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As her whimpers morphed into cries, I instinctively climbed into her bed and wrapped my arms around her. I’d done this every night the week after her parents died, but I always made sure I was gone in the morning.
“I can’t lose you too,” Daisy mumbled groggily as I stroked her hair. Her arms tightened around me like she knew I’d leave once she’d fallen back to sleep.
I kissed the top of her head. “You’re not going to, baby. I promise.” As I pulled her blanket over my legs, my head fell back against the wall as my decision was made. There was no way I could take that job.
12
DAISY
Ilifted my pounding head off its warm resting place to the sound of a clearing throat. “What do you want, Flynn?” I grumbled as I nestled back into what smelled like…Fuck!
Ethan stirred awake at my sudden movement and launched out of bed.
“It’s not what it looks like…” Ethan stumbled around the room, searching for his jeans. “I was consoling her last night and must’ve fallen asleep.”
“Relax, guys, I’m not Dad,” Flynn said, strangely unperturbed. “I’m going to start working on the roof, so it may get a little loud in here.”
I threaded my robe over my aching body. I hadn’t had a night like that since my parents passed away. “Have you had breakfast?”
“I don’t need breakfast.”
“Flynn,” I growled. “You need your energy.”
“You sound like Mom.”
“Well, someone needs to look after you.” I tightened my robe and marched out of the room. “I’ll cook up some bacon and eggs.”
“Daisy…” Flynn whined after me. “I need to get to work.”
“Your workaholic days are over, Flynn.”
Ethan followed us into the family room. “Just eat, dude. She won’t let up.”
“Fine.” Flynn fell into the dining chair. “But make it snappy. We only have two more days to get this place ready.”
After I’d filled their bellies, my brother went outside to get everything ready while Ethan got dressed. I watched him from the doorway, admiring his muscular arms as they slipped into a flannelette shirt.
“We need to tell him,” he said, peeking up at me as he fastened the buttons.
My heart quickened. “No.”
“I don’t want to sneak around with you.”
“But we don’t even know what this is yet.”
Ethan’s eyes flared into mine. “I know what this is.”
I shuffled my foot over the dusty floor. “You still have girls calling you, Ethan.”
“What?”
I chewed the inside of my cheek before her name rolled off my lips. “Lanie?”
“That’s not what you think.”
“What is it, then?” I desperately wanted to believe him, but he’d been with so many women over the years, it was hard to imagine they’d all dried up.
“It’s…” His grimace said everything. “It’s…”
