Kiato did as Iris begged and went to pick up Imani, but the little girl was in no rush to leave. She was giggling, hiding behind curtains, while Samantha counted out loud. The game of hide-and-seek had captured her attention, and Kiato had to wait a little.
When he finally knocked, Samantha opened the door with a bright smile and gestured warmly. “Come in, please,” she insisted.
Inside, she quickly apologized. “Sorry, she’s been having fun. I should’ve called you to know when you were coming.”
Kiato, polite as always, shook his head. “It’s fine. Honestly, I almost lost my way finding your house, so I can’t complain.”
They shared a light laugh over it. Samantha served him a drink, and they talked briefly. To her surprise, Kiato wasn’t as stern as she imagined; he was composed, respectfu
