Page 98 of Shattered Secrets

“I’m sorry, sweet girl, but I don’t.” Daisy’s jaw dropped, and he rushed on, “But you know, we can’t like everything the same, right? I mean, I love baseball, but I’m sure you don’t like watching it.”

“I love baseball, Matty!”

Scarlet snorted, then flinched, both at the pain and the offended look on her daughter’s face. “Youlovebaseball, miss? Really?”

“Yes,” Daisy huffed. Her little face scrunched.

Scarlet shook her head. “Daisy, baby, do you know what baseballis?”

Daisy’s bottom lip popped out and began to wobble. “No. But Matty loves it, so I love it, too!”

Scarlet’s heart squeezed tight. Oh, her sweet child. She glanced back at Matt, and the emotion on his face was everything.

“Otter Pop, you don’t need to love baseball just because I love baseball. And I don’t need to loveBlueyjust because you loveBluey. I love you and your mom the best, and that’s what matters.” He kissed her daughter’s forehead, and Scarlet melted.

Daisy sighed like she had the weight of the world on her four-year-old shoulders. “I don’t know what baseball is, Matty.”

He chuckled. “I kinda figured that, sweet girl.”

Daisy looked at her. “I love you, Mama.” She puckered her lips, and Scarlet kissed her.

“I love you, too, baby.”

Daisy turned to Matt. “I love you, Matty.” She puckered her lips, and that look of awe flashed over his face again before he kissed her.

“I love you, Otter Pop.”

“Matty, can I have popcorn and M&M’s while I watchBluey?”

He grinned. “It’s nine in the morning. No.”

Daisy frowned for a moment, then perked up and gave him her best smile. “Strawberries? Cut up in little baby triangles?”

“I think I can work that out.” He bopped her on the nose. “Now go pick out your show while I tuck in your mom.”

Daisy scrambled off the bed and ran out of the room.

Scarlet snuggled deeper into Matt’s arms. “I love you, Matt,” she whispered. “Thank you for finding me.”

“I love you, Scar.” His lips pressed against her hair. “Thank you for loving me. And for sharing Daisy with me.”

She closed her eyes and soaked it all in. This man. Their daughter. Their future.

Her heart was so full.

EPILOGUE

ONE MONTH LATER

It was a cool mid-August evening. Matt smiled. He’d been doing that a lot over the last month. Scarlet and Daisy had officially moved in and having them there—knowing they all called the same place home—had exceeded his expectations. Which was saying something, since his expectations had been pretty damn high.

A week after the kidnapping shitstorm, he and Scarlet had gone out on their first official date. He’d wanted to wait, wanted to give Scarlet more time to heal, but she’d insisted, saying they had waited long enough. They’d stayed close to home and dined at Monty’s Tavern while Daisy had hung out with the entire De la Rosa crew. It had been a wonderful and relaxing evening, and hands down the best first date of his life. The weekend after, they’d taken the ferry to Whidbey, gone on a small hike, and explored the little town of Coupeville. The perfect family date.

His heart squeezed. That’s right.Familydate. Because that’s what they were.

Enjoying the festive atmosphere around him, Matt marveled at the transformation of Cade and Poppy’s backyard. Twinkling lights and paper lanterns were strung from the trees. Tables and chairs filled one side of the massive yard, and a dance floor sprawled across the other.

Cade and Poppy had just said their vows in a picturesque sunset wedding ceremony, and Matt was so damn happy for his friends. They’d wanted to keep the celebration small, but considering they were friends with nearly everyone on Hudson Island, their backyard was packed.

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