Page 45 of Forbidden Flame

Izzy held up her empty basket. “I want lots of candy.”

“I don’t know if there’s candy, but we have plenty of eggs for you to find.” He winked at her and then straightened. “Go ahead and park by the red barn. They’ll show you where to go.”

“Thank you,” I said as we drove off.

“The man said there wouldn’t be any candy,” Izzy whined from the backseat.

“I think he was joking around with you,” I said, nerves picking up again.

We got out of the van and moved toward the crowd of families with kids holding Easter baskets. There were so many people; no one would question what a Calloway was doing here.

Several of the Monroe brothers were hiding the eggs.

I moved to the edge of the crowd, hoping they wouldn’t see me. I expected to see the girls helping, not the brothers. It was my understanding that they were against events like this, and the girls tried to take the lead whenever possible.

I listened to the remarks around me, how handsome the brothers were, and how sweet it was that they were involved with the hunt. It was good publicity for the farm. I wondered if Marley had encouraged them to be involved for that reason.

Music played from a speaker nearby, and there was a table with prizes on it with a Monroe Christmas Tree Farm sign.

“Why is the Easter Bunny at a Christmas tree farm?” Izzy asked me.

“The Easter Bunny didn’t come yet. My cousins hid all the eggs for you.” I turned to find Cole crouched in front of Izzy.

All the air was sucked from my lungs. He looked so good getting on her level and giving her his full attention.

“Some of the eggs have candy, and other ones have tickets for prizes you can redeem at the table over there,” Cole said to her.

Izzy’s eyes widened. “What kind of prizes?”

“There’s speakers, games, and even a bike.”

There were two bikes propped near the table.

“I want a bike,” Izzy said.

“You want me to help you hunt for it? I might know where the prize is hidden.” Cole winked at Izzy, then looked up at me, and my heart clenched.

“That’s not necessary.” I could buy her a bike if she wanted one. I hadn’t even considered the idea, but maybe I should have.

“But, Mommy, he knows where the prizes are,” Izzy whined.

Cole straightened as he spoke to me, “I don’t know where the gold eggs are hidden. I didn’t hide those.”

“By the way, I’m Cole Monroe,” he said to Izzy. “It’s really nice to meet you.”

He said it with such conviction; I believed him.

“We live on a tree farm too,” Izzy said.

“I think I heard something about that. Your momma’s been here a few times. Once for my cousin’s wedding, and another time to hang out with her girlfriends.”

A little girl ran up to Izzy and hugged her. They must be in the same class.

Cole moved closer to me. “How are you?”

“Fine.” I bit back any questions about what had happened after the wedding. We hadn’t made any promises to each other.

He squinted against the sun. “I didn’t expect to see you.”

---