Page 22 of Snowed In With The Second Chance Daddy

“Oh my god! This is a set up!”

“Violet.”

“It is! You’re not denying it!” I grab my rolling pin and point it at Red.

Rose thinks I’m playing a game, and she swipes her hand toward the pin, but I jerk it out of her hand, causing her face to screw up into near tears. “Oh, I’m sorry, Rosie, I’m–”

Rose bursts into tears, a shrill cry tearing from her lips.

“Don’t cry, don’t cry, it’s okay!” I say, desperately trying to recover the peace.

“Put the rolling pin down, Violet!”

I realize I still have the wooden pin in my hand, using it to gesticulate. So, I drop it, like an idiot. It makes a cracking sound on the counter.

The loud noise makes Rose scream and cry even harder.

Red tucks Rose’s head into the crook of her neck, shushing and bouncing her. “It’s okay! It was scary, but you’re okay.”

I stare helplessly, feeling like an asshole for making Rose cry.

And of course, that’s when Oliver walks in. With Trevor. He’s got a bottle of what looks to be fancy eggnog in one hand and a bountiful poinsettia in the other.

What the fuck?

Oliver scans the scene. “Everything okay?”

“What are you doing here?”

“I live here.”

I glare at Oliver. “Not you.Him.”

“I was invited. What areyoudoing here?”

“I was invited first.” I don’t know that for a fact, but I have to assert my dominance.

Trevor lets out an annoyed breath and looks to Oliver for clarification. I do the same with Red.

However, our friends are busy calming down their baby. Oliver’s appearance has distracted Rose just enough to get her crying to lessen.

“See, nothing bad can happen when Daddy’s around.” Red passes Rose to Oliver.

Despite my annoyance at Trevor’s appearance, it’s hard not to soften at the image of hulking Oliver Hawthorn comforting his baby girl. His big hands wipe away her tears, and he peppers kisses to her cheeks, letting her grab his shirt and press her face into his chest.

There’s a pull of disappointment inside me.

Trevor and I were going to have that together. One day. Maybe not as soon as Trevor liked, but of course, I wanted to make him a father. I loved him more than I ever loved anybody.

And IknowTrevor would have made a good dad. That’s one of the many things I mourn about our relationship.

Of course, he’ll get that someday with someone. Just not me.

I swallow down the pain.

Oliver shakes his head. “Were you threatening my daughter with a rolling pin, Iris?”

Little Rose is now sucking on her thumb, her eyes glazed over from her little tantrum.

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