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“You go and have fun, then I’m going to take you home and find out what you’ve got on under that dress.”
The first beat of Pink’sGet the Party Startedpulsed from the jukebox and she started moving to it. “Oh, that won’t take you long. I haven’t got anything on under this dress.” And with that, she was gone, moving over to Leah and Juniper, punching her brother on the shoulder. Her words had left him very hot under the collar, which was exactly why she’d said it, he knew.
He took his drink and went to sit with Len and Bluey. “So, you and Mik, hey? Going well, by the looks.”
Rafe shrugged, not really sure how to reply. If he ignored the powerful feelings that caught him every now and then, and Mikayla’s uncharacteristic moodiness, it was going very well. But those were two pretty big factors to ignore. He watched Mikayla as she chatted animatedly to Bluey’s wife, Margot, who was more than eight months pregnant. Then he saw Margot take Mikayla’s hand and press it to her belly. Margot said something, Mikayla shook her head, glancing over at Rafe with an uncertain expression on her face. He wasn’t sure what that was about. She looked a little upset. Then, in typical Mikayla fashion, she seemed to give herself a shake and raised her glass to Margot, giving her a hug, saying something that made Margot laugh before moving on to talk to someone else.
When she’d done the rounds and had a bit of a dance, Rafe grabbed her another drink, holding it up to show her, then heading to a table to sit with Nora and John. Mikayla joined them soon after, giving him a smacking kiss as a thank you for the drink.
“Having a good time, poppet?”
“Sure am, Dad.” She pulled her chair closer to Rafe’s and snuggled in when he put his arm around her. “But I’ve got bad news for you, Rafael.”
“Yeah, what’s that?”
“There’s a photo booth.”
“I’m aware of that.”
“It’s my birthday.”
“I’m also aware of that.”
“So, you have to join me, in the photo booth, for some pictures where we make complete idiots of ourselves.”
“Do I?”
“Yes. So, drink up.”
He watched her as she sat there, sucking on her straw, smiling impishly at him. He looked away, as he felt an almost overwhelming urge to pick her up and drag her away from everyone. He wanted to have her to himself, kiss her, hold her, take her, brand her.
Mikayla reached up and, placing her hand on his cheek, turning his face back to her. “What is it?”
“Huh?”
“You looked a bit off. You okay?”
“Course. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Great. Let’s go then.” She took his hand in hers and pulled him to his feet as he let her drag him to the photobooth.
“I’ve got one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“I get to keep the photos. I don’t want to be blackmailed with them later.” He grinned when he heard her snort.
* * *
Rafe tooled the car carefully up the narrow track to the top of Sinclair’s Lookout and pulled to a stop. He got out and walked towards the cliff’s edge. He heard Mikayla close the door, then her footsteps behind him. He stopped to let her pass him, watching her as she moved to the railing, her back to him.
“What are we doing here?”
Rafe shrugged. “It’s a full moon. Just thought it’d be nice to hang out here for a bit before we go home and…”
“And?” She turned to look at him, her face in shadow.
“And we play canasta.”
