Chapter 13
CHAPTER 13
TOBIAS BARRETT
I t’s late afternoon and I’ve been hiding out in my office all day. Yes, I’m a grown man, and I do realize how that sounds. But I wore my jeans, and I know Kiki’s going to make a big deal out of it, so I pace my office as I wonder what she’s doing at this moment. I’ve been done with my work for about an hour, but I can’t seem to bring myself to leave my office.
Noises in the hallway catch my attention. “Let’s go tell Daddy!” Skyler says.
“He’s working,” Kiki says. “Let’s tell him later.”
I’m curious what they’re talking about, so I open my door. “Tell me what?”
Kiki’s gaze travels over my button-down white shirt and faded blue jeans, and a huge grin spreads across her face. “Wow,” she says, rocking back on her heels. “You look great.”
“We built a castle!” Skyler shouts.
I ignore Kiki’s teasing smile. “Really? A castle?” I crouch down to Skyler’s level. “Out of what?”
“Boxes,” Skyler says.
“Levi said we could use some of the old boxes that are in the attic. I hope that was okay.” Kiki puts her hands behind her back, but before they disappear I notice she didn’t cover up her tattoo today.
“Sure. They’re just sitting up there.” I take Skyler’s hand. “Show me the castle.”
She drags me into the family room. “There, Daddy!” She points to a large cardboard conglomeration of boxes that have been taped together. Bricks, windowsills, and other decorations have been drawn on the walls with crayon. Three turrets stand tall on the castle, complete with battlements and windows cut out. A drawbridge is attached to the front, spanning what looks like a moat of blue blankets. The castle door is cut out and Skyler crawls through, entering the homemade castle. She shuts the door and peeks out one of the windows. “Take my picture, Daddy!”
I pull out my phone and snap a couple of pictures of Skyler in the castle. I zoom out and take a few more, getting the whole castle in the picture.
“Isn’t it great?” Skyler says, grinning.
“It’s amazing,” I say, glancing at Kiki. “You did this?”
She shrugs. “Levi helped.”
I know how artistic Levi is. He didn’t do this. I let my gaze travel over Kiki. She’s wearing a faded Honey Nut Cheerio’s shirt from the 80’s, the smiling bee promising lots of honey baked into every little O. The cut off jeans shorts are probably the same ones from the other day. Her hair is pulled up in another messy bun, exposing her neck. It makes me want to touch her neck to see if her skin there is as soft as it looks. What would it feel like to kiss her there?
I shake my head. What’s wrong with me? I can’t put the moves on Kiki. Not only is that wildly inappropriate, me being her boss and all, but I can’t get tangled up in a relationship even if she wasn’t my employee. I’ve sworn off dating, and for good reason. Skyler is now old enough to grow attached to people. If I start to date Kiki, Skyler would be devastated if we broke up. She’s already asking if Kiki will leave. I can’t jeopardize Skyler’s little heart.
Levi enters the room. “Isn’t this fantastic? Kiki could make these and sell them.”
Kiki’s face flushes. “No, that’s silly.”
Levi shakes his head. “It’s not silly. You made that thing in less than two hours. I wouldn’t even know where to start. You could totally get large pieces of cardboard and create these in bulk. Parents would pay good money for something like that.”
Kiki laughs and pats Levi’s arm. “If you say so.”
Levi looks at me and makes a face. “What’s with the jeans?”
Embarrassment engulfs me. “What? I can’t wear jeans?”
Levi looks between me and Kiki, who grins like she’s got the world’s biggest secret, and he slowly nods. “Ah.” He stretches it out like he’s figured out I have a crush on Kiki, which is ridiculous, because I don’t.
“What do you mean? There is no ‘ah.’ I just wanted to wear jeans today. It’s nothing.”
Levi winks and hits my arm with his fist. “Sure, bro.”
He leaves the room, and Kiki busts out laughing. “I think he’s on to you.”
I’m suddenly terrified that she thinks I have a thing for her, too. “What do you mean?”
“He knows you wore jeans because I challenged you.” Kiki squints at me. “Why, what did you think I meant?”
My mouth is full of cotton and my brain refuses to work. “Uhhh,” I say, like someone unplugged my core processor.
“Daddy, come inside my castle!” Skyler peeks over one of the walls.
Thankful for the distraction, I slide my phone into my back pocket and go to her. “I don’t think I fit.”
“Climb over the wall.” Skyler motions for me to join her.
I step over one of the walls and crouch down. “What are we doing in here?”
“We’re waiting for the dragon to attack us.” Skyler squats down.
“Rawr!” Kiki’s got Skyler’s alligator puppet, only she made cardboard wings for it. She comes at the castle. “Where is the beautiful princess? I want to eat her for dinner.”
“No!” Skyler shouts. “You can’t eat me!” She pats my shoulder. “My knight in shining armor will get you!”
When I don’t move, she nudges me. “Daddy, go get the dragon,” she whispers.
I lunge over the castle wall and put my hands on my hips. “Get back, scary dragon.”
Skyler laughs. “You need this, Daddy.” She hands me a cardboard sword.
I take the sword and point it at the dragon. “Take that, you ugly dragon.” I swing the sword and pretend to cut it to bits.
Kiki screams and flails around as the dragon has a fit. “You can’t hurt me. My scales are made out of titanium alloy.”
“But my sword is made out of steel cut diamonds. It will slice through your titanium alloy like it’s butter. Ha!” I slice and dice that dragon. Skyler giggles as we play fight.
“Ah, but you forget that I have amazing flying skills. I can avoid all of your feeble attempts at killing me.” Kiki flies her dragon through the air, deftly avoiding my sword.
“Get the dragon, Daddy!” Skyler shrieks.
“Your flying skills are no match for my enchantments. This sword has magical powers which makes it twelve times faster than your pathetic little wings.”
I start swinging again, but Kiki jumps out of the way. “You’ll have to catch me, first.” She jumps on the chair out of reach.
I do the only thing a knight in shining armor can do. I run after her, jumping on the chair next to her. Kiki leaps to the ottoman. I chase after her, but she’s always a step ahead of me. I anticipate her moves, and I jump to the couch just as she does. I grab her, slide the alligator puppet off her hand, and hold her tight. I lift the lifeless puppet. “Ha! I caught the dragon.”
Skyler squeals with delight and jumps up and down. “The dragon is dead!”
Kiki laughs and it hits me how I’ve grown to love that sound. I stand there, my arms wrapped around her, and it feels amazing to hold her. I should let Kiki go, but I seem to be unable to do so. I stare down at her, taking in the way her eyes laugh right along with her. The way her nose wrinkles, and how cute her tiny freckles look. My heart pounds as I stare at her face. She really is beautiful. Why did I not see it from the start? Then my gaze dips to her lips. Big mistake.
My chest tightens. I have a hard time breathing. Her lips are parted, and I can’t help but think about what it would feel like to kiss them. I haven’t thought about a woman like that in years, and it startles me.
I jump back from her, my pulse running a marathon. I climb down from the sofa. “Fun castle,” I say to Skyler.
I leave the room, still holding the cardboard sword. I can’t stay in that room anymore with Kiki. I don’t know why, but it’s like someone flipped on a switch inside of me, and now I’m feeling all kinds of things toward her I shouldn’t be.
I walk back to my office and close the door. I lean against it, my heart racing. I haven’t felt these things since Courtney, and that turned out to be a disaster. I shouldn’t let my feelings get me into trouble again.
I walk to the window and look out at the ocean. I know I need to get a grip, or I’m going to mess this whole thing up. I just have to temper my feelings. Kiki is only here to watch Skyler during the day so I can work. It’s nothing more than that.