Maren looked at Juni, who was holding Star’s hand now, guiding her carefully through the garden.
“I want to believe that,” Maren whispered.
“You will,” Ellie said. “Give it time.”
The back door opened and Arden reappeared with Colin behind her. “Look who I found!”
Juni’s head whipped around. Her whole face brightened. “Colin’s back!”
She started to run toward him, then stopped, turned, and grabbed Star’s hand. “Come on!”
They both ran toward Colin, Star giggling like it was the best game she’d ever played.
“Colin, look!” Juni bounced on her toes. “I made a new friend. Her name is Star and she’s little but she’s good at finding fairies.”
Colin looked a bit dismayed at two small girls instead of one, both looking up at him like he’d hung the moon.
Mac chuckled from his spot by the door. “Looks like you’re moving up in the world, brother. Two fans now.”
Colin shot him a look but bent down to Juni’s level. “That’s great, Junebug. You did good showing her around.”
Juni wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tight. Star, not wanting to be left out, patted Colin’s shoulder.
He glanced at Ellie. “Hey, Star. You being good for your mama?”
Star nodded solemnly, then giggled.
Maren felt herself light up watching him with the girls. It was obvious both girls adored him.
How can he possibly think he’s not good with kids?
Maren and Ellie stood up from the bench and walked toward the group. Ellie touched Maren’s shoulder gently as they walked.
“Judging by your face,” Ellie said quietly, with a knowing smile, “maybe our stories are more alike than I thought.”
Maren’s cheeks warmed. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Sure you don’t.” Ellie’s smile widened. “I had that same look on my face for weeks before I figured out what it meant.”
Maren opened her mouth to protest, but Juni was calling her over to tell her what Star had found, and Colin’s eyes met hers over the girls’ heads, and her words evaporated. Her skin remembered his thumb against her cheekbone. Her lips tingled as she thought about the kiss that almost happened.
Ellie just smiled wider.
FIFTEEN
Every time Junithrew her arms around Colin’s neck and hugged him, he found that it got a little easier to hug her back. It hurt a little less. Star studied him with her father’s dark eyes, then reached out and patted his arm like he was an old friend, which cracked him up.
“Hey, Star. You being good for your mama?”
She gave him a nod and a giggle.
Colin looked up and locked eyes with Maren. God, she was radiant, the way the sunlight fell on her hair, and the soft, wondering smile she gave him. The same smile she’d given him last night before they’d both pulled back. BeforeI don’t want to use youhad stopped them both from crossing a line they couldn’t uncross.
Maren and Ellie stood from the bench and started walking toward him. Ellie leaned in and said something to Maren that made her blush, and Colin’s heart skipped.
“Star found two furry little sleeping bags,” Juni told him, deeply serious. “We think the fairies are sleeping inside.”
“Probably,” he agreed, with no idea what she was talking about. He couldn’t take his eyes off of Maren. She looked different than she had this morning—not lighter exactly, but lessbraced. Like something that had been drawn tight for days had finally been given permission to ease. Whatever Ellie had said to her on that bench, it had done what Arden had sent her here to do—and there was no question in Colin’s mind that Arden had intended just that.
