Secretly Hers (Sterling Canyon)(3)

“Three!” Fee clapped.

 

Trip’s brows rose as he glanced at Kelsey. “Three?”

 

“Does Prince Charming object to indulging his beloved princess?” Kelsey tilted her head, tsk-tsking. “Stingy princes always get banished, no matter how charming.”

 

Trip looked as if he had a snarky retort beating against his teeth, but he must’ve bitten it back for Fee’s sake.

 

“Quite right. Three cupcakes it is.” He held out his elbow, but had to crouch so Fee could grab hold of him. “Lead the way, Princess Fee.”

 

Kelsey followed them inside, fighting against her heart’s pitter-pattering as she watched Trip delight her niece. Five minutes later, they exited Sweet Cakes again, this time without any clumsiness.

 

Trip bent down, raised Fee’s hand to his lips, and kissed it. “I hope I see you again.”

 

Fee looked at Kelsey. “When you and him get married, can I be the flower girl and wear this dress?”

 

Convinced her cheeks must look like overly ripened tomatoes, Kelsey brazened on. “When we get married, pigs will fly and you can wear whatever you want. You can even ride a unicorn right down the aisle. Now, we’d better get going soon, or we won’t have time for tea before I have to take you home.” Collecting herself, she glanced at Trip and pretended no part of her felt wistful about their illusory nuptials . . . or wedding night. “See you around.”

 

“Princess Kelsey, I’ll be counting the minutes.” He bowed before sauntering away, whistling as he went.

 

Kelsey dragged her gaze from his butt and grasped Fee’s hand. “By the way, thirty’s not old, Fee. It’s mature!”

 

Perfectly mature, she thought, despite the fact that she was strolling through the dusty streets of town wearing a pink costume.

 

 

 

Three blocks away, Trip meandered toward home wearing a smile on his face. Kelsey’s typical wardrobe revealed a lot more flesh than that ridiculous costume, yet watching her play dress-up with her niece held a unique, if baffling, appeal. And little Fiona! She promised to be more of a terror to men than her aunt, whom he and his soon-to-be partner, Grey, had nicknamed Boomerang due to the stalker tendencies she’d exhibited when she first met Grey.

 

Admittedly, Kelsey’s rockin’ body had always intrigued Trip. A few rounds in bed with her might be worth the clinginess. Stacked, with a curvy ass and shapely legs, she was all woman. The way a woman should be built. Whiskey-colored eyes, a turned-up nose, and pouty lower lip enhanced her sex appeal. Her thick blond hair hung in loose curls down past her chest. The kind of hair you could wrap around your wrist and . . .

 

Trip shook his head, clearing his throat. Grey had warned him to steer clear of Kelsey, convinced Trip would hurt her, which he probably would. That kind of tension could stir up trouble between Grey and his girlfriend, Avery. So Trip had agreed.

 

At the time it hadn’t seemed like a big sacrifice—plenty of fish in the sea. Sometimes, though, he’d see Kelsey in town and find himself daydreaming about stripping her out of whatever tight dress—or loose-fitted costume—she was wearing . . .

 

He stopped and shook his head again. Clearly he needed ski season to begin, which always brought a fresh influx of single women on vacation looking for a little short-term fun. Until then, he should probably steer clear of Kelsey. Shouldn’t be too difficult, considering the important business issues he and Grey had to address.

 

He strode into Backtrax—the backcountry ski and mountain climbing expedition business in which he would soon be a partner—passing through the reception area and down the hall to the private office. “Grey, you back here?”

 

“Yeah,” Grey called.

 

Trip entered the windowless room to find his friend parked behind the computer with a lollipop sticking out of his mouth. Typical Grey.

 

Grey tossed a manila folder toward Trip. “These are the new partnership papers we need to sign once you get the money to buy into the company. How’s that coming?”

 

“Just got back from the bank. Still no deposit.” Trip sat in his chair and tipped his hat back, feigning confidence he didn’t quite feel. “Don’t worry, partner. I’ll get the money.”

 

“You asked me not to ask too many questions about your situation, but, if there’s a problem, you need to tell me before I settle with Andy’s insurer.” Grey kept his gaze locked on Trip.

 

Trip knew Grey wanted to settle his legal claims against Avery’s brother Andy—who’d driven while drunk and injured Grey last winter—quickly and for as little money as possible. In order to do so, Grey was relying, in part, on Trip’s promise. Failure to secure the funding wouldn’t just be a major disappointment to Trip and put Backtrax on shakier ground, it could wreak havoc on Grey’s personal life, too. “I’ll have the money, Grey. Soon.”