Page 67 of From the Start

Kai grabs a tray from a passing waitress and begins putting their food onto it. “Lunch is on me. Make certain to get dessert. The cherry pie is to die for.”

He doesn’t wait for them to respond before moving to the booth and setting their food and drinks down on the table. Thewoman looks at the man and he shrugs before standing and following Kai to the booth.

I remove one of the chairs and place Dad’s wheelchair close to the table. Kai returns with a washcloth and cleans the table. He disappears again and this time he returns with menus.

“Did you work here?” I ask when he finally sits down next to me.

“Nah. Eli worked here when he was in high school.”

“And he taught you everything you know?”

Dad scowls at me. “Stop interrogating him. He’ll never want to be your boyfriend if you’re always poking at him.”

Kai waves a hand in dismissal. “It’s okay, Henry. Harper can ask me whatever questions she wants. I’m an open book to her.”

“You should be a little mysterious.”

Kai chuckles. “Is that how you won your wife over?”

Dad grins. “Vikki couldn’t resist me once I hit her with my charm.”

Kai leans close. “Tell me more. I could use a few hints to get this one to fall for me.”

“You have to leave her wanting more,” Dad says.

I groan. “Please, for the love of all the pirates on the sea, do not discuss your sex life with Mom with Kai.”

“A good sex life is important for a relationship. Don’t you think, Kai?”

Kai raises his hands. “You’re awesome, Henry, but I can’t discuss what Harper and I do behind closed doors with you.”

“Good.”

“Were you testing me?”

“Yep. Only the best for my daughter.” Dad pats my hand.

“I agree.” Kai smiles at me and his blue eyes are full of warmth. And love?

No. Not love. I must be delusional. Maybe I’ve been reading too many romance books. There’s no way Kai Raider actually loves me. We barely know each other.

Except we’ve known each other for years. Although, the Kai I thought I knew was a goofball jokester. I didn’t expect him to be kind to my dad, arrange things like a dog sitter and a payment plan to make life easier for me or find a caretaker after Dad fell. I certainly didn’t expect him to rush to the hospital to help us.

I didn’t… Well, shit. I’m falling for him. Kai has somehow managed to worm his way past my walls. I pray to the smugglers he doesn’t break my heart.

Chapter 20

“I’m adding mowing the lawn to my fitness routine.” ~ Kai

Kai

“These are the absolute best earplugs you have?” I ask the salesperson.

She rolls her eyes. “For the hundredth time, yes.”

“I want to be sure.”

Harper has a hard enough life. She needs to be able to sleep when she has time. Not lie awake listening to her dad snore.