Chapter 44 Hallie
HALLIE
Sunshine beamed down as teenage laughter and shrieks came from inside the barn. Younger kids raced around outside in another game I couldn’t quite figure out. And the adults milled about, chatting and eating.
An arm came around my shoulders, giving me a squeeze. “This is just incredible,” Kerry whispered, emotion clogging her voice.
“He’s having fun, isn’t he?” I asked as I watched Drew let out a war whoop as he let a series of Nerf darts fly.
“Best birthday he’s had. Hands down. And it’s all thanks to you,” Kerry said, giving me another squeeze.
I shook my head. “I had tons of help. Luke, Charlie, Lawson. All your kids and their partners, actually.”
Kerry’s smile turned soft. “I’ve surrounded myself with some good ones, haven’t I?”
“That you have,” I told her honestly. I couldn’t imagine a better group. I wanted Emerson and Adrian to come out here to meet them. Some secret part of me hoped they might fall in love with the small mountain town and kiss city life goodbye.
“But it’s you who did the lion’s share of the work.” She held up a hand when I started to speak. “Don’t say it’s nothing.” Her gaze traveled over to Lawson, where he talked to Clint, Reed, and Daniels. “My boy has been struggling.”
A look of pain flashed across Kerry’s face. “It doesn’t matter how old they get. They’ll always be your little boy or girl.”
“Because you love them,” I said quietly. Kerry loved her kids in the way a parent should. In a way my parents hadn’t quite been able to understand.
“I do. Which is why it kills me when one of them is hurting. Lawson has been burning the candle at both ends for longer than should be possible, never wanting to take too much help from any of us. Not wanting to be a burden.”
I glanced up at Kerry. “I think there’s a reason they say it takes a village.”
She nodded. “I think you helped him realize that. But more than that, you’ve got them all talking, understanding one another better, helping each other. I haven’t seen Luke with this much life in him in years.”
My gaze pulled to Luke, where he sat at a picnic table with Violet, his hand twined with hers. They were the perfect picture of young love on what felt like more of a spring day than a winter one.
“He just needed time to find his way,” I said.
Kerry pinned me with a motherly stare. “He needed someone who really listened. Who understood him. You gave him that.”
My heart clenched at her words. “He’s easy to give it to.”
Her eyes twinkled. “And you’ve given it to my boy, too. Brought him back to life. He’s smiling for real now, and I know that’s because of you.”
My cheeks heated. “I don’t know—”
“I do. And I’ll be forever grateful, Hallie.”
A burn lit behind my eyes. “They’ve given me more than I ever could’ve dreamed of in return.
I didn’t have this kind of family growing up.
I had my brother, who would do anything for me, but my parents?
They weren’t exactly the warm and fuzzy sort.
Lawson has reminded me what family can be. You all have.”
Kerry pulled me in for a hard hug. “Sweet girl.”
“Hey, everything okay?” Lawson’s concerned voice wrapped around us.
Kerry pulled back, dabbing at her eyes. “Just us girls having a moment.”
His gaze came to me, checking.
I moved to him then, stretching up onto my tiptoes and brushing my lips across his. “We’re good.”
Lawson’s arms wrapped around me. “We’re going to be better than good. Because we’re about to give an almost fourteen-year-old his dream gift.”
Excitement bubbled up in me. “Is Damien here?”
“Just pulled up.” Lawson inclined his head toward an SUV parked below. “You ready?”
I nodded, practically bouncing on the balls of my feet.
Kerry grinned. “I can’t wait to see this.”
Lawson took my hand and led me toward Damien’s SUV. He stepped out just as we approached, wearing a wide smile. “Did someone call for a puppy delivery?”
A little yip sounded from the back seat.
Lawson chuckled. “I think that’s a yes. We really appreciate you dropping the little guy off.”
Damien waved him off. “It’s no problem at all. I’m just happy to see him go to a good home.”
He opened the back door and unlocked the crate. The puppy practically shot out and into Damien’s waiting arms.
“I think he’s excited to see you again.”
My smile was so wide my cheeks hurt. “I’m not going to mind having him to myself most days, that’s for sure.”
Damien handed me the puppy, who promptly began licking my face.
Lawson grinned at the dog. “I don’t blame you, buddy.”
Damien’s eyes flared at the acknowledgment, but he smiled. “Enjoy your new family member. Don’t forget to bring him in next week for the next round of shots and dewormer.”
Lawson nodded. “We will.”
With a wave, Damien got back into his SUV, and Lawson and I headed back to the barn.
“I’m going to block you from view,” he said, dipping in front of me.
I nuzzled the puppy’s soft fur. “I can’t wait to see Drew’s face.”
“Me either.”
I could hear the smile in Lawson’s voice.
“Where’s the birthday boy?” he called. “We’ve got one more gift.”
“Really?” Drew yelled back as his footsteps pounded.
“This one is all Hallie’s doing. Just remember that,” Lawson said as people gathered around.
“Now I’m scared,” Drew said with a laugh.
Lawson stepped to the side and revealed the puppy and me.
Drew froze. His eyes went wide and then filled with tears. “A puppy? You got me a puppy?”
My eyes filled then. “He’s gonna need a name and lots of training, but Maddie said she’ll help with the second part.”
Drew moved then, taking the wriggling ball of fur into his arms. “Hallie,” he choked out. “This is the best birthday I’ve ever had. And I know it’s because of you.”
“Drew…”
He pushed into me, holding the puppy with one arm and wrapping the other around my waist. “I love you, Hallie. You make everything better. Special.”
Everything burned now. In the best possible way. “I love you, too, Drew.”
He pulled back, his eyes still watery. “Plus, think about how many babes I’ll get with a puppy.”
I couldn’t help it, I burst out laughing.
“Here, let me help you with those,” Daniels offered as I picked up paper plates and tossed them into a trash bag.
“Thank you. Who knew kids could eat so much?”
He chuckled. “They decimated that cake.”
I smiled. “I was hoping for leftovers tomorrow, but no dice.”
“Get two next time.”
“Not a bad idea.”
Daniels deposited a few more plates and cups into the trash bag as I held it open. “So, you and the boss man, huh?”
My cheeks heated. “I guess the cat’s out of the bag.”
“Hard to miss the way he looks at you. Happy for you both.”
“Thanks. I appreciate that.”
Daniels nodded and took the bag from my hands. “I’ll get this into the bin.”
“Thank you. I need to go check on Thor. He probably needs to go out.”
Our new puppy had been quickly named and promptly tuckered out. I’d finally had to put him in his crate in the house.
Daniels waved me off. “Go on ahead. I’ll get the rest of this.”
“Thanks.”
I hurried down to the house and inside. As I peeked into the living room, I found Thor fast asleep in his kennel, letting out tiny puppy woofs in his sleep. Maybe he didn’t need a break quite yet.
I straightened and turned, nearly running smack into Reed. “Oh, geez. You scared the heck out of me.”
“Sorry,” he said with a grin that wasn’t all that repentant. “Just wanted to see if you needed any help.”
I took a step back. “I’m good, actually.”
Reed moved back into my space. “We could hang in here for a while. Just you and me.”
My heart rate picked up speed as I tried to sidestep him. “I need to get back to Lawson and the kids—”
Reed caught my wrist in a bruising grip. “Stop being such a cock tease, Hallie. I know you want me. I’ve seen the way you eye me. How you wear those second-skin leggings when you know you’re gonna see me.”
I jerked my wrist free from his grasp. “No, I don’t. I’m in a relationship with Lawson, and I don’t want you to touch me again.”
His face mottled red. “Fucking the boss, huh? Maybe I need a taste to see what has him panting after you.”
Reed moved faster than I thought possible. One second, he was next to me. The next, he had me shoved up against a wall so hard I saw stars.
Panic dug its icy claws into me as dark spots danced in front of my vision and Reed’s laughter echoed in my ears.