Page 29 of Chasing I Do
She did it every time she needed a reminder of how wonderful life could be. He was breathing in the scent of heaven. Pure and sweet and so powerful it had the ability to wash away even the deepest aches.
“I’ve never been an uncle before, so that makes us a perfect pair.” Gage looked over the top of Kylie’s caramel curls and mouthed,Thank you.
“You know what?” Kylie leaned back. “Sam’s uncle buys him ice creambeforedinner and even lets him get sprinkles. And one time he let Sam stay up way past bedtime to play video games, and didn’t even make him brush his teeth.”
Gage laughed, rough and low. “Well, I don’t know about all of that, but I can show you how to make a tutu out of a boa and a shoelace. In fact, one shoelace and Fancy will be twirling around the lawn like a prima ballerina.”
He loosened one from his shoe, then waited for Kylie to pull it out, making a slithering sound when she did. Kylie, completely smitten at this point, giggled as he wove it through the seam of the boa, gathering it as he went. In a matter of seconds, he’d transformed the boa into a big, fluffy tutu. And himself from estranged uncle to Kylie’s own personal hero.
“How’s that?” he asked.
“Perfect!” she shrieked, looking wide eyed at Gage as if he’d announced he’d invented cake. “Isn’t it perfect, Mommy? We did it!”
Gage looked up and gave a boyish smile, so similar to Kyle’s her pulse galloped. But instead of that smile telling her he had it, Gage’s grin was asking her how he was doing. That he was trying to earn her trust spoke volumes, that he was being so patient and gentle with Kylie brought tears to her eyes.
“Perfect,” she said, because she couldn’t think of a better word.
His gaze locked on hers, so intense, yet so gentle she found herself holding her breath. Being on the receiving end of that kind of focus was overwhelming, exciting even. She felt as though he was seeing every inch of the real her, taking in the reality of what their life was like—and he was drawn in.
“Pretty dang perfect,” he said, and although Darcy told herself he was talking about his time with Kylie, she couldn’t help but notice that his focus had dropped to her lips.
Looking away before the heat covered her cheeks, Darcy went back to setting up lunch, ignoring the tingling in her stomach. She hadn’t tingled since Kyle. And to tingle now, like this, over his twin, didn’t seem right.
But when she looked back over her shoulder again, and watched Gage lift Kylie on his lap to demonstrated how to tie a knot, she decided not to ignore the tingles. At least for today. Because this is what she wanted for Kylie. This moment, right here.
Laughter. Family. Connection.
Happiness.
And no matter how hard it got, she would do anything to keep her kid as happy as she was right then.
And what about your happiness,her heart whispered, because Kylie wasn’t the only one who was in danger of becoming smitten.
???
Gage sat in his car and watched Darcy’s taillights disappear down the street, and he wished Darcy had slowed down long enough for them to say more than a few passing words. Not that he’d minded watching her flit around in that dress.
Closing his eyes, he could still picture it. Cream, with light pink flowers that matched her lips, the soft fabric rippling against her body when she moved. He could especially picture the way it had flirted around her knees when she sat—never next to him, but as far away as the table would allow.
It was if she’d been on the periphery of the afternoon, watching and observing, but never engaging. Oh, she’d been there for Kylie, attentive and open, but had kept him at a distance. He’d caught her watching him from afar a few times, but before he could wave her over, she’d go back to writing in her journal.
She’d given him everything he’d wanted today to be—but nothing of herself. And that left him wanting.
For the past week, he’d been looking forward to today, even avoided contact as not to give Darcy an opportunity to cancel. And while he appreciated the time alone to get to know Kylie, he wanted to get to know Darcy again.
Strangely enough, seeing her in the mother role hadn’t been the visual confirmation to back the fuck off that he’d hoped it would be. Instead, he was completely captivated. Watching her with Kylie, the way she confidently ran her business, only confirmed that she had grown into the incredible woman he knew she would.
What was wrong with Kyle that he let her get away? And how could he, knowing what his future held, throw it all away on a drinking induced tantrum? Women like Darcy came along once in a lifetime, and he’d bet no one had ever told her that.
And now she was heading home, for a wedding consultation, and he hadn’t even had the chance to tell her how impressed he was with her. What a great mom she was, and how she’d managed to raise one hell of a great kid.
Sliding his leather jacket on, he transformed from Uncle Gage back into, what had Darcy called it?
Oh yeah, the smooth talking negotiations expert.
“Thanks for taking one for the team,” he said to his passenger, who looked like he deserved a stage name—and he wasn’t talking Broadway. “And extra treats for not going for a doggie high five to the crotch. Your restraint was impressive.”
“Yip!”
