Going Under (Wildfire Lake 2)

“Kids?” Chloe and Laiyla say at the same time.

“Have you ever dated someone with kids before?” Laiyla asks.

“I’ve never dated before. Period. And I’m not dati

ng now. I’m just hoping for a hookup with him.”

“Out of the three of us, only you could go from meeting a stranger,” Chloe says, “to going home with that stranger on the same day. Christmas day.”

“Technically, it was two different days,” I say, just because I know it will pull exasperated sighs from both of them. And it does.

“Did he take you and pick you up?” Laiyla asks.

“No.” My grin grows. “He owns one of Levi’s houses.”

“He’s hot and loaded?” Chloe asks.

“Don’t get excited,” Laiyla tells her. “Only the hot part matters to KT.”

Chloe lifts her hands as if to say whatever. “So how did it go? What’s he like? How many kids does he have? What happened with his wife? Is he divorced?”

“Slow down,” Laiyla tells Chloe. “She can’t answer all those questions at once.”

“It went great,” I say. “He has three daughters, and unfortunately, he’s a widower.”

Laiyla and Chloe gasp in unison.

“Oh, no,” Chloe says.

“With three girls?” Laiyla adds. “Ouch.”

“How did she die?” Chloe asks.

“Cancer.”

Laiyla groans, and Chloe’s expression is truly pained.

“How long ago?” Laiyla asks.

“Three years. It’s pretty heartbreaking,” I admit. “But we all deal with whatever life hands us, I guess, though it sure doesn’t seem fair in his case.”

We all drop into comfortable but saddened silence.

“You didn’t tell us what he’s like,” Chloe finally says, a little more subdued.

“He’s…” I search for the right words. “Charmingly beta.”

“Beta?” Laiyla smirks. “When have you ever gone for a beta? A pretty beta at that.”

“He’s pretty?” Chloe says with a frown. “You don’t like pretty.”

“She also hasn’t had sex in six months,” Laiyla says.

“Good point.” Chloe shrugs. “Pretty beta works.”

I laugh. “Thank you for your approval.”

“What was the present you put together?” Laiyla asks.