"I'm allergic to blueberries. My eyes swell up and my throat gets scratchy," Norah explained, shaking her head like she was disappointed he didn't know that about her.
"Well, we wouldn't want that. Trip waffles without blueberries coming up." He took the waffle iron from me and moved around the kitchen with ease.
I sat next to Norah and tried not to stare at the sexy man in my kitchen, cooking breakfast. A loud laugh came from the hallway and I glanced at Norah.
"I think Momma likes him. She never laughs at guys unless it's Grandpa," Norah whispered in my ear.
Renee's laugh sounded out again, this time followed by a deeper one belonging to Brian.
"You're right. I don't remember your mom laughing like that in a long time." I tickled her tummy and she squealed loudly.
"Not even with my daddy?" she asked, her eyes round with innocence.
Renee and I never hid anything from Norah, but we also never told her the complete truth of her father. In the beginning it was enough, but since she started school and saw all the daddies she was more curious about her sperm donor.
Trip glanced at us and stopped cutting fruit. He leaned against the counter, not bothering to hide he was listening. His arms bulged when they crossed over his muscular chest and my mouth went dry from the sight. Trip coughed and I glanced back at Norah, knowing I was caught.
"Your mom and I weren't friends when she was with your daddy. We only became friends when I found out she was pregnant with you. I don't know if she ever laughed with him, but I have a feeling she didn't. I can promise you she’s gotten more laughs from you than a million guys could have given her. And he made us both happy by giving us you."
Trip sent me a wink before moving to pull out the first waffle.
"What would you like on your waffle, my lady?" Trip asked Norah.
"Strawberries and whipped cream." She bounced up and down.
"That's a lot of sugar for breakfast," I told her, getting up and pulling out the butter and syrup.
"Aunt Kenna, you threatened my life and told me my dad was a scoundrel. I think sugar’s in order this morning. Don't you?" she countered.
"You told her what?" Renee emerged from the hall, Brian standing next to her.
I smacked my palm against my forehead, glaring at Norah around my wrist. She blew me a kiss and pointed to her bare waffle.
Needing something to do, I poured fresh strawberries on her waffle, finishing it off with a mountain of whipped cream, hoping it would keep her quiet.
"Trip wanted to make her blueberry waffles, but we explained Norah was allergic to them."
Trip nodded, confirming my statement.
"Then we heard you laugh, and I asked if you laughed like that with my dad," Norah filled in.
I bit my lip as I watched Renee's cheeks turn red.
"And Aunt Kenna explained she never saw you two together, but she was certain I made you laugh more than anyone," Norah finished with a huge mouthful of sugar coated waffle.
"Anyone want a waffle?" Trip interjected.
"I do," I answered, thankful for the subject change.
"Those were amazing," Norah said, rubbing her tummy.
"Trip's infamous for his waffles, but I'm a legend for my enchiladas." Brian got up and grabbed his plate, taking Renee's and Norah's as he went to the kitchen.
"Your enchiladas have nothing on my steak," Trip argued.
"Are you two really arguing about enchiladas and steak, or are those just euphemisms?” I asked, pushing my plate away.
Trip coughed on the coffee he just took a sip of, and Norah pounded her fist on his back.
