Cold Burn by Olivia Rigal

Author:Olivia Rigal [Rigal, Olivia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

By the time I get to Lyv's place, I'm famished, and the smell of pizza hits me right in the gut. Lyv shows me the bathroom, where I wash my hands, and when I come out, I follow the sound of laughter to a large room that looks like it's a dining room, living room, and play room all in one.

It's got a messy, homey feeling that makes me feel comfortable right away. Lisa's sitting at a large table with the kids, joking with them as they munch on pizza slices, and the lasts doubts I had about starting a family vanish in front of this domestic scene.

Yeah, she's the one I want behind me on my bike and in my bed for the rest of my life. I want to find her just like that, minus the wounds obviously—laughing with our kids when I come home.

Lyv sneaks up behind me, holding a fresh pizza pie. She stops next to me and stands on her tiptoes to whisper in my ear, "Lisa's great with kids. She's got the right combination of love and firmness."

Lisa looks up at me and smiles. "Here you are. We started without you. The kids were starving," she says. "Brian, these are my buddies, Alexandra, who's nine—“

"Nine and a half," Alexandra interjects.

"And Oliver, who is seven."

"Nice to meet you." I shake the hand that Oliver extends to me. I wouldn't want to offend the little man.

"Are you Lisa's boyfriend?" Alexandra asks.

"Alexandra!" Lyv scolds. "You know better than to ask personal questions."

She tries to look contrite but totally fails.

I wink at her and ask, "What do you think?"

She studies my face. "Yeah, I think you're the reason Uncle Andy's not getting anywhere with her."

Lisa laughs. "Andy's not interested in me, honey. He's been dating Mary Ann forever."

"Duh… it's been ten years, and they're still dating." Her little fingers do quotation marks around the word dating, and I realize that Alexandra does not look at life through the rose-colored glasses I thought the girls her age wore. How did she get so cynical at age nine… and a half?

"Yeah, Alexandra," I tell her. "You're right. Lisa and I go waaayyy back."

"I knew it. I knew it!" Alexandra yelps. "And will you—"

"Enough, young lady," Lyv says, and the little girl clams up.

Alexandra looks mainly like her mother, but I can see something of Xander Wild in her, somewhere in the shape of the eyes maybe, or just the eyebrows. Oliver doesn't look anything like either of them. He probably takes after a different father. He's quiet, but he doesn't seem to miss a thing.

We have a pleasant meal with the children, who quickly get excused from the table. Oliver's playing with a few cars and a fun-looking miniature garage while Alexandra curls up with a book on the sofa. I'm pretty sure she's not going to read a single word but eavesdrop on our conversation.

Lisa watches me observing Alexandra. "Does she remind you of someone?"

I nod as I remember Lisa doing the same when we were kids.

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