Isla holds up her cookie like the priceless artifact it is. “It’s the prettiest star in the whole galaxy!”
I huff a quiet laugh, shaking my head as I take in her absolute certainty. “No doubt about it, kid. You nailed it.”
Lucy stands, brushing off her knees, and for a second, everything slows. She’s close now, too close. The air carries that hint of vanilla again, subtle but impossible to ignore. It’s a hell of a thing to notice, especially when she’s looking at Isla like the mess she’s making is something worth admiring. Like she matters.
Damn it, that hits harder than I want it to.
“Are you two new to the area?” she asks, breaking the silence.
It takes me a beat before I realize she’s asking me a question. I hesitate, feeling the instinct to pull back, to keep my distance like I always have. Before I can decide how to answer, Isla’s voice rings out, completely unaware of my internal battle.
“We just moved here!” she announces, face bright with excitement. “Daddy says we’re gonna stay for a long time.”
Lucy’s eyes shift back to mine. “Is that so?” she asks. “Well, welcome to our little corner of the Highlands. I hope you’ll both feel at home here.”
I shove my hands into my jacket pockets to hide the tension, giving a quick nod. “Thanks.” I clear my throat, the words coming out rougher than I want them to.
Lucy doesn’t flinch or seem put off by the coarse edge in my tone. If anything, her smile only grows, the care in her eyes unmistakable as she tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear that immediately falls back to her cheek. I’m painfully aware of the fact that I want to reach out and tuck that stray strand of hair back myself.
“If you ever need anything, I’m always here,” she sayslightly. “Well, except for Sundays and Mondays. Other than that, you know where to find me.”
I stare at her for a beat too long, trying to figure out her angle. People don’t just offer help like that without wanting something in return, except her eyes are nothing but honest.
“Right. I’ll keep that in mind,” I say, the words coming out flat.
Asshole.
Lucy nods before she moves to help another child. It’s hard not to admire her ease, the natural way she connects with everyone around her. But damn, it’s almosttoomuch. She’s the kind of sweet that would normally make me roll my eyes or mutter something under my breath. But with her, it doesn’t seem fake. She’s not doing it for show. It’s just her. Pure sugar.
It should annoy the hell out of me. And maybe it does, just a little. Still…I can’t tear my eyes away.
I finally turn my attention back to Isla, who’s now deep in conversation with a freckle-faced boy about the merits of different cookie shapes, her hands gesturing wildly as she talks.
This is a side of her I haven’t seen in a while, and it’s bittersweet. She’s happy. Carefree. I find myself always wanting to wrap her up, protect her from the world and all the ways it can let you down. Yet I know I can’t do that forever. She has to find her own way, even if it scares the shit out of me.
My gaze drifts back to Lucy, almost against my will. She’s in the middle of it all, her laughter ringing out as she moves from child to child, offering encouragement and praise in equal measure.
I can’t help but feel out of place. An intruder in a world that doesn’t quite belong to me.
six
LUCY
I’m wiped out but also so incredibly satisfied. Looking around at the mess of cookie crumbs, frosting smears, and sprinkles scattered across the floor, I can’t help but grin. Tonight was a total win.
Bree grabs a damp cloth, tossing a teasing glance toward Callan as he eats another cookie.
“What?” he protests around a mouthful of red icing. “Quality control doesn’t just do itself, you know.”
Bree cackles. “You say that, but I’ve watched you eat at least seven of those.”
He winks, never breaking eye contact with Bree as he licks a stripe of frosting from his knuckle.
Knox leans against the counter with his arms crossed, raising an unimpressed brow. “You two are getting dangerously close to weird territory. I suggest you take…wherever this is going elsewhere.”
Callan just grins, grabbing Bree by the waist and spinning her in a circle. By the way Bree shrieks and laughs, you can tellthere’s nothing else that exists for her in that moment. They orbit each other without even trying. I love that for them.
Juliette watches them goof off with a fond, slightly exhausted smile with the twins perched on each hip. Then she turns to me. “These two are going to crash hard as soon as we get them in the car.” Maisie’s already rubbing her eyes, and Keira has her whole fist crammed into her mouth, a sure sign she’s moments from a meltdown.
