Page 130 of Freeing Lark

“Coffee first. Questions later.”

He was already climbing out of bed. She laughed as he grabbed a pair of jeans and tugged them on.

“You’re ridiculous.”

“I’m a SEAL. We’re trained to prioritize.”

“Coffee is a priority?”

“Absolutely.”

Five minutes later, they were on their way to Flour Power Bakery. The moment they walked through the door, Marilyn spotted them. “Oh, look who finally decided to rejoin civilization!”

Lark barely had time to smile before Marilyn wrapped her in a fierce hug. “You scared ten years off my life!”

“I’m sorry.”

“You should be.”

Cammie hugged her next, nearly squeezing the breath out of her. “You’re never allowed to do that again.”

“I’ll try.”

Hoot muttered, “That’s what she said last time.”

Lark elbowed him. Marilyn pointed at him, her bracelets tinkling. “You keep her out of trouble.”

He glanced at Lark. “I’ll do my best.”

“That’s not reassuring,” Lark said.

A laugh came from a nearby table. Lark turned. Spark was sitting there with a pretty woman who looked enough like him to make the family resemblance obvious. Beside her sat a little girl with enormous eyes and a head full of dark curls.

Spark stood. “Lark, this is my sister, Kali. And this little menace is my niece, Kaia.”

Kaia studied Lark. Very seriously. “You have sad eyes.”

Lark blinked. “I... do?”

Kaia nodded. “But they’re happy now.”

Kali sighed. “Her woo-woo powers are awake again.”

Lark smiled. “Woo-woo powers?”

“Don’t encourage her,” Kali warned.

Kaia leaned closer. “I can tell things.”

Spark groaned. “She thinks she’s psychic.”

“I don’t think it,” Kaia corrected. “I know it.”

Hoot looked amused. “What else do you know?”

Kaia turned those enormous eyes on him. “You’re Uncle Duncan’s friend.”

“That’s right.”