Faking With My Brother's Best Friend: A Sweet, Small Town Romance by Ava Wakefield

Author:Ava Wakefield [Wakefield, Ava]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ava Wakefield Romance, LLC
Published: 2023-10-12T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Aiden

I don’t get discharged for another hour and a half after Caroline leaves.

There’s some deep bruising in my shoulder and a slight strain in my rotator cuff, but the x-ray looks fine, and the doctor says I need to rest until I’m back to a hundred percent.

I head to the coffee shop to meet Caroline and pick up Kaylee. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous about them being together.

Caroline is incredible with kids, but I know how vulnerable Kaylee is. Aside from my mom and her teachers at school, she’s never spent time with a woman I’ve been close to. Mainly because I’ve never let myself get close to another woman. Not since Holly, at least.

I walk into the coffee shop, and Nathan greets me. I give him a nod and head into the kitchen to see coffee beans all over the floor. Caroline and Kaylee are laughing and tossing coffee beans into the top of a small coffee grinder like they’re shooting a game of hoops.

“Hey, ladies. What’s going on?”

“Daddy!” Kaylee shouts and runs to me.

I sweep my good arm around her, scoop her up, and prop her on my waist. The smell of coffee fills the room, and I notice Kaylee's hands and face are dusted with black powdery streaks.

“She’s been helping me pack up the last few bags for the day. I’m still not where I need to be, but we made good progress,” Caroline says, looking as proud as she does adorable. “Couldn’t have done it without my helper.”

She reaches out and ruffles Kaylee’s hair.

“You helped her pack all those?” I ask Kaylee, turning to the stack of bags at the end of the counter.

Kaylee beams and nods.

“First, you grind the beans. Then, you put them in the bags.”

"She’s a fast learner," Caroline says. She looks down at my arm and frowns. “So, what about you? How are you feeling?”

“I’ll be fine. I’m taking the week off to rest up, but the good news is I'll get to spend extra time with this knucklehead.”

“Hey, I’m not a knucklehead!” Kaylee throws her arms around my neck and squeezes me tightly, and Caroline laughs as I fight for my next breath.

“Yeah, yeah. So, you say. You ready to go home?”

Kaylee shakes her head. “I want to stay and help Caroline.”

Caroline takes a step forward and places a hand on Kaylee’s back.

“Sorry, kiddo. I’m all tuckered out. It's time for me to go home, too. Thanks for helping me today.”

“Can we come back tomorrow?” Kaylee turns and gives me her best pouty lip.

Oh, man. She’s hooked, alright. I can’t blame her, though. Caroline is a blast to be around. I know we grew up together, but now I’m seeing a whole new side of her—a side I really like.

“Soon,” I promise. And a part of me makes the same promise to myself.

“Kaylee, you and your dad are welcome anytime. Here," she says. Caroline picks up Kaylee's backpack from the floor, and we follow her into the service area.

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