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The little thing grinned, showing off the gaps left by her missing teeth. “You just gots to get stronger, then.” She shrugged before she leaned in and placed a kiss on my cheek.
I held her tighter. The only girl who knew how to melt my heart with one sentence. “I’ll do anything for you, you know that.”
“Hailey.” A low grumble from the vicinity of the dining table announced my brother’s presence. “You need to be more careful. What if he hadn’t caught you?”
Hailey looked back at her daddy hunched over a plate of pancakes. She pursed her lips. “Uncle Reidsy would never drop me,” she said, with all the confidence in the world.
Roman shifted on his seat. “You never know. You always need to watch out for yourself.”
Hailey’s head snapped back to me, and she rolled her eyes. “Daddy’s such a grumpy goose,” she not-so-quietly whispered.
I stifled a laugh and carried her back to the table. Roman met my gaze, his expression making clear he’d heard every word his daughter “whispered” to me.
“Let’s just try to keep those snazzy glitter boots on the ground when we can, okay?” I placed her down on the seat she’d launched herself from.
She let out a huff of air before turning to the pink plate of half-eaten chocolate chip pancakes. “I was just happy to see you,” she whined.
“And I am so happy to see you.” I kissed the top of her head before turning toward the apron-clad woman at the stove. “Is Grandma babysitting today?”
“It’s Grandma’s favorite thing to do!” my mother singsonged as she flipped the pancakes on the griddle.
Roman was the oldest of us, and didn’t work for Hearthstone full-time. He had followed in our father’s footsteps and became a firefighter. Ever since Hailey’s mother passed away shortly after she was born, our mom took care of her while he worked at the station.
“Morning, Ma.” I gave her a peck on the cheek.
The smell of the pancakes and bacon had my mouth watering.
She smiled. “Good morning, baby. It’s good to see you.” She looked away from the griddle for the first time, giving me a double take. “Good Lord, Reid, you look tired.” She put down her spatula and touched my cheek. “You’re working too hard again.”
I stiffened, forcing myself not to pull away. My family always meant well, but it bothered me the way they worried…too much, sometimes. I’d gone through some crap, but ever since my near breakdown when I left the police department, it was like they were waiting for me to fall apart.
“I’m fine, Ma,” I said, but she didn’t look reassured. “I’ll be even better after I get some of those pancakes.”
I put on my biggest smile, and she eventually returned it. “Sit.” She patted my chest. “I’ll get you a plate.”
“Thanks.” I turned and headed back to the table.
I winked at Hailey, who grinned around a mouth full of pancakes, and pulled out the chair beside her, when the doorbell rang.
“Who’s that?” I asked, pausing.
“I don’t know.” Mom frowned in the direction of the door. “We have guests checking in today, but they shouldn’t arrive until later.” She glanced at her watch before picking her spatula back up. “I have a couple more to flip before I’m done. Could you get the door, Reid?”
“Sure.” I pushed the chair back in and glanced down at Hailey. “Don’t eat all the pancakes before I get back,” I warned, tapping the tip of her nose.
She giggled. “No promises!” she said, stuffing her mouth as full as she could.
“You’re gonna choke,” Roman growled, and he threw me a glare as I headed toward the front of the house. “Make sure you chew it all real well, Hails.”
I shook my head as I exited the kitchen. Roman was a great dad, but ever since he lost his wife, he’d been so…paranoid about everything. Hailey was full of life and mischief, and he seemed to be having a hard time adjusting.
The doorbell rang again, and I hurried past the front staircase and into the foyer. I grabbed the iron knob carved with an intricate pattern and opened the door.
I froze as a pair of wide, brown eyes met mine.
Lark Meadows stood on my parents’ front porch, looking as surprised to see me as I was to see her.
9
