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“Yeah, I think we did,” he replied with a pleased grin on his face.
“And here I thought, I was just coming for a little visit. Not knowing all my prayers were gonna be answered,” Chloe replied.
Kye chuckled as he dropped his gaze back to mine. The glow in his eyes was different. He’d never looked at me like that before.
Was it stupid to hope that maybe he was right? That I would be enough for him?
Twenty-Nine
Genesis
Standing back on the sidewalk, I studied the Valentine’s Day display I’d worked on all day at Chloe’s Ocala store. I should have done it weeks ago, but life had taken a crazy turn, and I hadn’t found time. Thankfully, Chloe understood and didn’t mind.
It had taken me several tries to get it just right. Along with the lingerie I’d ordered, I had also designed a cocktail dress that was perfect for a Valentine’s date night. Satisfied with my final display, I took my phone from my pocket to take a few pictures so I could send them to the other stores for inspiration.
I had missed a text from Kye. I swiped my finger to open it.
Jag and I are running some errands. Should be back before you.
Kye had gotten so good with Jagger. He was comfortable keeping him alone while I ran to the store to work two days a week. They had been going out and doing things while I worked. One day last week, Kye had brought a picnic, and we had lunch with Jagger in the park. I was proud of the dad he had turned out to be. Watching the two of them together was my favorite thing in the world. I was ready to get back home and spend the evening with them.
I focused on taking the pictures from several different angles. The sooner I got this done, the sooner I could get home. I emailed the images to the different store location managers, said my goodbyes to Vera and Natalie—one of the young girls who worked afternoons at the shop—then grabbed my pink shopping bag, smiling at the thought of Kye’s face tonight when he saw me in what was inside.
Stopping at the grocery store, I picked up the items I needed for dinner. I was taking dinner over to my parents tonight. Mom had grown accustomed to me supplying their meals on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday nights. Although Dad had gotten better, was speaking clear enough that he could be understood, and feeding himself, he still required help in most everything he did. Cooking had become one of the ways I could help Mom, which was comical, considering I couldn’t be trusted to boil water alone six months ago.
Jagger also brightened both Mom and Dad’s day. They loved when he came to visit them. Mom had started referring to herself as Honey and calling Dad Pops when she talked to Jagger. I felt like Jagger had given Dad a reason to fight to get back his independence. I told Jagger often how special he was even if he was too little to truly understand how his life had brought joy to so many people.
By the time I pulled into the driveway, it was almost four. Kye’s truck was still gone, but there was a metallic-yellow Camaro sitting in the driveway. I didn’t open the garage and pull inside. Instead, I parked beside the strange car and left my groceries in the back when I stepped out.
There was a woman on the front porch, I realized. She had long platinum hair almost to her waist, a pair of tight pink shorts that weren’t much more than boy-short panties, and a matching halter top. When she turned around, her boobs were barely covered and pouring out of the top.
I stopped at the bottom of the stairs. “Can I help you?” I asked, already guessing this was one of Kye’s former flings.
She gave me a once-over and was clearly unimpressed before flashing me a syrupy-sweet smile on her red-painted lips. “You must be Genesis,” she said.
“Yes,” I replied, waiting for her to explain what she was doing here.
She glanced back at the door. “I rang the doorbell, but no one came. I assume Kye isn’t here.”
“He isn’t.”
She lifted her bare, tanned shoulders with a shrug, then walked down the stairs toward me with a white paper bag in her hand. “Could you give this to him? He forgot them the other day, and I know how much Jag loves that stuffie.”
I reached out and took the bag from her, glancing down to see one of Kye’s shirts folded inside, along with the stuffed alligator that had gone missing a few days ago. I’d asked Kye if he’d seen it, and he’d said no.
Why did this woman have it? And why was Kye’s shirt in here?
