Page 17 of Ambrosia Kisses
"Are you big mad or little mad, Sprout?"
"Big mad. Gammie wants'ta put Papa's–"
"Lyra!" Paisley growls before she can finish that sentence.
Lyra blinks innocent blue eyes at Paisley before turning back to me. "You maked Aunt Paiswey cry, and I lobe her."
"I'm real sorry I made her cry," I murmur earnestly, staring straight at Paisley, who is looking everywhere but at me. "The last thing I want to do is hurt her. She doesn't deserve that."
Paisley snorts softly, not giving an inch. Not that I blame her. All this fucking time… Christ, I'd hate me too if I were her.
"Pwomise?" Lyra holds out her pinky.
I don't hesitate to loop mine through hers, which earns me a big grin from my niece. She squeals, throwing her arms around my shoulders.
"Yay! We fwiends now. Aunt Paiswey, you fwiends now?"
"Yeah, sure," Paisley murmurs to Lyra, still not looking at me. "Let's go get something to eat."
"Unca Widley come?"
"No!" Paisley practically shouts, only to grimace. "I mean, this is a girls' lunch. No boys allowed."
"Oh." Lyra shrugs. "Sorry, Unca Widley. You can't sit wif us."
"It's all good, Sprout." I drop a kiss on her head. "Why don't you go ask Huck to get you a table? Your aunt will be right behind you."
Lyra takes off like a rocket, throwing herself against the doors of the restaurant to force them open. Once she's through, I rise to my feet to face Paisley.
"Can we talk?"
"No." She steps around me, still not even looking at me. It's starting to piss me off. I want her eyes on me, but she hasn't spared me a single look since she saw me standing here. "We said what needed to be said this morning. If you'll excuse me, I have plans."
"Dimples, please." I reach for her, my fingertips trailing down her arm.
She immediately jerks it away. "Don't touch me. And stop calling me that. As a matter of fact, I think it would be for the best if we just didn't interact at all while I'm here."
"Oh, that's what you think, huh?"
"It is."
"Well, too goddamn bad," I growl, pressing up against her from behind. "I'll let you go now because Lyra's waiting, but this isn't over, baby. Wewillbe talking. Soon."
I brush my lips against the side of her throat in a tiny touch. I know damn well that she doesn't mean to do it, but she whimpers softly, melting into me for a split second before she remembers how fucking mad she is. And then she jolts toward the doors like I threatened to set her on fire.
"Good luck with that," she mutters over her shoulder. "And if you touch me again, I'll own your portion of this vineyard, Ridley. Do not test me."
God, she's sexy when she's mad.
"Take it then, Dimples. It'll be yours soon enough anyway."
Instead of responding, she rips open the door of the restaurant and sails through, her gorgeous ass swaying in her skirt. I grit my teeth and plant my feet, trying like hell to convince myself not to go after her.
I want to do it. Christ, do I ever.
But I don't. Not yet.
Chapter Four
