Page 51 of Forbidden Flame

“My daddy doesn’t live with us,” she continued, and I sucked in a breath at the unexpected reference to her father.

“Oh?” Cole asked, and I sensed he might have been uncomfortable, but then again, so was I.

“He went to a lot of school.”

“Yeah?” Cole asked, tipping his head to the side.

Izzy nodded. “He’s going to be a doctor.”

“That’s an important job.”

I appreciated that Cole was trying to be respectful about the situation. I couldn’t think of a way to get her off the subject. Finally, I settled on, “Do you want to show your bike to your uncles when we get home?”

Izzy nodded eagerly.

We finished eating, and I helped Cole clean up the kitchen. “Thanks for taking the time to show her how to ride and for lunch.”

“Anytime,” Cole said.

He’d been so distant the last few weeks over text, but then again, maybe that’s how he was on the phone. Maybe it didn’t have anything to do with me. But we didn’t have a minute alone, so I couldn’t ask him about it.

Chapter 11

Cole

“I’ll give you a ride back to your van,” I said, reluctant to see Daphne and Izzy go but I couldn’t think of a reason for them to stay.

Daphne drew up short. “I don’t think the bike will fit. The back of the van is filled with boxes I use when I’m catering.”

“I could follow you in my truck and drop it off,” I said as I helped Izzy climb into the truck.

Daphne frowned. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Your brothers don’t know that you’re here?” I asked her, genuinely curious about her relationship with her brothers.

Daphne shook her head and gestured at the logo on the door. “And if you show up with your work truck—”

“I don’t want to cause any trouble, but I don’t see any other way to do this. I’ll drop it off and leave. Maybe no one will see me.”

“It’s a risk,” Daphne said as she got into the truck.

“I can handle your brothers.” I closed the door. “You already come over here to see Marley, Sarah, and Ireland. I don’t know why they’d have an issue with you attending the Easter egg hunt.”

Daphne sighed. “They won’t be happy.”

“You’re an adult though.”

Daphne gazed out the window. “Sometimes it’s not worth the argument.”

“I can understand that.” That’s why I didn’t always speak up with my cousins. But I was curious about her life with her brothers. I wanted to see where she lived, what the farm looked like.

I drove them to the main house and waited while they got into their van, then followed them to the Calloway farm, which was closer to town. We turned onto the lane where the sign said Pine Valley Farms. Their name was written smaller on the bottom, The Calloways.

The nerves picked up as we passed a farmhouse. It was white with a swing and rocking chairs on the porch. No one stood outside, but I swear I felt as if someone was watching us drive by. I stuck out with my red truck.

We continued down the lane, then took a right down a second driveway lined with trees to a smaller house that could only be described as a cottage. Daphne parked in front and got out. I pulled up next to her and didn’t waste any time getting out to grab the bike. I set it in front of the house.

Izzy scrambled out of the back seat and asked, “Will you help me ride, Cole?”

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