Page 61 of Daddy By Design

But it also shut down before sundown, save for a few places.

I found a spot near Brewed Awakening. The café was dark at this time of night, and it seemed as if The Haunt was doing a brisk business. But I didn’t want to face my sister tonight. I was still too raw from Dahlia.

Instead, I headed down the sidewalk and cut behind the diner to the path through the park along the lake. It was well-lit with modernized lamps that looked much like old street lamps but with obvious LED lights instead, which left the path easy to navigate.

A few people had the same idea as I had now that the heat of the day dissipated. A trio of women in varying stages of pregnancy were walking together. Another couple walked a dog.

The night sounds off the water smoothed out my frayed edges. The trill of tree frogs along with summertime beetles that reminded me of the one summer I’d spent in the Adirondacks. The first time I’d ventured out of Chicago had been to the east coast.

Anything to get away from the memories of my sister’s shattered eyes.

And yet here I was in New York again. This time, the pain had followed me—both mine and the echo of it in Macy’s gaze when she’d seen me in her café.

I’d do what I needed to do to mend that pain. That was the part I needed to remember, not the endless thirst that had taken hold after Dahlia practically dared me into her bed.

It was a fluke.

I’d been pent up for too damn long, that was all.

It was more important to get my house put together and my relationship with my sister figured out. If she’d allow it.

There were no guarantees in this life, and I had the scars to prove it.

I followed the path deeper into the trees. Lightning bugs flashed along the waterline and the breeze ruffled the tall grass that grew from the silted shoreline on this side of the lake. My own beach was rockier and more inhospitable. I’d do my best to work on that part—or find someone who could.

But for now, I let the tranquil sounds soak into my skin. I needed that after Dahlia, as well.

When I was around her, I felt anything but calm. Ramped up was more our speed. I’d just have to make sure I stayed out of her way because after seeing her drawings, I knew she was the correct choice for the house.

Regardless of the fact that she made me nuts, I recognized an artist. Hers might be in the rehab and design arena, but I could see it. I’d intended on researching her client list, but it wasn’t necessary.

She was the right fit. I might’ve wanted to fight it, but the truth of it was obvious even for my stubborn ass.

I dropped down on the thick grass and looped my arms around my knees as I listened to the lapping water. It had been a damn long time since I’d had the quiet seep into me. The lightning bugs synced up and floated around the shore.

May was turning into one helluva month.

“Hello, Nolan.”

My chest tightened at the voice behind me.

“Hey, Mace.”

She dropped down beside me on the grass. “I was clocking out and saw your truck.” Her mouth tipped up. “Made friends in town already?”

I sighed. “I suppose you’re talking about LITTLE DICK?”

“Sorry to hear it.”

I snorted. “Definitely not walking into that trap with my little sister.”

“Am I though?”

The slice was a direct one, but she was right. “We were close once.”

“Maybe when we were ten and twelve.” She mirrored my stance and wrapped her arms around her ridiculously long legs.

“Still have those stork legs from back then too.”

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