Page 81 of From the Start

“What am I supposed to do with this?”

“Look at the picture so I don’t have to answer to my mother why I have a girlfriend she hasn’t met yet.”

I freeze. “Hasn’t met yet? You want me to meet your mother?”

“Duh. You’re my girlfriend. You’re not getting rid of me. Of course, I want you to meet my mother. I’d say meet my family but you already know my brothers.”

I’ve never met the mother of a boyfriend before. Probably because I haven’t been in a relationship that lasted more than a few hookups. It’s hard to find love when you work sixty hours a week and care for your father during every free moment.

I can’t deal with this now. One thing at a time.

“Show me the picture.” I try to hand the phone back to him.

“The code is 1101.”

“1101 isn’t a very secure code.”

He shrugs. “It’s the day I first saw you.”

Kai being sweet and romantic is another thing I absolutely cannot deal with now. I tap the security code and open his gallery. Sure enough, there’s a selfie of us. There’s a sign with ‘I fell asleep’ written on it on top of me, while Kai makes a crazy face next to me.

“You made a sign?”

He shrugs. “I figure our kids will get a kick out of the picture someday.”

The list of things I don’t want to deal with is piling up. Kids someday?

“Your clothes are folded on the chair.” He points to the corner. “The bathroom is behind the door next to the chair. I’ll go make you some coffee and put it in a travel mug.”

“Make me coffee in a travel mug? Are you trying to get rid of me?” What is going on here? I’ve obviously been out of the dating scene too long. This is confusing me.

“Harper. Harper.” Kai taps my chin and I blink my eyes until I can focus on him. “I’m not trying to get rid of you.”

“Coffee in a travel mug doesn’t say: Welcome. Stay for a while. I’ll make you some breakfast before I rock your world again.”

His eyes flare and he steps close. Since we’re still naked – why are we still naked!? – I can feel his dick hard and heavy pressing against my stomach.

“Harper Poole, my little slugger, I would love to make you breakfast before rocking your world again.”

“But you’re making me coffee in a travel mug instead.”

He palms my neck. “You are obviously freaking out. I don’t want to push you. I want to give you space to calm your mind.”

This is why I’m falling for him. He gets me. I don’t know how or why, but Kai Raider understands me. This man, who is eight years younger than me understands me better than any man my own age I’ve dated.

I need to stop using his age as an excuse. He’s not the same kid I thought he was months ago. A kid wouldn’t have found help for my dad, mowed my lawn, insisted on working at my booth at the festival to give me a day off or done any of the other wonderfully insightful things he’s done for me without asking.

I’m definitely falling in love with him.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He kisses my cheek before strolling for the door.

“Aren’t you going to get dressed?”

“And miss you drooling over my body?”

“I’m not drooling over your body.”