Page 127 of Skate the Line

“What is it?” she asks.

“Yeah, what is it?” Rhodes repeats from across the kitchen.

I huff. “The whole point of a surprise is that it’s asurprise.”

They both frown and share a look.

I laugh out loud. “You two better lighten up. Surprises are fun!”

Ellie thinks about it for a second, then eventually, her scrunched face smooths. “Okay…well, we will see.”

And just like that, she’s bouncing off to do cartwheels in the living room from the sugar boost my leftover cake gave her.

“You’re welcome,” I muse, sliding off my seat.

“For?” Rhodes crosses his arms and stares at me from across the island.

I glance at the spot he laid me on last night, and I hate that he saw.

“For making her look forward to something so she isn't focusing on you being away.”

“What's the surprise?” he asks, coming around the island. “Another clay figurine thing?”

I click my tongue. “No.”She loved Pascal, though.“But I can’t tell you. It’ll ruin the surprise.”

“But it’s not a surprise for me,” he argues, leaning one palm on the island—rightwhere my bare ass was. “Or is it?”

Something dangerously inappropriate flies through my head, and the second I catch a glimpse of his eye, I’m almost certain he had the same thought.

“I was going to take her to the studio and teach her how to do pottery,” I blurt quickly. “I mean, if you’re okay with that?”

“Of course I am.” He nods. “I trust you with her.”

I refuse to look him in the eye.

I’m afraid if he looks at me too closely, he’ll be able to read my mind, and what a tragedy that would be.

“Oh.” He leans farther across the island. “You’re welcome too.”

I gradually level my chin and meet his gaze. “For?”

“For the Emmy-deserving birthday gift.” He winks, and my stomach dips.

He backs away slowly with a knowing grin and walks out of the kitchen.

I shout over my shoulder at the last second, “Don’t let that go to your head!”

“Too late!” he shouts back.

I turn away before he can see the smile on my face.

At least he didn’t decide to fire me this morning after remembering how he had a lapse in judgment and broke his own rule of fooling around with his daughter’s nanny.

Though, he wasn’t the only one who had a lapse in judgment.

Forty

RHODES

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