Page 89 of Sterling Heat

“It’s not Halle.” However, the grit in Knox’s voice and the clench of his teeth tells me his current condition is very much about his high school sweetheart, freshly returned to town. She’s the one that got away. It was all his fault, too.

“Let me hang out with you guys.”

I glance at Enya who shrugs when I want her to tell my brother fuck no. Knox stumbles to the couch and collapses on the long portion. Enya scoots to her official corner. The one she claimed when she stayed here those two weeks. The spot I’ve commissioned as hers, staring at it too often, missing her in my place.

Settling in beside her, I say, “I want to take you to the fireworks later.”

“I hate fireworks,” Knox mumbles to no one. He lays on his back, an arm over his face, nose buried into the crook of his elbow.

“I’m not certain Adara will appreciate the loud boom of fireworks and I didn’t bring the baby headphones I have with me.”

“They make headphones for babies?” Knox asks, lifting his arm and turning his head.

Enya offers him a compassionate smile. “They do.”

While Knox and Enya banter over me about baby products, an idea forms and I interrupt, speaking to Knox. “If you want to hang out, maybe you could do me a favor later?”

“Oh boy. The last time you asked me for a favor, you stole Dad’s old truck, when you weren’t old enough to legally drive.”

I scoff at the reminder of hot wiring my old man’s beat up pickup one night when he was passed out drunk. Knox was old enough to drive but not willing to take me to meet a girl. I took the initiative on my own. That was shortly before Dad died.

“What’s the favor?” Knox asks. His eyelids are already lowering. He’ll need to sober up first. Good thing there are still hours before darkness.

I glance at Enya. “With your permission, I’d like Knox to babysit. He can nap now, and I’ll make dinner for all of us later. Then he can watch Adara for an hour or so after dark.”

Her brows lift, questioning me, before her eyes drift to Knox. In Knox’s current state, I doubt she trusts him, but I want her to trust me. I wouldn’t be requesting this favor from my brother if I didn’t think he was capable of watching a baby for an hour or two.

Still addressing her, I explain, “I’d like to take you some place special we can watch the fireworks. We won’t be far from here.”

“Where will we be?” she asks.

With his eyes closed, Knox makes a goofy grin. “Damn romantic, little brother.”

Fuck him for reading my thoughts. He knows the perfect spot to enjoy fireworks without leaving this building.

“Can you let me surprise you?” I want to do this for her.

Her gaze shifts to Knox again. Lowering her voice, she says, “If you’re sure he’ll be okay.”

“A little shut eye and I’ll be right as rain, sweetheart,” Knox grumbles groggily.

I take her hand and lift it to my lips. With my mouth on her knuckles, I vow, “I’d never do anything to put you or Adara in harm’s way. I trust Knox. He’ll be fine in a few hours.”

Enya chews her lower lip but gives me a soft smile. Her eyes tell me she trusts me and that look does something to me. Giving me a slight nod, she agrees to my plan, and we have a date.

I can’t remember the last time I’d been on one, or if I ever officially have been. During my drug days, I didn’t date. I fucked around. Since I’ve been back home, I’ve shared rare nights with a woman. Strangely, I’m excited, and nervous, for this evening. I want everything to be perfect.

+ + +

Hours later, Knox has napped and sobered.

I feed him and Enya, who easily gets along with my brother, as he regales her with stories about me as a wily kid and reckless teen. My chest expands when I hear her deep laughter. The sound satisfying like smothering frosting over a three-layer cake. The texture rich. The sensation smooth. The final perfection.

While Enya feeds Adara a little earlier than normal in hopes to tide her over, I set up for the fireworks display.

A sleeping Adara is set in a portable bassinet Enya brought with her in my living area. I’ve placed it next to the couch, so Knox will actively be able to watch the baby. Then, I lead Enya inside my bedroom to a door.

“What’s this?” She hesitates as I pop the lock and open the door that exposes a metal ladder and a narrow shaft that leads upward.