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Poppy held out her hand. “We won, so the chocolate is our prize.”

“Hmmm. We never agreed on a prize.” He slid the chocolate on a high shelf. “But congratulations. Your prize is to eat every vegetable on your plate at dinner. Enjoy.”

River grinned and the girls fumed, but they didn’t beg me to overturn his decision and there were no tantrums. They were growing up.

FIVE

RIVER

I sensed I wasn’t alone, and my eyes snapped open.

Three grinning faces were leaning over me, and they yelped and tumbled back when I tried to grab them. They landed in a heap on the floor but quickly recovered and asked if I was going to make them breakfast.

“Mmmm. Is the sun up? My contract says I can only make breakfast when it’s light out.”

Ivy frowned. “What’s a contract?”

Poppy nudged her. “River doesn’t want to get up.” She hustled her sisters toward the door. “It’s okay. We’ll make ourselves breakfast.”

I flung off the bedclothes. “Not if I catch you first.”

They squealed and sped down the stairs, and I trailed behind them, landing on the squeaky step.

After negotiating adding fruit to their cereal and encouraging them to eat eggs or yogurt rather than bacon, sausages, and leftover roast beef, I sat opposite my three charges and sipped my coffee. I made a face, and the girls leaned over the table and peered into my cup.

“What’s wrong?” Wren’s bottom lip wobbled. “You don’t like our coffee?”

What was not to like when it came from a fancy machine that hissed and produced the best coffee I’d ever tasted.

“I love it, sweetheart, but it’s cold.”

“I can make it better.” She wrapped both hands around the mug.

What an angel, trying to warm up my drink. But Poppy and Ivy yanked her under the table. What was going on? Were they going to do a switcheroo and exchange my coffee for one with salt?

But Wren appeared, and the other two poked their heads up so I could only see their eyes.

“We had to have a meeting,” Poppy explained.

Wren put her hands on my mug, and I noticed she wasn’t wearing her bracelet when I was certain she’d had it on a minute ago.

“Try it now.” Wren pushed the mug over the table.

The ceramic was warm, really warm. I took a sip. And another. The coffee was piping hot. “Oh, I get it.” I clapped. “You used a hand warmer.” I didn’t think those things had the ability to heat up a mug and the liquid inside, and if they did, it wouldn’t happen that fast.

“No. It’s our secret.” She grinned, revealing the gap in her teeth.

That was my line and she was throwing it back at me.

“Morning.” Sinclair wandered in yawning, wearing a robe.

Wow, he reminded me of men in old sitcoms, who’d just woken up but looked as though they’d been pampered for hours. I dragged my gaze away because he was my boss and the girls’ father. I was here to work, not to ogle him.

“I have to get the girls ready for school.” It was still early, but they agreed if I’d read them a story before they got dressed.

“And I have a spelling test.” Ivy put both hands over her mouth. “I forgot to tell you.”

That should have been on the app, and I hadn’t checked it. That wouldn’t happen again. After marching them to their rooms and checking the spelling, I made sure Poppy had her library book in her backpack and Wren had her gym clothes.