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I’m taking my time pushing the cart up and down every aisle. Not because I enjoy being at the grocery store, but because I enjoy this time with my daughter. When we get home, it will be unloading and putting away the groceries, starting dinner, laundry, dishes, and the list goes on and on. Here it’s just my girl and me hanging out.
We turn down the cereal aisle, and I grab a box of pancake mix and a bottle of syrup. I think I have some at home, but these are two staples I don’t like to run out of. I’ve been known to make pancakes for dinner, not just breakfast.
“Kenny!” Blakely leans to the right, looking behind me as she waves her little arms in the air.
Slowly, I turn to look, and sure enough, the beautiful Kennedy has just turned down the same aisle. I take her in. She’s in a pair of leggings, a long sweater, and boots that come to her knees. Her hair is pulled back from her face, and her big brown eyes sparkle. She’s not looking at me, though. Her eyes are on my daughter.
“Blakely, I’ve missed you.” She wheels her cart next to ours and leans over, hugging my daughter.
My heart stutters in my chest at her easy affection for Blakely. I’m in all new territory with this woman. She’s the first since I found out I was going to be a father to hold and keep my attention, and she knows my daughter. I’ve dated a couple of times, just dinner here and there. None of those dates ever led anywhere, and I only went on them at the insistence of my brothers and my mother. I wasn’t interested, and they never got anywhere near my little girl.
Now, here I am, lusting after a woman who has not only met my daughter, but they have formed a quick friendship of sorts, and that throws me off balance. Even if I was willing to ask her out, knowing that she’s leaving and that she’s already formed some kind of attachment to Blakely complicates things.
Maybe it’s just me who complicates things.
I seem to always have an excuse. Just ask my brothers. They seem to think I’m full of them when it comes to dating, and maybe they’re right. My past has left me hesitant about relationships.
“Are you getting pancakes too?” Blakely asks her.
Kennedy smiles. “That does sound pretty good.”
“Daddy makes blue ones.” Her little eyes find mine. “Daddy, can Kenny spend the night and have blue pancakes?”
“Not tonight,” I tell her. What I want to say is sure, I’ll drop you off with Mamaw and Papaw or Ramsey or one of your other uncles, and Kennedy can spend the night with me. My cock begins to thicken at the thought.
“Wild Friday night?” I ask, changing the subject.
She laughs softly. “Grandma had company. The sewing club. They invited me to stay, but to be honest, I just needed to get some air.”
“And this is where you decided to get it?”
She shrugs. “It’s not like I have a long list of friends in the area.”
“Kenny, you’re my friend,” Blakely tells her.
Kennedy’s eyes soften. “I know. You are a sweet girl.”
“Have you had dinner?” I find myself asking. I shouldn’t go there, but I can’t seem to help myself when it comes to her.
“No.” She looks into her empty cart. “I don’t even really need groceries.” She laughs. “Just something to get me out of the house.”
“Have dinner with us.”
“Oh, I don’t want to impose.” She waves me off, politely declining.
“It’s not an imposition if you’re invited,” I tell her.
“Yeah, Daddy’s making mac and cheese.” Blakely tries to sell the idea.
“Really?” Kennedy asks as if she’s intrigued. “I love mac and cheese.”
Blakely gasps. “You do? It’s my favorite.”
“You should join us. It’s nothing exciting. Some chicken strips from the deli and some mac and cheese. We could go out to grab something too. Dorothy’s Diner is open until nine.”
“You don’t have to change your plans for me.”
“Dinner at our place?” I ask again.
“Please, Kenny?” Blakely bats those long eyelashes that cover her blue eyes that are the exact replica of mine.
“Are you sure I’m not imposing?”
“What’s im what you said?” Blakely asks.
I start to answer her, but Kennedy does before I get the chance. “It means I don’t want to ruin your plans.”
“She won’t. Right, Daddy?”
“No imposition. We’d love to have you.”
“Well, all right then. Let me put this cart back and call and check on my grandma.”
“We have a few more things to get. Join us when you’re ready. We’re working our way through the aisles,” I tell her. I don’t want to rush this tradition that Blakely and I have. Besides, I also don’t want to have to make another trip to the store this week. I’m getting what we need to get us through to next weekend when we do this all over again.
