Page 20 of Devon

He firmly pushed the thought away.HewasRyan’s mate, but that wasn’t what mattered right now.What mattered was that Ryan was playing with Haley, and Devon didn’t understand why.

He looked around for Melissa, but she was nowhere to be seen.His stomach dropped when he realized that Hailey had to have snuck out of the house.She was less sensitive to sunlight than Melissa, and while Devon would normally keep an eye on her while Melissa slept, he hadn’t been able to do so lately.He was usually at work when the two of them were in bed.

Well, when they weresupposedto be in bed.Haley popped out of the bush she’d been hiding in and screeched as she ran toward him.He cringed at the sound and caught her, hauling her up into his arms.

“You’re home,” she exclaimed happily.

Her smile was wide and exposed her fangs.Devon glanced at Ryan, hoping the man hadn’t seen them, but it would be impossible for him not to have.Besides, Haley turned toward him, still smiling.

“Devon is back,” she told Ryan as if he couldn’t see Devon.

Ryan’s smile was soft and gentle.“I can see that.”

“Haley, you shouldn’t be playing out here on your own.Is Melissa still in bed?”Devon asked.He needed to do something about Ryan’s presence, but he couldn’t do that while Haley was here.

“She’s sleeping,” Haley said.She sounded grumpy now.

She knew that Devon and Melissa would scold her for playing outside on her own.They lived in a small village now, but that didn’t mean they were comfortable with Haley not having supervision.They’d seen and heard too many things that could happen to a child as young as her.

“Haley.”

She wiggled until Devon put her down.As soon as her feet were on the ground, she crossed her arms over his chest and glared.Her jaw was set, and Devon could see she would be stubborn about this.He wasn’t surprised.

“Something could’ve happened to you,” he said gently.

“I played with Ryan.I was bored.”

Devon’s chest felt painful.“I understand that, but you should’ve played inside.”

“You never play with me anymore.”

He’d suspected this was his fault, and now, he had confirmation.“I’ve been busy.I’m sorry.”

“Can you play with me now?”

The best thing Devon could do was send her inside, tell Ryan to leave, and follow her in.He hated to disappoint her, though.It was true that he hadn’t played with her in a while.“How about you play by yourself while I talk to Ryan?Once I’m done, we can decide what to do.”Devon really wished he could go to bed or at least stretch out on the couch because he was tired from work, but Haley was more important.Besides, Devon wouldn’t be here to play with her for much longer.He needed to do it while he could.

Haley stared.“You promise we’ll play?”

“I do.We’ll find something fun to do.”

That seemed to be enough.She trusted Devon, so she turned and hopped ahead to pick up her dolls.Devon watched her for a moment, wondering what his next step should be.He didn’t have to think for long because Ryan made the decision for him.

“I’m really sorry about this.I saw her playing outside on her own and was worried because she was alone.She told me that Melissa was sleeping, and I didn’t have anything better to do, so I decided to stick around until she woke up.”

“It’s fine,” Devon told him.

“I swear that I wasn’t trying to do anything.We were just playing hide and seek.”

Ryan seemed desperate for Devon to believe him.Devon could understand that.A lot of people wouldn’t have liked to see an adult man playing with their six-year-old sister.Devon barely knew Ryan, but he trusted him enough to know that Hailey had never been in danger with him.

He reached out and touched Ryan’s arm.Ryan’s eyes fluttered, and he stared at Devon.It made Devon slightly uncomfortable because he didn’t know what he’d done to deserve the devotion he could see in Ryan’s gaze.“It’s fine,” he repeated before dropping his hand.“I know my sister.She’s stubborn and sneaky, and it’s not the first time she’s done something like this.”

“I don’t think anyone in the village is dangerous, but still.I wouldn’t have been comfortable leaving her.”

“Thank you for playing with her.”

Ryan smiled.He was finally relaxing, which was a good thing.“I wanted a younger sibling when I was young.It’s a good thing I never got one, but I enjoyed playing with her.”

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