Page 53 of Forbidden Flame

“I’m sorry that I didn’t text to let you know I was backing off. It was a dick move.” Part of that was I wasn’t sure I wouldn’t change my mind. Especially now that I’d gotten to meet her daughter.

“I don’t introduce Izzy to guys I date.”

I held up my hands. “If you don’t want me to help with the bike, I understand.”

“It’s for the best.”

I nodded even as my heart ached. I hated watching her walk away.

Right before she closed the door, she said, “Thanks for everything.”

“You’re welcome” came out too soft for her to hear as the door shut behind her. I needed to get out of here before one of her brothers or her father found me. I didn’t want to explain why I was on Calloway property. Especially when we weren’t dating, and there was no hope for a future.

It was what I’d thought was best after talking to Heath, but it still hurt as I drove down her lane and off the property. No one came out to ask what I was doing there, and for that I was grateful. I felt emotional thinking about never seeing Daphne or Izzy again.

That little girl had burrowed into my heart after one morning together. I understood that Daphne needed to protect her. If we didn’t have a future, there would be no point in me spending time with them.

I didn’t like it, but it was the only choice that made sense. Calloways and Monroes didn’t mix. Nothing would change that. We’d be naive to think that if we fell in love, our families would accept us.

There was no point in getting in any deeper.

As soon as I parked at the barn and got out, Heath approached me. “Where did you go? You were helping at the hunt, and then you just disappeared.”

I didn’t want to have this conversation, but if I didn’t, he’d just show up at the cabin later. It was better to get it over with.

“Daphne was there with her little girl.”

Heath tipped his head to the side. “I thought you weren’t into her?”

“I’m not. I wasn’t.” I ran a hand through my hair.

“Yet you can’t stay away.”

“I was curious about why she was here. I didn’t want anyone to give them a hard time.”

“We wouldn’t,” Heath insisted.

“Emmett?”

Heath sighed. “It’s possible.”

“Izzy was nervous with all the people around. I just encouraged her.”

Heath raised a brow. “I saw you holding her hand.”

“I couldn’t resist her any more than I can Addy or Ember.”

Heath cracked a grin. “Kids are hard to resist.”

Especially this one. I couldn’t get over how much she looked like Daphne. It made me want things I never had before, like a child of my own. One that looked like Daphne and me. “I helped her hunt for the golden egg.”

“She won the bike.”

“The seat was too high. I lowered it.”

Heath stopped walking and crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m all for being nice, but she’s a Calloway. She has five older brothers who hate our guts.”

“I lowered the seat, and then Izzy wanted to try it out.”

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