“Okay. Now say ‘k’,” I encourage.
When she finally makes the sound, she starts bouncing proudly. I rest my hands on her little waist to still her before she cracks a rib. “Now, say Cara.”
Her pale brows scrunch again. “Car-a,” she says slowly. Her little eyes light up with recognition and pride when she makes each sound. “Cara. Cara, Cara, Cara.”
She scrambles off me faster than someone that small should be able to do. Before I can get to her, she is out the door. She moves like lightning to the guys, who are all seated around a table near theplane's cockpit. “Daddy, Daddy,” she squeals loudly. “I tan says Car-a,” she beams as she climbs in his lap.
Everyone at the table looks at her with amusement.“What?” Jake asks, trying to get her to sit still.
“Cara, Cara, Cara,” she sing-songs loudly.
“That’s good, princess. Maybe next time, she’ll do a better job of watching you, too.”
“Excuse me?” I gasp in shock.
“You knew we were having a discussion, but let her fly out of the room anyway,” he says sharply. “You’re supposed to be watching her.”
My mouth falls open. I may not know Jake as well as the others, but he’sneverspoken to me like this. He’s neverbeen rude.
Dane's face turnsbeet red as his eyes flame with anger. Maddox and Ryder don’t look much happier while Angel and Liam look at Jake like he’s grownhorns. He doesn’t seem to notice. His eyes fixed firmly on me.
Dane starts to say something, but I stop him with a raised hand. “I was obviously watching her,or she wouldn’t have been so excited to show you what she learned. But next time, I’ll be sure to tell your two-year-old that her daddy is too busy to share in the excitement of her accomplishments.”
Andthat,ladies and gentlemen, is how I earned the nickname, brat.
Jakewinces at my words, looking properly chastised. His eyes drop as he starts to say something. An apology, I’m assuming. I holdmy hand up again. “Save it. I don’t want or need your apology.”
I reach for Lyra without another word or look at him and make my way to Josephine and Cami.
Lyra sits on the floor in front of us with a book as I sit next to Cami, who looksat me with a wide grin. “You did good,” she tells me with a nod.
“What’s up with him?” Josephine whispers to the two of us.
I shake my head. “I have no idea unless he’shaving second thoughts about me watching her.”
“It’s a little late for that,” Josephineshakes her head. “That was completely uncalled for. Just so you know, he’s not usually like that.”
I wave it off like it doesn’t matter. Truthfully, it does matter to me. It pissed me off, but it alsostresses me out. I don’t want him to be uncomfortable or doubtful about my abilities to take care of Lyra.
Cami pats me on the knee. “You’reokay, Cara. Jake is probably just stressed out over this. It’s his first timeon tour. It’s perhaps a little different when you have a kid to consider.”
Inod then look in the direction of the guys. Jake is looking this waybut not at Lyra. He’s looking at me. His eyes show remorse, but something else also that sends a shiver down my spine and makes me gulp a little too loudly.
I quickly drop my eyes to Lyra before his intense gaze burns a hole in me.
Whatever is going on with him, I hope he gets over it soon, or this trip will be very uncomfortable for both of us.
Jake
Shit!
I don’t know why I snapped at Cara like that. She didn’t do a damn thing to deservemy harsh words. Words I didn’t even mean.
But when I look up to see her, hair messy, eyes still slightly hazy, all my synapses misfired. I wanted to wrap that blond bird’s nest around my fist and kiss the fuck out of that pouty mouth. Then I wanted to take her back to thebedroom and fuck the hell out of her. It irritated me that I couldn’t do just that, and my irritation was taken out on her.
Imean, it’s not her fault that I can’t think clearly around her. Just like it’s not her fault that I am, and have been, attracted to her for so damn long that no one else has even come close totaking my mind off of her. It most definitelyisn’t her fault that she doesn’t know any of this.
Nope. All of this lies squarely on my shoulders.
