Chapter Four #3
“Not the battery,” he grunts. “There an auto supply store around here anywhere?”
I shake my head. “There’s a NAPA in Bethel, but that’s a half hour away from here.” I groan, dragging my fingers through my hair and puffing out a breath.
Welcome to Camp Dumpster Fire. We’re hanging on by a thread, folks. Come for the experience, stay for the entertainment.
Not sure how I’m going to an auto parts store when I’ve got folks coming in today. I’ve got to get new-hire paperwork filled out, grounds tours to give, and meals to cook since there are no kitchen staffers here yet. I’ll figure something out; I always do.
I should probably look into mules. Carrots have got to be cheaper than gas, anyhow.
“Hang tight, I’ll be back in a little bit,” Evan offers. “Bethel, you said?”
I can feel a rush of heat flame in my cheeks again. “Oh, you don’t have to—” I start, but don’t get to finish when the sound of crunching gravel and thumping eighties' music cuts me off.
That can only mean one of two things. Either Kai just showed up unannounced, or someone else drives like a bat out of hell and has an affinity for Toto.
But the odds of it being anyone other than my ex are now nil, when I hear Toto’s Africa being belted off-key in his voice.
Once the dust settles, I see him unfold himself from his sports car, dressed as if he’s out for a day at a GQ model yacht-club outing.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, noting the fact that he is hauling two giant hard-sided rolling suitcases out of his trunk.
His head snaps up, like I startled him by asking why he appears to be moving in. “Figured I’d come keep an eye on my investment.” He shrugs. “See where we can make a few tweaks.”
My eyes go wide as saucers now. “You—what?”
Kai playfully hip checks me. “Looks like we’re going to be roomies again, babydoll.
” Then he turns and regards Evan. Kai’s eyebrows zip together appreciatively, and he flips his aviators up, resting them in his hair.
“And who might you be, hot stuff? Suddenly, spending a summer in the boonies isn’t looking so damn bad… ”
Evan shifts uncomfortably on his heels, and I see his hands balling inside his pockets. He pulls one out and hikes a thumb over his shoulder. “I’m going to go to NAPA. Be back in a bit,” he restates, in lieu of an introduction.
Kai’s brows furrow when Evan stalks off to his truck and pulls out without saying another word. “Something I said?” he asks me.
I scoff. “Calling me babydoll and then hitting on the father of one of my new workers would do it.”
Yeah, I know—glass houses and stones.
“One of our new workers, I think you mean. This is a partnership, Brooks. I’m taking a more active role, just like you asked,” he corrects me.
“Kind of bummed Daddy isn’t sticking around for the summer, though, not going to lie.
Eye candy like that, yeesh. He’s got that rugged, bad-boy vibe. Bet he’s a boss in the sack, too.”
I grimace. “The only vibes I’m getting are hetero vibes, hate to break it to you.”
Kai smirks and gives me a knowing look. “Don’t even lie to me and say you weren’t window shopping him too, babydoll. Besides, I’ve been known to get a player to bat for the other team before, even if only for a night or two.”
“Yeah, well, Daddy appears to be married,” I point out.
He shrugs. “What happens in Alder Notch stays in Alder Notch, am I right?” He cackles.
“He’s not staying in Alder Notch!” I balk.
“Bummer. Guess you and I will just have to make due then…” I roll my eyes at that, but he’s already walking away.
His suitcases thump heavily over each stair. When he gets to the top of the landing with one of them, he turns to wait for me to catch up. His eyes flit back and forth between my room and Morgan’s—a silent question. I shoulder past him and into Morgan’s room, dropping his suitcase with a thud.
“No invite to be your snuggle buddy, huh?” he snarks.
“What the heck did you pack, your entire loft?” I grunt, ignoring his question.
He chuckles. “Nah, just the essentials.”
I snort. At least thirteen types of hair gels and a pair of designer shoes for every occasion it is, then.
“Something tells me Daddy would have been able to haul those both up over the stairs, no problem. Maybe even with me thrown over his shoulder, if I were being especially bratty,” he taunts.
I don’t miss the way he twists to check out his own booty in Morgan’s full-length mirror she has propped in the corner, right before he looks around her room.
“Looks like I’ll be reliving my teenage years,” he notes.
“Back to jerking off to hot guys on posters tacked onto walls all over again. Ooh-la-la! Mowgli’s got good taste! ”
“Uncle Kai, you made it!” In the mirror, I see Morgan has made her way up after us, and is scrunching her nose in mock disgust. She adds, “And I heard that. If I’m letting you stay in my room, don’t do anything in here that you wouldn’t want to catch me doing.”
Kai cackles. “Oh, Mowgli, I won’t. I’m just messin’ with ya.” He holds up three fingers. “Scouts honor. These strapping young lads don’t even look legal, you can keep ‘em.”
She gives him a droll look, and then she turns to me.
“The guys are still setting up. They seem nice. Colton’s a little shy, but we’ll get him out of his shell.
Petro, he’s not shy; he’ll be good with the kids, especially the littles.
They were having an arm wrestling match to see who gets the top bunk when Aspyn and I left them to their battle.
We’re gonna hang out and wait for the others. Need us to do anything else, first?”
“You’ve done so much already, thank you,” I tell her, wrapping her in a hug.
She giggles. “No offense, Dad, but you need to hop in the shower. Do that, and we’ll hold down the fort.”
“Where would I be without you, kid?” I ask her, giving her an appreciative grin.
“Up dung creek without a paddle,” she snarks, before smirking and padding out of her room and back down the stairs.