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“Oh! So smooth,” I tell him. “You have great kids, Mr. Kincaid. I know it’s only day one but believe it or not, I’ve found that the most important dynamic for kids is the one between their siblings. If things are good between them, everything else will fall into place. Margot said that they are all each other has.” I study Rowan’s reaction, wondering how he’ll take that and he doesn’t seem to flinch.
“That’s good. I’m glad they’ve had each other. My brother and I have always been close and I’m glad they have that.” He puts the bowl in the microwave.
“Do you have any other siblings?”
“No, just us.”
“He’s younger?”
“Yeah. He looks it, huh?” He chuckles and I shake my head.Yes, he does look younger and has fewer gray hairs and may be a bit more in shape due to the differences in their jobs, but Rowan looks distinguished and gorgeous and way more my type. He looks like a man who might moonlight as a model between his long nights at the office.
“Not necessarily, I can just tell from the one interaction I saw earlier.” I smile. “Perks of the job, I guess.”
He pulls his food out of the microwave and sits on one of the stools. “Did Margot say when she’d be home?”
“She didn’t, but I assume she has a curfew?”
“I mean she usually comes in before twelve,” he answers easily and without looking at me like it’s the most normal thing in the world for a sixteen-year-old girl not to have a curfew.
I furrow my brows curiously. “But she doesn’t have an explicit time to be home?”
“She usually just texts me if she’s going to be late, but once it gets to a certain hour, she usually just sleeps wherever she is.”
“Do you always know where she is?”
“I have her location and she knows better than to be somewhere late at night that I don’t know. I’ve thoroughly vetted all of her friends’ parents,” he says with a chuckle.
“Well, that’s good, but what if they’re out of town?” His fork hovers near his mouth and he looks at me like the thought never crossed his mind.
“Huh, I hadn’t thought of that.” He rubs his forehead.
“Remember what kids were doing when we were young?” I clear my throat. “Well, whenyouwere young. I wasn’t even thought of, but you get what I mean.”
He gives me a look followed by a fake laugh. “Thanks.”
“If your system works, I won’t rock the boat for now, but there is going to come a time when she tries to come in the house at a ridiculous hour because, ‘I didn’t know when my curfew was,’” I say as I mimic Margot. “Teenagers will take a mile if you give them this much,” I add holding my thumb and index finger less than an inch apart.
“Noted.”
“Especially if she’s given all this free time since I’m here. You didn’t worry about that as much I assume because she had to be home to help. All I’m saying is I’m keeping my eye on her.” I cross my arms over my chest.
“I appreciate that,” he says. “A lot.” He clears his throat. “You’ve been here less than a day and I already feel like things are…easier.”
“That’s what I’m here for.” I smile and watch as his eyes drop to my lips instantly before he drops his gaze to his food.
I let out a breath, trying to ignore the tingly feeling shooting through me from just that look. “I should probably head out.”
“Right. Let me walk you out,” he says as he gets up from his stool.
“Oh, no, please eat. I’m fine. I don’t think any trouble will come from here to my car in this fancy neighborhood.” I giggle and he doesn’t move to sit back down.
“It’s dark,” he counters.
“It’s barely nine o’clock,” I argue back.
“God, you’re worse than SJ. Can you not argue with me?” He groans and the gravelly sound of his voice makes my nipples tighten in my shirt.
I have got to get this under control.