Chapter 10
Seth
The storm had shredded half the town, and my head was already splitting from trying to juggle calls, estimates, and meetings with my crew. I didn’t have the headspace for this.
And yet, somehow, here I was, playing tour guide to Madison Cole and her daughter.
“Wow!” Olive gasped as we walked across the lawn, her small hand clutching Bunny, who had seen better days. “It’s like a little house for me!”
Her brown curls bounced as she skipped ahead, and for the first time since sunrise, I felt the knot in my chest loosen. Just a little.
I cleared my throat. “It’s a guesthouse,” I corrected, pushing the key into the lock. “Not a playhouse.”
Madison rolled her eyes at me from behind. “God forbid you let her be excited.”
I ignored her, mostly because I wasn’t sure what would come out of my mouth if I didn’t. The truth was, Olive’s excitement had cracked something in me I hadn’t felt in years. But Madison didn’t need to know that.
“You have a spare key, right? I ask, a slight smirk playing on my lips. I know she got the one from under the doormat. I just wanted to annoy her . “Make sure it is locked up when you leave, and make sure to set the alarm.”
She rolled her eyes, and I swear it's almost like we're kids again. “I doubt anyone will break into this fortress,” she muttered. I ignored her and continued on.
The door swung open to the small two-bedroom guesthouse.
High beams, polished wood floors, clean lines.
It looked great, especially in the morning light.
Madison and Olive hadn't gotten to see everything since they arrived late last night.
It was simple but nice. Olive ran inside, excitement clear on her face.
“This room!” she shouted, pointing to the smaller bedroom at the back.
Madison’s eyes wandered slowly, surveying everything with that stubborn, assessing look she had, like she was waiting for me to fail some unspoken test.
“It’ll do,” she muttered.
I bristled. “It’s not supposed to ‘do.’ It’s supposed to be comfortable.”
Her eyes snapped to mine, a look of challenge gleaming in them. “I didn’t ask to stay here, Seth. Blair insisted.”
I rubbed a hand over the back of my neck, temper fraying. “Believe me, I know. You think this was my idea?”
She huffed, crossing her arms. That posture hadn’t changed since she was sixteen, chin tilted, shoulders squared, like she had to armor herself against me.
And maybe she did.
Before I could bite back another retort, Olive came running into the room. “Uncle Seth, come see my room!”
Uncle Seth.
The words stopped me cold. She tugged at my hand, and I let her, though my throat had gone tight. Nobody had ever called me that before. Nobody had ever needed me in that kind of way.
I crouched down, forcing a smile. “You like it?”
She nodded so hard her curls bounced. “It’s perfect.”
Madison’s gaze softened when she looked at her daughter, but when her eyes flicked back to me, the softness hardened right up.
“Thank you,” she said finally, voice clipped.
It should’ve been enough. I should’ve walked away, gone back to my blueprints and calls and everything else on my plate. But for some reason, I found myself saying quietly, “You’re both safe here. I’ll make sure of it.”
Her lips parted, surprise flickering across her face before she masked it.
And that was when it hit me, this arrangement wasn’t just going to be inconvenient. It was going to wreck me.