Page 23 of Pour Timing

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?”

“Youthink 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.”

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