Page 32 of The Summer Arrangement
“Hey, squirt.” The stranger laughs out, ruffling her hair as she clings to him. “Fancy seeing you here.”
“Emilia?” comes out as I shorten the distance between us, making my presence known.
My daughter is as shy as they come with strangers. Clearly, she knows him.
Or she thinks she does?
Fuck, what the hell is going on?
She’s grinning at him like he’s hung the moon, and I’ve never seen this man in my life.
As I approach, the tall man my daughter’s still holding onto reaches out his hand. “Hi, I’m Ryan. You must be Cameron Kruse, Milli’s dad.”
Slowly, I reach out and shake his hand, darting my focus from my daughter to him.
Obviously, she knows him. But how?
When she still doesn’t let go, Ryan laughs once more. “I met this little squirt the other day while she learned to ride her balance bike,” as if that should explain everything. To her, he looks down and asks, “Have you figured it out yet?”
“Uh-huh.” Milli nods proudly. “I can turn, too. My Iz and Daddy help me.”
“Your Iz?” Ryan nods knowingly. “She’s a pretty special lady, isn’t she?”
“You know Lizzy?” I clarify, forcing my brain to connect the dots.
It’s not every day my daughter hugs strangers, but if he knows Lizzy, he can’t be too bad.
But that doesn’t mean I have to like him.
Eyeing him speculatively, I realize he’s closer to Lizzy’s age than mine. Maybe she’s met someone this summer? I mean—it’s possible. Sheisfrom Seaside. Maybe they’ve reconnected now that she’s returned. After all, she’s young, single, and extremely attractive.
Hell, she’s more than that. She’s the total package.
When I hired her as Milli’s nanny, we agreed that we couldn’t keep seeing each other, but does that mean she’s moved on?
Why does the thought of her dating someone make me want to throat punch him?
Instinctively, my hands curl into fists as I wait for his response.
“Yeah.” Ryan nods slowly, looking me over with care. When his eyes land on my tightly clenched fists, he quickly adds, “I’m her brother-in-law. I’ve married theonlyLancaster thatdoesn’twork for you… apparently.”
“Work for me?” I repeat.
Damn, my brain is slow on the uptake.
Thankfully, I finally register his actual words—in-law.
Relief washes through me, and the stress I didn’t know I’d been holding onto dissipates.
God, I’m an idiot.
Ryan continues, thankfully clueless of my internal struggle. “I’m Lanie’s husband. I’m not sure when the others will be married, but apparently, almost our entire family works for you.”
“Itisa small world,” I admit as all our invisible strings connect in my mind.
“No kidding,” a woman who resembles Lizzy states as she joins us. “Hey, Milli. How’s it going?” To me, she holds out herhand and introduces herself. “I’m Lanie, Lizzy’s oldest sister. You must be Cameron, the proud father of this pint-sized peanut.”
Her smile replicates Lizzy’s as she points to my daughter—who has yet to let go of her husband.
