Page 101 of Forbidden Flame

When the rest of my family went up to their rooms, I said I’d grab a drink at the bar. I endured their ribbing about picking up a girl. If I didn’t act like I was going out for drinks and out on the town, they’d think something was up.

Or they were living vicariously through me. I wasn’t sure which one it was. I nursed my warm beer, watching the football game on the TV that hung above the bar when my phone finally buzzed on the bar.

There was a picture of Daphne and Izzy in their room with the caption, Want to join us for a game?

I was moving before I’d finished the sentence. I reached into my pocket to pull out a few bills and slapped them onto the bar. As far as I knew, my family was staying on a different floor. Even though I shouldn’t run into them, I was careful to check the hallway before I knocked on her door.

Daphne opened it, and I heard Izzy in the bathroom saying, “He’s here!”

Daphne ushered me inside and closed the door with a soft click behind me. With Izzy in the bathroom, I drew Daphne into my arms and kissed her. A hand on her hip kept her body pressed against mine, and I used the other to cup her jaw. “I missed you,” I said when we pulled away. Then we stepped apart when the bathroom door opened.

“Cole.” Izzy held her hands up, and I lifted her into my arms. It had become a move so natural; I didn’t even have to think about it. This little girl had my heart. I couldn’t lose her.

“What are we doing tonight?” I asked them.

“We bought some snacks, and we were hoping to play a game before bedtime.”

“I’m a sure thing,” I said to them as I put Izzy down by the small, round table. It had two chairs, and Daphne had pulled up a cushioned one that had been next to the bed. The view was the mountain, and I could hear the comforting rumble of a snow machine.

Izzy wanted me to teach her a card game, so I taught her rummy. Then we played war, which I remembered from my youth. When I was growing up, that game always ended in a wrestling match because someone was a sore loser or another had hidden cards under the couch in an effort to cheat.

When Izzy got tired, she climbed into my lap and rested her head on my shoulder.

“I think we might need to get you to bed soon,” Daphne said as her phone buzzed.

My heart rate picked up. Would I need to leave?

Daphne smiled. “Grandpa said he’s lonely in his suite. Do you want to sleepover tonight?”

Izzy sat up and nodded eagerly. “Can I?”

“Of course. You’re already dressed for bed. Let’s grab your favorite blanket and brush your teeth.”

Izzy slid off my knee and went into the bathroom. I took the moment to shuck off my shoes and sit on the bed, leaning against the pillows with one leg crossed over the other.

“We’ll be back in a few minutes. Make yourself comfortable.”

Izzy ran over and I leaned over to accept her hug. “Sleep tight.”

“I will. See you tomorrow.” Izzy waved, and my heart contracted.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

The door closed behind them, and the room was quiet. I immediately missed their energy. I hadn’t realized how quiet it was when it was just me. Especially since Charlotte had come to live with me.

I wanted to fill my time with them. I wanted breakfasts, dinners, and evenings, weekends, and all the time in between. I wanted to know my girls were waiting for me at home when I got off work.

I didn’t see us living in Heath’s cabin or Daphne’s cottage. I remembered what Charlotte had said about getting a place of my own. Maybe that was the next best step. Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to be so reliant on the Monroes by working and living with them.

It felt like the right thing to do in my heart.

When Daphne returned, I held my hand out to her, and she sat next to me on the bed. “Sorry, that took longer than I thought to get her settled. She wanted me to watch a few minutes of a movie with her.”

“You think she’s going to mention I was here?” I asked, unable to keep the nerves out of my voice.

Daphne’s jaw tightened. “I won’t tell her to lie.”

We both fell silent. We knew we were living on borrowed time because Izzy would eventually mention that I’d been coming around. I didn’t want to think about what would happen then. I wanted to get lost in Daphne instead.

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