Page 131 of Rescued by the Single Dad

Clint spoke with her, but only briefly, and it was all very mechanical. He never questioned her returning to the guest room and actually seemed relieved that she’d taken that initiative on her own.

That just further gutted her. The fact that he was avoiding having any kind of real conversation with her. No, they weren’t boyfriend and girlfriend, but it still felt like a breakup. A really shitty breakup.

Dumped again.

Only this time, she was still forced to live with her ex-boyfriend and interact with his kid.

All she wanted to do was leave.

But Clint wouldn’t allow it.

Every day, someone showed up wanting to interview Clint or his brothers, or speak with Brooke. All the pub staff had been approached, and even the cabin guests were starting to complain of being harassed.

Nobody had ventured up the hill to the houses again, not after the gate was installed, but that didn’t mean they didn’t try.

Every night when Clint returned home, he seemed more and more upset. More frustrated and exhausted. That his haven of peace and safety had been compromised.

She hadn’t seen any of Clint’s brothers since Sunday, when Talia had been hit.

They hadn’t even done the Mother’s Day party like they planned to. Everything kept getting postponed.

But there was no escaping the party now. It was Thursday night, and Jagger made sure that all the mothers’ favorite foods had been prepared by the kitchen, all the cookies were decorated as well as cards, crafts and pictures.

A decent distraction from Brooke’s sad thoughts.

She and Rocco were with all the kids at Clint’s house, setting up the table with food and photos to honor the mothers.

All the dads knew how important this was to their children, so they made sure to book the evening off.

Brooke was just wiping down the counter when the front door opened. The cousins worked together to make a banner and were holding it, all in a line, as their dads walked in.

“Surprise!” most of them yelled.

Except for one little boy—probably Silas, who yelled, “Happy birthday!”

“What’s all this?” asked one of the dads, not Clint.

“It’s a Mother’s Day dinner for our dads,” Emme said.

“Because we don’t have moms,” Aya added unnecessarily.

Brooke cringed a little.

The men and children made their way around the corner and into the dining room and kitchen.

“Oh wow!” Wyatt’s eyes went wide. “Did you guys do all of this?”

“Uncle Jagger helped. But it was all Brooke’s idea. She and Rocco helped the most,” Talia said.

“It’s a Mother’s Day party to celebrate our mothers with all their favorite things, but also celebrate our fathers because you are now also our mothers.” Emme’s lips twisted in hesitation. “Do you guys like it?”

The men mostly seemed speechless for a moment, but slowly, they all nodded as they took in everything. Even Clint nodded.

“Burke cooked the food,” Talia said. “Uncle Jagger helped with that part.”

“Then we collected pictures and made cards and cookies and crafts and stuff,” Aya added.

Clint’s eyes met Brooke’s and a familiar fire—maybe a little less scorching than the times before, but no less heart-melting—burned in his gaze.

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