Delicate Promises (Southern Bride 2)

I chuckled. “What’s that?”

“You still like lasagna, right?”

Rubbing my nose with hers, I answered. “Yes, it’s still my favorite.”

Her arms wrapped around my neck as she lifted up on her toes and kissed me deeply. If we didn’t stop now, I was going to take her again.

“We better get back up to the house before they come looking for us,” I said against her lips.

“I’m so sorry about my father. I am so angry with him, and I honestly don’t know where that came from.”

“You’re his little girl and I get it. I’ve been gone for years and show up out of the blue turning your world upside down. I asked my mother and Rich to keep the fact that I sent money home to themselves. All your dad ever saw was me causing you pain; he has every right to be upset. I should have been prepared for it but clearly I wasn’t.”

“He has no right to say any of that. I know my mother is horrified.”

“Let’s just go back, eat dinner, and then go back to your place for dessert.”

She waggled her brows and licked those soft lush lips. “Sounds like a plan.”

When we walked back into the kitchen, Kynslee’s mom was placing the lasagna in the middle of the table.

“Miles, Kynslee, perfect timing!” Ally said, attempting to keep the situation light and easy. She always had a way of doing that.

“Sorry about that,” I said, running my fingers through my hair. “For walking out like that.”

“No, it wasn’t you at all,” Ally stated.

“Where is Daddy?” Kynslee asked, taking a seat in the chair I pulled out for her.

“In his study. He needed a moment or two to get his shit together.”

Kynslee shot a shocked look at her mother while I let out a chuckle.

“Plates, please, and I’ll put the lasagna on them. Miles, you first,” Ally stated.

I handed her my plate. She put a giant piece of lasagna on it and handed it back to me. I filled the rest of the plate with the salad and two pieces of my mother’s bread that Ally must have cut up while Kynslee and I were…busy…in the barn.

Steve walked back into the kitchen as Ally was serving herself. She gave me a warning look, then slowly sat down.

“I want to apologize for the way I behaved earlier, Miles, and for the things I said. I clearly didn’t know the situation your family was in, and I came to the wrong conclusions. For what it’s worth, I did always like your brother a little better.”

His mouth lifted into a slight smile. I could appreciate his attempt at humor, but I was pretty sure he was telling me the truth; he liked Rich better.

“Daddy, really?” Kynslee said.

“Apology accepted, sir. I’m sorry I walked away like that.”

Steve nodded. “No need to apologize, son, I was out of line and I’m not sure why I acted like I did. Someday you’ll understand when you have a daughter of your own, but that’s still not an excuse.”

Kynslee reached for my hand while Ally cleared her throat. “Well, now that we’ve got that all settled, let’s eat!”

Kynslee

I COULDN’T HELP but smile as I stared at my computer screen. The new Christmas campaign for our social media outlets was on my computer, untouched for the last fifteen minutes. I couldn’t concentrate on anything but the memory of Miles kissing my body.

The light rap on my office door had me glancing up. “Hey, what are you doing here?” I asked, standing and making my way around my desk.

He walked into my office, kissed me until I felt drunk, then took a seat. I was left swaying on my feet until I regained my wits. Good Lord, now I knew what being kissed senseless felt like.

“Was at the hardware store and wanted to stop by and say hi. Tell you I was thinking about you.”

I leaned against my desk and let my eyes roam over his body. He had already been busy working this morning. The dust on his jeans and his favorite black cowboy hat were evidence of that. He looked delicious, and I fought my urge to straddle him in that chair. After all, my parents were right on the other side of my office door.

“I’m glad you stopped by. We’re running way behind and only have a week and a half until the fall festival. We need costumes!”

“Kyns, why can’t we start a new tradition and not dress up? Make some of the kids who work here dress up.”

My brows lifted. That was actually a good idea, but it was time to make Miles Warner pay for all those years he left me sexually frustrated, not to mention his request to cash in on the promise we had made. Ugh. That still unnerved me.

“You promised you’d dress up,” I said with a pout.