“I can explain.”
“Make it quick,” I insisted, finally resting my fingers.
“I ran into this guy at Emerald Hills, and he was lost. He was looking for the skilled nursing unit to visit his wife. He had a toddler with him, and I held the kid while I helped him find his wife’s room. The kid didn’t want to let go when we tried performing the handoff, so I guess his cologne transferred to me when we were trying to untangle the kid from my hair and body.”
“That sounds like bullshit.”
“Maybe,” she replied, returning to the stove to flip a patty. “But I can assure you no funny business went down at Emerald Hills.”
Is Kiyah lying to me? No. I always know when she does. But that still doesn’t mean I want to smell another man on her.
I peered over her shoulder, trying to judge if dinner was ready.
“Back up before you get burned by this hot grease,” she said, transferring the fries to a plate with folded paper towels covering it. I complied and waited for the perfect moment to strike. “Oh, can you do me a favor? Can you call my phone?”
“Why? Did you lose it?”
“I don’t know.”
“Let’s hope not, considering there are compromising photos on there,” I grumbled, calling her phone.
“You liked it,” she teased.
Liked it? I fucking loved it.
“It went straight to voicemail.”
“Shit.”
“When was the last time you used it?”
“The last time I remember using it was at the retirement home. I’ll call in the morning to see if it’s there. It could’ve fallen in the couch or something in the Ladies’ Lounge.”
“How was your visit?”
Kiyah sighed and transferred the patties to a plate. “A little depressing.”
“Granddad?”
“Yep. I got him lucid for a few minutes, and we had a short discussion. I spent the rest of the afternoon with Grandma and her friends. Those women talked my fucking ear off.”
“I like to keep my visits brief. They always try to hook me up with their granddaughters.”
She chuckled. “I believe it.”
Once I confirmed the stove was off, I scooped Kiyah up and threw her over my shoulder.
“What are you doing, Grant?”
I slapped her on the ass.
“I gotta wash that man’s scent off of you.”
“God, you’re such a caveman.”
And don’t forget it.
* * *