that I’m sure.” She gave me the directions and I set off in my truck, needing to get out of my too - quiet house.
When I walked in the spa, I was greeted by the sounds of new age music mixed in with bird calls and the babble of water, and the scent of lavender that was so strong it slapped me in the face .
I turned a corner and found Alexa and Lily seated in a large chairs , their feet propped up in front of them.
“ Caden !” Lily squealed once she spotted me.
They wiggled their pink toe nails at me. I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to be noticing. “ Look at that. Two very pretty girls.”
They smiled at my compliment, so it app eared I’d said the right thing and we made our way to the front.
“ Here. ” Alexa handed me her credit card. “Will you check us out? I want to run over to the bakery next door. I’ll just be a minute. ”
“Sure.” I took the card, but planned to pay with my own once Alexa was outside. She’d done too much for us already. But when the girl at the counter told me the bill came to three-hundred dollars, I reluctantly handed over Alexa’s card. Three hundred dollars for toe nail polish and a couple of haircuts? Their hair didn’t even look any different to me . One thing was clear — Alexa le d a lifestyle I’d never be able to afford. And I sure as shit didn’t need Lily getting used to this kind of treatment.
Alexa came back a few minutes later car rying a little pink pastry box, looking smug. She signed the credit card slip and took her card from the counter, then headed outside to her car with Lily in tow . “See ya back at the house,” she called.
I stood by uselessly until they drove away, then stomped off to my truck. I stopped on the drive home to pick up dinner for the three of us, needing to do something to get things back under control.
Once I got home I could hear Lily singing and playing in her bedroom and found Alexa sitting on the couch waiting for me . I set the bags of food on the table and turned to her . “You didn’t have to do all that today .” My voice came out stern er than I intended .
She stood and placed her hands on her hips. “I know that, Cade. I wanted to. I never had a little sister. Did you ever think that maybe I like spending time with her?”
Shit. I sounded like a real prick. I rubbed the back of my neck . “Sorry, it’s just this is new for me.” There was no denying that the way Alexa was with Lily complicated things between us. It twisted my insides, and brought out my protective instincts.
Her expression softened. “It’s new for me too.” She leaned her hip against the counter, drawing herself unconsciously closer to me.
I brought my hand up to cup her cheek, unable to resist touching her soft skin. I brushed my callused thumb along her jaw. “Hey.” Her eyes met mine. “I’m sorry. I get sensitive about her.”
“Yeah, I noticed. That’s the last time I try to do something nice.” Her tone was serious, but she looked up at me with that crooked mischievous smile of her s . I wanted to kiss the smirk off her gorgeous face.
“Aw, don’t be that way, cupcake. Come on . Stay for dinner.”
She checked her watch. “That could probably be arranged.”
“You got somewhere to be? Don’t tell me it’s another hot date with that country club schmuck.”
She chuckled. “No, actually Peter hasn’t called. It’s just my mom’s been hounding me about coming over for dinner. Let me step outside to call her and see if I can postpone ti l l tomorrow night.”
“Sure. Come inside when you’re done.”
Lily came tearing down the hall to show off her matching pink fingernails and toenails and the pink ceramic fairy she’d painted. It was like an explosion of pink had invaded my house — hell, my life.
“I’m gonna go put it in my room,” she announced, already heading down the hall.
Alexa returned and headed straight for me , a smile on her face . I pulled her into a hug. “Well? Can you
When I walked in the spa, I was greeted by the sounds of new age music mixed in with bird calls and the babble of water, and the scent of lavender that was so strong it slapped me in the face .
I turned a corner and found Alexa and Lily seated in a large chairs , their feet propped up in front of them.
“ Caden !” Lily squealed once she spotted me.
They wiggled their pink toe nails at me. I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to be noticing. “ Look at that. Two very pretty girls.”
They smiled at my compliment, so it app eared I’d said the right thing and we made our way to the front.
“ Here. ” Alexa handed me her credit card. “Will you check us out? I want to run over to the bakery next door. I’ll just be a minute. ”
“Sure.” I took the card, but planned to pay with my own once Alexa was outside. She’d done too much for us already. But when the girl at the counter told me the bill came to three-hundred dollars, I reluctantly handed over Alexa’s card. Three hundred dollars for toe nail polish and a couple of haircuts? Their hair didn’t even look any different to me . One thing was clear — Alexa le d a lifestyle I’d never be able to afford. And I sure as shit didn’t need Lily getting used to this kind of treatment.
Alexa came back a few minutes later car rying a little pink pastry box, looking smug. She signed the credit card slip and took her card from the counter, then headed outside to her car with Lily in tow . “See ya back at the house,” she called.
I stood by uselessly until they drove away, then stomped off to my truck. I stopped on the drive home to pick up dinner for the three of us, needing to do something to get things back under control.
Once I got home I could hear Lily singing and playing in her bedroom and found Alexa sitting on the couch waiting for me . I set the bags of food on the table and turned to her . “You didn’t have to do all that today .” My voice came out stern er than I intended .
She stood and placed her hands on her hips. “I know that, Cade. I wanted to. I never had a little sister. Did you ever think that maybe I like spending time with her?”
Shit. I sounded like a real prick. I rubbed the back of my neck . “Sorry, it’s just this is new for me.” There was no denying that the way Alexa was with Lily complicated things between us. It twisted my insides, and brought out my protective instincts.
Her expression softened. “It’s new for me too.” She leaned her hip against the counter, drawing herself unconsciously closer to me.
I brought my hand up to cup her cheek, unable to resist touching her soft skin. I brushed my callused thumb along her jaw. “Hey.” Her eyes met mine. “I’m sorry. I get sensitive about her.”
“Yeah, I noticed. That’s the last time I try to do something nice.” Her tone was serious, but she looked up at me with that crooked mischievous smile of her s . I wanted to kiss the smirk off her gorgeous face.
“Aw, don’t be that way, cupcake. Come on . Stay for dinner.”
She checked her watch. “That could probably be arranged.”
“You got somewhere to be? Don’t tell me it’s another hot date with that country club schmuck.”
She chuckled. “No, actually Peter hasn’t called. It’s just my mom’s been hounding me about coming over for dinner. Let me step outside to call her and see if I can postpone ti l l tomorrow night.”
“Sure. Come inside when you’re done.”
Lily came tearing down the hall to show off her matching pink fingernails and toenails and the pink ceramic fairy she’d painted. It was like an explosion of pink had invaded my house — hell, my life.
“I’m gonna go put it in my room,” she announced, already heading down the hall.
Alexa returned and headed straight for me , a smile on her face . I pulled her into a hug. “Well? Can you
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