Page 54 of Timelessly Ours
He rolls his eyes along with a head shake.
Feeling slightly guilty for the grudge I’m apparently still holding, I go outside in my workout clothes; a loose, white t-shirt and leggings.
The sun is starting to set, but it’s not too cold. I catch Rory tossing a frisbee in the air and Rover racing for it over by the tree. It’s a good thing her little hands can’t throw too far down the open, extended backyard, so they both stay close.
“Rory, just one more time, okay? Your dad’s making dinner.”
“Four more times.”
“Two,” I compromise, with a swirl toward the door, just as Royce steps out. With a mischievous grin, I twist back. “You know what Rory, make that ten. Go nuts.”
With another headshake, he smirks at my defiance.
Yep…just another child here.
Joining her, I toss the frisbee a little higher, which Rover seems to appreciate.
There’s a whistle behind me and Rover abandons us, obediently racing toward his owner. “Come on Rory, looks like the fun’s over. Let’s go inside,” I say, resigned.
She pouts and I take her hand.
But when we turn, we face the spout end of a long hose aimed directly at us. Royce standing devilishly behind it. I barely have time to shriek before the water bursts out with a strong mist.
Rory and I scream and try to race around the attack. I shove her in the other direction, so we split up and the devil—the fucking devil—follows me with the hose. I can’t see his face, but I hear the unmistakable rumble of Coach laughing along with us.
I try to tackle him, but he’s too quick. Not surprising. He’s made a career of dodging people coming at him on the ice.
So instead—I grab the next best thing.
I hold Rory up in front me and shout through all the laughter. “I will use her as a shield, don’t test me.”
Rory giggles and wiggles in my hold. “Do it, do it, Daddy. Do it.”
He smirks, toying with the hose beside him, contemplating his next move. Rover is at his side kneeling and gobbling up as much as his long tongue can gobble.
He moves to my left and I mirror him, holding onto Rory to keep her in our game. Mostly because I’m afraid of what this is without her.
“Put the girl down, Kane. My quarrel is with you.”
I twist her to face me. “You wouldn’t leave me to fight my own battles, would you?”
She shakes her head and we both turn smugly at him.
He shrugs. “Suit yourselves.” Pointing up, he squeezes the nozzle and water shoots high into the air, crashing down on us like hail.
Screaming and laughing, Rory and I duck around the armed enemy, trying to trick him. I give Rory a shove up the stairs and tell her to shut down the water.
Reaching behind me, I find a flailing extension of the hose and pull to gain control. But my opponent uses the opportunity to his advantage and jerks me toward him. When I’m dangerously close, I release and turn but he grabs my waist and pulls me hard against his chest.
I inhale sharply as a bolt of electricity surges through me.
“Stop fighting this,” he rasps against my ear.
Blinking, I twist my neck to look up at him. “What?”
His strong arm is wrapped firmly around me like I’m a flight risk. “Stop trying to prove that you’re not good for her.” He releases me slowly, his arm slipping reluctantly.
He jogs up the porch steps and praises his daughter before tightening the knob. He tosses me one of two towels he conveniently placed on the bench, and I drop to quickly dry off a shivering Rory. I tear the soaked shirt over her head and wrap the second towel around her before she races into the house to get warm. Rover shakes himself off in front of us again and I swear we get a look that tells us to stop making this a regular occurrence before the dog follows Rory inside.