say hello to Gracie. He meant to contain all this wild energy coursing through him. Because he really did believe Kinny shouldn’t get too attached. It was okay if she spent some time around her, just not too much.

But the draw of her was so strong he didn’t stop. He kept moving. Tossing his gloves onto the rubber mat, he gripped the wall and leapt over. Affection for this beautiful woman overwhelmed him, and he picked her up, hugging her so tightly her feet came off the ground.

Without thinking, he found himself kissing her. One hand cupped the back of her head, the other arm wound around her waist, and he fed the hungry beast that couldn’t get enough of her.

“Daddy.” Kinny’s delighted shriek had Gracie pulling her mouth away.

Arms slung around his neck, she smiled at him. “Hi.”

He didn’t know he had bindings around his heart until they broke free. “Hi.” For the first time in—well, maybe ever—he had room to breathe.

“Put her down, Daddy.”

When he did, the boys on the bench started clapping. “Way to go, Goose,” one of them shouted.

Exhilarated, he laughed. He lowered her feet to the floor, but he didn’t let go. He didn’t ever want to let her go. “Did you talk to Jeremy and Ben?”

“I did. It’s all set. They start in the morning.” She glanced at the boys. “They’re coming over atfour. They said they want as many hours as I can give them.”

“Oh yeah.” He gestured to the ice. “They’re behind. They’ll have to work hard to get a place on the front line.”

“I’m not sure what they’ll be doing yet. My dad always says to focus your efforts on the thing only you can do and hire people to do the rest. So, I’ll do the baking, and they’ll do prep work, load the van, work in the truck…stuff like that.”

“Makes sense.” He couldn’t help himself from kissing her again.

She kept it brief, tucking her face into his neck. “You claimed me.”

He clutched her. “I did. Is that okay?” Even now, after all the time they’d spent together, his blood still felt carbonated around her.

“I’m not the one who wanted us to be secret.”

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