Winnie giggled, the sound like wind chimes in the crisp air.
The woman who’d taken our photo was still standing nearby, still deciding on her own choice of pumpkin with what appeared to be her grandkids running circles around her.
As Selene fell into step beside me, the woman gave Selene a gentle nudge and a knowing smile. “Looks like you also found yourself a keeper.”
Heat crept up Selene’s neck, painting her cheeks the faintest shade of rose. She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could get a word out, Winnie piped up from her spot, skipping a few paces ahead.
“He’s my nanny!” she declared proudly, as if I’d just been knighted.
The woman’s brows shot up in surprise, but her smile only deepened. “Well, lucky you, sweet girl.”
Selene’s lips twitched like she was trying not to laugh—or cringe—and her eyes darted to mine for a half second before she looked away.
I bit back a grin and adjusted the pumpkin in my arms.
“Best damn nanny in Star Harbor,” I said lightly, and Winnie let out a little giggle.
The air smelled faintly of cinnamon and fried dough as we followed Winnie’s determined little march toward the tire mountain—a towering pile of massive black tractor tires stacked in a pyramid built into a hill. It was well over twice her size. I gently placed the pumpkin at our feet.
Winnie dropped her jacket at the base like a knight shedding armor. “Austin! Watch this!” she called as she scrambled onto the first tire, her tiny hands gripping the edges. “I’m the queen of the mountain!”
I chuckled and moved closer, ready to catch her if she slipped. “Queen, huh? Should I kneel or bow?”
“Both.” Her legs pumped as she climbed higher.
Selene hung back a few steps, her phone angled as she snapped pictures, laughter slipping past her lips in soft bursts. I caught her gaze once—her eyes warm, almost wistful—and electricity crackled beneath my skin.
I steadied Winnie with a hand at her back as she reached for the top tire, her boots slipping slightly.
“Careful, bug,” I said, my voice low but sure. “You got it.”
She clambered over the edge with a triumphant squeal, planting her hands on her hips as she stood tall against the autumn sky. “I did it! I’m the fairy queen!”
“You sure are,” I said, my grin stretching wide.
It was ridiculous how easy it felt. Like I was meant to be there—meant to catch her when she fell, meant to laugh with Selene, meant to carry the ugliest pumpkin in the patch like it was the most important thing in the world.
Winnie made it halfway back down the tire mountain before deciding she’d conquered enough territory for one day.
“My hands are cold,” she announced as she hopped down the last tire and landed with a triumphant little bounce. “I think we need doughnuts now.”
Selene laughed, tucking her phone back into her jacket pocket. “Doughnuts sound like the perfect plan.”
At the farm stand, Winnie hovered close to her prized pumpkin as I set it carefully on the counter, its warty sides gleaming in the weak autumn sunlight.
“One lopsided beauty for the queen of the mountain.” Elodie grinned as a cashier rang it up. “This one’s pretty ugly. Maybe we should give it to you for half price since no one else wanted it.”
Winnie stood taller at the title, her chin lifting with a grin. “It’s worth full price to me. I love it.”
Selene reached into her bag for her wallet, but I was already sliding my card across the counter. “Austin?—”
“I’ve got it,” I said easily. “Don’t argue. It’ll hurt my feelings.”
Selene rolled her eyes, but there was a flicker of warmth in them that I didn’t miss.
After dropping the pumpkin off at the car, I lingered, watching Selene and Winnie through the windshield as they chatted near a display of multicolored corn and gourds. The way they leaned toward each other, their voices lost in the breeze—it was a sight I could’ve watched all day.
But my hands were cold too.
