Page 19 of The One Who Risked it All

“Did you get in trouble?” Linc asked, wide-eyed.

“Oh, big time,” Eli admitted, grinning. “But it was worth it. I felt like I could take on the world in that cape.”

As I watched Eli engage with Linc, my heart softened, despite my best efforts. This nurturing side of him was... unexpected. And annoyingly endearing. I found myself wondering what kindof father he might be someday, then immediately shut down that train of thought.

Suddenly, Eli let out a triumphant, “Aha!” and held up a small red-and-blue figure. “Look what I found hiding under the seesaw!”

Linc’s face lit up like Christmas morning. “Spiderman!” he cried, rushing forward to claim the toy. Eli handed it over with a flourish, and Lincoln hugged it to his chest.

“What do we say, Linc?” I prompted gently.

“Thank you, Uncle Eli!” Lincoln beamed before darting off to show his brothers his recovered treasure.

“Nice work, superhero,” I said to Eli, trying to keep my tone light, despite the dangerous softness creeping in.

He grinned that infuriating grin of his, then lowered his voice and tipped an imaginary hat with his fingers. “Just doing my duty, ma’am.”

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t quite suppress my smile. “Come on, let’s get back to the boys before they decide to stage a jailbreak.”

As we walked back to the bench, I found myself stealing glances at Eli, wondering how many more surprises this week had in store—and whether my heart could handle them.

Just as I was about to express my gratitude more sincerely, a jogger passed by, her ponytail swinging in perfect rhythm. She slowed her pace, flashing a dazzling smile at Eli and offering a flirtatious wave.

My heart plummeted as Eli returned the gesture with a friendly nod, his easy charm on full display. It was like watching a well-rehearsed dance, one I’d seen too many times before.

“Nice afternoon, isn’t it?” Eli called out, his voice carrying that hint of playful warmth that seemed to draw women like moths to a flame.

The jogger’s cheeks flushed, and she giggled—actually giggled—before continuing on her way, throwing one last glance over her shoulder.

I squashed the sudden wave of jealousy rising in my chest. This was classic Eli—the town’s most eligible bachelor, leaving a trail of swooning women in his wake. It was exactly why I needed to keep my guard up.

“Friend of yours?” I asked, aiming for casual but landing somewhere closer to strained.

Eli shrugged, seemingly oblivious to the effect he had. “Nope. Just being neighborly.”

I bit back a sarcastic retort, reminding myself that Eli’s reputation wasn’t my concern. Instead, I turned my attention back to the boys, watching them chase each other around the playground equipment.

“Hey, Alex!” I called out, forcing brightness into my voice. “Want to show me that new monkey bar trick you’ve been practicing?”

Alex raced over, excitement radiating from his face. I tried to focus on his chatter about hand positions and momentum. But a traitorous part of my mind kept replaying the jogger’s smile and Eli’s easy charm.

I knew better than to go down this road again. He was Eli Wells—charming, unreliable, and definitely not relationship material. I had to remember the heartache of him walking away. Remember why I was keeping my distance.

But even as I listed all the reasons to stay away, my heart whispered the counterarguments. The way he was with the boys. The familiar comfort of our banter. The way he seemed to let me see more of him than he showed anyone else.

I shook my head, pushing those thoughts aside. One week of forced proximity couldn’t change years of history and familyanimosity. I plastered on a smile and focused on Alex’s triumphant grin as he swung across the bars.

Suddenly, Eli was at my side, his presence sending an unwelcome jolt through me. “Hey,” he said, his voice low and warm. “The boys have been troopers today. What do you say we treat them to some ice cream?”

I glanced at him, surprised by the suggestion. It was thoughtful, and exactly the kind of distraction I needed. “That’s actually a great idea,” I replied, grateful for the chance to redirect my focus. I turned to the boys, raising my voice. “Boys! Who wants ice cream?”

Their excited cheers echoed across the playground as they raced toward us, faces lit up with joy. As we herded them toward the van, I couldn’t help but smile. The drive to Dairy Freeze out by the interstate was mercifully short but long enough for Eli and me to fall into an unexpectedly comfortable rhythm. As he navigated the familiar streets of Minden toward the highway, I found myself relaxing despite my earlier resolve.

“Remember that time in high school,” Eli said, a mischievous glint in his eye, “when we snuck out to get late-night sundaes and you dropped your entire cone in Nathan’s freshly washed car?”

I groaned, the memory flooding back. “Oh, don’t remind me. We both thought he was going to murder you.”

“Hey, I was the perfect brother,” Eli quipped. “Offered to lick it clean and everything.”

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