Page 18 of Fixing Up My Love Life

“Hey, girl! What happened?” She eyes the bandage on my leg.

“It’s a long story,” I say with a grin. “Let’s just say the Hensley House tried to eat me.”

Lucas raises a brow. “Okay.”

“Her foot went through the floor,” Jack adds, a little too quickly. “But we’ve got it handled. I’m not letting anything happen to your sister.”

There’s a faint edge to his voice—protective, maybe even defensive.

Lucas steps forward, crossing his arms. “You’re not letting anything happen to her?” He lets out a short laugh. “Jack, you already did. You broke her heart and vanished. And now what—you’re suddenly her bodyguard?”

Jack flinches but stays quiet.

“Listen,” Lucas continues, his voice cooler now but firm, “I’m not here to rehash history. But if you think I’m just going to pretend nothing happened, you’re out of your mind.”

Then, with a forced smile that doesn’t reach his eyes, he adds, “You so much as make her tear up again, you’ll have to answer to me.”

I place a hand on his arm, steady and grounding. “I appreciate what you’re trying to do. Really. But I promise I can handle it.”

Lucas looks at me for a beat, then finally nods. Barely. The tension doesn’t vanish, but it takes a step back.

Anabelle, bless her, jumps in like she’s tossing a life preserver. “Will that delay the renovations?”

Jack clears his throat. “We’ll stay on schedule. Barring any more surprises.”

We all know that’s a big if.

There’s a beat of silence before I let out a breathy laugh. “Well, that was fun. Now, who wants ice cream?”

It’s enough to crack the mood. Lucas’s mouth quirks like he’s trying not to smile. Jack doesn’t say anything, but his shoulders lose an inch of stiffness.

A few minutes later, cones in hand, we stroll toward the boutique. Anabelle hooks her arm through mine and launches into a story about her latest window display and a bold summer sale she’s testing. I let her words wash over me like sunshine—warm, distracting, and exactly what I need.

Inside, Mads is at the counter, phone in hand. She startles when she sees me and sets the phone down like she’s been caught by her eighth-grade teacher.

“Hey, Mom. I thought you were at the house today.”

“We wrapped up early.”

“Uncle Lucas! Anabelle!”

She rushes over and hugs them both, then freezes when she sees Jack.

“This is Jackson Sanders,” I say. “He’s helping with Grandma’s house.”

Madeline grins wide. “That’s a detail you forgot to mention.” She sticks out her hand. “I’m Madeline. Her daughter.”

Jack takes her hand and offers a soft smile, but his gaze drifts back to me like something just clicked into place. “Nice to meet you, Madeline.”

Before I can say anything more, the bell over the door jingles. A customer steps inside, and Madeline heads toward the register with a quick, “I’ll be right with you.”

Anabelle and Lucas head over to the sunglasses display.

As soon as they’re out of earshot, Jack moves a little closer, his voice barely above a whisper. “Walk with me?”

I nod, and we ease toward the front of the boutique, pausing behind a rack of breezy summer dresses. Sunlight spills across the wood floor, catching in the dust motes floating between us.

He lowers his voice again, gentler this time. “How old did you say Madeline is?”

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