Broken Kingdom (Royal Hearts Academy #4)(52)

Oakley shakes his head. “In a minute, let me clean your face first.”

“She’s so beautiful.” I look down at the little girl who’s still making those grabby hands. “I had no idea you had a daughter.”

A flash of pain flickers in his eyes and I silently curse myself because it’s really none of my business.

“She, uh… she’s not.” He fishes some wipes out of the bag. “C.J.’s my little sister.”

“Oh.”

A weird twist of relief goes through my chest and I have no idea why.

Oakley bends down and starts wiping her face, but she’s not a fan of that because she turns away and starts yelling, “Eye-cream.”

I can tell Oakley wants to cave, but he’s trying his best not to. “I know, but I have to get rid of the evidence before Dad comes.”

Grabbing his cheeks firmly she gives him a serious look. “Eye-cream, Uh-oh.” I can practically see the wheels turning in her head as she continues uttering her request. “Peas, Uh-oh.”

He melts like butter in the midday sun. “Well, shit—” He catches himself. “I mean, shoot.” He looks at me helplessly. “How the hell can I say no to that?”

Yeah, I’m no help in this situation. “I couldn’t.”

Not only because it’s ice cream which is a straight-up gift from God, but C.J.’s far too adorable for words.

“Fine.”

He holds the chocolate ice cream cone out to her, but she snatches the other one in his hand.

Oakley’s mouth drops open. “Hey, that’s mine.”

C.J. doesn’t agree though because she happily laps at what appears to be mint chip ice cream.

“Smart girl.” I sink to my haunches so I’m eye level with her. “Mint chip is my favorite.”

C.J. holds it out to me, and I realize she’s trying to share. “Aw, no thank you, baby.”

Oakley makes a face. “Trust me, you should take it before she shoves it in your mouth.”

“Really—”

As if on cue, she thrusts the cone forward and I get a mouthful of mint chip.

“So yummy,” I tell her because no way in hell would I ever be mad at a kid for sharing their ice cream with me. Especially when it’s my favorite. “Thank you.”

“Good job sharing,” Oakley praises, looking like he’s trying his hardest to hold back laughter. “We just need to work on you being less aggressive about it.”

“That’s not such a bad thing,” I say with a wink. “Sometimes being persistent pays off and you end up getting exactly what you want.”

I can feel those intense blue eyes boring into me. “Is that so?”

I’m not sure if it was intended or not, but there’s a flirtatious tilt to his voice. I’m suddenly grateful for my tan complexion because I’m positive I’m blushing a thousand different shades of red right now.

“Well, being persistent is how I got you.”

Realizing my blunder, I avert my gaze. “I mean, you know…got my friendship with you.”

His expression turns stormy. “Right.”

“Uh-oh,” C.J. calls out.

We both turn our attention back to her. “Does that mean she had an accident?”

Laughing, Oakley shakes his head. “No, that’s how she says my name.”

Jesus. I’m pretty sure that’s the most endearing thing I’ve ever heard in my life.

After it’s clear C.J.’s had enough of her ice cream, Oakley tries to wipe her face again, but she’s not having it.

Whining, she turns her head from side to side.

“Here,” I say, grabbing the wipe from him. “Let me try.”

Making silly faces and noises to distract her, I quickly clean off her lips and cheeks.

Pretty soon her whines of protest turn into adorable fits of giggles and she starts making faces back at me.

We’re having so much fun fooling around, I almost don’t hear Oakley’s next sentence. “You’re really good with her.”

I’m about to speak, but his face is etched in so much agony my chest aches.

The sound of someone clearing their throat breaks the fog around us.

“What’s going on here?”

I look up at a short, stocky man glaring down at us with an angry scowl on his face.

“Hey, Dad,” Oakley starts. “I took C.J. for some ice cream, so we were cleaning her up.”

The man’s face softens a fraction…until his eyes wander over to me again.

He doesn’t say a word, but it’s clear he doesn’t like me.

I wish I knew why.

Wiping my palms on my jeans, I stand up and extend my hand out to him. “Hi, I’m Bianca.” I gesture to C.J. “Your daughter is beautiful.”

The man glances at my outstretched hand like it’s manure. “I know who you are.” He looks at Oakley. “Get inside, Oak. Now.”

Oakley’s jaw tics. “For fuck’s sake relax. We were just talk—”

“Now.” His eyes narrow. “You know damn well you need to stay away from her.”

Whoa.

“Look,” I begin. “I’m sorry for whatever I might have done—”