he whispered.
Easing away, he placed a couple cupcakes on a plate and handed them to Demitri. “Have a seat, so I can keep my hands off you.”
Demitri flushed scarlet and scurried to obey.
“Wow, Dad,” Valerie teased. “I haven’t seen you kiss anyone like that in a long, long time.”
Kiernan smirked at his daughter, then rolled his eyes and grabbed the coffee carafe to pour himself a cup. “Hope you didn’t make this as thick as you usually do. I hate it when you make sludge.”
Valerie shrugged, before replying flippantly, “It is your birthday, so I made weak shit, just like you like.”
“Awe, so sweet,” he teased back, lifting the cup to his lips and taking a sip.
“So, how old are you, Demitri?” Valerie asked.
Kiernan snorted, nearly spitting the coffee right back out.
Instead, he managed to swallow the mouthful, but not before it threatened to come out his nose, burning his sinuses. “Valerie!” he sputtered.
“What? It’s a valid question,” she pointed out.
Demitri glanced between them. “I’m nineteen,” he cut in.
Valerie’s brows shot up. “Geez, Dad.” She gave him an inscrutable look. “Robbing the cradle, huh?”
“Valerie!” This time Kiernan couldn’t keep the anger from his voice. What the hell has gotten into her?
Chapter Six
Demitri blinked. He was in the middle of the most life altering thirty hours of his life, and he was having a tough time keeping up. Except, he really needed to get his head out of his ass so he could defend his mate, but should he against the man’s own daughter?
“Well, come on, Dad,” Valerie huffed. “He’s less than half your age!” She turned and focused on Demitri. “Are you his midlife crisis?”
From the corner of his eye, Demitri saw Kiernan frown.
He didn’t want them to fight. “He’s my one-and-only,”
Demitri blurted, then slapped his hand over his mouth. Shit, did I really just say that?
“Your what?” asked Valerie at the same time Kiernan murmured, “What was that?”
Shit, shit, shit! Now what? He swallowed hard and glanced between them. Blowing out a breath, he decided to go for the truth. Well…sort of the truth. “When I saw your father, Valerie, I knew he was the one for me. I’ve always had a thing for older men.” Damn, this is embarrassing. He forged ahead. “My family’s always believed in love at first sight,”
he whispered. Okay, that was a total lie. He glanced at Valerie, then Kiernan, then the glass of milk in front of him.
“Kiernan is my love at first sight,” he whispered.
Kiernan’s brows drew together and he rounded the table and knelt beside it. “Demitri?”
Uncertain of how Kiernan would take his admission, Demitri grimaced and darted a glance toward him. “I probably shouldn’t have admitted that, yet,” he mumbled.
Kneeling beside Demitri’s chair, Kiernan cupped his cheeks in his palms and gave him a sweet smile. “Dear sweet Demitri…that is the sappiest thing anyone has ever said to me.” He brushed a soft butterfly kiss against his lips. “It’s not the taking it one day at a time like we discussed, but I like it so much better.” Kiernan lightly pressed his lips against Demitri’s for just an instant. “Thank you.”
“Sure.” Relief flooded Demitri at his mate’s response.
Kiernan feathered soft caresses to his mouth.
A throat cleared, then Valerie snickered.
Demitri straightened in his chair and looked toward Valerie, a smile playing across his lips. He couldn’t help it.
He already knew he loved Kiernan’s kisses, his touch, his scent, his…everything.
Valerie actually grinned at him. “Okay, I get why you like him. He’s…sweet.”
“That he is,” Kiernan responded. Then he frowned at her.
“And in the future, I’ll kindly thank you to not interrogate my dates.
Looking completely unrepentant, Valerie shrugged.
“Someone has to look out for you.”
Kiernan looked like he wanted to say more, but Demitri didn’t want any more fighting between them. “Did you make these cupcakes?” he asked, taking a bite, he hummed in appreciation. “Really good.”
Cocking her head, Valerie smiled a little. “Yeah. I didn’t think I’d get up here, so when my schedule changed, I thought I’d surprise dad.” She rolled her eyes. “Boy…did that turn out backwards.”
Demitri actually snorted before asking, “Can I get the recipe?”
That made Valerie straighten in her seat. Resting her chin on her hand, she asked, “You cook?”
“Not as often as I’d like,” he admitted. “I find it relaxing, but I’m…” he grimaced. “I’m looking for a place of my own,” he finished, letting his gaze stray toward the kitchen.
He spotted the time on the microwave. “Oh, damn. Is that the time?” He shoved the last bite of cupcake into his mouth and leaped to his feet.
“Dee? What is it?” Kiernan asked.
Swallowing hard, Demitri grabbed his milk and gulped several swallows. Turning to face Kiernan, he told him, “I have to work at one, and I’ve gotta sneak into my house so my father doesn’t catch me and get clean clothes. I gotta go.”
Kiernan grabbed his arm before he could take three steps.
“Hey, wait. That’s hours away. Why don’t you use my washer and dryer? Then, we’ll swing by the store and I’ll buy you a few outfits while we figure out how to get your clothes from your parents?”
Demitri froze. Kiernan wanted to help him? Oh! My mate wants to help me! He couldn’t stop his smile. “Okay.”
Demitri grinned at the customer. “Excellent choice, ma’am. My friend loves the meatloaf sandwich.” He turned his attention to the elderly gentleman across from the gray haired woman. “And for you, sir?”
“I’ll take the Rueben with onion rings.”
“Of course. I’ll get your order placed and be right back with your appetizer. I’m sure it’s ready,” he said. With another smile, he headed toward the back.
Pushing through the swinging door, he called out the order then clipped the slip of paper into the overhead clasps.
Demitri saw three orders ahead of theirs and realized he had just over ten minutes before it was ready. That was enough time to drop
