She inhales a little gasp and claps her hands. “Yay! Daddy’s taking me to Dipper’s!”
“Like everyone in the room didn’t just hear me.” I go over and tickle her, and she shrieks so loud I stop at once. “Too loud.”
“Remington, don’t tickle her. She’ll wet her pants.”
“I will not!” Lillie shouts even louder. “I’m not a baby.”
Eleanor abandons her post at the table to attend to her granddaughter. I take advantage of her momentary distraction to touch Ruby’s arm lightly.
“Hey.” My voice is soft. “I’d like to talk to you if that’s okay. Maybe after you drop Lillie at school?”
Her lips press together, and she hesitates. “I have to take care of a few things for Drew’s shower on Saturday. When you get back with Lillie?”
“Sure.” Sliding my hand down, I brush my fingers across hers. I’m addicted to the rush of heat between us. It tightens my stomach. “Have fun today.” Man, I wish I could kiss her.
“Thanks,” she whispers before turning to my daughter. “Time to go, Lil.”
Lillie runs to grab her coat and snack bag, and they head for the door. I lean against the bar watching them go as I sip my coffee. Ruby holds her hand, and Lillie skips every other step. She’s singing some Disney song I vaguely recognize, and I can’t help thinking how great they look together.
I set my coffee on the bar and notice Eleanor watching the whole scene play out with a scowl. I don’t have time for this.
I set my cup in the sink and give her a nod. “I’d better get to work.”
She doesn’t even respond.
17
Ruby
“Then you press the edges together like this, and it’s done.” Ma guides Lillie’s small fingers along the edge of her dumpling while I work on my own.
“I made a dumpling!” Lillie holds it up to me, and I smile.
“It’s called mandu.” I give her a little hip bump. “And you’re a natural. I couldn’t make mandu that good until I was five.”
Lillie’s little mouth quirks, and she leans closer. “You’re not like Tiana.”
“Who is Tiana?” Ma collects our crescents into her steamer and places it over the boiling water.
“It’s a Disney princess.” I walk over to watch her mixing soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, scallions, and garlic for the sauce. She makes a separate batch with red pepper flakes for us. “Lillie, you can play in my room if you want. Just don’t turn up the K-pop too loud.”
Her hazel eyes widen, and she takes off running to my old bedroom. She reminds me so much of her dad. I watch after her remembering his smile this morning. Just as fast, my mind drifts to his face last night, eyes heated and possessive. He kissed me like he would never let me go, then he dropped to his knees and blew my mind.
“Why is your face so pink? What are you thinking?” Ma’s voice is scolding, and I clear my mind.
“Nothing! I was just thinking how cute she is. She looks a lot like her dad.”
“You must be professional with that man. He is your boss.” She gives me a stern glare, and I can’t argue.
“I agree. I’ve turned over a new leaf, and I’m being very serious.” Seriously in lust.
Her voice drops, becoming more urgent. “People at church are talking about sexy nannies. Are you having sex with him?”
?
?No!” I hop up on the counter, wondering if oral sex is technically sex. “I told you I couldn’t live in his house if I did that. I’d have to get my own place.”
“Good. You must be careful. That man is not like us. He is not Korean.” She lifts the lid on her bamboo steamer and turns the dumplings with chopsticks.