Free Heart on Fire by Brandy L Rivers

kitchen. “I told you, kiddo, they were discussing the sink. Remember, I sent him over to help your mommy with it. God knows she’s stubborn enough to do it herself, even if she doesn’t know what she’s doing.”
    “Hey, I would have Googled it and followed directions,” Mila fired back, full of sass.
    Kyle had no doubt she would have managed.
    “Yes, but now you have someone, right next door, who knows how to fix the problem. And he works cheap.” She winked, handing a caramel-drizzled chocolate donut to Kyle.
    Mila’s eyes narrowed at her aunt.
    He grinned. “I already told you I would teach you how to fix it. Though I won’t mind helping next time, either.”
    A crooked smile lifted a single corner of her mouth.
     
    * * * *
     
    Kyle had a way of easing her fears and Mila wasn’t sure she liked it. Trust hadn’t come easy since Paul, and her last real attempt at a relationship obliterated the remaining threads. But Kyle managed to revive her hope, drawing her into his web. She was terrified he would turn out the same as the others once she was wound too tight to escape with her heart intact.
    She dropped her gaze and sipped her tea. What if he is different? If I keep my walls up, I can keep him out until I know. Can’t I?
    Deanna rubbed Mila’s shoulder and innocently asked, “Should I have waited until the sink was fixed to bring Cherish home? I can always take her with me.”
    Snapping out of her thoughts, Mila smiled. “Oh no, I missed my little monkey.” She leaned over and laid her head on Cherish’s shoulder. “Besides, she can come to the hardware store with us. That is if Kyle wants to come. While we’re there, I’ll let her pick out the paint for her room. I know, I know, something uber pink.” She shuddered dramatically.
    Cherish giggled. “But I love pink!”
    Grinning, she sat up and nodded. “I know, and I love you, so you can have a pink room.”
    “I can’t wait!” she squealed.
    Kyle cleared his throat, drawing her attention. “I was going to suggest coming with you. Plumbing stuff can be a pain. All those little parts in bins, and they get mixed up.”
    “Right, I hadn’t considered that, but thank you.”
    Grinning from ear to ear, Cherish passed a second donut to everyone.
    Mila turned to her aunt. “Thanks Dee, for bringing my baby back, and sending Kyle to the rescue. At least I had the water off the floor before he got here.” Her gaze skated to Kyle.
    A smile curled his lips as his eyes locked on hers. Her heart started pounding.
    Deanna helpfully offered, “I could keep Cherish another night, if you want.”
    And the panic was back. Mila prayed she wasn’t going to try to shove Kyle and her together. She was already nervous about their arrangement.
    The way he worded the possibility of her seeing someone else stung. She got it. His point was valid and logical. But she was avoiding everyone. So she wanted to crawl in a hole at the suggestion she might be looking elsewhere.
    Her heart had been trampled long ago. It was what led her to a one-night stand in the first place. No strings—but that didn’t work out the way she’d planned. Not that she would ever give Cherish up for anything.
    No sense in dwelling on the past. She learned her lesson.
    Can I even do sex right anymore? What if he’s not impressed? What if I suck, and not his cock.
    Cherish’s giggle broke into her thoughts. “Oh no, Auntie. Jenny is going to Kyle’s party too. She wants me to spend the night. She’s asking her mommy.” She turned to Mila with big blue eyes blinking, wearing the cheesiest grin. “Can I go, pretty please?” Cherish dragged out the last words.
    “I don’t know, honey. I haven’t met them yet, and they might not want you over. Let’s play it by ear, okay?”
    Kyle reached over to squeeze her shoulder. “I’ll vouch for Gavin and Cadence. I have a feeling you and Cadence will get along quite well. Gavin is a joker, but he’s sweet. They only live three houses