Page 61 of Sweet Surprises

“There was a small incident during library time, Tag,” Mrs. Surkin said gently. “I think Charlotte heard more about it since she picked him up yesterday.”

“She’s not the boy’s mother,” Tag heard himself roar. “Andyouaren’t supposed to discuss my children with strangers.”

Mrs. Surkin opened her mouth and closed it again, obviously mortified.

A flash of guilt shot through him, and he looked to Charlotte.

She was gazing up at him with an anguished expression, and the moment his eyes met hers, he could see all the trust and care he had built with her crashing down before his eyes right before she turned and ran back toward the shop.

Everything in him told him to run after her, to apologize and tell her that his defenses had been built up for years and it might take time for him to let her in.

But his feet were planted too firmly, and he clenched his fists as he watched her go, not even hearing Mrs. Surkin’s apologies and admonitions over the pounding of his heart as Charlotte’s figure grew smaller, then disappeared.

It’s for the best,he told himself.I’m a grown man. I can’t be playing house with her. It’s better to burn it down now, before the kids get even closer with her than they were before.

But when he turned back, Olivia and Chance both just stared at him from the swings, the smiles gone from their faces.

Other people were staring too. Everyone in earshot probably thought he had lost his mind.

“Let’s go,” he growled to the kids.

“Dad—” Chance began.

“Come on,” Olivia told Chance in a low, sweet voice. “Let’s go home and have a nice snack.”

“But why did you shout?” Chance asked as they walked for the truck.

“Because I’m your dad,” Tag said, feeling awful about it already. “What happened yesterday at the library?”

“I got in trouble for yelling,” Chance said. “But?—”

“But nothing,” Tag told him. “I’m guessing that you saw tonight how much people hate yelling.”

“This is why we never want to tell you anything,” Olivia snapped. “You don’t listen. You just get mad. Charlotte listens to us.”

“Where is she?” Chance asked quietly.

That was actually a really good question. And one he couldn’t answer. He thought about places she might have gone, but his phone buzzed in his pocket before he had the chance to look for her.

Charlotte:

I’m going to ride back with Zane and Allie.

Scowling, he shoved the phone back in his jeans. He shouldn’t be disappointed. Let her spend time with Zane. Bitter jealousy roiled in his belly, but he did his best to ignore it. Zane was probably a better match for her anyway. And he was actually lonely. Tag never wanted another woman in his life, and a night like tonight was a good example of why.

They loaded into the truck in silence that only made him angrier. The kids were acting like they were at a funeral or something. He started the truck and pulled away from the twinkling lights of the village.

“No,” Olivia whispered as they turned onto Fox Hollow and headed into the country. “No, no, no…”

“What’s wrong?” Chance asked.

Tag glanced in the rearview mirror to see his daughter staring at her phone screen with a horrified expression.

“Evan Rossi has mono,” she moaned. “I have to play Scrooge.”

18

CHARLOTTE

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