Page 52 of The Last Promise You Made

“That isn’t the point.”

“What is your point?”

“You can’t drive a government vehicle.”

I put the SUV into reverse and pushed down ever so slightly on the gas so the door bumped into her as it started to move.

“Ryder!”

“Get in, darlin’, or you’re gonna get run over.”

A panicked noise from the back made me turn my eyes to Addy. She was upset, which made me feel like a jerk in a way the argument with Gia hadn’t. Arguing with Gia only made me want to shove her up against a wall and kiss her until she gave in. But I hated that I’d upset Addy. Gia had heard the choked noise too. Indecision warred over her features before she huffed and pulled herself into the passenger seat.

“Don’t call me darlin’,” she hissed, slamming the door with so much force the windows rattled.

“Your boss will dislike you destroying the door more than me driving.”

She didn’t respond, and I shoved aside what felt like disappointment. I enjoyed sparring with her more than I should have—just like the argument over chocolate and vanilla earlier had made me want to show her just what she was missing, what dominating and overpowering could do for her.

I backed out of the garage and hit the button on the remote on my key chain to shut the door. As we drove down the driveway, Gia turned back and looked at my house for a moment. “Did you set the alarm?”

I unlocked my phone and tossed it at her. “You can turn it on from there.”

She found the app with no problem, clicking through the settings before saying, with a hint of surprise, “This is a decent system.”

I looked from the road to her and back. “With everything that went down with the West Gears and then The Painted Daisies, we upgraded everywhere on the ranch.”

The SUV’s headlights reflected off the Narrow Bridge sign, and I caught a glimpse of the creek below. It was full after a winter of heavy rains and snows, with more coming. The dark clouds that had started our day were still hanging around. The weather report had said it would hold off tonight, but the air was cold enough that if it did come down, it might just snow. I wondered whether Addy had ever experienced snow. What had she looked like the first time she’d stepped into it? What had the smile on her face looked like when she’d built her first snowman? Had there been joy in her eyes as she’d whooshed down a hill on a sled? My chest tightened. So many firsts I’d lost out on.

The pain of what I’d lost overtook me on the brief drive from my house to the ranch, and the car settled into a gloomy silence I regretted.

I pulled up in one of the empty parking slots in front of the restaurant’s darkened windows. In another few months, it would be bustling with activity as the season kicked in, reminding me I really needed to get back to work on the cabins.

When I got out and went around to Addy’s door, she was stiff as a board again. My heartbeat picked up pace, wondering if she’d throw another tantrum like the one at the mall. Her eyes were wide, taking in the barn and restaurant and well-lit house.

“I know it looks big,” I told her. “But it’s just my parents, who you met last night, and Sadie.”

Gia stood just behind me as we waited, unsure what would happen.

Slowly, Addy unlatched her seat belt and picked up her bag and her stuffed animal. I helped her out of the car, and to my surprise, she slid her tiny hand into mine, the soft skin rubbing against my calluses. My throat instantly clogged as I gently held onto her fingers, almost afraid they’d disappear.

“You ready?” I asked, looking down into her face.

Her eyes were big in the fading light, but she nodded.

We headed for the wraparound porch and the back door.

The warmth hit us as if we’d opened an oven door, the smell of sugar and cinnamon mixing with the smell of Mama’s chili. More comfort food. Rainy day, comfort food.

I took my hat off as we stepped in, hanging it on the coatrack and sliding out of my jacket as I hollered, “We’re here.”

Rapid footsteps approached, causing Addy to step behind me. Sadie appeared in the kitchen’s archway with an inquisitive look in her eye, head angling to the side to catch sight of Addy, who’d tucked herself behind me. Her face broke into a huge smile with her eyes flashing just like Mama’s had the day before. Sadie said softly, but with enthusiasm, “Well, hello there!”

Addy remained still, as if she were invisible.

My sister came closer, leaning over to meet Addy’s gaze. “I’m your Aunt Sadie. And while you don’t know this yet, I can promise you I’m the fun one. I’m the one you’ll come to whenever you want to get into a little trouble, and this one”—she tossed a thumb in my direction—“is being all prickly and growly and saying no.”

Addy didn’t respond, but Sadie didn’t let it stop her.

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