A small smile tugged at my mouth.
Fox stood near the coffee pot, and Skye—his fiancée, the one from the documentary on the Shadow Stalker—was beside him, close enough that they brushed together without even noticing.
The second oldest brother, Graham, whose job as a forensic psychologist fascinated me, sat at the far end of the table with his girlfriend, Quinn. Their heads were bent together as they spoke low to each other over Quinn’s phone.
At the head of the table sat Warner, the family patriarch, steady and watchful, a heavy ceramic mug in his hand like he’d been there all morning, taking it all in.
I didn’t know what to do with myself.
Raleigh had said I was welcome, but she wasn’t here now, and I didn’t know whether anyone even knew my name. Was I supposed to walk in and sit down like I belonged?
My thoughts started to spiral.
Should I say something? Wait for someone to notice me?
My gaze caught on someone looking my way.
Lark tucked a loose blonde curl behind her ear and pushed off the counter, heading toward me like it was the most natural thing in the world.
“Hey,” she said softly when she reached me, her voice calm and soothing. “I’m Lark.”
I shifted on my feet. “I’m Palmer,” I said. The statement sounded almost like a question.
Lark nodded. “We all know who you are,” she said warmly. “And we’re so excited to have you here.” She paused, her smile falling a little. “Though I do wish it weren’t exactly like this.”
“Yeah,” I said quietly. “Me too.”
Before I could second-guess anything else, she slipped her arm through mine. The gesture was easy and natural.
“Come sit,” she said. “You must be starving.”
She guided me toward the table, and my attention snapped to the highchair immediately. I had noticed the squealing baby, but I wasn’t sure who she belonged to.
The little girl sitting there had chubby cheeks flushed pink, soft blonde curls bouncing around her face as she happily squished a piece of pancake in her hands.
My heart melted on impact.
“Oh,” I breathed. “What’s her name? Is she yours?”
“Thea Grace.” Lark gazed at the baby like the world began and ended with her. “And yes, she’s mine.”
Thea.I stared at the perfect squishy baby, realizing she had quite the namesake to live up to. The brothers’ late sister would be so proud, I was sure.
“That’s a perfect name,” I said, my voice gentler now. “She looks just like you.”
Lark blinked, a faint blush rising to her cheeks as we sat down. “You think so?”
“Definitely.”
Lark’s smile widened, proud and soft and full. “She has her daddy’s eyes, though,” she added, glancing toward the stove.
I followed her gaze.
Reid stood there, completely unbothered, holding a pancake folded in half like a taco and taking a bite out of it, mid-conversation with Fox.
It caught me off guard, and a small, unexpected smile pulled at my lips.
“Can I get you a plate?” an unfamiliar voice asked.
