Page 24

Five pairs of eyes snap to the big bay window that overlooks the entire ranch. It gives a clear view of my house and Avalanche Creek. It also looks directly at the Creek House, which sits about twenty feet away.

Christ.

We all gather at the window.

The girl stands on the porch. Stretching. Her face aglow in the sunlight, she wears pom-pom heels, a garter on her right thigh, and an oversized band tee. With every lift of her hands, the T-shirt threatens to rise above the curve of her pert ass.

A current of hunger thrums through my body. I clench my fists to fight the feeling.

“Her name’s Delilah.” River’s eyes cut to mine. “If you were wondering.”

I give her slender body a once-over. “I wasn’t.”

A snort from Vaughn.

“I wanna see, I wanna see!”

I drag my eyes away from the girl to my niece, Evangeline. Her dark hair is a mess of wild curls, and she bounces on her tiptoes. It’s hard not to smile whenever I see her.

“Up, Uncle Cole, up!” She waves her rainbow-painted fingernails.

“C’mere, princess.” Giving in to Bugs, I grab her up, toss her in the air, then set her toes on the window ledge, ignoring the cluck of a tongue from Wyoma.

If there’s one person who can get us to let our guard down, it’s Evangeline.

River leans in. “What’s the verdict, Bugs?”

Bugs. The nickname goes back to when she was two. She always used to demand carrots for every meal and would chomp into them with a scrunchy bunny face.

Bugs gasps. “She’s sooo pretty.”

Of course, Bugs loves Delilah on sight. She’s like one of her cartoon princesses come to life. Minus the ball gown.

“She is,” Ezra agrees. His mustache widens as he smiles. “But not prettier than you.”

Bugs giggles, blushes. “Daddy.” Her big blue eyes take me in. As serious as her father’s. “Do you think she’s pretty, Uncle Cole?”

All eyes swivel toward me.

Damn it. I swear the kid has a sixth sense for putting me on the spot.

Without being too obvious, I steal a glance at the girl. No bra, bedroom eyes, petite and slender with long blond hair that waterfalls to the small of her back. Yeah. She’s fucking breathtaking.

River sips his coffee, eyebrow raised. “Tell us. Do you?”

My back teeth grind together. I glare at River.

“Cocksucker,” I mutter under my breath.

Bugs inclines her head. “What’s a cocksucker, Daddy?”

“Goddamnit, Cole.” Ezra glares.

Wells covers his mouth, no doubt a smile behind his hand, and thinks on it. He’s the Bugs whisperer. “It’s like…a douchebag.”

“What’s a douchebag?”

Another sigh from Ezra.