Page 52 of Starting Over with You
But Dean is undeterred, and I’m lost in his eyes. I love how blue they are. I have pretty awesome blue eyes, but there is something about Dean’s that I just adore. They remind me of the sky after it rains. So bright and so clear. Then he hits me with that little smirkof his, and my brain goes blank. “Because you havefinewritten all over you.” The room erupts in laughter, but before I can cackle along with them, Dean leans in, his lips by my ear. “And I’d still let youwreckme financially.”
My breath catches as he steps back and winks before heading out of the room like he didn’t just blow my mind. I know for a fact that he was flirting with me, but I don’t know if he was doing it to make me laugh or if he truly wants me. I bite my bottom lip as I shake my head, laughter bubbling out of me.
He’s a goofball.
With one hell of an ass in those pants.
It isn’t until the door shuts behind Matt that I realize my ex is nowhere on my mind.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-ONE
Dean
“I’m paying Skyye to keep the kids so Matt and I can go out for our anniversary.”
“Yeah, she told me. I would have kept the kids,” I offer as I turn off the main road onto a back road that runs by the mountains. I’m on call, but I needed the open air of the Smokies. I made sure dinner was done before I left for my drive in the firehouse SUV just to make sure my town is safe.
Or at least, that’s the excuse I’m using.
Truth is, I’m worried about Kenni.
“I want you to come,” Sadie insists. “It’s gonna be fun, the whole crew.”
Don’t ask about Kenni.
Don’t ask about Kenni.
Don’t ask about Kenni.
“Nyle too?”
She lets out a heavy sigh. “Yes. According to Missy, he’s excited he was invited. Not that I wantedto.”
I snort. “I figured.” I swallow hard and decide, what the hell. “Has Kenni said if things have gotten better?”
She groans loudly. “Not at all.” My fingers tighten around the steering wheel, my knuckles white. There is only one person on my shit list—his name is Stratford Robbins—but damn if Nyle isn’t trying to climb up on to that list. “Kenni doesn’t feel comfortable there. Like, not welcome. She’s been hanging with Skyye mostly, just to keep the peace.”
Skyye told me the same. Kenni is even sleeping in Skyye’s room. I’m not the least bit happy about that. Skyye is a kid, not supposed to deal with her stepdad being a dick to her aunt. Like me, she won’t complain and will do anything to make sure that Kenni is comfortable. “Have you mentioned her staying with me?”
I’m met with silence, and I instantly regret my question. She makes a little giggle sound that I am well acquainted with. She usually makes it before she says something I don’t want to hear or asks me something I don’t want to answer. “I’m surprised she isn’t running to your house with how you were flirting with her.”
Here we go.
Sometimes I wonder why I answer the phone when my sister calls.
“I wasn’t flirting.”
She chortles. Loudly. “You so were! All winks and smirks.” She giggles. “I think someone is crushing on Kenni.”
Crushing. Fuck, I’mobsessed.
Before I have to try to deny her claim, I’m slamming on my brakes when a person runs out in front of my SUV. I didn’t catch who it was, it’s too dark, but then I let out a long curse just as Sebastian Wilkins, Noelle Matthews, and fuck, Kenni run after the person I almost hit.
“Dean! Are you okay?”
“Let me call you back,” I say, hanging up on my sister before I’m out of the SUV and rushing around to follow everyone. Seb is yelling for his dad, who is hauling ass. Noelle is calling out more softly, while Kenni is trying to keep up. I know I’m faster than all ofthem, so I put on the gas and close in on Big Seb as he heads toward the forest. I cut him off, and he goes still, his eyes wild and his face bright red. I don’t have to ask to know he’s confused.
