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“If there’s anything you need—”
“No.” She’d taken enough from him. “You’ve set me up to make a ton of money this summer, I’m living here rent-free, you’ve loaned me a car…I’m all set. You don’t need to worry about me anymore.”
With a curt nod, he pushed away from the counter.
She regretted shutting him down like that, but it had to be done. He said he wanted to keep his distance, and she chose to believe what a man told her.
“Better get home. Who knows what ideas got into Kinny’s head today? I once read her a book about bats, and in the middle of the night, I heard her little feet hurrying down the hallway. I caught her before she got far, but she’d decided she had to go outside and see them for herself.”
She walked him to the door. “I’ll tell you, though. She was genuinely concerned about Stella.”
“Yeah, I know. Like I said, she’s not sneaky or rebellious. She’s a good kid. I just have to get her impulsive nature under control. Get her to understand self-discipline.”
“I’m not sure you can change her nature.”
“I changed mine.” He grew thoughtful. “Well, maybe not my nature. It’s something I have to be diligent about. But honestly, my parents didn’t rein me in. They let me raise hell, and I’m not doing that to Kinsley. I’m going to teach her self-control. Life will be a lot easier for her that way.”
She thought about Kinsley standing behind a horse. “So, this plan of yours to change her nature, does that mean no horseback riding?”
“Exactly.” He seemed relieved that she understood. “Can you imagine if I let her get near them?”
“Except she’s growing up on a ranch where the primary mode of transportation is horses. And your mom’s a riding instructor, so she could teach Kinsley how to handle them. I mean, I grew up on the ocean, and I can promise you, my parents introduced us to water safety from the time we were born.”
“I can’t risk it. Not when she’s this impulsive.”
“I guess you got hurt a lot growing up here, so you would know best.”
He looked away, eyelids fluttering closed for a moment. “No. I was lucky.”
There was something in his tone, but she couldn’t quite figure it out. “But your friend did, right? Pretty badly.”
He gave a curt nod. “Booker.” Emotion darkened his features.
“So, you saw what happened to him and realized how dangerous it was, the stuff you guys were doing?”
“No, that’s not it at all.” He tugged on his scruff. “Icausedhis accident.”
“I thought it happened when you went BASE jumping?” Unless he pushed his friend off a cliff, how could it be his fault? “Is he okay?”
“He went through some pretty intense rehab, but he’s recovered. He’s got a good career.” He hunched a shoulder. “That’s what I hear anyway. I haven’t seen him since.”
“Are you saying he blames you for what happened?” They all jumped together…how could Booker be angry about what happened?
“Of course, he does. He never played hockey again. I took that from him.”
“You guys were teenagers, having fun together. I can’t see how anything was your fault.”
“Well, it was. I was a selfish prick back then, and I’m trying not to be. And I’m doing my best to make sure Kinny learns self-discipline before she gets herself—or anyone else—into trouble.”
Moved by his outburst, she stepped closer. “I don’t buy it for a second. I’ve known you all of a week, and I can tell you’re the most generous man I know. And you’re obviously a great father. Besides, even if it was your fault—which I just can’t see—you can’t punish yourself for something you did as a teenager. All kids are selfish.”
“Maybe, but I took everything to the extreme.”
“Oh, boy.” More pieces of the Jaime Dupree puzzle fell into place. He was living a life of penance for what happened that night. “I’m a hundred-percent sure you were a boy full of energy with a lust for life. If your parents didn’t try to tame you, it was because they loved your spirit. And trust me, I’ve gotten to experience it firsthand.” She only meant to tease him about their hot night together, but electricity arced between them. “I really have to stop doing that.”
“Doing what?”
“Bringing up our one-night stand.” She tried to shake off the stream of desire, but it was like holding back the tide. It rushed through her. “All right. You’re way too hard on yourself, but fortunately, there’s a cure for it. Here.” She picked up a cooled tart. “Your first indulgence in a decade. Try this. It’s mango puree, and it’s so good you’re going to weep.”
