Page 32 of Kiss Me Forever

“Well Reece has a lot of room,” Bella mock whispered.

“I’m sure we could find something to fill up those spaces.”

“It’s the wrong time to plant flowers. Isn’t it?” he asked.

“Yes. It’s a little late because of the high heat, but there’re other things we can do. Don’t worry, I promise I won’t go too crazy.”

“I feel I should just hand over my credit card now.”

I held up my hand at the same time as Bella, and I looked down at the girl, realizing I didn’t have to look down too far, and we both burst out laughing.

Reece let his head fall back and he groaned. “A menace. Both of you.”

“I try,” I teased.

“Will you come with me this way? I saw a stone turtle that looked really cool.”

“Lead the way,” I said, as Bella moved forward, and I glanced over at Reece.

“If you want, I can head out. I didn’t realize you two would be here.”

He shook his head and pushed a lock of hair back behind my ear. I tried not to lean into the touch, but goosebumps pebbled my skin. “She likes you. I realize that it may be a lifeline, but she’s easier when you’re around.”

“Oh,” I said, feeling oddly disappointed.

“And I like you being around too, Brooklyn.” He shook his head. “Even though I’m not good for you.”

And with that cryptic comment, he moved to follow Bella, leaving me alone for a moment. I had been panicking before over his kiss, wondering how I was going to ever forget it. And now it seemed I had a whole new level of panic to add. Because Reece’s daughter liked me. And I liked her just as much. But Bella’s father? I could see myself easily falling for him. And that sounded like a recipe for heartbreak.

Chapter 8

REECE

“What do I have to call them?” Bella asked. She wasn’t looking at me, her attention out the passenger side window, but that was fine. After all, with the bright blue skies, and the park filled with a small community event, it was much more interesting than anything I had to say.

“You can call them whatever you need to. Within reason.”

She looked at me then, a brow raised.

“I know that look. I see that look in the mirror.”

“No you don’t,” she said, and I let that slide as well. We were not having a good morning.

I’d woken up late thanks to dreams that would not let me out of their grip. There was no need for me to be dreaming of Brooklyn like that. Just like there had been no need for me to grab her like I had and stuff my tongue down her throat. But that was neither here nor there because it wasn’t going to happen again.

Of course, my dick last night hadn’t agreed with me, and here we were.

Breakfast had been a fight, as Bella hadn’t wanted a single thing in my fridge but wanted to go out to a fancy coffee place for a pastry and sugar laden drink. And while part of me wanted to just let her have her way because I was tired, and unsure what to do, I didn’t want to set a precedent. Bella was hurting, I knew that. But she was also pushing back with everything she had because she had no idea what the fuck she was doing, just like I didn’t. We made a team, a team that I wasn’t sure she wanted any part of.

Well too fucking bad, because we were both stuck in this situation, weren’t we?

“But do they want to be called grandma, grandpa? Or grandmother and grandfather. That’s what I call my mom’s parents.”

Her voice quieted. As I turned down my parents’ street I tapped my fingers along the steering wheel, trying to formulate an answer. My daughter was just as lost as I felt. Just the idea I could say the phrase my daughter scared me. I had lost so many years of her life, she’d had twelve years of thinking I was a deadbeat—or dead.

“You should ask them. My parents are nice, you know?”

“Whatever.”