Free A Daddy for Her Daughter by Tina Beckett Page A

earlobe, prying another raspy sound from her. “Did you know that you purr too?”
    Did she?
    She had no idea, but she just might, because he was making all kinds of wonderful sensations spiral through her head. Her body. Her...
    â€œHey, guys, sorry to interrupt...”
    The half-amused voice had not come from the person who’d been kissing her.
    Horrified, Maddy jackknifed upright, knocking Kaleb off her chest in the process.
    A police officer stood over them, the string from the errant kite dangling from one hand. “Missing something?”
    Yes! Her good sense. She glanced over at Kaleb to see that he wasn’t bothered at all. He sat up and took the item from the man. “Thank you. We did try to rescue it.”
    The officer made a noise that wasn’t quite a scoff, but it was close. Maybe it was just a cough. He motioned to an area a hundred yards away. “I’m afraid your kite didn’t survive its landing. Nice job, though. Your design?”
    â€œYes. I have a few adjustments to make before it’s perfect.”
    Maddy felt paralyzed, unable to say anything that would make any sense at this point.
    â€œI think you might want to work on those...adjustments somewhere else,” the policeman said with a smile.
    Heat flamed to her cheeks and boiled up through her forehead.
    Kaleb simply stood and shook his hand. “Much appreciated, and we will.”
    They would?
    Oh, Kaleb was talking about the kite, not their make-out session.
    Okay, it hadn’t been a make-out session. It was just...just...
    Words failed her. Because the officer had thought it was, if she wasn’t mistaken. He’d basically told them—in a nice way—to move along.
    More heat poured into her face. Kaleb reached down to help her up. She gladly let him, although she wasn’t sure her legs were going to hold her up. She tottered to the side a step or two.
    Yep. Shaky as hell.
    â€œI’m so sorry,” she started, only to have the police officer cut her off.
    â€œDon’t be. It’s a beautiful place.” He glanced up at the sky. “But the rain is coming. I didn’t want your kite to be completely ruined, in case it can be fixed.”
    â€œVery much appreciated, Officer.”
    Maddy was happy for an excuse to flee. “I’ll go get the kite. Thank you again.”
    Nodding once, the policeman headed on his way. She went after the downed kite only to find Kaleb dogging her heels, winding the string as he went.
    She glanced back at him, mortified, and repeated her earlier words. “I’m so sorry.”
    â€œFor what?”
    â€œIsn’t it obvious?” She trudged forward. “Kissing you. I haven’t been so embarrassed in—”
    â€œI think you have that backward, Maddy.” He stopped her with a touch to her arm.
    â€œMaybe. I guess...” She blinked. “Oh, I don’t know. I just didn’t expect to be rolling around on the ground with the first available man who—”
    â€œWho said I’m available?”
    For a horrific moment, she thought he was serious. Then she realized he was laughing at her, seemingly unfazed by what had happened. Well, maybe he kissed women all the time in the park.
    She decided to fight fire with fire. “Maybe I’m not available either.”
    Which was a ridiculous thing to say. He had seen her ex-husband up close and personal.
    â€œThat bare finger on your left hand says otherwise. No recent engagements?”
    Her fingers curled into her palm in an instant. But he was right. And she’d stopped wearing her wedding ring a long time ago. She chanced a peek at Kaleb’s hand in case she’d missed something. She hadn’t. “Yours is bare too, so I guess we’re even.”
    â€œIt would seem that way.”
    She started forward again, afraid if she didn’t she might suggest they take up where they’d left off. That was one thing she