“Hey, is this one mine?” Kinley’s sweet voice washes over me. I’m still wound tight, my eyes never leaving Mike’s.
I watch a slow smile creep across his face. “Sure is, darlin’. Don’t forget you promised me a dance.” He winks at her.
I clench my jaw tight to keep from making a scene.
“Yeah, I’ll have to take a rain check. I have an early shoot in the morning. This is my last one.” She raises her beer as she turns to face me. “Evan, do you think you could take me home? Aaron said he was going to stay for a while longer.” She points over her shoulder. I see Aaron and a blonde getting friendly out on the dance floor.
“I can take you home,” Mike offers.
“Uh, thanks, Mike, but Evan is going my way.” She gives him a polite smile, but it’s not her smile, the one that lights up her face—the smile I’ve come to enjoy seeing on her over the past several weeks.
Digging my wallet out of my back pocket, I throw a few bills down on the table and push on Mike’s arm. Reluctantly, he stands and allows me to slide out of the booth.
I place my hand on the small of her back. Kinley leans in to give Olivia a quick hug, then turns to smile up at me.
My smile.
“Let’s get you home,” I say, bending down next to her ear. She nods and, with my hand guiding her, we head out to my truck.
Chapter 10
McKinley
This past month has been crazy. I’ve been busy with sessions in my studio. Business is great; I couldn’t be happier. I’ve been shopping non-stop for the perfect room for baby girl Chamberlin. Evan says he doesn’t know what he’s going to name her yet. I want this little girl to have a room that dreams are made of. Even though Evan has to play mom and dad, I want to help him---we all do. I want to make sure this little girl knows she’s loved, because she is.
Evan is family, so sometimes when I think of him as something other than that, I feel guilty. I try; I really do. I try hard not to notice how amazing his body is. I try hard not to fantasize about tracing those six-pack abs with my tongue. I find myself failing in my attempts more often than not.
It’s hard to prevent it when we spend so much time together. Today is a perfect example. I’m going over to his place in a few hours to start painting. I picked up the paint and all the supplies yesterday. I’ve been giving his credit card a workout. I’ve been finding bargains to save him some money, but he needs everything!
“Morning,” Mom says as I walk into the kitchen.
“Morning. Something smells good.”
“Waffles. You just missed your dad and Aaron. They’re helping Evan with some branding today,” she tells me.
Although both my father and Aaron, as well as Evan, raise and breed thoroughbred horses, they also have cattle. Branding is time consuming. It’s an all hands on deck kind of job. Evan has a small crew who works for him, but with his grandfather unable to help, my dad and Aaron have been lending him a hand the last couple of years. He does the same for them.
“Evan mentioned that last night. He called to tell me where he was going to leave the key. I’m going over after my morning session to start painting the nursery.”
“You know I’ve been meaning to ask you. Your Dad and I want to get him something special. I know he will refuse a shower, although he shouldn’t,” Mom says.
“Yeah, that’s a pride thing, I think. Men just don’t get that a shower is all a part of having a baby. Of course, in his defense, if the baby mamma was involved, she would gladly accept a shower. He’s so out of his element.”
“He’s been a trooper though. He really wants to do right by this baby,” Mom adds.
“Yes, he does. He’s a great guy.”
“Hmm.”
“What hmm?” I ask her.
“Nothing. So, do you have any ideas of what we can get him?”
“The furniture is bought, all except for the rocking chair, but he wants to get that himself. Really clothes, bottles, everything,” I laugh.
“I so wish he would let us have a shower. I was talking to Ethel at church on Sunday and she’s worried about him.”
“Why don’t you all throw a ‘grandparents’ shower? It’s a way around it. I know the ladies at church would understand the meaning of what you are doing. You all can shower Ethel with gifts for her new great-granddaughter.”
“McKinley Rae, that’s perfect! You, my daughter, are one smart cookie.”
“Oh, go on,” I tease her. This causes her to laugh. I love my parents; they’ve been there for me and Aaron every step of the way. We’re lucky to have them.
“Thanks for breakfast. I have to get to the studio. My session is supposed to be here in twenty minutes.” I give her a kiss on the cheek and rush out the door. I have to walk only a hundred feet to get to my studio, but I want to get the lights on and my camera set up. I guess some of Aaron’s ‘I don’t want to be late for anything’ attitude has rubbed off on me over the years.
I’m just setting up my camera when my phone alerts me to a text.
Evan: I put the spare key where we talked about. I also told Gram and
Gramps you would be there. Make yourself at home.
Me: Thanks! I can’t wait to get started.
Evan: I feel guilty that I won’t be there to help.
Me: I got this, Chamberlin.
Evan: LOL. Okay, just be careful. No ladder’s until I get there.
Me: Yeah, yeah. Don’t you have cattle to brand?
Evan: On it.
Just as I’m slipping my phone back into my pocket, it rings. Glancing at the caller ID, I see it’s my morning client. “Hello.”
“Kinley, hi, it’s Beth. Thomas woke up with a fever today, so I’m going to have to cancel our session. I’m so sorry to do this on such short notice. I got busy with calling the doctor and forgot all about it.”
“Beth, it’s fine. No worries. I hope Thomas feels better. Just give me a call and we can reschedule.”
“Thank you so much.”
I end the call and pack my camera back into the bag. Shutting down the lights, I head back to the house. Looks like I will get to start painting sooner than I thought.
In the house, I find Mom on the phone. She raises her eyebrows in question. “Session cancelled,” I whisper. She nods and holds up a finger, asking me to wait.
I grab a bottle of water from the fridge and take a seat across from her at the table.
“Great, Kinley just walked in. I’ll run this past her and let you know,” Mom says before hanging up. “What happened?”
“Beth called and Thomas is sick. She’s going to reschedule. I was just coming in to change into some old clothes before heading over to Evan’s to start painting.”
“I was just talking to Mabel from church. She agrees that having a shower for Ethel is a great idea. She’s starting the phone tree as we speak. We are going to plan it for a month from now after church one Sunday.”
“That’s a great idea! It will be good for Ethel to get out of the house and Evan can use the support for sure.”