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Neighbors said it was almost always quiet and they never noticed anyone coming or going—all except for the ruckus caused by one little trespasser last night.
“Here we go!” Owen and Oliver threw their arms over their heads as they both went down the slide at the same time, holding onto each other as they made the little spiral before they dumped out onto the grass at the bottom. The two of them were giggling like crazy and rolling around before they climbed back to their feet and scampered right back up the steps.
A smile touched my face, love pressing full force at my chest, then I got distracted all over again by my phone that I had rested on my thigh as I rocked.
It was probably a bad idea when I’d texted Dakota earlier and asked for Savannah’s number, but I’d figured it might come in handy if I needed to ask her some questions. I ignored that what I was contemplating was clearly gross misuse of information.
I hesitated for a second, staring at the blackened screen.
Screw it.
I tapped out a message and hit send.
Me: Are you staying out of trouble, Little Trespasser?
I told myself I sent it as a warning. As a way to let her know I was watching her. The problem was the whole reason I couldn’t look away.
But was it really all that bad to check in?
I’d offered for us to start over. To be friends.
But I was pretty sure any ideas of us being friends had been shot to shit the second I’d grabbed her by the wrist that day in the café. And here I was again, treading into territory where I shouldn’t go.
I needed to focus on my kids. On finding the monsters responsible for stealing their mother from their lives.
I didn’t need to be preoccupied by a woman who was doing little more than passing through town, causing her own sort of destruction as she went.
My knee bounced out of control while I waited, and I should have taken it as my own warning when relief clamored through me when she finally responded about ten minutes later.
Savannah
Are you worried I’m wreaking havoc on your town, Officer Patterson?
My mouth tweaked up at the side. Damn, I liked her sass too much.
Me
Just making sure you aren’t making yourself at home on someone else’s property, is all.
Savannah
You can rest assured I haven’t broken any laws in at least the last five minutes.
A chuckle rolled out, and I shook my head as I tapped at my phone.
Me
Five minutes, huh? Don’t make me haul you back down to the station.
Savannah
I think you really just want me in cuffs.
Want fisted my guts.
Dangerous.
I knew she was.
To my sanity.
To my resolve.
But I played right into it, anyway.
Me
I think it’s you who’s begging to be bound.
It took forever for her response to come through.
Savannah
Don’t worry, I won’t give you a reason to arrest me again.
She was clearly shutting down the direction the conversation had gone. Wisely diverging paths because it was clear neither of us could go there, but I wasn’t sure that she’d treaded onto any safer ground.
I deliberated on what to say before I finally typed out:
Me
Is that an admission of guilt?
Savannah
I told you before I wasn’t trying to cause any trouble.
Maybe I was blinded by this attraction, but I believed her, which kept leading me back to one thing. She was in trouble.
Me
Did you find a place to rent?
At least thirty seconds passed before she responded again.
Savannah
I’m just fine, Ezra. You don’t have to worry about me.
That was the whole fucking problem. I wasn’t sure I could stop myself.
Me
Just…be careful, okay? And if you need me, use this number. I’m right here.
Olivia suddenly came galloping across the yard, white hair flying behind her like a horse’s mane. “It’s time for dinner, Dad!”
A low chuckle got free. My sweet little caretaker. “Is that so?”
“Yep. The sun is already almost all the way set, and that means it’s almost six, and we need to eat fast so we can do more studying for my spelling bee.”
I stood, shucking thoughts of the woman I wasn’t entirely sure I could get off my mind, and I placed my attention on what was important. “Good thing we have a roast in the crockpot, then. It should be ready.”
Taking my hand, Olivia tipped her sweet face up to me. “You did a really good job, Dad. Grandma didn’t even have to help you this time.”
Affection blistered, and I grinned. “I’m getting there.”
Olivia squeezed my hand. “I think you already made it.”
Devotion thudded, thick and steady, thankful that my daughter might actually look at me that way.
Through the heaviness, I called out to the boys, “Let’s go, yahoos. It’s time for dinner.”
“Yes!” Oliver fist-pumped the air as he came down the slide.
“I hungee!” Owen slurred as he hustled back down from where he was halfway up the steps, and my twins came barreling for us.
