Chapter 3
Reid had definitely lost his mind. That was the only way to explain why he’d invited a stranger to stay in the garage apartment
and why he was letting Piper drag her around the house to look for the cat.
Though, if he were being honest with himself, the real reason he was in this predicament was obvious. He’d found his gaze drifting toward Kaiah as she waited in line at the coffee
shop. Her golden hair fell in waves past her shoulders, catching the morning light in a way that cast a glow around her. He
liked the way the corners of her mouth curved up slightly as she pondered her order. He had even taken note of the way she’d
walked around the shop, her vibrant blue eyes full of curiosity and warmth as she studied the art on the walls. It seemed
he found everything about this woman captivating. His pulse quickened as he felt an unfamiliar spike of adrenaline. He’d been
out of the dating game for too long to get back in now. Plus, as a single father with a demanding job, his life was already
a careful balancing act.
But when his hand had closed around the wrong coffee cup—and he’d found himself standing before the beautiful stranger, stumbling over his own words as he tried to correct his mistake—he couldn’t deny he’d felt like he’d won the lottery.
And when he got the call for a ride from his part-time Uber job, he’d never in a million years expected Kaiah to be his passenger.
Then, when she shared she needed a temporary place to stay? Well, once again he felt like someone was handing him a gift—a
reason to talk to this woman and maybe get to know her.
But what are you doing? a quiet voice whispered inside his head. And what would Brynn say if she knew you’d invited a stranger to stay in your home? With your daughter here? They’d always put their child’s safety first, and he was committed to continue doing so. Piper was the center of Reid’s life.
But Brynn did have a thing for helping those in need, the voice whispered.
He couldn’t deny it. When Brynn was alive, she’d organized volunteer committees at their church to serve in the community.
Each Thanksgiving she and Reid would hand out pieces of pumpkin pie at the Coral Cove soup kitchen. They’d helped out at shelters
for the homeless and even built homes through Habitat for Humanity.
Reid smiled as he thought of his late wife. Then he sighed. His feelings were always so complicated when it came to starting
a new chapter without Brynn. In many ways, she still felt so close to him, like she could walk through the front door at any
moment. They’d never talked about what would happen if one of them lost the other so young. Imagining a life without each
other seemed like a problem that was decades away. But Reid knew that Brynn wouldn’t have wanted him to be alone forever.
After all, he’d want the same for her if the roles were reversed.
And for the first time since his wife had passed away, Reid was interested in someone. It had to mean something, right?
What would Brynn think of all this? he wondered. Honestly, she’d probably be happy you’re finally getting back out there after four years.
He could almost hear her say, It’s about time, Reid!
He shook his head. Maybe he was making too much out of this attraction. After all, Kaiah would be back on the road working
on her story, and he’d never see her again. And that would be that.
Just chill, man. She’ll only be here for a few days. Just be kind and courteous to a stranger in need, and leave it at that.
After ordering a pepperoni pizza and garlic knots through A Slice of Heaven’s app, Reid moved to the doorway of Piper’s room
and rested his shoulder on the doorframe. Kaiah sat on the corner of his daughter’s bed with a mermaid doll on her lap while
Piper talked on and on about mermaids and swimming in the waves. Kaiah’s lovely face was fixated with a serious expression,
her brows furrowed while she nodded along with Piper’s story. She appeared completely fascinated with his daughter. He tried
to ignore the warmth blooming in his chest.
Then Kaiah turned and grinned at him.
He returned the smile before focusing on his daughter, who had stopped talking about mermaids and started showing Kaiah her
best dance moves.
“Piper?” he asked.
His daughter stopped flailing about and spun to face him. “Yeah, Daddy?”
“The pizza will be here in thirty minutes.”
“Yay!” Piper whirled around again, her dark hair fanning around her.
“Need some help in the kitchen?” Kaiah offered. “I can set the table.”
“No, thanks,” he told her. “I got it handled. Paper plates are my friend.”
She grinned at him again, a twinkle in those bright, intelligent blue eyes that seemed to keep drawing him in.
“Miss Kaiah!” Piper rushed over with a book. “Have you ever read The Mermaid Sisters?” She pushed the book into Kaiah’s hands.
“No, I haven’t.” Kaiah beamed at his daughter. “Should we read it together?”
“Yes, please!” Piper snuggled up next to Kaiah while the cat beside her began to quietly give herself a bath.
Before the scene warmed his soul too much, Reid backed out of the doorway and moved to the linen closet. He retrieved a set
of sheets and a stack of towels, then set the pile on the end of the kitchen counter before grabbing the paper plates and
setting the table for three.
He stood by the counter and peered at the table. Memories of the last time the table was set for three brought a familiar
stitch in his chest.
His phone dinged with a text, and he peered down and grinned at his twin’s name on his screen.
Becca: Who’s the pretty blonde? Do you have something to tell me?
Reid shook his head. He should’ve known his sister would want all the details.
Reid: Damsel in distress. Needed a place to stay.
Becca: Um, tell me everything. NOW.
Reid: Can’t talk now. Piper invited her for supper, and pizza’s coming soon.
Becca: A pizza date? Hmm! I’ll let you off the hook for now, but I want details at supper tomorrow.
Reid swallowed a groan. He could already hear his mother and his sister ganging up on him, demanding to know about the mysterious
blonde staying in the apartment.
He replied with: Will do. And we’ll talk about the festival too.
Becca: Yep, that’s priority number one. We’ve got to raise the rest of the money for those renovations. That wing HAS to be
open again. The kids deserve better.
Reid: Trust me, I know. I can’t imagine how cramped those classrooms are, now that half the elementary school is closed. We’ll
get it figured out. Night, Becks.
Becca: Night.
He busied himself with putting away the clean dishes waiting in the dishwasher since last night, and soon the doorbell rang,
announcing their supper.
“Pizza!” he called toward Piper’s room, and immediately Piper romped into the kitchen.
“Everyone, take a seat,” he said while pouring three glasses of sweet tea.
Piper patted the seat beside hers. “Sit by me, Miss Kaiah.”
Reid distributed the glasses and then sat across the table from the ladies.
Kaiah took a huge bite of pizza, the steam still rising from the slice as the melty mozzarella oozed down the side. “Okay,
this is delicious,” she declared. “And I’m a New Yorker. I know my pizza.”
Piper nodded. “It’s the best pizza ever. Me and Daddy eat pizza at least once a week. Auntie Becca and Nana like it too. What’s
your favorite food?”
“I like all kinds of food. It would be easier to tell you which kind of food I don’t like.”
Reid swallowed a bite of garlic knot. “Like what?”
“Hmm.” Kaiah tapped her chin. “I’m not a big fan of brussels sprouts.”
Piper scrunched up her face. “Me neither.”
Reid held up his hand. “They’re actually delicious if you prepare them correctly.”
“Really?” Kaiah leaned forward. “And how do you prepare them ‘correctly’?” she asked, making air quotes with her fingers.
“Roast them in kung pao sauce.”
“Huh. I’d actually try them that way.” She seemed impressed. “You like to cook?”
“I have to take a turn at the firehouse,” he told her.
“So you’ve actually made brussels sprouts for your coworkers, and they didn’t run you off?”
He shook his head. “Nope.”
“Well, color me surprised. Roasted brussels sprouts in kung pao sauce sounds pretty fancy.”
Piper made a face. “And yucky.”
“I agree.” Kaiah gave his daughter a high five, and he laughed.
Piper continued to pepper Kaiah with questions about her favorite foods, movies, books, toys, cartoons, and colors while they ate pizza and garlic knots and then ice cream for dessert.
When Kaiah covered her mouth to shield a yawn, Reid stood and collected their empty bowls from their ice cream. “I think we
need to let Miss Kaiah rest. She’s had a long day.”
“Awww,” Piper moaned. “Will I see you tomorrow, Miss Kaiah?”
Kaiah froze like a deer in headlights, looking unsure of how to respond. “Maybe.”
Reid touched his daughter’s head. “Say good night to Miss Kaiah and then get ready for your bath.”
Piper hugged her. “Good night.” Then she scampered off toward her bedroom.
Reid turned to Kaiah. “She’s a lot. Thanks for being so patient.”
“She’s great,” Kaiah said, and she looked like she was telling the truth. “Talking to her made me realize how much I miss
my nieces and nephew.” Reid caught an emotion he couldn’t quite detect flash across her face before she righted herself again.
“How many do you have?”
“Four. Two from each of my older sisters.” Then she hesitated. “And a few more if I count my stepsiblings’ children too.”
He cocked his head. “How many siblings do you have?”
She held up four fingers. “I’m the middle of five girls. Can you imagine five girls?”
“Um, no.” He shook his head, and she laughed.
“My poor dad, right?” She chuckled.
“And you have stepsiblings too?”