“I’m not a boy, Mama. I’m okay. Missed you, though.”
I pull back, wink, and kiss her cheek.
I walk into the dining room and find everyone already sitting.
“Uncle Dex!”
Mia jumps up and runs toward me. I catch her and swing her around.
This little girl has stolen my heart, and I don’t mind one bit.
“How’s my favorite princess today?”
Mia chatters happily as she pulls me toward the table and forces me to sit next to her. My eyes catch Penny staring at me, then glancing at Summer.
“Evening, gorgeous ladies. How are you?” I tease, knowing my brothers hate it when I compliment their wives.
Penny elbows a growling Cas, while Summer tries not to laugh.
“Hello, Dex,” Summer smiles warmly.
I love how my brothers’ wives just fit into the chaos of our family.
My mom joins us at the table, Dad says grace, and we dig in. I glance at the two empty seats and feel a pang. Grace at college. Jace chasing bulls for adrenaline.
“So, Lexy,” Penny starts, catching my attention. “How did her first day go?”
I frown. “How do you know her name?”
Penny looks at Summer, then back at me, a small smile playing on her lips. Something’s going on here.
“She came by the café this morning. Such a sweet girl… gorgeous too.”
Dread coils in my stomach.
I jump in to redirect. “It didn’t work out, so I let her go. Busy day at the café?”
Summer purses her lips.
Before she can answer, Mama studies me. “Who is this girl?”
I fight the urge to look away. “No one, Mama. Just a girl who wanted a job, but she wasn’t any good.”
Penny leans slightly forward, her expression soft but firm. “You let her go?”
I sigh. “I can’t afford mistakes. Too many errors.”
Penny isn’t convinced. Ethan chimes in, reprimanding me gently.
“First-day errors are normal. Summer said she could use a hand.”
Mama and Dad exchange glances with me, Jude’s knowing eyes boring into mine. He sees the struggle inside me.
“She was in front of the café at six-thirty, no car, in the cold,” Summer explains. “When I told her I’d open at seven, she wanted to sit on the bench to wait. Cold and alone. I let her in, and that’s when I noticed the bruises around her neck.”
Cas leans forward, sheriff instincts kicking in. “Where does she live?”
“I don’t know. I wanted to see if she was worth hiring, but I never got to the paperwork.”
