I felt protective of her in a way that scared me sometimes. Not because Lily was weak. She was not weak. She was soft, which people mistook for the same thing until she opened her mouth and politely cut them at the knees. But she was innocent in ways I had never been. She trusted the world to be weird instead of cruel. She believed most people were doing their best unless proven otherwise.
I believed most people were carrying knives behind their backs unless proven otherwise.
Somehow, between us, we balanced.
I had only gone home once.
Christmas at Cal’s ranch.
Apparently, Christmas had become Cal’s ranch because he was a bachelor with the best house, the best kitchen, the biggest fireplace, and enough land for everyone to spread out without killing each other before dessert. He complained about it constantly, which everyone ignored because he secretly loved every second of having the place full.
Regan and Skye had decided Cal needed a woman.
Cal disagreed.
Loudly.
Frequently.
With increasing irritation.
That only made them more determined.
Every time some pretty friend of a friend “happened” to show up for dinner, Cal’s face got darker until even Edge started enjoying it.
“You’re next,” Regan told him while arranging candles like she was not actively ruining his peace.
“I am not next,” Cal growled.
Skye smiled sweetly. “You need someone.”
“I need everyone out of my house.”
“That’s fear talking,” Regan said.
“That’s my mouth talking.”
I laughed from the couch with a mug of cocoa in my hands, wrapped in a blanket, watching him glower at everyone like a grumpy bear someone had forced into a Hallmark movie.
Cal looked at me. “You think this is funny?”
“Yes.”
His face softened just enough to give him away.
He had a soft spot for me.
He tried to hide it. Failed badly.
He made sure I had the best room. He stocked the kitchen with the tea I liked. He put extra blankets in the den because he remembered I got cold. When I thanked him, he grunted like gratitude was an inconvenience, then asked if my car was running right.
That was Cal love.
Sienna was there too.
She said hello.
That was progress.
