Page 45 of Shattered Secrets

“Can I help?” he asked, making her jump.

When had he moved to stand beside her?

Ohmygod. Get. It. Together!

Plating the last of the bacon, she grabbed the carton of eggs. Basically, looking anywhere but at him. “Um, can you help Daisy clear the table?”

“You got it.” Her pulse picked up when he gently squeezed her shoulders. “Thanks again for breakfast.”

Scarlet cracked half a dozen eggs into the pan and scrambled them. Lowering the heat, she popped four slices of sourdough into the fancy toaster.

Matt had changed into a plain black T-shirt and dark jeans, and while she returned to stirring the eggs, she couldn’t help but appreciate how the simple shirt accentuated his chest. How the jeans showed off his mighty fine?—

The toaster popped.Holy crap, girl. Stop ogling the man!

With a shake of her head, she cut the toast into triangles and placed them on a plate. Turning off the stove, she scooped the eggs into a large bowl. She brought both to the table and smiled. Matt had apparently shown Daisy how to fold the paper napkins into rectangles, and he was placing their forks atop them.

Scarlet set the food in the center of the table and shot Matt a nervous grin. “Now, who’s hungry?” Her smile turned genuine when her daughter’s hand shot into the air.

“Me!” Daisy scowled at Matt. “Mr. Matty, raise your hand.”

He dutifully complied, giving Daisy a sheepish smile and a murmured, “Sorry, Otter Pop.”

Damn, he was cute.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Scarlet’s anxiety settled as they enjoyed a relaxing breakfast. It helped that Matt and Daisy carried the conversation, discussing various Disney movies and their favorite playground equipment. Swings for Daisy and slides for Matt. Once they finished eating and loaded the dishes into the dishwasher, Matt showed her his home office and the Department of Licensing website where she could replace her driver’s license.

When it appeared that he planned to stay in the office with her, she asked him to check on Daisy. To see if she wanted to color instead of watch a movie. A ridiculous request, since they’djustset her up with her stuffies and one of her favorite movies,Monsters, Inc. Which they’d watched the night before. By the wary look Matt gave her, she knew he wasn’t quite buying what she was trying to sell. However, he gave her privacy.

When Scarlet had decided to move to Hudson Island, she hadn’t been sure of the protocol, so she’d contacted her former handler to find out what the steps were. Deputy Marshal Bateman—or Bates, as he’d preferred—had simply told her to call him after finding a place to live. He’d said he would handle everything for her. So she had, and within a week of moving, she’d received a package from Bates with her new WashingtonState driver’s license and a stack of information about the state-provided discount healthcare program he’d signed her and Daisy up for. However, now that her driver’s license was missing, she—again—wasn’t sure of the protocol.

As she typed her information into the online portal, her fingers shook. She knew her documents were legit—they were from the US Marshals Service, after all—but what if there was a glitch? What if the system didn’t recognize her social security number? The last thing she wanted was to contact Bates again. Though she remained eternally thankful for all his help, she needed to put that entire chapter of her life behind her.

Progressing through the online form, she held her breath every time she clicked Next, convinced some sort of alarm would sound. The last screen was a payment portal. She entered her banking information and sagged into the office chair when her confirmation number and temporary license appeared on the monitor. While the document printed, she scrubbed her hands over her face. She’d come a long way since arriving on Hudson Island. But these last few minutes? Yeah, they’d proven she still had a long way to go before she could call her past buried.

Scarlet snagged her temporary license off the printer and went in search of Matt and Daisy. She found them on the couch with Mr. Slothy, Baby Unicorn, and two other stuffies between them. Sully and Mike Wazowski cracked jokes on the television.

Catching Matt’s gaze, she held up the paper. “Got it. A new license should be arriving in seven to ten business days. Do you mind swinging me by my place so I can pick up my car?”

“Not a problem.” He reached over and patted Daisy on the leg. “Let’s pause the movie, okay?” Daisy frowned, so he rushed on, “You need to change out of your pajamas because we’re going to go visit the cats. How does that sound?”

“Yay!” Daisy cried, scrambling off the couch and bolting down the hallway.

Scarlet chuckled. “Good save.”

“I don’t know how you do it, Scar. Once that bottom lip of hers pops out, I just can’t...” He shook his head as he rose from the couch and moved to stand beside her. “Hope you don’t mind, but it looks like we’re going to check on the cats before we head to your place.”

“I figured,” she said with a laugh. Then she patted his bicep and went to follow her daughter. “But you’ve got to be strong, Matt,” she said over her shoulder. “Don’t give in to the pouty lip.”

“Sorry, Scar.” He grimaced. “I don’t think I can.”

They’d only been at Poppy and Cade’s for twenty minutes when Scarlet’s phone rang. Answering, it was Mr. Wayland. He’d just returned to town and was at her apartment. After agreeing to meet with him and disconnecting the call, she eyed her daughter who was lying on the living room floor. Ripley was sprawled on Daisy’s chest, and Bishop was tucked in the crook of her good arm, purring loudly. And Matt was taking a picture of the blissed-out trio.

Battling a cringe, Scarlet called out, “Daisy, we have to go. I have to meet Mr. Wayland, so I need you to say goodbye to the cats.”

“But, Mama,” she whined as she sat up, her expression crestfallen. “I didn’t get to play very long with the kitty cats. They still miss me.”

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