Page 7 of Havoc's Fox

Harley squealed and laughed as Maverik tickled her. “Poppy! Stop!” she laughed squirming almost out of his hands. He stopped tickling her and gave her a quick kiss before handing her to Valerie.

“Why you stopped?” Harley asked, accepting the hugs and kisses from her grandmother as she looked questioningly at Maverik.

“I missed you so much!” Valerie said.

“I missed you, too, Val!” Harley exclaimed, hugging Valerie.

Havoc walked over to where Analise stood with Emmalyn and Remi. He handed the box of pastries to Remi. “Bailey said to give you this for the family and to thank them all for their business during the year.”

Remi smiled as he took the box from Havoc. “Thanks, I’ll tell them.”

Havoc’s gaze, though he’d been speaking to Remi, was pinned to Analise. “I can’t thank you enough, ‘Lise… I mean, Analise, for looking out for Harley. She thinks you’re some kind of warrior princess now,” he said with a grin.

“She is. You know, fights through the pain inflicted on her by even those she trusted most, in order to do right by her own people. Like he should have,” Emmalyn snapped.

“Emmalyn!” Analise barked out.

Emmalyn looked casually over at her sister.

“Go find something to do.”

Emmalyn’s brows came down over her eyes.

“Now,” Analise said.

“Fine.” Emmalyn walked off, only throwing a glance or two at Analise before she focused on Barron again and started trying to force him to speak to her.

Havoc and Analise stood there, looking at each other, neither ready to address the issue between them. The awkwardness became too much for Remi, who kind of lifted the box of pastries he was holding. “I’m gonna go offer these around,” he said, quickly walking away and leaving them to speak or not about all that hung between them.

“I’m sorry about Emmalyn. She’s never quite gotten over the protective younger sister thing…” Analise said.

“Wouldn’t be home without it,” Havoc said.

Analise huffed a laugh. “True.”

“I really didn’t know you were coming home. I’ve heard every year how neither of us comes back, and figured that this year, I’d take a chance and come visit. I miss the holidays at home, you know? And Harley loves stories of us all growing up together. I figured a couple weeks at home would be good for both of us. But if it’s going to make things uneasy for you, we’ll go in the morning. Maia does Christmas up big, so it’s not like we don’t have a place to be just a few hours from here?”

“Nine hours is not a few hours, and don’t be ridiculous. I’m glad you’re here. You should be here, and so should she. She’s precious, by the way.”

“I like to think so,” he said, glancing over to watch his daughter as she animatedly told anyone who would listen about what had happened in the coffee shop. When he turned back to Analise, she was also watching Harley with a genuinely happy smile on her face. His heart warmed at the fact that Analise could look at his daughter the same way everyone else could. He hadn’t known if she’d accept Harley or not because of the way Harley had come to be. It was clear he’d underestimated her, yet again. He watched Analise, unable to look away, as her expression changed.

Havoc turned to see what had her concerned and realized that Brandt and Maverik were speaking quietly, yet intensely in the corner near the front door. “Aw shit,” he mumbled.

“Yeah, maybe you want to stop that,” Analise said.

“I’ll talk to you later, maybe catch up,” Havoc said as he moved away from her and toward the front door Brandt and Maverik had just slipped out of.

Analise nodded. “If I have time. It was good to see you, though, Havoc. I’m really happy you’re doing so well, and so in love with your little girl.”

Havoc stopped in his tracks, his smile faltering as he realized she was telling him goodbye again.

“You’re not leaving?” he asked.

“No! Oh, no. But they are,” she said, lifting her chin to indicate the two who’d just gone out of the door.

He nodded and rushed out of the door, thinking he’d have a chance to talk to her later.

Chapter 3

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