Page 12 of Hart Breaker

I’ve seen compound fractures on the football field, yet this may be the most traumatic thing I’ve ever witnessed.

Silent sobs … fucking brutal.

Boone opens one eye and looks at me.

“If I have nightmares because of this, I’m going to kick your …” I finish my statement by mouthing, “ass.”

“She wakes up because you’re yapping, I’m going to kick?—”

“No.” She sniffs. “No kick.” Her long, dark lashes flutter against her cheeks before she opens her eyes and looks at him. “I mad.”

He nods. “I know.”

Her lips start wobbling, and I swear my chest is going to explode. “Daddy, I want?—”

“Hey, Lily.” I walk into the room and hold out the giant stuffed cupcake. “This is for you.”

When she pops up into a seated position and spreads her arms wide, I can’t help but smile as I head toward her.

“Daddy’s going to use the bathroom while Hudson hangs in here with you and enjoys the second wind he just blew in here.” He kisses the top of her head before sliding out of bed and glaring at me as he walks past, mouthing, “You fool.”

“Go shower, take a bubble bath, relax, cupcake. I got this.”

I slide in on the other side and hand her the stuffed dessert.

Her little brow furrows as she looks it over, eyes stalling on the lettering. “What her name say?”

I decide to lie down and hope she follows suit because I’m no fool. “Snuggle down and let me see.”

She does just that.

“It says Sugar Rush.”

Her brows synch together.

“It’s the name of the shop your daddy and my friend owns. She wanted you to have it, so you get to name it.”

She holds it to her nose and inhales while asking, “Is she my friend?”

I nod, and a plan forms. “She is. She wanted to bring it to you, but sleep is very important for girl bosses.”

She cocks her head to the side. “Girl bossesess?”

“Smart girls who have”—what the fuck am I saying?—“big lives in a small town.”

“I wanna be bossesess.”

“All right, I’ll help you out. But you really have to want it.”

“I want it.”

“First thing we have to do is turn out the light and close our eyes.”

“You girl boss?”

“I’m a Knight.”

“I’m a day. Light on, or stars up there.” She points to the ceiling.

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