She’s giddy and it’s cute; she clearly idolises him. We get to know each other whilst Tanner finishes cooking and plates up three breakfasts, swapping out avocado for grated parmesan on Emma’s plate.

Tanner

Taking a seat at the breakfast bar next to the girls, I take them both in. The two most important women in my life are getting along like a house on fire. Which is surprising because Em is the complete opposite to Kinsley. She is loud and bubbly, and still so young. Even though there is only two years between them, she doesn’t have the life experience and maturity that Kinsley has.

Emma has had everything handed to her on a silver platter, it wouldn’t be how I would raise my daughter, but Mum and Dad treat her like a princess. She taps a card with unlimited funds, has a driver and access to a private jet. She is supposed to be over in LA studying fashion; yet she is here.

“When did you get back in the country, and how long are you staying for?” I pry, it’s not unlike her to drop in unannounced but since she moved out of the country, she normally communicates a little more than this.

“Can’t we just enjoy breakfast, Tanner. Please?”

She looks at me with those eyes; the same ones she has always used whenever she wants to get her own way. It works too, I don’t look back in her direction until we have all finished breakfast and Kinsley starts clearing our plates.

“Where’s Lana?” Emma asks. “Let her do all of this so we can go and catch up properly. I have been dying for real Melbourne coffee.”

“— Lana?” Kinsley cuts in.

“Lana only comes over twice a week to clean, I don’t need a live-in maid now that you’re no longer here.”

“Oh. Suit yourself,” Emma states, clearly confused with the fact I don’t have staff living here.

“We don’t all enjoy having people sniffing our ass all day, Em.”

Emma rolls her eyes, pushing past me. “I guess I’ll send Chris away once he brings my bags in then.”

Kinsley giggles beside me, then whispers, “Who’s Chris?”

I keep my eyes glued on Emma as she walks away. I can’t help but wonder what has brought her home? “Chris is her driver.”

Chapter Twenty-One

Kinsley

My arms wrap tighter around Tanner’s waist, as we zig-zag through traffic and he rests one of his hands over mine. My body leans into him, moving as one. We left Emma back at the house to get settled, she pleaded with me to stay there, and as much as I would have loved to, I have a shift at the bar tonight.

“You alright, back there?” he asks through the bluetooth headset.

“Yeah, I’m perfect. Today has been … perfect.”