Chapter 9
LAWSON
I kept glancing out the windows at the front of the house as I sipped my coffee, my thumb tracing circles on the mug. When I got up at five for my workout, lights had been blazing in the guest cabin. And I hadn’t missed that a soft glow emanated from the windows well after midnight last night.
A million different questions swirled in my mind. Could Hallie not sleep? Was she scared of the dark? Was it hard for her being in a new place?
“Not things you need to be worried about,” I growled aloud, forcing myself back into the kitchen.
I didn’t miss the dirty dishes in the sink caked with tomato sauce. Luke had clearly come out for leftovers after we were all asleep. I was relieved that he hadn’t gone to bed hungry, but beyond frustrated that he’d left a mess behind.
Maybe I needed to get him into therapy. Cedar Ridge had a decent therapist that treated a variety of patients. I should give her a call.
A soft knock sounded on the front door.
My body jolted, coffee sloshing over the rim of my mug. I muttered a curse and grabbed a towel as I headed for the door.
Opening it, I stilled, gray eyes freezing me to the spot.
Hallie stood holding a towel-covered bowl.
Her hair fell in loose waves to frame her face, and she wore a sweater that shouldn’t have been enticing but somehow was.
It skimmed her curves, falling to mid-thigh, where it met with black leggings that left little to the imagination when it came to those long, toned legs.
I forced my gaze back to her face. Hell. The last thing I needed to be thinking about was my twenty-five-year-old nanny’s legs. “Morning.”
My voice sounded like I’d just woken up, not as if I’d been up for two hours already.
“Morning,” Hallie echoed, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.
I quickly stepped back. “Come in.”
Hallie moved into my space, the scent of something sweet but somehow smoky weaving around me.
“Thanks for stocking my fridge. I made sunshine muffins as a thank-you,” Hallie said, extending the bowl to me.
My lips twitched. “Sunshine muffins?”
It was fitting for a woman who was pure light herself. I had to fight a laugh.
She worried her bottom lip. “My housekeeper used to make them when I was growing up. They’re orange-flavored, but they’re pretty healthy, too.”
“Just as long as they don’t have gross orange pulp in them,” Drew grumbled as he stumbled down the hallway in his sweats, his hair sticking up in every direction.
“Drew,” I clipped.
Hallie just laughed. “No pulp. I promise.”
“Sweet,” Drew said, pulling back the towel and grabbing one. He broke off a piece and popped it into his mouth. His eyes went wide. “These are amazing.”
His words were barely discernible since his mouth was full, but Hallie grinned. “I’m glad you like them.”
“Will you wake up your brothers, Drew?” I asked.
He nodded, turning back to the hallway and yelling, “Charlie, Luke, get up. Hallie brought sick muffins. If you don’t hurry, I’m gonna eat them all.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Not what I had in mind, D-man.”
He shrugged. “I’ve got muffins to eat.”
Drew grabbed another one and headed for the kitchen just as Charlie bolted out of his bedroom. He ran down the hallway, crashing into me. “I want muffins!”
I grinned at Hallie. “I’d say you’re a hit.”
That pretty pink stained her cheeks again. “I’m easily won over by food, too.”
I’d have to remember that.
“Let’s go,” I called as I headed for the door. I glanced over my shoulder at Hallie. “Ride with me today, and I’ll show you the drop-off ropes. Drew has lacrosse conditioning after school, so you don’t have to pick him up. One of his teammates’ parents will drop him off at the house.”
“She doesn’t need to pick me up either,” Luke muttered as he grabbed his backpack by the door.
I sent a glare in his direction. I hadn’t missed how Luke refused to call Hallie by her name. He hadn’t done it even once. “It’s a little too far to walk.”
He slid his backpack over one shoulder. “I have a science study group after school.”
I examined Luke for a moment. I hated that I wasn’t sure if he was lying or not. “With who?”
“Someone in my science class.”
“Who?” I pressed.
Luke’s jaw clenched. “Violet Hooper. I’ll get a ride home after.”
It could’ve been a lie, but I knew the girl’s name. She was the daughter of a local pastor and not exactly a part of Luke’s usual crew.
“I can pick you up after the study group,” Hallie offered. “It’s no problem.”
Luke just scowled at her and headed for the door. “Whatever.”
The door slammed behind him, and Hallie winced. “I’m sorry he’s not my biggest fan.”
Worry lined Hallie’s features, and she tied her fingers into intricate knots.
I gently touched her shoulder. “It’s not you.”
She tugged on her bottom lip with her teeth. “Seems like it might be.”
“He’s not happy with anyone these days,” I admitted.
Hallie’s expression gentled. “I’m sorry, Lawson. I know that must be hard to see.”
A burn lit along my sternum at her kind understanding. “It hasn’t been the easiest lately.”
“I’m ready!” Charlie called as he hurried down the hallway, Drew following behind. He grinned at Hallie. “You’re gonna meet Cady. She’s my bestest friend. Do you like ballet? Ballet’s her favorite, and she’s really good. But she also likes animals like me. She has a bazillion of them. Even an emu.”
I clamped a hand on Charlie’s shoulder. “Let’s fill Hallie in on the way. How about that?”
She pressed her lips together to keep from laughing. “I am quite curious about this emu.”
Charlie chattered the entire way to the high school, telling Hallie all about Cady and Aspen’s makeshift animal rescue. Luke didn’t say a word as he slid out of my department SUV and headed for school, but I didn’t push.
Charlie kept right on talking as we headed for the middle school to drop off Drew, who at least had a wave for Hallie and me.
By the time we reached the elementary school, I was pretty sure we’d covered every animal on Aspen’s property.
Well, I guessed it was Aspen and Roan’s now that they were married and combining their adjacent homes.
Hallie twisted in her seat as I pulled to a stop in front of the elementary school. “That sounds incredible. I’d say you lucked out when it comes to best friends.”
Charlie bobbed his head in a nod. “I’m the luckiest.”
I shut off the engine. “Better hurry. I see your bestie over there.”
Charlie’s face lit up as he saw Cady, and he unhooked his booster seat. “Can I get out? Please, Dad?”
I nodded, and he quickly hopped out next to the sidewalk.
“He’s amazing,” Hallie said softly.
“A ball of energy, that’s for sure. Come on. He’ll want you to meet Cady.”
We climbed out of the SUV and headed in their direction as they talked rapid-fire.
Aspen stood next to them and lifted a hand in a wave. “You’d think they’d been apart for a month instead of two days.”
I chuckled. “I can’t believe you’re back to drop-off duty the day after your wedding weekend.”
She gave me a sheepish smile. “Cady has another recital at the end of the week. Roan and I didn’t want to miss it, so we’re doing the honeymoon a little later.”
Aspen’s red hair swished around her shoulders as she turned to the woman next to me. “You must be Hallie. I’m Aspen, Cady’s mom. And, I guess, Law’s sister-in-law now.”
“I really hope my long line of new sisters doesn’t give me as much grief as Grae does.”
Aspen laughed. “I don’t think any of us could hold a candle to mountain-climbing, knife-throwing G.”
Confusion swept over Hallie’s expression.
“All three of my younger brothers are engaged or newly married, so I’m gaining a brood of sisters,” I explained.
“And Grae, his actual sister, is kind of a bad—” She cut herself off, glancing at the kids. “A bad-A.”
Hallie smiled, but I saw the lines of tension bracketing her mouth. “I didn’t know you had such a big family. That must be fun.”
“Sometimes, it’s fun. Other times…mayhem,” I told her honestly.
Aspen chuckled. “Very true.” She turned to Hallie. “How are you settling in?”
“Good. Everything’s really good.” Hallie’s hands trembled a bit, and I saw Aspen’s gaze zero in on the movement.
“That’s great. If you’re up for it, you and the boys should come over after school. You can meet the animals,” Aspen offered.
I shouldn’t have been surprised at her kindness. Everything she’d been through had given her a radar for others who might have pain in their pasts.
“Yes!” Charlie cheered, zoning in on our conversation. “It’ll be so fun, Hallie. The funnest! You’ll meet Emmaline.”
Hallie’s mouth curved at that as though Charlie’s mere excitement eased her somehow. “I have always wanted to meet an emu.”
Cady grinned at Hallie. “She’s super sweet.” The grin slipped. “Well, she doesn’t like my dad, but she loves me and Mama.”
My chest constricted at Cady calling Roan her dad. That little girl had worked a miracle where my once-broody brother was concerned.
“Well, hopefully, she likes me, too.” Hallie turned to Aspen. “I’d like that. Should I get your address or…?”
Aspen waved her off. “We’ll just meet here after school. You can follow me home.”
“Sounds good. Thank you.”
“Anytime,” Aspen said, turning back to her daughter. “Hugs, Katydid.”
Cady launched herself at Aspen, who laughed as she hugged her tightly.
I ruffled Charlie’s hair. “See you tonight. You can have Hallie call me if you need me.”
Charlie nodded, but he was already heading for school.
“He used to not want me to leave him,” I mumbled.
“This just means he’s healthy and well-adjusted,” Hallie said as we made our way back to my SUV.
“True, but I miss him needing me a little.”
Hallie climbed inside as I rounded the vehicle. “I think I’d be that way, too. Sometimes, it’s nice to be needed.”