Chapter 23
CHAPTER 23
TOBIAS BARRETT
I pick up my phone and swipe to accept the call from Ellie. “Hello?”
“Good morning! I was wondering if you could bring Kiki over to the gallery some time today. We only have a week before the festival, and I need some help. That nanny of yours is brilliant, and I just know Miss Kiki will think of some great ways to decorate.”
I roll my eyes because Ellie and Josephine do a fine job decorating their gallery all on their own. I have a sneaking suspicion they are matchmaking again. But Kiki doesn’t drive and it’s too far to walk. “I’ve got to get some emails out, and I have a zoom meeting, but I can bring her there after lunch.”
“Why don’t you come here for lunch? I could use Kiki’s thoughts on these cucumber sandwiches I was thinking of serving next Saturday.”
I pick up my letter opener and fiddle with it. “All right. We’ll be there for lunch. What time?”
“Twelve o’clock. See you then.” Ellie hangs up.
I shake my head at her antics, but secretly, I’m glad for the excuse to spend time with Kiki. The more I get to know her, the more I want to show her I care. I know she’s been hurt in her past. Her parents disowned her. I don’t care what a person has done, you don’t do that to your own child. I toss the letter opener on my desk and stand.
I find Kiki and Skyler in the kitchen finishing breakfast. Kiki’s wearing another tank top and cut off jeans, and I wonder if she has anything else to wear. She wore ripped jeans to church on Sunday, and I misjudged her for that, but maybe she simply doesn’t have anything else. I should take her shopping.
“Hey,” I say as I walk to the bar stools where they sit.
Kiki turns to me. “Hey.” Her gaze travels over my dress shirt and jeans, and she smiles.
“Daddy!” Skyler says. She gives me a hug and then jumps down from her stool. “I’m done eating breakfast.”
“All right.” Kiki grabs her bowl. “Go into the family room and wait for me. You can pull out your Barbies.”
“Okay.”
Kiki stands and takes the cereal bowls to the sink. Her hair is up in another messy bun, and I realize I’ve grown to like that look on her. The skin on her neck looks soft and I remember how it felt to kiss her there. My fingers itch to touch her, and I take a step back, reminding myself that we’re just friends. Nothing more.
She peers at me over her shoulder. “Did you need something?”
I explain to her what Ellie wants. “Is that okay?”
Kiki nods as she rinses the bowls. “Sure. I’d love to see the space we have to work with. I’m so excited Dustin and Mackenzie are coming.”
I walk to the dishwasher so I can help put the dishes in, but Kiki turns at the same time and runs smack into me.
“Oh!” she says, her hands up clutching dripping cereal bowls. I instinctively grab onto her.
Time slows as she stares at me, her face just inches from mine. Holding her again feels good, and not in a friend way at all. I should let her go and step back, but my arms are unwilling. My heart beats wildly in my chest as the faint smell of lilacs intoxicates me. It reminds me of the night we walked along the beach.
I replay our kiss in my mind, how her lips tasted, and the way her fingers threaded through my hair. She’s so soft, it drives me crazy. I swallow and notice tiny golden flecks deep in the blue of her eyes.
Noah enters the room, and I jump back from her. She staggers a bit before she regains her footing. “Hey,” I say to Noah. “You’re home late.”
A slow smile spreads across his face. “Yeah.” His gaze bounces between us. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing,” we both say at once.
Kiki shoves the bowls in the dishwasher making more noise than needed, and I shrug. “Just cleaning up.”
Noah hitches up his belt, his handcuffs clanging together. His smile grows wider. “Right.”
Heat creeps up my neck. “Well, I’d better get to work.” I leave the kitchen and go back to my office, but I spend the morning thinking about the kiss we shared the other night and reading the same sentences over and over.
By lunch time, I’ve gotten a few things crossed off my to do list, but it’s growing instead of shrinking. I shouldn’t be taking time off. It’s for Ellie, I tell myself, but I know I’m lying.
We pile into the car, and I head towards the gallery. Skyler looks out the window at the seagulls. “Can we go back to the marina?”
“Not today, Little Pup. We’ve got some things to do. We’re going to see Ellie and Josephine.”
I pull into a parking space in the street outside of the gallery and cut the engine. The gallery stands a block away from the downtown square. Mom and Pop shops line the streets around the center of the town, with the courthouse in the middle. The gallery is in a mid-sized two-story space that used to be a house. It’s turquoise and white with a cute, hand-painted sign out front.
We get out of the car, and Ellie comes out of the gallery to meet us. “Miss Kiki, we’re so glad you came. We need lots of help.”
Skyler runs up to Ellie. “I came to help, too.”
Josephine comes out onto the sidewalk. “I need your help the most, Miss Skyler.” She holds out her hand and Skyler runs to her.
We enter the gallery, and Ellie gives Kiki the grand tour, showing her all the rooms they have and how they’re making room for some of Mackenzie’s paintings. We end the tour in the back room that’s been set up classroom style. “This is where Mackenzie will teach her watercolor class.”
“This is a great space. I love the hardwood floors and the crown molding.” Kiki slowly turns around in the space. “What can I do for you?”
Ellie wrings her hands. “I want to decorate the gallery somehow, but I don’t know what to do. Can you give me some ideas?”
Kiki walks out of the classroom and through the rooms full of art. “What about twinkle lights above the artwork? And maybe some centerpieces would be nice for the tables in the classroom. How about creating some decorations like glass bowls with sand and seashells? Something that gives people the island feel?”
Ellie clasps her hands together. “I love it. What a great idea. We don’t have a craft store on the island. Would you and Tobias be willing to go to the mainland this afternoon and get those supplies?”
Ellie bats her eyes at Kiki, and I hold in a groan. There it is. Her matchmaking. She’s sending us off on a trip together.
“I can watch Miss Skyler,” Josephine says as she and Skyler walk into the room. “I have a new ice cream maker that needs testing out.”
“Ice cream!” Skyler shouts.
Josephine crouches next to Skyler. “Would you like to come to my house and help me make some ice cream?”
“Yes!” Skyler jumps up and down.
And there it is. The final piece of the plan falling into place. I knew Ellie and Josephine were conspiring to get me and Kiki alone together.
Kiki looks to me, and I nod. “Sure, we can go get the supplies for your decorations.”
Ellie pulls out an envelope and presses it into my hand. “Take that woman out to a nice dinner while you’re there. My treat.”
I try to hand it back to her, but she won’t take it, and I sigh. “Ellie, I don’t need your money.”
“You deserve a night on the town.” She tugs on my arm. “Let’s eat lunch.”
Ellie ushers us onto the back porch where the women have set up a cozy table for two. I raise my eyebrows at Kiki, and she bites her lips, letting me know she’s onto them as well. “Aren’t we all eating together?” Kiki asks.
“Oh, Skyler won’t want this. Josephine has made her peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in the other room. I want you two to tell me what you think of these for the festival.” Ellie pulls out a tray of cute cucumber sandwiches cut in small triangles, along with some petit fours, macarons, and some deviled eggs. “Please, sit down,” she commands.
I do as she says, because there’s nothing else to do. We’ve been set up. It’s best now to just go along with it. Kiki seems to feel the same way. She sits down opposite me and takes a selection from the tray.
After I pick out my food, Ellie sets the tray down and clasps her hands. “I must go do some work, but please, you enjoy your lunch. And I want your honest feedback later.”
I pick up a sandwich and motion to where Ellie just left. “Sorry. I hope you don’t feel awkward. They’re not being very subtle.”
“They’re adorable.” Kiki settles back. “And I don’t mind. We’ve established we’re friends, so it doesn’t bother me.”
I slowly nod as I chew the cucumber sandwich. Friends. Yes, that’s what we are. I need to keep reminding myself of that, because right now my pulse is racing and I’m having a hard time not staring into Kiki’s deep blue eyes.
Tonight is going to be torture.