Page 56 of His Wild Storm
She takes a deep breath before letting it out slowly. “Yeah,” she agrees, but it feels too easy.
My grip on her tightens and her blue eyes snap up to meet mine. “I mean it,” I tell her, my words solid and filled with truth. “I want you to make yourself at home. One day, I hope you’ll consider it our place, but there’s no rush to get there.”
Haven bites her lip as she studies my face. “Sometimes you say the sweetest things, Knox.”
I make a humming sound, my face drifting closer to hers without even thinking about it. “I only tell you true things, my little storm. I’m glad you find them sweet, though.”
Before she can answer me, the door to Safe Home swings open and Wilde’s voice calls out, “Are you going to kiss or are we moving today? I really want to see Knox’s studio. He already said I could use it.”
Haven jerks back, but my hold on her doesn’t let her go far. My lips curl into a smile before I turn my head slowly toward anincensed little boy. He’s tapping his foot, his annoyance clear as day.
There are times when it’s hard not to laugh at the kid. Even though it wouldn’t be a good idea. It’s just so damn tempting.
If he was a spoiled rotten kid, the way he’s expressing himself now would make him look like a brat. He can get away with It because he’s normally so kind, thoughtful, and respectful.
“Of course you can use my studio,” I reiterate the promise I already made to him.
What he doesn’t realize is that what is mine is his. Haven hasn’t fully figured it out yet either, but she’s getting closer.
“Yes,” Wilde exclaims while pumping his fist in the air.
I gently guide Haven toward him since he shouldn’t have opened the front door of Safe Home. Since Haven isn’t admonishing him, I’m not going to be the one to say anything. He’s about to live with some different rules and a little more freedom.
When we reach him, Haven runs her fingers through his hair. Her voice is gentle as she reminds him, “Remember, you aren’t allowed to open the front door.”
Wilde looks up at her and then down at the ground, his expression sheepish. “I forgot,” he mumbles, “and I was excited.”
“I understand why you did it,” she confirms, “but that doesn’t mean it’s okay.”
He nods while his mouth twists to the side like he’s thinking about something. “I can’t open the door to Knox’s house either?”
Smart kid.
“No,” Haven’s voice is firm, “because it’s an adult’s job. Even if you know who it is, it’s not safe for you to open the door. You’ll need to wait.” Wilde nods thoughtfully and when he looks up at his mom, I can see the question he really wants to ask. Haven must see it too because she shakes her head slowly. “It’s not abouthim,” she explains, “it would be a rule, no matter what the past is.”
When he blows out a breath, his shoulders relax, and it hits home just how worried he was. I’m sure Haven will have more rules for him, I just hope she’ll let me sit down with the two of them to talk about them. As a family.
After a few goodbyes and promises to see each other soon, we slip out of Safe Home. I swear the sun is brighter now that my family is coming home with me.
As I’m leading them toward her car, Wilde chirps, “Can I ride with Knox?”
I share a look with Haven and even though I know she wants to say no, she concedes, “Sure, you can ride with Knox.”
I reach for her hand and give it a squeeze to let her know I’ve got him and how much I appreciate her saying yes. “I’ll follow you,” I tell her, needing to have her in my sights as we head home even though it’s not far.
“Shouldn’t I be following you?”
“You know how to get there?” I counter her question with one of my own and she nods. “Then I’ll follow you. I like checking out your trunk anyway,” I joke and wink at her.
She chuckles as Wilde pipes up, “Why would you like her trunk? It’s just a trunk? Aren’t they all the same?”
Haven covers her mouth and slips into the front seat of her car as I mutter, “No, they definitely are not.”
The way Wilde scrunches up his face, clearly confused by my response, has me swallowing down a laugh. I almost tell him how he’ll understand one day, but I’m able to keep that tidbit to myself.
As I help him into the truck before he buckles himself in, I have to wonder if one day he’ll come to me for advice with a girl he likes. I hope so. How can something that hasn’t happened yet leave me with such a sweet feeling?
I already know, if he lets me, being Wilde’s dad will be the best thing I’ll do in this life and probably the next.
