Of course, my mind spins in happy little circles with the idea of coming home to Kai later tonight, but then a different wave of emotion pours over me when I realize she’s happy to come over and spend time with my daughter when I’m not even here. That’s like ... unreal. That doesn’t happen with beautiful women. I turn around so Aya can’t see me. “That’s very sweet of you to offer,” I whisper into the phone. “I’m sure Aya batted her pretty little eyes at you. You don’t have to do that, though.”
The phone is silent for a short minute. “Denver, I’d love nothing more than to hang out with your little ray of sunshine tonight. Honestly.”
“I’m kind of jealous of her. Is that weird?” I ask.
“No, that kind of makes me smile,” she says quietly.
“Well, if that’s the case, I’m FaceTiming you.” I look down at my phone and hit the FaceTime button.
“Den—” she says, trying to stop me before the phone connects by video. She’s still at the pool, working. “I’m going to get in trouble.” She’s looking around nervously before staring right into the camera. “You’re a troublemaker, you know that?”
“Our schedules sucked this week, and I want a second date.” I love watching her cheeks blush with a tinge of pink as she bites down on her bottom lip. “What about tomorrow night?”
“Tomorrow is the luau,” she reminds me.
“Shoot. Right. I’ve only been looking forward to that for the entire last week. I made sure Noa didn’t put me on the schedule for tomorrow night because I can’t miss your show a second time in a row.”
“It’s not my show, silly.”
“You’re the only star I’ll see,” I tell her, making it sound as corny as it is.
“Oh boy, you’re a ham,” she counters.
“As long as I’m not the ham, it’s all good.”
Her lips quirk, and she shakes her head. “You are something else.”
“What about Sunday night?” I ask her.
“I’m free Sunday,” she says.
“It’s a second date then. Although, I suppose a lot can happen between now and then, so maybe we shouldn’t put a number on it,” I tell her.
“You’re awfully optimistic, aren’t you?”
“Maybe,” I confirm.
“I hate to disappoint you, Denver, but I’ve been told I have the patience of a saint.”
“Who told you that, exactly?” I tease.
A look of shock quivers through her lips. “Are you questioning me?” Her hair blows in the wind, and the sound of static hits the mic on her phone. I almost forgot she was still working.
“You should go before someone drowns behind your back.”
“I should,” she says, looking around again. “What time do you have to be at work tonight?”
“Six,” I tell her.
“I’ll be at your house at four-thirty. I have your address now too, thanks to Aya,” she says with a smile.
“Can’t wait.” I give her a wink. “Enjoy the rest of your day, beautiful.”
Kai seems a little winded as she waves goodbye rather than saying anything. The moment I hang up the phone, I realize I have four stacks of boxes in the middle of the living room, and furniture pieces still covered with plastic that was dropped into places I don’t plan to keep them in. Then there’s the whole no food thing too. Shit.
“Aya,” I call out, noticing she’s run off, likely to find her bedroom. I follow the sound of feet slapping against the floor, picturing Aya doing spins around the mostly empty room. “Did you find your room?”
“It’s humongous and purple!”
“I’m glad you like it, sweetpea.”
“I can’t wait to show Kai tonight. She’s going to help me decorate.”
“With what?” I ask, laughing.
“Stuff,” she responds curtly.
“You need to ask me before you make plans like that again, okay? It’s fine for tonight, but you can’t do that behind my back again.”
“Why not? She’s my friend. That’s not fair.”
“She’s my friend, Aya, and even if she were seven and your friend, you know you still have to ask me before you make plans with anyone, right?”
“She can have more than one friend, but whatever, Dad.” She slaps her hands on her hips and gives me the stink eye.
With a raised brow, I cross my arms over my chest and clear my throat, the gesture she is overly familiar with. “I don’t think you should be speaking to me that way, do you?”
“I dunno,” she says.
“Well, the answer is no. You know better than to talk to me that way. I don’t know what’s gotten into you to lately, but I don’t like this new attitude of yours.”
“I think you just need to back off, Dad. I’m not a baby anymore, and you always treat me like one.”
She’s testing my patience and wasting time because I now need to get to the grocery store before Kai gets here in a bit. “Aya, enough. I know moving has been hard on you, and I know you haven’t had it easy these last couple of years, but I’m doing the best I can. I don’t deserve your attitude. Ya got me?”
“Fine,” she says.
I pull in a breath because if I don’t drop this, I’m going to end up in a long, drawn-out dad lecture, and I don’t have the time for that. “Look, we have to get to the grocery store because we have nothing in the house right now.”
“I can stay here myself,” she says.
“Aya! Quit it already. You’re not old enough stay alone. Go put your shoes back on and get ready to go. We’re leaving in five.”
“I don’t want to go.”
“I don’t care, Aya.”
She growls and tries to push me out of the room, followed by trying to swing her door closed on me.
“Are you out of your mind, young lady?” I slam her door back open and walk forward to remind her of my authority, and she backs up with a look of fear in her eyes. “Don’t you ever push me or close that door in my face again. Do you understand me?”
She doesn’t respond. Instead, her eyes fill up with tears. Aya doesn’t cry. She’s a strong kid, especially with everything she’s been through. She doesn’t even cry when she gets hurt. Stitches and all last year, she never shed a tear. “I want to be alone,” she says.
“No, I want you to tell me why you’re acting like this,” I tell her.
“It doesn’t matter,” she argues.
“Yes, it’s the only thing that matters right now, Aya. Tell me what’s wrong.”
She stares at me with a glare, not so much an angry one, but more of a painful one. “You’re not even trying.”
I don’t know what she means, but I know this isn’t going to be good, whatever it is. I take a seat on the edge of her bed and open my arms. “Come here.”
She’s reluctant at first but walks into my open arms and sits down on my lap. “You’re not,” she repeats.
“I don’t understand. What am I missing?”
“To find me a mom,” she states simply.
“Aya,” I sigh. She doesn’t understand, and I know that. I run my fingers through her curls and kiss her forehead. “It’s not that easy, baby. People have to find each other, spend time getting to know each other, maybe then they’ll fall in love, and the rest comes after that.”
“Kai is right in front of you, and you’re not falling in love with her. Why?”
“I haven’t known Kai very long, Aya. Love doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time.”
“I’m tired of waiting,” she says.
“Am I not doing a good enough job as your dad?” I’m not trying to make her feel bad or guilty. I’m honestly wondering what she feels because she asks for a mom so often, it makes me feel like I’m screwing everything up.
“Dad, you’re doing everything a dad should do, but I just—”
“Need girl time?” Is that what it is? I hope that’s what it is.
“Yes,” she says without thinking. “Mom isn’t coming back. I know. Even
if she did, I wouldn’t want to see her. I want someone to love you and love me, and to make our home warm and pretty.”
“I understand, Aya. I do.” More than she can understand, I get it. I thought I had it with Isla, but shit happens.
“So, make it happen,” she continues. “Love Kai.”
“Aya, I like Kai. I really do, but I need to get to know her more. I need to spend more time with her. Time creates love, baby. I know it’s hard to be patient, but the things we wait for the longest in life are the most special.”
“Will you try?” She rests the back of her head against my chest and exhales heavily.
“Of course. If Kai likes us as much as we like her, who knows what will happen. We can hope, right?”
“I’ve been making lots of wishes,” she says.
“Good. Keep doing that. Every wish helps.”
Aya turns around and wraps her arms around my neck. “I’m sorry I pushed you. Are you hurt?”
I want to laugh, but I’ll let her believe in her strength. “A little, but I’ll be okay.”
“I won’t ever do that again.”
“Thank you. Can you help me at the store now? I need to fill our pantry and refrigerator.”
Aya looks over at her neon purple alarm clock she’s already managed to unpack. “We better hurry. We only have an hour, and I need to make the house look presentable before Kai gets here.”
My hand finds my face, covering my eyes, as I wonder how my sweet child has turned into a manhandling, matchmaking girl on a mission.
Chapter Sixteen
Kai
I’m kind of going through the motions of an internal battle, wondering if this was a good, or bad idea. Our one and only date was more than I could have hoped for, but there are so many more hurdles to jump over, even if Denver did ask me out for a second date. I know there’s a chance things may not work out, as it would be with anyone I might date, but when Aya asked me to come over tonight, I was like putty in her hands. She has these big Bambi-like eyes that could convince anyone of anything. Plus, she’s so sweet, and she reminds me of Lea at that age. I enjoyed our age difference back then because I loved acting like a pretend mom to her. Of course, I didn’t know then that I would have to assume the role for real some years later. I miss being needed now. I got used to it, I guess.
My GPS is guiding me through a quiet neighborhood just a few miles away from the hotel. I didn’t realize Denver went for a waterfront location, but these houses are all on the cliff. It’s beautiful and must cost a fortune.
I realized after I agreed to Aya’s invitation that they literally moved in today and might not have much of anything set up yet, but I can help Aya with her room as she requested. She said she needed a girl’s touch and that Denver wasn’t always so good at that. It made me chuckle. I can’t imagine a big tough Marine being too familiar with things in the pink and purple department. Not that he hasn’t done a good job with her, but it must be hard. I’m not sure I’d know where to start with a boy after just being around Lea all my life.
I pull in where the GPS tells me too, and I’m a bit taken aback by the size and beauty of this place. Either he saved up a shit ton of money, or he’s getting more tips than I thought at Man Buns, which I’m trying not to think about. I’m not allowed to think like that when we’ve only been on one date. Still …
I park beside Denver’s truck and grab the bag full of things I picked up at a couple of stores after I got off work. I thought they might look cute in Aya’s room. Thankfully, I at least got the information about her wall and bedding colors. It was the first thing she told me.
I go around to the back of my Jeep and grab the pizza I picked up too. Aya didn’t mention dinner, but I figured it was a safe choice in case she didn’t eat. Taking care of someone today has made me feel better than I’ve felt in a while, aside from my date. I kind of hope this all has a chance to go further. I’m not sure I can hide that little fact seeing as I’ve had a perma-smile on my face all day.
The door is closed, but I manage to get the tip of my elbow up to the doorbell, hearing it simultaneously ring inside.
The doorbell is followed by lots of pattering and thumping inside, and less than a few seconds later, the door swings open with Aya on the other side. Her face is just full of excitement. Her hair is dripping wet, and she’s in pajamas. He’s a good dad. I can tell so easily.
“Well, hello, miss Aya. I’m here for our girls’ night,” I tell her.
She throws her hands out to the sides. “I am so excited. Come and see my new room!”
I follow her inside, wondering where Denver is, but I spot him toward the other side of the house, pushing a couch across the room. It’s so open and bright here, and the view is incredible. I’m kind of jealous. My house hasn’t changed a whole lot since the nineties. Mom and Dad didn’t do a whole lot of upkeep on the house, and I’ve done what I can to keep everything maintained, but I haven’t updated anything. There’s also no view, and not much of a yard, but it’s been home for as long as I know.
“Wow,” I say. “The house is absolutely amazing.”
Denver stops pushing the couch and straightens his posture, surprised to see me inside. I hope he doesn’t think I just walked in. That would be weird, especially since I think Aya is already waiting for me in her bedroom, wherever that is.
“I didn’t know you were here,” he says. “I’m sorry. Did I not hear the bell?”
“Oh, Aya let me in. I did ring the bell, though,” I tell him.
He runs the back of his arm across his forehead, and I can’t help visually tracing a line from his bicep down to his hand, watching his muscles flex and tighten against his golden skin. “You okay?” he asks.
Yup. Staring again. Must stop doing that. “Oh yeah, I was just admiring the view,” I tell him, trying to switch my glance toward the window before he questions me further.
“Which view?” he asks, shamelessly.
“Wow, listen to you being all egotistical and stuff,” I tell him.
“What can I say? If you’ve got game—”
“You’ve got no game,” I tell him. “I think we’ve been over this.”
“Damn, you are not like any other woman I have ever met,” he says, walking toward me.
“Easy? Blonde? Giggly?” Too mean? Maybe. That type of woman strikes me as his type.
“Hey now. You don’t have to make it so obvious that I’m easy to figure out.”
I place the bags down on the kitchen table and continue toward him. “I love it here,” I tell him again.
“Thanks. It’s nice, but it may take a bit to make it feel like home, you know?”
“I think that takes time, not things,” I tell him. I don’t exactly know by experience, since I haven’t ever moved into a new home, but for me, home is made up of the times spent there.
“Yes, and no,” he argues. “It’s also the people inside the home. It’s memories, which are a part of people, not objects, right?”
We’re standing in front of one another, and my heart drops heavily into the pit of my stomach as if I were flying down a steep roller coaster. “Yeah,” I say, agreeing but thinking of so many other things at once.
“You look beautiful,” he says, leaning forward and placing a kiss on my cheek. “I have something for you. Come here.”
“Kai!” Aya shouts from the other end of the house.
“I’ll be right there,” I tell her. “Your dad is just giving me the rundown.”
Denver takes me by the hand and leads me into his empty-looking kitchen. “I stocked the fridge, by the way, and got a few things at the store in case you guys get hungry. I didn’t want to leave you here with nothing.”
“I grabbed a pizza too, just in case, but maybe I should give you more credit for being so put together.”
“I’m not put together. It’s just an act, trust me,” he says. “Hang on.” He opens the refrigerator and pulls out a plastic container. I can’t see what’s in it with
his back toward me, but he opens it and drops the container onto the counter before turning back around. “I found this at a little street cart on the way to the store. It’s a hybrid.”
Every time we have intentionally seen each other, he has given me a hibiscus flower for my hair. Since I’m Hawaiian, it’s probably the sweetest thing in the world. Native men might do that for show around here, but it’s a tradition that seems to have gotten lost over the years. I’m not sure who taught Denver about it, but it makes my heart beat a little faster every time he gives one to me. I’m not used to people doing such things for me. “A hybrid?” I ask.
“I guess it was created from a combination of red hibiscus seeds and violet hibiscus seeds, and the outcome is a radial gradient of purples and reds. They were telling me how they cultivated them, and I thought it was pretty cool.”
“I’ve never heard of that before. It’s so pretty. I love it.” Denver sweeps his hand along the strands of my loose hair and tucks the right side behind my ear, then weaves the flower’s stem into place.
“You really do have a way of making flowers look more incredible. I thought flowers were supposed to do the job of adding beauty to something, but not with you. It’s definitely the other way around.”
“Where do you come up with this stuff?” I ask him, laughing because I don’t know how else to react to so much kindness and flirtation.
“Uh, my head? Duh.” He’s looking at me like I’m nuts, but seriously. In my experience, nice men aren’t typically as smooth as Denver is, and part of me wonders if his kindness is an act. He hasn’t given up on me yet, though, so I’m hopeful it’s part of a bigger plan. Not that I know what that plan might be, but I guess I’ve built my surrounding walls up pretty high over the years.
“I wonder what else is going on in that head of yours,” I ask with a raised brow.
“Stuff you can’t know about,” he says, laughing, with a look of shame.
I slap his arm playfully. “What do I need to know before you leave to get fondled for the night?” Hmmm. Maybe I shouldn’t have let that one slip out of my mouth, I think, biting my lip.
Man Buns Page 13