Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
B
"I should go."
He drops his hand. "Why?"
"Clover could be home any time. I really should be gone before she gets here."
"You don't...have to be."
I pull back from him, his hand slipping off my cheek. "Kass..."
"Okay, you don't have to be here when she gets home, but at least meet us later."
"Where?" I'm not agreeing, I'm just curious.
He thinks for a moment, his eyebrows scrunching together in concentration, but his eyes never leave mine. I try to pry away my gaze, but it's like his eyes have a hold on me.
"The farmer's market. Clover and I go there on Sundays sometimes. You can meet us there."
I start to shake my head. "I really don't think—"
"Bring Fia then. That way, it doesn't feel like a date. Just friends who happened to run into each other."
My head is screaming no, but my heart, under its thick layer of dust, is begging me to say yes. I do get along with Clover. It wouldn't be awkward as long as she thought we were just friends. It couldn't hurt, right?
"Fine. I'll ask Fia if she can go."
He starts beaming, and his body tenses in celebration.
"But—" I grab his face with one hand and squish his cheeks so he's looking at me. Big mistake, because he looks adorably ridiculous with this fish face. "I'll only go if she says yes. I'm not meeting you there by myself."
"What about Iris?" His words come out muffled due to his puckered lips, but I can still understand him.
"Don't push it."
He nods as much as he can. Just before I release him, I lean forward and lick his lips in one swift motion. He tries to lean into me, but I shove him away and hop off the counter.
"Alright, I need to go home first."
As I pack my things into the bag Fia brought me, I think about how crazy it is that just 24 hours ago, Kass was texting her to bring this bag for me, and I didn't even know it. A lot has happened since then. Sex, games, ropes...sharing our deepest, darkest secrets. Who the fuck am I right now?
Introducing me to his child would ordinarily be a huge step—one I'd never take—but these are special circumstances.
I've already met his daughter. Actually, I met her before I met him, so it doesn't carry the same weight.
Or at least that's what I tell myself as I grab my bag and head toward the front door, where I find Kass waiting for me with a travel mug.
"I made you some coffee to take with you."
God, why does he have to be so nice to me? I take it from him because I'm not an ass. He went through the trouble of making it for me; I'm not going to reject it out of pride. But if he thinks he’s getting this back, he’s sorely wrong.
"Thanks."
"Well, I had a really great time with you this weekend."
"Yeah, me too." I genuinely mean it.
"You're not…" he rubs his hand across the back of his neck, "going to bail on me, are you?"
"I thought about it."
"Blake..." His tone is a warning as he wraps me in a hug that I can't quite reciprocate due to my bag over my shoulder and the travel mug in my hand. "You know I'll just come hunt you down if you don't show up. I need to get my thermos back somehow."
"I'd like to see you try to find me."
He kisses me one more time, something I'm still not used to, then lets me go.
"Bye."
"See you later."
"Will you?" he teases.
"Yes," I admit with an eye roll that earned me plenty of spankings over the last couple of days. This time is no different.
"Hey, you're going to make me spill my coffee!"
He laughs and opens the door for me. "Get out of here so I can hurry up and see you again."
As I walk out the front door to my car, I don't hear the door shut right away. Is he still watching me? I'm too afraid to look over my shoulder, so I don't.
KASS
Clover runs through the door and jumps into my waiting arms.
"Hey, Lovie, how was your time with Grandma and Grandpa?"
"I missed you."
"I missed you too. But you had fun, right?" I always feel a little guilty when Clover spends the weekend away from me so I can have my own fun. Sometimes, I wonder if that's too selfish of me.
I set her down and take her backpack off her shoulders.
"Yeah. Grandpa taught me how to start a fire."
"Did he now?"
"Yeah, and I'm really good at it. It only took me three matches to get it started." She holds three fingers up in my face, beaming with pride.
"That's pretty cool. But you have to promise me that you're not going to try and start any fires on your own without an adult around."
"I promise."
"I don't need you burning our house down. Because then we'd have to live in a tent in the backyard."
"That sounds fun!"
I pinch the tip of her nose between my fingers and wiggle her head. "That's not what you're supposed to say."
She giggles, and it melts my heart. I really miss her when she's gone. Even when I have a woman like Blake to distract me all weekend long.
"Speaking of tents and fires..." Clover puts her hands behind her back and twists her body side to side. "I decided what I want to do for my birthday this year."
"Your birthday isn't for another couple of months."
"So? I'm being prepared."
"Okay," I say with a chuckle. "What's your idea?"
"I want a Survivor-themed birthday party!"
She is the goofiest eight-year-old I've ever met, and I don't think I'll ever be able to keep up with her.
"Oh yeah? And what would that look like?"
She goes on to explain her elaborate ideas, including but not limited to buffs, team challenges, a fire-starting competition, and voting people off "the island".
We spend an hour brainstorming and talking about her ideas while we get ready and head over to the farmer's market.
Her initial wishes included going to an actual island for her party.
I quickly brought her back down to reality with that request, but promised to throw her the most kick ass Survivor-themed birthday party she could ever imagine.
B
"Oh my goodness, I'm so excited! I can't feel my toes. How does my hair look?"
"Iris, this isn't your date. You know that, right?" Fia's tone is a mix of amusement and annoyance.
"I know. But what if I'm meeting my best friend’s husb—"
I put my finger over Iris's mouth, and it stops moving, preventing her from finishing her thought. "I'm going to stop you right there. No talk of husbands. No talk of even dating. Or we'll make you sit in the car the whole time while we're here eating good food and having fun. Got it?"
"Got it," she bashfully mumbles into my finger. "Sorry. I just get so excited meeting new people."
I drop my hand and continue walking to the park entrance. "I know. That's why I brought you along. You're a wonderful social buffer, especially with kids."
"Thank you." I can't see her walking behind me, but I can hear in her voice that she's standing a little taller now.
I wish she didn't rely so much on the compliments of others to make herself feel good, but we can't all be me.
We walk a little further and enter the main area where the booths are set up. I scan the area, looking for Kass and Clover. "There they are. Iris, what are the rules again?"
"No talk of dating, husbands, or commitment. And pretend us running into them is a coincidence."
"Good girl."
Iris giggles, and I know why.
"B!" Clover's squeal draws the attention of several onlookers, but I don't see them staring for long because my gaze is fixed on a particularly handsome man holding her shoulders, so she doesn't launch at me like a wound-up toy.
Fuck, I thought he was hot in those sweatpants I left him in this morning, but the jeans he's wearing now and that shirt that hugs his sculpted body so perfectly have me salivating.
"Hey, Clover! So crazy running into you here." It comes out convincing enough for an eight-year-old.
When I get closer, Kass releases her, and she bolts at me, ramming into my legs and throwing her arms around me.
"This is so crazy! I was just thinking about you."
"Oh, were you?"
She pulls away from me and steps back into Kass, who is now standing right in front of me.
"Yeah! Dad was talking about my art, and I was telling him about the brush you gave me so I could do the little details on my flowers."
"I think there's an art supply stand around here somewhere. Maybe we should go check out their brush selection."
"Yes!" She turns to Kass. "Please, Daddy, please! Can we walk around with B?"
"Sure, I don't mind."
"Hello there." Iris almost scares me half to death when she pops out from behind me. "I'm B's friend, Iris."
I introduce everyone, and we start walking around the market together. Iris and Clover are leading the pack, practically skipping through the crowd of people.
"So, how are you feeling today?" Kass's voice is soft in my ear, but he speaks loud enough so Fia can hear him.
"She's sore."
I flick her with a wooden sample spoon I have yet to dispose of. "I can speak for myself." I slow down so Kass is walking right beside me instead of behind me like a creeper. "I am indeed a tad sore."
"Good. Then I did my job well, wouldn't you say?"
"Don't get cocky."
"What's that? You want my cock again?"
"Shut up!" Now, I'm flicking him with my wooden spoon.
"Oww, that actually kind of hurt." He rubs the spot on his arm where I smacked him, and I can actually see a red welt starting to form.
I throw my hand over my mouth. "Sorry! Fia didn't react to it, so I figured it didn't hurt that bad."
We both turn our heads to look at Fia for an explanation. She only smirks and says, "I liked it."
"Of course you did, you sadist."
We all burst out laughing, which gets the attention of Iris and Clover, who are about ten paces ahead of us, thankfully well out of earshot. They slow down and get close enough for us to hear them.
"Clover and I are going to go to the face painting table. Is that okay?" She's looking at Kass.
"I don't mind."
"Do you guys want to come with us?"
We all give our quick responses, something to the tune of, "I'm good," in different terms.
"Okay. We'll meet you guys by the food trucks when we're done."
"Sounds good." Kass hands Clover some cash, and she runs off with Iris before it's even securely in her hand.
Kass, Fia, and I keep walking and stop at a booth selling essential oils, incense, and yoga mats.
We must give our attention for a little too long, because before we know it, the guy selling them is pulling us down onto a couple of sample mats and asking us to try them out. Reluctantly, we kneel down on them.
"Wow, this is actually surprisingly comfy."
"Right?!" Fia agrees.
The mats are lying on the cement, so in theory, this shouldn't be this comfortable, but the thick pad beneath me provides ample cushion for my knees.
I'm adjusting myself on the mat when I hear Kass laughing above us.
I look up to find him pressing his lips together and adjusting his jeans.
"What?"
"Nothing. I just like the way you two look on your knees in front of me."
I look to my left, where Fia kneels in a similar position next to me, our hands on our laps, looking like a couple of subs. "Oh god." Fia and I crack up, leaning into each other for support as we wheeze with laughter.
Kass's demeanor is calm, cool, and collected, with only a slight smirk on his face.
I just know he's fantasizing about all the things he'd want to do to us in a subservient position like this, all the rope ties he'd use to bind us together.
Shit. Now I'm getting hot and bothered just thinking about it.
Fia and I stand, thanking the man for letting us try his mats before politely excusing ourselves. He definitely heard what Kass said because the look he gives us as we leave makes my skin crawl.
After that awkward encounter, we go to find Iris and Clover at the face painting booth. Iris now looks like a tiger, which is perfect with her curly red mane. Clover picked a purple butterfly.
We spend another half hour wandering around the market together. Just before we leave, Kass asks to stop by the cart selling fresh flowers.
"Hey, Clover, help me pick out some flowers for the girls."
Clover turns to Iris, who is now her new best friend. "What's your favorite flower?"
Kass and Clover put together bouquets for Iris, Fia, and me. I would be lying if I said it wasn't super freaking adorable to watch. While Kass pays the lady running the flower cart, Clovers delivers our customized bouquets to each of us.
"Thank you, little miss," I say as I take my flowers from her. "Did you have fun today?"
"So much fun! Can we do this again?"
"Maybe." I don't want to make any promises I can't keep.
I did have a lot of fun with them today, but I still don't know how I feel about Kass and whatever this is between us.
Him having Clover definitely makes things more complicated.
Breaking a grown man's heart when I inevitably get freaked out and run is one thing, but a young girl... That's not fair to her.
Clover tugs on my shirt, indicating that she wants me to bend over to her height. I oblige, and she leans in to whisper in my ear. "I thought of something silly today." She giggles, and I can't help but crack a smile.
"What's that?"
"Maybe you and my dad could be like a boyfriend and a girlfriend."
I clench my teeth together. When I finally unclench them to speak, I ask, "What gave you that idea?"
"I don't know. I know he gets lonely, and you said you didn't have a boyfriend."
"Well, that was a very silly idea." I'm trying my best to keep this light. It's not her fault that she dreams about her dad finding someone.
"And I saw you guys smile at each other. Like a lot."
"I smile at a lot of people."
She scrunches up her little nose. "No, you don't."
Well, she's got me there.
"Especially not like that."
"Since when did you become an expert smile reader?"
"It's the way he used to smile at my mom." Her expression is still playful, but something has changed. I've noticed she gets this way whenever her mother gets brought up.
I quickly stand up. One, because I'm deeply uncomfortable, but two, because Kass has now rejoined the group.
"It was fun running into you guys here." He winks at me. "Clover and I have to get home now."
"Do we haaaave to?" Clover whines.
"We sure do. Now say goodbye."
Clover goes around the circle, giving each of us a hug. She hangs onto me a little longer than the others, or maybe that's just in my head.
Fuck. What did I get myself into? What I thought would be an innocent day at the farmer's market has turned into the start of something that can only end badly.
I thought having the other girls here would help make things more casual, more platonic.
But even an eight-year-old can see the chemistry between Kass and me.
I shouldn’t be doing this to her.