Page 63 of Summer Heat
Chapter Seventeen
Shep
Maya placed a few tiles before she got bored and ran off to get a snack. I continued to work, reflecting on the weekend.
I couldn't believe I'd made a move on Kinsley, and she'd been into me. I made her dinner, creating the romantic ambiance that I thought she'd enjoy, hoping for the best but not really expecting anything to happen.
I couldn't imagine why she thought I'd be into someone else. She was the only woman I'd spent any amount of appreciable time with. And I wanted to spend a lot more.
I was pissed that Derek returned Maya early because he wanted to watch a stupid game on TV.
If I had to watch a game, I'd include Maya in it. Get her to throw a ball with me outside, teach her a cheer, or whatever so that we could enjoy it together. And if she really didn't like it, I'd turn it off. A game didn't trump time with people, especially someone as special as Maya.
I cleaned up, ready to be done for the evening. I couldn't wait to spend it with my two favorite people. Tomorrow we'd be back at work and Maya at school. I cherished this time with them.
I'd have to find ways to make Kinsley feel special because she was not getting the signals I was sending out.
Maybe she wasn't used to feeling that way. I could see that if the last person she dated seriously was Derek. He didn't know how to make a woman feel good. He couldn't even connect with his own child. And worse, it didn't seem like he wanted to.
He was physically present but emotionally checked out.
I couldn't imagine having a child and ignoring them. Or not seeing how amazing they were. He was so lucky to have Maya, and he had no idea.
Some men got everything and didn't even know what they had. I'd never been seen as a good bet to be a husband and father. But Kinsley seemed to think I was, and that meant everything.
I jumped in the shower, washing off the grime of the day, before heading downstairs. I paused when I came downstairs. Sheets were strung across the living room, held in place with clips on chairs.
"We thought we'd build a fort and eat dinner inside. I told Maya about the oasis you created on the beach last night, and she wanted to experience it for herself. It's raining now, so I thought we could be warm and cozy inside."
I'd offer to let her go up to my TV room in the attic, but I wanted to experience the fort with Maya.
She winced. "I hope you don't mind that I used your dining room chairs. I promise we were careful."
"Grandma would love that you were using her chairs for your fort."
Maya's eyes widened. "Really?"
"Of course. She loved kids."
"Come see," Maya urged as she ducked into the tent.
"You don't have to—" Kinsley began, and I waved her off.
"I can't wait to see your fort."
There was a lantern in the middle of the space, the sheets dipping a bit in the middle. I held up a finger. "It's great, but it's missing something important."
"Stuffies!" Maya cried.
"That and one more thing. You grab the stuffies, and I'll get my thing."
Maya crawled out, and I followed her. I'd left the lights from last night on the trees, figuring we'd spend more time out there. But I had another string in the butler's pantry. I grabbed it and started to hang it inside the fort.
"Are you hanging lights inside the tent?" Kinsley asked as I worked.
"It will be a proper fort with lights," I said.
Kinsley dropped to her knees at the entrance and lowered her voice. "You don't have to play with Maya, you know."
