Page 33 of His Wild Storm
Moving my arm a little closer, I offer it to him. “The ones on my arms didn’t really hurt. At least, not to me.”
He makes a humming sound before gently reaching out and touching my arm. “They’re cool.” He puffs up his chest a little and asserts, “I’m going to get a tattoo.”
Haven makes a choking sound before coughing. “You’re not getting a tattoo until you’re at least thirty,” she gasps out.
The look he gives her is full of sass. “Thirty? You might as well say never if I have to wait that long.”
“Thirty isn’t that bad,” I mumble sullenly.
Wilde’s head swings my direction. “Why? How old are you, Knox? I’m four, but you know that.”
“I’m thirty-one,” I tell him, and his jaw drops open.
“What? Did you get all your tattoos in only one year? That’s a lot,” he looks skeptical as he studies my arms and shoots his mom a look of disbelief.
“Uh,” I’m at a loss, “it’s been a little longer than a year,” I tell him the truth without committing to anything specific.
“Do you want another pancake?” Haven’s question is pure deflection covered in syrup and hope.
“No,” Wilde chirps, “I’m ready for class. Is it time?”
Haven sits back, clearly thinking she’s dodged the rest of the conversation. For now, at least. She looks at my plate while I glance at my watch. “Yup. It’s about that time,” I confirm.
“You run up and grab your supplies,” Haven gently prods him.
Wilde is up and almost out of the room before I know what’s happened. Suddenly, he’s back and grabbing his plate to take over to Laura. Then he’s gone again on the mission of getting his supplies.
I whistle lowly. “He’s fast.”
Haven chuckles and nods. “He is and he has so much energy. I’m so glad he has the freedom to be a little boy now.”
The moment the words leave her mouth, she clamps them together and purses her lips. “I am too,” I tell her honestly, not willing to acknowledge how she thinks she’s said too much. It’ll never be too much when it comes to me. “It’s because you were brave.” She opens her mouth, and I shake my head. “I don’t need to know any details to know it’s true.”
Her cheeks turn the prettiest pink I’ve ever seen, and I have to clench my hands into fists to stop myself from reaching for her.
“Can I take you on a date?”
She startles as if my question is the last thing she ever expected me to say, which is silly. “I’m not sure.” She bites her lip as she looks toward where Wendy and Laura are trying not to look like they’re eavesdropping on our conversation. They totally are. “Dating probably isn’t something I should do until I have my own place and can find a reliable babysitter for Wilde.”
“We’d be happy to keep Wilde occupied for a few hours,” Wendy chirps and then goes back to cleaning some dishes in the sink.
“Or,” I offer, “my boss, Wyatt, and his wife, Tenley, have a 13-year-old and a baby, both boys. They’d be more than happy to have Wilde hang with them for a few hours.”
Haven studies my face for a moment before turning her wide eyes to Wendy and Laura, neither woman looks her way.
She sounds uncertain, “You already asked them?”
I shrug and admit, “He is my boss, but he’s more than that.” I look into her blue eyes and try not to get lost in them. “He’s family. I did ask already, but even if I didn’t, I know he’d be good with it. That’s the kind of family we are.”
“Wow,” Haven breathes out. “That’s good family.”
With a wide smile on my face, I nod. “They’re good family and good people. You’ll like them both along with everyone else.” I pause for a moment as I consider my next words. “If you’re considering making Denver home, they’re all people who will have your back. No questions asked. Don’t even get me started on the extended family we’re a part of,” I tease, and she shoots me a look of confusion. “I’ll tell you all about them during our date,” my voice is hopeful.
Just as I hear little feet thundering down the stairs, Haven breathes out, “Okay. One date.”
“One is a start,” I chirp, trying not to sound too excited and failing epically. “Wednesday? I don’t have anything on my books that night or Thursday morning. If you’re cool with it, and want to use them as an option, you could come by Vibrant Ink and meet Wyatt and Tenley the day before,” I offer.
She tilts her head to the side, searching my face, before poking my arm. “Are you real?”
