Page 21 of Every Little Kiss
“No.” This time the blushing was accompanied by a smile. “By all of the flirting and laughing. I’m not sure how to read you.”
Join the club.
“Well, isn’t that a damn shame,” he said. “Because you have one hell of a laugh, and flirting is good for the soul.”
It was good for the body too, almost too good. And if he didn’t change the topic, Ford’s bodysuit wasn’t going to have enough room for his paddleboard. Because her eyes were locked on his mouth, and the way they dilated told him that she was drawn to him. The worst of it was, he was feeling pretty damn drawn to her.
And it had nothing to do with the promise he’d made to Sam.
Had she been any other woman, he’d see where that attraction led—which was usually a bed or the nearest flat surface. But this wasn’t any woman, and he couldn’t go there.
Ever.
“See, that,” she said. “The wholeone hell of a laughthing—I’m not sure how to read that.”
That she was hung up on it was interesting. Almost as interesting as the way she was looking at him. Not like he was some rookie, but as if she saw something in him that was somehow impressive. It was a look he could get used to.
He leaned against his paddleboard. “It’s as straightforward as you bringing me a cupcake.”
“Then let me clarify,” she said seriously. “The cupcake was to thank you for helping me out with Superdog Stan and saving my son’s first day at superhero camp. Even though I know it made you late for your briefing.”
“Well, with superhero camp on the line, it was a no-brainer. First days are a big deal. How did it go?”
He asked it casually, as if they were two neighbors simply shooting the breeze on a nice summer’s eve. When in fact, Ford had been looking forward to this day for months. Ever since he read about the program online.
The camp encouraged kids to find their inner superhero, while giving them a costume to role-play.Fake it till you make it,Ford liked to say. It was skill that had pulled him through some of his hardest times. And he’d hoped Paxton would find the same benefit. It was why Ford had enrolled him in the first place. His birthday present to Paxton. Not that Liv would know, because Ford hadn’t signed the card. He never signed the cards. Just like he never stayed longer than it took to make good on his promise.
A promise that, up until today, had been nothing more than checking in on Sam’s family from a distance. Making sure they were healing and thriving. And okay, whenever a holiday came around, and Ford found a trinket or comic book, something a father would gift to his son, Ford picked it up for Paxton—delivered from an anonymous sender.
What had started out as a onetime trip to Sequoia Lake to give Liv Sam’s final Christmas present had turned into a two-year mission to find closure. But this was to be his last trip, so he needed to make sure that when he left, there would be no need to come back.
Well played, Ford told himself, because once he got past the reason he’d been sent to Sequoia Lake and became recertified, there wouldn’t need to be another visit. Something that brought up a dump truck full of mixed feelings he didn’t want to acknowledge right then.
It was clear that Liv was going to be just fine. She’d come a long way in the past year, and Sam would be proud. Oh, there were still a few hurdles she’d have to navigate, but Ford wasn’t worried. Liv Preston was as tough as they came. She’d picked up the pieces and was moving forward. Which meant that Ford was free from his promise.
And at the perfect time.
He hated secrets—and this one was getting out of hand. Had witnessed firsthand just how destructive the cycle could be. Most folks were one dark secret from destroying everything that mattered. Playing the silent protector had taken its toll, and Ford was ready to relinquish the role.
Too bad that meant owning the past.
“I guess it went exactly how I pictured the first day going. Paxton, that’s my son, doesn’t do change well. He’s had to adapt to so much change so fast. I think he’s just rebelling,” Liv said as if she wouldn’t mind rebelling every now and again. “But tomorrow is a new day, which means a chance to make new friends, take new risks, and maybe come out of his shell a bit.”
“He’ll get there,” Ford promised, because with a woman like Liv in his corner, there wasn’t anything Paxton couldn’t accomplish. Just like there wasn’t anything positive that could come from prolonging this conversation.
Ford picked up his board. “Good night, Liv.”
“Night, Ford.” But neither of them moved.
Liv worried her lower lip while her gaze slid over his. And fair being fair, he did some gazing of his own, surprised to discover he couldn’t look away. Sure, Liv had some kind of hold on him. But up close, she made his head spin so fast common sense was obliterated. Which was why he kept flirting with this particular woman even though logic told him it was a bad idea.
Even worse, it didn’t feel like flirting. It felt more like connecting. A connection he suddenly wanted to investigate.
Not good,he thought.Not good at all.Because while he’d come to Sequoia Lake to find answers, when she smiled at him like that it stirred up questions that were a hell of a lot more problematic.
Ford told himself to take a step back, even as his feet moved forward.
“Woof!”
