Page 43 of Stick Play

Melanie looks at me with warmth and gratitude. “Ash, it’s so nice of you to help Gina out like this. I always knew you were a jack of all trades, a man of many talents, but I never knew you were so good with kids.”

I try not to balk at the man of many talents comment as it takes me right back to the first time I put my cock in Gina. “I’m not good with kids.”

“That’s not what Gina says, and she wouldn’t leave them with you if she didn’t trust that you could properly care for them.”

I school my features, not wanting to give the trained psychologist anything to work with—the last thing I want is her to see through me, and to be honest, I’m not quite sure what it is I’m trying to hide. “Yeah, well, she has Noah and Brighton’s kids too, and she was in a bind, and helping her is what they would have wanted.”

Gina steps up to the stove and something passes over her eyes before she looks away. “This really does smell amazing, Brady.” She glances around, looking everywhere but in my direction. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Yes, you can refill our wine glasses,” Mel says and slides the bottle her way as she starts slicing a baguette. As Gina fills the glasses, I nurse my beer. I’m driving tonight and don’t plan to have another.

“Mommy, can we get a dog?” Zoe asks, coming into the kitchen with Jersey, a chocolate lab who is almost as tall as she is. She bends and hugs her. “I just love her, Mommy.” When she lets her go, Jersey shakes her head, and drool lands on Zoe’s clothes, but she doesn’t seem to mind.

“Food,” Brady explains.

Mel laughs. “You should see the drool when we cook a turkey.”

Gina grabs a paper towel and starts to wipe the drool—Zoe refuses to take it off. “We’ll have to wash this tonight.”

“I don’t want to. I want to sleep in it.”

I don’t miss the exchange between Mel and Brady. Do they think I’m getting too close to this family, that Zoe might be getting attached. Fuck, I really don’t want to hurt anyone.

“Can we, Mom? Can we get a dog? Camryn and Tate have Mabel the big Bearnaise.”

I chuckle at that. “Bernese,” I correct.

Zoe looks at me like I’m deaf, or dense. I’m not the former but it’s possible I could be the latter. I’m sure some would say I am, considering I’m messing around with a single mom.

“That’s what I said.” I don’t bother correcting her as she turns to Gina. “Mom, can we?”

“We’ll see.”

Ah, her usual comeback.

She throws her arms out wide. “I want a big dog like Jersey.”

“I don’t know about that. Our place isn’t that big.”

“I don’t like little dogs. Miss Tammy has that chewing dog, and it’s always barking.”

“Chihuahua,” I correct, having no idea who Miss Tammy is.

“Did you know Dani used to have a Chihuahua?” Mel tells her. “Its name was Bear.”

“That’s a silly name for a little dog.” Undeterred, she looks back at Gina. “Can we get a big brown dog like Jersey and name it Bear?”

“Honey—”

As if knowing the answer still isn’t going to change, she switches tactics. “Ash has a big house. We could keep Bear at his house. Can we, Ash?”

I push off the counter. Wow, does this kid have my number or what, because yeah, I find it hard to say no to her? “Uh…we’ll see.”

She smiles at that, like she won the battle and now it’s Gina and I who are exchanging worried looks.

Zoe inhales, her focus shifting once again. If she’s redirected that easily, maybe she’ll forget about the dog. “I’m hungry.”

Brady drops the pasta into the boiling water. “Dinner will be in about eleven minutes.”

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