The Troublemaker - Cathryn Fox Page 0,44

into more, but they didn’t. After that, he came up with some two-week rule. I’m assuming you know all about that.”

“Yeah, he actually mentioned it to me.”

She frowns. “He did?”

“He just wanted to let me know not to expect more.” I laugh to make light of it. “Not that I ever would.”

“Is that right, Kinsley?” she asks like she can see right through me.

“That’s right.”

It’s a lie. A great big, stupid, fat lie, and maybe coming here really was a bad idea.

13

Cason

“Who wants to go fishing in the morning?” Cole asks, and all the kids jump up and down. Well, everyone except Daisy—Zander and Sam’s daughter.

“Eww, I am not touching a worm,” Daisy says. I laugh. Daisy might be eight, but she’s going on sixteen and her Mom and Dad are going to have their hands full when she really does hit her teen years. I glance at all the kids, and there’s an odd little ache in my heart. Do I want this? Fuck yeah, I do. I want it. I want all of this with the sweet girl beside me. Maybe I have to convince her she does, too—and try not to fuck it up, by giving her what she needs emotionally, and not saying the wrong goddamn thing.

“What about you Kinsley, do you want to go fishing?”

“I’m with Daisy,” Kinsley says, as Daisy pulls her marshmallow from the fire. The little girl steps up to Kinsley and offers her the gooey treat.

“Thank you,” she says as she pulls it off.

“Mommy,” Daisy says. “Tomorrow can we make my hair pink?”

Kinsley’s gaze flies to Samantha’s, like she’s actually worried her free nature might cause conflict between mother and daughter.

Samantha shrugs. “Sure, why not. It’s summer vacation. We can do something fun.”

Daisy claps and grabs another marshmallow, as Kinsley smiles at Samantha. The two don’t know each other well. They only recently met at the wedding. Zander and Sam live in Boston, but fly out to their summer cottage here every chance they get.

“We can have a girl’s day,” Katee says, and scoops up her tired little girl, Khloe. “But right now, I need to get this little one to bed.” Luke jumps up and we all say goodnight as they saunter off.

“I want to stay at uncle Cason’s tonight,” Brandon says, and Cole jumps up.

“Maybe tomorrow night. It’s their first night here and they are probably tired. Need a good night’s sleep with no kids jumping on them at the crack of dawn to wake them.” He shakes his head. “Wait, what am I saying?”

I laugh. “Tomorrow night, Brandon. You and Casey can stay over.” I turn to look at Kinsley. “Are you okay with that?”

“Of course. I’d love to get to know my nephews better,” she jokes. Even though right now they really are her nephews. “I grew up with all sisters. A house full of boys will be a refreshing break.”

Cole and I both laugh at that. “Poor girl doesn’t know what she’s up against,” Cole says, and I shake my head.

“In for a rude awakening,” I agree.

“It can’t be that bad, can it?” she asks and crinkles her nose.

“I’ll leave you to answer that,” Cole says. “Come on boys. You have to get up early for fishing, so let’s move it.”

“Are you coming?” Brandon asks me, and I glance at Kinsley. Honestly, I don’t want to smother her this weekend, but I do want to spend as much time with her as possible. Does she want that, too? Want to make every minute together count?

“Go ahead,” she says with a wave. “I plan to sleep in and then hang out with the girls.”

Guess not.

“Okay, kiddo, I’ll come,” I say and inject a lightness into my voice that I don’t feel. “Someone has to teach you how to properly cast, anyway. I can’t remember the last time your dad caught anything at the lake, other than a cold.”

“Why would I need your help when I have Alyssa?” Brandon says innocently enough, and Cole and Nina burst out laughing. So does Alyssa, who is in the process of stuffing a marshmallow between two chocolate cookies.

“Schooled,” Nina says. She gives Brandon a high five even though he’s completely confused by our reactions.

“Alyssa fishes?” Kinsley asks.

“She’s amazing,” I tell her. “Her grandfather had a rod in her hand by the time she was two. She out-fishes us all the time.”

Casey rubs his eyes and lets loose a big yawn. “Okay boys, let’s get going,” Nina says.

“I’m not tired,” Casey says,