Page 37 of Fighting Chance

Tapping my chin, I land on a plan before gasping dramatically. “Emmy, have you seen your new bed?” At her head shake, I stand, walking to the bathroom door and letting out an excited squeal. “Emmy! Oh my gosh, it’s so pretty! I want one exactly like it. Can I have yours?”

She all but scampers out of the tub to try and get to the door, shaking her head aggressively.

“I can’t have it?” I ask as Kieran wraps her in a bath towel.

The second he’s got her bundled she’s off like a rocket, running past me to throw herself onto her bed.

“Genius,” Kieran mutters. “It took me over an hour last night to get her out of the tub.”

“Two words, Ashford: bribery and imagination.”

“And when that fails?”

I pull a face as I move to grab her pajamas. “Prepare for a tantrum.”

An hour after walking me through Emmy’s routine, Kieran pauses at the bottom of the stairs and groans softly, his eyes closing after taking in the carnage of his living room.

The furniture’s in disarray. I must have been too preoccupied with Kieran and Emmy when we came in earlier to notice.

“I’ll help you move everything into a normal spot,” I offer, already grabbing a piece of furniture when Kieran’s hand darts out, gently capturing my wrist.

“We’ve done enough today. I’m dead on my feet so you must be too. Let’s just sit on the couch and order food while we go over my schedule for the next week.”

His hand is still wrapped around my wrist, his calloused skin sending a tingle of awareness through my body.

“I love that idea, Kieran, but…”

“But?”

I wince. “The couch is in the kitchen…and in separate pieces.”

He throws his hands in the air. “Fuck it. We’re sitting on the couch in the kitchen then.” He stomps over toward the cushions. “Surely this is a first we’re ticking off on your list?”

“On the list, no.” I practically moan asI flop down on the sectional. “A first, yes. My god, Kieran, where did you get this couch? It’s like a cloud.”

He takes a seat beside me because it’s either that or the small square on the other side of the living room where we would have to yell to hear each other. The sectional piece is large but not large enough that we can sit without touching.

My breath freezes in my lungs as his legs brush the bare skin of my thigh, and it takes everything in me not to shiver at his heat. He changed into dry clothes, opting for black shorts.

“Worth every penny,” he utters as he spreads his legs farther, having no qualms about touching me as he gets cozy.

Of course he doesn’t care about leg touching, he’s no doubt done everything under the sun with women.

His features soften and relax, his eyes closing as his body practically melts into the couch.

“Do you want to do this another night? It looks like you’ve reached your quota for the day.”

Kieran opens one eye. “Are you telling me I look exhausted?”

Folding my legs so my knees are pressed together, I prop my head on my fist. “No, I just think it’s been chaotic for you.”

“It has been but being around you doesn’t tire me.”

“It doesn’t?”

He shakes his head before pulling out his phone. “What’s your favorite food?”

“Oh, I can eat anything.”