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“Samantha.” At his tone, Sam sniffles and slouches further into her seat.
Lara sits trapped between the two at the edge of the back seat, startled and scared. Something solid settles in my stomach at the thought of her being afraid when I’m right here.
“You’re safe,” I reassure her. “I got you, princess. Kaleb’s just having a tantrum. He loves his car.”
Her big doe eyes blinking down at me is the only response she gives. Her chest heaves rapidly.
Huh, maybe Fawn is the right name for her.
I shake my head and cradle her foot again. My hand works its way up her cream pajama pants, stroking along her shaking calf.
“It’s too cold out here, but when you go in, take your sneaker off and prop your foot up. You can keep the cute socks on,” I tease.
I tickle at a duck on her robe, earning a reluctant smile.
“Tantrum? Me?” Kaleb rolls his eyes, ignoring everything but the insult. “It’s not me protecting my car that you need to worry about now, Fawny,” he teases, nudging me with his foot. “Wait until this asshole remembers that the first time he saw you,you were running down Ellis Road alone at six a.m.”
“So?” she challenges, not looking as she knocks my hand away from another duck.
“Absolutely no regard for your own safety. Nothing a good spanking won’t sort out.”
“Oh, so you’re the funny brother.” Lara laughs, but it’s nervous. She’s still hoping Kaleb’s words are a joke. I guess she’s going with denial, which works for me.
“Yep, and these two are dumb and dumber.”
With a deep breath, I try to remind myself of why I can’t hit my little brother . . .Yeah, I got nothing.
“No, he’s the quiet one, and quiet doesn’t mean stupid,” she tells him, pointing behind me to Daniel.
“Which brother does that make me, princess?” I ask as I hear Daniel walk away toward the main building.
Hopefully, we can all get the fuck out of here.
“The hot one,” she whispers and shivers as my hand settles on the back of her knee. “And a stalker.”
“Right answer, and I wasn’t stalking.” Her shoulders relax slightly. “I was protecting.” Lara freezes. The cat’s out of the bag, thanks to Kaleb, so I might as well be honest. I grin, loving the blush that settles on her cheeks. “But we’re still going to discuss you running alone. It stops now, Lara.” Turning her gently, I tuck her legs into the car
My girl ignores my tone and chirps, “We’ll see.”
“Yes, princess, we will,” I promise, pressing a kissto her forehead. “I’m going to finish up here.” I nod to where Daniel and Kaleb stand talking to the fire chief. “Then we’ll go home and have a chat.”
Not waiting for a reply, I stand and close the door between us.
My heart hammers in my chest as I watch her shy smile turn confused. Again, I can’t stop thinking about Daniel and Charlie and how far they’ve come as a couple. Of how much Charlie loves her husband, all of him.
Can I have that? Can we have that?
She didn’t panic too much or run away when Kaleb told her I protect her in the mornings. Not that she could run on that ankle.
Fuck.
CHAPTER FOUR
Lara
The sound of the car door closing clears my head.
Shit . . . what was that?
