Page 59 of Through the Fire
Kit glanced away so he couldn’t see her roll her eyes. She knew why Theo was staying, and it wasn’t robot-related. It was so he could babysit them. Obviously, it was going to take time and a herculean effort to win their trust.
“Elena, ready to go?” Jules asked.
“I’d like to see the tower, too,” Elena said in her shy, tentative way.
After a quick glance at Sam, Jules gave Elena a commiserating smile. “We’ll have to come back another time. I need to get home, and they’re already going to be stuffed into Kit’s car.”
After a short pause, Elena said, “Another time, then.”
“Dee,” Jules called as she and a reluctant Elena headed for her car. Dee turned around. “Kit’s going to bring you home. Be on your best behavior.” Giving her sister a wave of agreement, Dee hurried to the tower entrance.
“I’m hoping ‘best behavior’ means no crashing helicopters,” Kit muttered to Theo.
Instead of laughing, Theo winced. “With these kids, you never know.”
After giving Theo a sideways glance, Kit moved to Wes’s side. He smiled at her in that pleased way that made her feel like the most beautiful, interesting person on the planet. “You don’t have anything potentially explosive in your lab, do you?” she asked.
“Yes.”
Of course he does, she thought with a sigh. “Help me keep an eye on the kids. Apparently, they have a habit of leaving destruction in their wake.”
Instead of looking concerned, his face lit with interest. “What did they destroy?”
“A helicopter.”
“The biggest thing I blew up as a kid was a car.”
Startled, she blinked at him, and his nostalgic smile faded. “Don’t worry. No one was in it.”
“That’s…good, I suppose.” Mountain people were nuts. “Will you help me keep them from destroying your tower? I’m getting kind of fond of it.”
His grin was huge. “You like my tower?”
“Yeah.” She couldn’t help it. She had to smile back at him.
“I’m glad.” He paused, focusing a little too hard on the tower wall. “Want to train here again tomorrow?”
Her heart gave an odd little flutter and skip. “Sure.”
“I have t-to w-w-work tom-morrow,” Sam said, sounding disappointed. His words reminded Kit that she and Wes weren’t alone, and she looked over at Sam. He seemed to be a little more relaxed now that Elena and Jules had left, but he was still holding himself more stiffly than he had while they’d been training.
“Let’s talk to Jules and Nan. Between the four of us, we should be able to figure out a time when we’re both free to train.” Kit gave him a stern look. “In the meantime, you and Fifi can work on your homework.”
Instead of looking chagrined at the mention of homework, Sam’s face lit up at the thought of working with Fifi, and Kit had to resist the urge to hug him. Under his protective outer shell, Sam was such a sweet, dog-loving kid. “W-we w-w-will.”
“Good.” She tried to keep her tone firm. “Remember that frequent, short sessions are best. Too bad she’s staying out at Nan’s. Is there any way Jules would let you keep Fifi at your place while you’re training her?”
Dee must’ve had a sixth sense when it came to the possibility of having a dog at her house, because she immediately ran from where she’d been waiting by the tower entrance, her face bright with hope. “Fifi might come home with us?”
“Maybe.” Sam sounded more cautious than Dee. “She m-might say n-n-no. F-Fifi is k-kind of w-w-wild. B-besides, w-we’re n-not in a g-good p-place to g-get a d-d-dog r-right n-n-now. Rem-m-member?” He gave Dee a telling look that caused her smile to droop, which made Kit intensely curious. What did he mean that they weren’t in a good place for a dog? Their isolated house on the edge of town seemed like the perfect home for a big dog, so Sam must’ve meant something else. Kit again wondered what their background was, what had happened to their parents so that Jules’d had to take custody of her four siblings.
“I bet she wouldn’t say no if you asked,” Dee said, her excitement returning even as Theo, who’d obviously overheard, groaned. “You never ask for anything.”
Sam was quiet for a moment. “I’ll ask.”
Dee gave an excited whoop. “We’re going to get a dog!” Sam’s grin broke free, lighting up his face again.
Kit had to laugh at their excitement. She could sympathize, since she couldn’t think of a better thing than bringing home a new dog. Then Wes took her hand, and she felt her stomach give a small, excited leap. She kept her gaze forward as the corners of her mouth turned up at the feel of his palm pressing against hers.
