Page 18 of Duty Became Desire

“Munchkin,” I hollered right back, swinging her into my arms when she was close enough to launch herself.

“’Issed you, Tio!”

“Aww, I missed you too.” I smothered her face with kisses, enjoying her squeals. I could never get enough of them. In fact, I had a few recordings on my phone of her laughter because no matter the day I was having, her laughter always soothed my nerves.

“Who tis ‘etty ‘ady?”

I followed her gaze and smiled at Skylar, who excused herself from my mom and made her way over.

“This pretty lady, Suzette, is my wife Skylar, and you’re aunt. This is my littlest munchkin,” I told Skylar.

“”Ice to meet ‘ou.”

“Well, look at you, Suzette. It’s nice to meet you too. And you are the cutest thing ever.”

“’Anks! Tio, down. ‘Un ‘round.”

“Okay, you go run. I’ll chase you in a minute.” I sat her down, watching as she ran after a cousin, both who thought it was hilarious to chase the dog.

“She’s freakin’ adorable.”

“I think so. She’s also my Goddaughter. Suzette has a heart problem; they weren’t sure she was going to make it when she was a baby. I try not to have favorites, or give too much attention to one over the other, but that little girl has my heart in so many ways.”

I felt her eyes on me, and I turned to face her, smiling all the more.

“She adores you too.”

The air around us shifted, charged with a heat that I wasn’t sure where it came from. Or what to do about it.

“Tio, I have a question.” I shook my head, turning to face the teenager walking my way.

“Jo, meet my wife, Skylar. Jo is in my class. What’s your question?”

“The essay you’re having us write, the one on the Civil War. Can you help me? I don’t want special treatment, but I want to make sure my points are correct before I submit it. Think you can help me tomorrow?”

“Sure thing. You have a good handle on it already.”

“Awesome. Nice meeting you Skylar.”

With that, she took off just as fast as she came.

“Damn.”

“What?” I asked, looking once more at her.

“You’re great with them.”

I could only beam at her; the call of food being done stopping us from talking anymore.

Six long hours later, as I sat in the car with Skylar to drop her back off at the hotel, the air around us was once more charged. Actually, it never left. It just seemed to intensify as the night wore on. And no one in the family picked up on it.

“See me up to my room?”

“Sure.” I parked in the garage and then helped her out, my hand on her back as we walked toward the elevator. “You okay?”

“Mmhmm,” was her simple response. But I had to admit, now I was curious about her thoughts. We rode the tiny car in silence and when her floor hit, she stepped out first, her hand wrapped around mine, leading us to her door.

She unlocked it, then glanced over her shoulder.

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