11. Matt
Chapter 11
Matt
K ylie grabbed my keys and hauled me to my truck. “Call your dad and let him know you’ll be gone for the day. He can cover the front house. And I’ll let Sadie know she’s on her own as far as the event. I’ll catch up with her later to go over anything we may have missed.”
“The day? Who’s going to run the place?”
“Your dad is.” She turns to me, softening her voice. “Matt, he’s been doing it with your uncle for the last few years.”
“Really? I didn't know that.” My voice is low and I don’t know why mom didn’t tell me. “I mean, I knew he was helping out and doing most of the corking.”
“This winery is a family place Matt, everyone’s been pitching in for years.”
Everyone but me.
We climb into my truck and I send a text to my dad letting him know I’ll be in later this evening and asking if he could hold down the place for a while. I got back a thumbs up; man of few words.
“Where to?”
“The school. We’re taking Liam out early.”
I furrow my brows. That’s definitely not what I thought she’d say. And it makes me a bit nervous if I’m honest. Kylie is sweet and genuine and she and Liam hit it off right away, but the more she looks to spend time with him, the more he’s going to want to spend time with her. And if that’s not where she and I are heading, I can’t do that to him again. “Are you going to be the one to tell Mr. Love?”
She titters in her seat. “Mr. Love will get over it. And if he doesn't, I’ll send my sister to fight for us.”
I eye her. “I’ve a feeling we’re not talking about an early dismissal?”
“He wouldn’t have gotten an early dismissal if he would have learned how to use my sister's passion to work for him instead of using it to make her mad.”
I chuckle. “I knew there was more to him and your sister! What happened?”
“They both like to argue. And they both like to be right. The difference is, Danny knows how to concede where my sister does not. And I think he felt pushed aside by her need to always be in control.”
I chuckle. “What he told me makes sense then.” She looks at me questioningly. “Let’s just say he pushed her buttons to get a reaction. The only time she let her guard down was when she was angry.”
She giggles. “Oh yeah, hate fucking is a favorite of hers.” I nearly choke hearing those words come from her mouth, but she just lifts her chin to me. “Call the school.”
My heart skips a beat and I have to adjust myself again. I love this side of her and I’ve missed it. We pull out and head toward the school. I make the call, and by the time we get there and I run inside the front steps, Liam and the school secretary are waiting for me.
“Good morning Mr. Byrne.”
“Morning, Miss Turner. Hey, pal. You ready?” He nods and looks at me with confusion, but I give him a wink.
We walk down the steps and head toward my truck. “What’s going on, Dad? Is that Kylie?”
He sounds excited, and I smile despite the nervousness that is coursing through me. “It is. And you can thank her for getting you out early.”
Kylie opens the door and jumps out as Liam races to her. He skids to a stop and they do some silly handshake.
“Hang on a second. Where did you two learn that?”
Kylie straightens and so does Liam, both looking at me with smirks on their faces. “We came up with it at the winery the other day,” he says proudly.
My heart flutters. I have to stop myself from imagining this could be so much more. And tell myself to pump the brakes on the feelings for Kylie that are coming to the surface. I can’t have Liam get hurt a second time.
Liam bounces on his toes. “This is so cool! Where are we going?”
“Your dad needed a break from the winery, and I needed some ice cream. I figured you did too, so we came to get you.”
“Ice cream? Alright!” He punches his fist in the air.
“Ice cream? It’s eleven in the morning,” I point out.
“Don’t be such a crank, Matt. Now get in the truck and drive.” She helps Liam get in the back, buckles him in, and shuts the door. As she turns, she bumps right into me, I’m still standing in the same spot.
“You think you're cute, huh?”
“ You think I’m cute.” She holds my stare and I clench my fists at my sides to keep from grabbing her waist, slamming her against the truck, and kissing the life out of her.
“Kylie,” I warn.
“Matthew.” She mimics me, winks, and turns, pulling open her door and pausing with her foot on the running board. The pop of her hip makes her ass so tempting to put my hand on, I can’t control myself. I grab the door, holding it steady, and give her a quick spank as she steps in. “Oh!” she squeaks out and falls into her seat.
“Buckle up. Safety first.” I shut the door on her and walk around to the driver’s seat, and the whole time my mind is telling me to slow the fuck down. I’m falling right back under the spell of Kylie Johnson.
* * *
We pulled up to Ice Cream Dreams, the local ice cream shoppe. They make homemade ice cream and it’s to die for.
“I can’t believe this place is still here.” I look around in wonder. It still looks the same too.
Kylie jumps from the truck. “Why close a good thing? Come on!”
I get out and follow behind her and Liam. “We’re the only ones here.”
“Good, there’s no line,” she says matter-of-factly.
I shake my head. “Doesn’t that tell you something?”
“What's it supposed to tell me?”
“That it’s too early for ice cream!”
She gasps and grabs her heart. I shake my head at her dramatics. “Too early?!” She acts outraged and grabs onto Liam to steady herself, and then, in her best Broadway-show voice, says, “Did he just say it’s too early? Liam! How have you lived all this time?”
He dissolves into giggles and jumps right on her bandwagon. “It’s been hard, Kylie. Dad is a real stickler for the rules.”
She laughs and pins me with a stare. “Could have fooled me.”
“Okay, you two.” I usher them to the window and pull out my wallet as the woman appears to take our order.
“What are we having?” she asks.
Kylie looks at my son. “Are you a chocolate or vanilla kid?”
Liam looks at me and raises a brow. I tip my chin to him. “Go ahead, get your favorite,” I urge.
“Chocolate chip cookie dough, please.”
“Ah!” Kylie screams. “A kid after my own heart! We’ll have two cones of chocolate chip cookie dough, and since your dad is boring, he gets a vanilla cone.”
I chuckle and say under my breath, “Nothing about me is vanilla, Ky.”
I see the blush appear instantly and I puff my chest. I shouldn't be doing this. She just broke off an engagement, but there's something so natural about being together with her and Liam right now. And it’s making me want to see if she feels the same.
We accept the cones, I pay for everything, and we walk to the little river that runs behind the store. There are chairs and tables but Liam heads close to the waterline, so we follow. “It’s gorgeous out today; a perfect day to skip school,” she says, nudging Liam.
“It sure is!”
I watch as she licks her cone, never taking her eyes from mine. “Don’t get used to this, Liam,” I choke out. I adjust myself discreetly, trying to force myself to pull away from watching her, but it's futile.
“Once in a while never hurt anyone, but I agree with your dad, skipping school is not something to become accustomed to.”
“I understand.” He’s just as mesmerized by her as I am. “Look at the ducks!” He walks ahead of us and she grins and raises a brow at me again, like the know-it-all she is. I continue to stare at her, my mind racing with all kinds of thoughts I used to have but have no business having right now.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” She goes to lick her cone once more, and I know exactly what she’s doing. So when she brings it close, I can’t help myself and push it into her face.
“Oh my god! Matt!” She stares at me for a moment before bursting into laughter. I join her, and on instinct, I lean in close, but she stops me by smashing her cone into my face.
“Kylie!” I yell out, and she runs. I chase after her, but she doesn't get far. It's like she wants me to catch her. When I grab her around the waist with one hand, hauling her close, and get her with my cone again, she gives it right back to me. She smears it on my face with her hand, and I nip at her finger, licking the ice cream from it. Her eyes get wide and her body stills, no longer fighting me in the least.
“Dad!” Liam comes running over, laughing hysterically. “What are you doing?”
“Get him, Liam!” She drops her cone and holds onto my arm as Liam comes and shoves his ice cream into my face too. I grab Liam and drag the both of them to the ground with me. We laugh and roll in the grass under the morning sun, covered in ice cream, and I can’t remember a time when I felt happier.