Page 78 of Loving Kai

“Some women find single fathers quite appealing.”

“How does she know I’m single? I could be stepping out on my wife with my employee.”

Maggie laughed. “Stepping out?”

“Whatever.”

“You have a very single guy vibe.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

“Everything about you screams unattached.”

“Even the baby?”

“Especially the baby.”

“Women are weird.”

“I totally agree.”

He stopped walking and turned to her. “So if we were here on a date, would my vibe change?”

“Yes.” He scowled, and she added, “You’d be more…possessive.”

“Is that what women want? To be possessed.”

“No.” She tugged on his arm. “We want a man to come to attention when a perceived threat appears. We may say we can take care of ourselves, but sometimes we want to know that some big, hunky man will step in and take care of business when we need him to.”

Abe shook his head. “Now you’re just messing with me.”

“Yes, I am. But I meant what I said about being attentive.”

When two boisterous cowboys in the middle of a contentious conversation walked by and nearly ran into Maggie, Abe stepped in front of her.

“Watch it, man.” The cowboy waved at him and kept going, and Maggie smiled. “What?”

“That’s stepping in to take care of business.”

“But we’re not on a date.”

“It kind of feels like a date.”

He started the stroller moving. “Where to next?”

Maggie caught up to him. “I heard you can feed the baby cows in the livestock barn.” They headed toward the barn, and Maggie glanced at Abe. “I’m sorry. I’m not trying to force you into anything. I’m very happy just hanging out with you as a friend.”

He stopped walking. “What if I’m not?”

“You don’t want to hang out with me?”

“I mean the friend part?”

“Do you want more?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know what I want.”

“Well, until you do, the three of us will have some fun together.”