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His eyebrow rises.

I press, "It's Charlie's first Christmas."

His gaze drops to his granddaughter. "That was low."

"Was it effective?"

He grunts.

I wait.

Finally, he sighs. "I'll see what I can do."

"I'm taking that as a yes."

"I didn't say yes."

"We'll keep it as a surprise for everyone."

He doesn't say anything, but I can tell he likes the idea.

"See you Christmas morning, Mr. Cooper."

He shakes his head, but the corner of his mouth twitches.

I grab the diaper bag and start toward the door.

"Jagger."

I freeze, then turn.

All traces of amusement are gone. Dean stands a few feet away, shoulders squared, eyes locked hard on mine. "If you hurt Lainey or Charlie, I'll kill you with my bare hands."

I shift Charlie higher against my chest. "If I ever hurt either one of them, I'll hold still while you do it."

Dean stares at me for a long second.

Then he gives me the smallest nod.

I return it. Then I carry my daughter out to the truck knowing two things for damn sure.

Dean Cooper loves his girls.

And so do I.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Lainey

"Before you panic, Charlie is fine."

I stop halfway through pulling on my boot and slowly look up at Mama.

Any sentence that starts with before you panic is guaranteed to make me panic. I fret, "What happened?"

"Nothing happened."

"Then why would I panic?"