I looked up—and immediately made the mistake of letting my gaze drift.
His shoulders were broad beneath the thin fabric of his navy blue scrubs, the material clinging just enough to hint at the strength underneath.
They sure felt nice under my hands last night.
My stomach did a stupid little flip.
I wanted to—
No.
Get a grip, Sawyer. You’re acting like a goddamn teenager.
“No, thank you. That’s all,” I told him, not trusting myself enough to linger.
* * *
“Knock, knock. Is anyone home?”
The words had barely left my mouth before something dark and sleek streaked down the hallway, and I stumbled back as Max—all seventy pounds of exuberant Border Collie—chargedstraight at me.
“Max, sit!”
The command cut through the air, and Max skidded to a halt, his paws scrabbling against the floor as he fought his own momentum.
“Good boy.” I ruffled the soft fur between his ears, inhaling that familiar scent of dog shampoo and something indefinablyhomethat always clung to Mari’s place. I barely managed to close the door behind me before yet another missile launched itself in my direction, this one considerably blonder and cuter.
“And there’s my favorite cousin!” I cheered, dropping down on one knee to give Ella a tight hug.
“Aren’tIyour favorite cousin?” Mari appeared around the corner, wiping her hands on a dish towel.
“Nah, you lost that title the second this little rascal came out of you.”
Ella beamed up at me, gap-toothed and as adorable as ever. I tapped her little nose, trying not to melt. She was so cute I could just eat her up.
“Speaking of little rascals—” I said, reaching a hand behind me. “Look at what I’ve got.”
Ella let out a gasp when she caught sight of the dress—a pretty lilac color, all soft tulle and shimmer, delicate as spun sugar.
“Rapunzel?” she asked, smiling so wide I thought her cheeks might burst.
“Well, you do have the hair for it.” I gave one of her long, golden braids a gentle tug. “Though it’s a bit too long, no? Mari, grab the scissors!”
Ella’s eyes went wide before she bolted down the hallway, clutching the dress to her chest. I laughed when I heard herbedroom door slam, the echo carrying through the house. She was going to be a riot in her teenage years, I could already tell.
Mari’s arms dropped to her sides, her shoulders sagging with them. “I’m so sorry for springing this on you last minute. It’s just… money has been a bit tight lately, and—”
“Mari, I love you, but please stop talking. If I’m not allowed to spoil my little cousin, then what’s even the point?”
“You could have at least picked something less expensive—”
I held up a hand, cutting her off before she could continue to spiral. “I’m done listening to you.”
I walked away before Mari had a chance to argue and dropped onto the couch. Max claimed the space right beside me, his warm weight pressing against my thigh. I scratched behind his ears absently as I watched Mari move around the guestroom, gathering up Ella’s toys and tossing them into a colorful bin.
She looked like she hadn’t slept in days, worn thin at the edges. Her hair was frizzy, pulled low into a lopsided ponytail. Her old sweatshirt fit more loosely than it had the last time I visited, exposing the sharp jut of her collarbone. Even her posture had changed, becoming smaller, folded in on herself, like she didn’t have the energy to stand at full height anymore.
“Where’s Scott?” I asked.
