Page 36 of The Cold Ride

Amelia whooped, her fists pumping in the air. Then she raced from the living room toward her bedroom. She was just like me and exuberant over everything she did. She was a mini version of me in many ways. But seeing her with James, she was a lot like him too.

“Thank you,” I said, taking the seat beside him on the couch.

James tilted his head. “For what? Earlier today? That’s not something you need to thank me for. If anyone should be thanking anyone, it should be the reverse with me thanking you.”

At his heated look, I blushed and playfully smacked his leg. “No. Not about that, silly man. For everything you’ve done for Amelia. She’s over the moon and happier than a fly on shit.”

“You’ve done a spectacular job with her, Rory. She’s smart, has a thirst for knowledge and curiosity about the world. She’s kind, engaging, funny, and I simply adore her. I never thought I would ever get so lucky.”

The unexpected compliment slid inside my heart. And it took everything inside me not to lean against his shoulder and sigh. “Well, thank you, just the same.”

“If you’re not sure about us going for a ride tomorrow, we can always stay here and help out.”

I waved him off. “Please. Going to the grocery store without having to take Amelia is like a field trip for me. It doesn’t matter that I love her more than life itself and would give her both my kidneys if she needed them. Shopping with a kid is a whole other experience and makes it take twice as long. So you guys can go have fun. I might even do something crazy like get a pedicure before I go shopping.”

“You should. I’d bet your toes would look real pretty.” He looked at me up and down with fire blazing in his eyes. It was so hot I was surprised my panties didn’t spontaneously combust.

Oh my god, he was flirting! I should mark this day on my calendar. Because James Nolan was flirting with me. Like we were a real couple.

He inexplicably drew me in with the underlying magnetic pull that surrounded him.

“I just might.” I beat back the fluttering wings of hope. Just because we’d had a midafternoon romp in bed didn’t mean we were destined to wind up together, no matter how much I wanted it and him. But I flirted back, leaning close. “And honey, they’ll look awesome.”

His nostrils flared and his eyes went black. The fact that a few words from me could do that to him was heady. It meant he was just as affected. Hope surged inside my chest. Because we might really have a shot this time around.

“Dad!” Amelia yelled from her room.

“I best get in there.”

“You should. You don’t want to see what happens when the native gets restless.”

“Maybe I’d like to see them restless.”

Air clogged in my lungs. And then he playfully bit his bottom while eyeing me like I was a snack he had every intention of indulging in later. He rose, breaking contact, and headed down the hall.

I pressed my hands over my heart. He was flirting. I didn’t even know how to handle this. My heart felt lighter than it had for an age. But in the next breath, the sharp slice of fear burst my happy balloon.

I had to be extremely careful here. Because it wasn’t just me who would pay the price if things went belly up between James and me.

* * *

Ifinished the chapter ofAre You There God? It’s Me, Margaretby Judy Blume. Amelia was tucked beneath a pastel purple comforter on her twin bed with a sleepy smile on her face.

“That was great. Do you think you could read to me tomorrow night?”

Every night. It’s something I wanted to do every damn night. “Any night you want, I will. But you need to get some sleep if we’re going for a ride tomorrow. Riding on a motorcycle isn’t like a car. You need to be awake and alert for it.”

I leaned down and gave her a hug. I opened my mouth to tell her goodnight, but she said, “I love you, Dad.”

My world rocked at her declaration. I’d hoped for it, but I never thought she would say it this soon. And there was nothing I wouldn’t do for her. I embraced her tighter. “I love you, too.”

Blinking the moisture from my eyes, I kissed her forehead. “Now get some sleep.”

She saluted me. I chuckled as I left her room. The kid was a pistol. And I was totally gone over on her. While I’d been in with Amelia, Rory had turned the lights off in the living room. I found her at the kitchen table.

“She’s in bed.” Rory smiled, and my heart turned over in my chest. Was this a path I could tread? This afternoon had changed things, but I wasn’t certain what it had transformed into. Had Rory just been scratching an itch? Or was there more behind it?

“That’s good. She’ll be out quickly. Any meal requests? I’m adding more to my grocery list, things I forgot earlier.”

---