Page 23 of Summer Heat
Her lower lip protruded.
I put my hands on my hips. "You can at least try."
"Ugh, fine." She stomped off.
She was going to be a handful when she was a teenager. I wasn't looking forward to more attitude coming out of that tiny body. Then I felt a pang because I thought I'd meet someone by now and be working toward a sibling for her.
Being a single mother was harder than I ever imagined. I didn't have the energy to sift through potential candidates or figure out if they really liked kids or were just placating me in order to hook up. I was busy and tired most of the time.
I was interested in Shep because he was available. He lived in the same house as me, and we shared a bathroom. That's all this was, a little infatuation because we were setting up house together. Something I hadn't really done with Derek.
But Shep didn't mind helping me out with Maya, dealing with her car seat, and cajoling her to brush her teeth. Whenever he was home during teeth brushing time, she requested that he sing, and I couldn't help but hang out in the bathroom to watch them interact. It was adorable and seriously dangerous for my heart. Not to mention my neglected libido.
I refilled Maya's water bottle and grabbed a snack for her. Then I waited at the bottom of the stairs for her to come down.
Shep came inside and clapped his hands together. "Who's ready for a festival?"
"Me!" Maya cried from the top of the stairs. Then she hopped down the stairs, taking a huge leap from the fourth step from the bottom.
"Whoa," Shep said as he caught her before she crashed on the hard floor.
"Maya. No jumping," I chided, my heart racing from the scare.
"You could get hurt," Shep said as he set her on her feet.
"You caught me," Maya said simply as if that was all that mattered. As if he'd always be there to catch her.
Shep met my gaze over Maya's head, and there was so much in his expression; I had to look away. I was the one who'd be there for Maya. Her father came and went in her life. No one stayed for her or me.
"We should get going," I said, trying not to feel the emotions that were coursing through my body.
The church was on the other side of Sanibel Island, so it took a bit to get there. Maya kept up a steady stream of chatter in her seat. When we arrived, Shep insisted on getting her out.
There was a band playing on a stage in the courtyard, and there were tables placed around with activities and food. We grabbed a lemonade for Maya before settling at a craft table where Maya painted a ceramic mushroom house.
I was surprised when Shep sat in one of the kid chairs next to her and painted his own beehive. The woman who was walking around helping the kids get their paints was clearly charmed by him. It was hard not to be.
He tapped his chin with his finger, holding up their ceramics. "Which one is better?"
"Maya's," I said, enjoying teasing him.
Maya hopped up to get another ceramic to paint.
Shep managed to smear paint on his chin, so I grabbed a wet wipe and leaned over to wipe off the paint. "There's a little smudge."
He glanced down at me, his voice amused. "You just wanted to get close to me, didn't you?"
His voice was low and gruff and settled deep in my chest. I couldn't stop the smile from spreading across my face. "You're ridiculous."
"Did you get it?" Shep asked, reminding me that I was still sitting too close to him. I nodded, moving away, so that Maya could sit between us again.
This time, they both painted the little camper.
The volunteer said, "When you're done, you can plant a succulent in your camper and take it home."
"Thank you so much for putting this event on. Maya loves coming." I was fairly sure it was to encourage people to come to the church, but we never felt pressured.
"I love seeing everyone come together and having fun."
