Page 44 of Havoc's Fox
Havoc grinned. “Yes, sir. I will. Maybe the ringer will get turned onto silent while it’s drying out. Not sure how that might happen, though.”
“Me, neither,” Bam said, winking at Havoc as he finally stepped aside to let Havoc move past.
~~~
Havoc walked over to the dining table where Analise still sat with Harley, watching her eat all of her dessert, too.
“Harley, baby, you ate Analise’s, too?”
“I had to, Daddy. She offered it and it would have been bad manners if I didn’t take it.”
Havoc smothered a grin as he handed Analise her drink. “You want some dessert?”
“What I’d really like is just a tiny bowl of the bread pudding, with the whiskey sauce on top, if it’s still warm.”
“Let me check for you,” he said.
“I want…” Harley started.
“You’ve had enough sugar for right now,” Havoc said.
Harley frowned, glared at her daddy as he walked over to the dessert table and placed a hand on the baking dish the bread pudding was in. He reached for a bowl and started scooping some of the pudding into the bowl.
Analise smiled, realizing that must have meant that it was still warm.
She watched as he turned back to them, staring into her eyes the entire time he walked toward them.
He placed the bowl in front of Analise.
“Are you mad at Analise?” Harley asked.
“No, I’m not mad. Why would you think I’m mad?” Havoc answered.
“Because you’re staring at her. And I never saw you look like that before. So, it must be mad, because I know you try not to look mad when I’m around,” Harley explained.
“I’m not mad,” Havoc reconfirmed.
“Sure wish I had another piece of cake. Or Pie. Or a cookie.”
Havoc shook his head. “You have had enough for right now. You ate your dessert and Analise’s.”
“Hey, little girl, want to go outside and help us build the bonfire for tonight?” Hellen asked, leaning over Harley’s shoulder from behind.
“Really? Can I, Daddy?”
“You can, but be careful, and listen to the adults. They been doing this a lot longer than you and have reasons for whatever the rules are,” Havoc said.
“Yes, sir,” Harley shouted excitedly. She jumped down from her chair and hurried to put her hand in Hellen’s, jabbering away excitedly as they headed outside.
Analise sat quietly, slowly eating her pudding, stopping every once in a while to sip her bourbon. She hadn’t looked at Havoc since Harley had gone outside with Hellen.
“Analise?” he asked.
She looked up at him.
“Maybe we could hang out at the bonfire tonight,” he said.
“Well, yeah. I mean, we’ll all be there.”