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He’s quiet for a moment. “You’re serious?”

“I am.”

“Wow. Poor timing. What happened?”

“They left, and the rest of the night was amazing.” More than amazing, I long to add. Just like I am so desperate to tell someone—anyone—that I’ve fallen in love with this woman. “Then they came back to eat breakfast with us and spent the entire time trying to convince Sadie to move back.”

“No way. Is she going to?”

“No. But they didn’t take it well. Stormed out.”

“How is she?”

“Okay. I think she’s a little shaken, but she won’t admit it. I’ve never met anyone as strong as her.”

“Sounds to me like someone is smitten,” Sawyer retorts.

“Is there a purpose to this call?” I ask, though my words have absolutely zero bite.

“Actually, yes. I wanted to let you know that you’re all set for tonight. Zane and Tessa got everything with the boat set, so you shouldn’t need to do anything but show up.”

“Thanks. I owe you guys one.”

“Nope. You owe us nothing, brother. We’ll talk soon.” He ends the call, so I set my phone down to check on the brewing coffee, my thoughts already on tonight. A romantic evening on Zane’s boat followed up with me hopefully finding the courage to tell her just how much she means to me.

If I can even find the words.

A knock on the front door of the bar pulls my thoughts back to the here and now as I push through the swinging door of the kitchen and head around the bar top. Without even having to look, I’m willing to bet it’ll be Darren and Bella on the other side.

I just hope they’re smart enough not to try picking a fight with me. Because after the way they treated Sadie? I have absolutely zero tolerance. I will happily toss them out and not even think twice about it.

After one last glance toward the stairs to make sure Sadie hasn’t come down, I grab the jackets and head for the door. When I pull it open and see only Darren standing there, the unease I’ve had for the man since I met him last night grows.

There’s just something about him. An arrogance that doesn’t sit right with me. Plus, there’s this overwhelming feeling that I’ve seen him before, though I honestly can’t place it.

“Here.” I thrust the jackets at him.

“Thanks.” He takes them. “And listen, I’m sorry for Bella’s behavior. She’s—well—” He laughs. “Free-spirited.”

“Spoiled is more like it.”

“Yeah, that, too.” He runs a hand over the back of his black hair. “Listen, can we talk for a few minutes? Just us. I don’t want to upset Sadie, but I do have a few things I’d like to talk about, and I think you might be able to help me.”

I should slam the door in his face.

Should refuse.

But there’s a part of me that wonders if I might be able to smooth things over enough that they’ll at least let Sadie say goodbye to the kids she practically raised. So I nod and move out of the way so he can come into the bar.

“Thanks,” he says. “Where is she?”

“Not down here.” I cross my arms. “What is it? I have things to do.”

Darren sighs. “You have to understand that Sadie has been a part of our family for nearly a decade. Bella was never overly maternal, but Sadie came and gave her the ability to be a mother without⁠—”

“Actually, being a mother?” I have absolutely nothing against mothers who hire nannies. Unless they hire them to raise their kids because they can’t be bothered to actually be a mother. Then I tend to be slightly judgmental.

His expression hardens slightly. “Bella loves our kids.”