Page 43 of Trick or Treat

“You’re welcome. Drive safe.” She didn’t sound angry when she hung up, so that was a good sign, right? He closed his eyes and let his head fall back on his shoulders. He still couldn’t believe she said yes. Never in a million years would he expect her to volunteer to take his kids so that Michelle wouldn’t have to get them. It felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. The only other thing he could possibly come up with was for one of the prospects to pick up Keegan. He’d wanted to avoid that because of the ongoing custody battle. He opened his eyes and found Jackson and Maverick staring at him. “What?”

“Nothing.” Jackson grinned. “I just can’t believe she offered to pick up your kids and take them to your house.”

“Me neither,” Race grunted.

Trick couldn’t either. He was still trying to wrap his head around it. He was afraid to read too much into it, but it didn’t stop him from getting excited at the thought of Lindsey waiting for him at his house with his kids. He was such a loser.

“What was that shiver thing you did about?” Jed asked around a mouthful of french fries.

“I was just thinking I couldn’t have been more shocked that Lindsey offered to get my kids if you’d stripped naked and danced around this diner like a ballerina.”

“Seriously, man? I’m trying to eat. Thanks for that visual,” Jackson complained.

“Hey! I would look damn good dancing around here naked, thank you very much,” Jed replied defensively. He had to dodge and swat at the wadded-up napkins everyone at the table started throwing at him.

He silently sent up a prayer that the highway would clear soon so he could get home. He couldn’t wait to lay eyes on Lindsey again.

10

What had possessed her to volunteer to take his kids? She’d felt sorry for him; that’s what.

It was hard not to hear the panic in Trick’s voice when he was telling her that his mom and brother were no-gos. Then hearing one of his friends suggest his own mom could pick up Keegan only to have another tell him that wasn’t an option either almost broke her heart. She knew how much Trick’s time with his children meant to him. She’d seen him with his kids and he’d explained the situation between himself and the kid’s mother. Lindsey had to admit, she didn’t feel comfortable with the idea of sending Keegan home with his mom. If she could even get a hold of her.

She knew she might be sending him mixed signals by taking care of his kids until he got home and she hated that. But, how could she not help him out in this situation? He was a single dad, doing the best he could. He was even trying to get full custody of them. His kids were such good kids, it was absolutely no hardship to spend time with them.

Lindsey pulled her car to a stop at the curb in front of Trick’s house and sighed in relief. She’d been a nervous wreck the whole time she’d been driving from the daycare. She didn’t have a car seat for Reagan and the thought of getting in an accident terrified her.

Keegan was already out of the front seat and opening the back door to unfasten the seatbelt around his sister by the time Lindsey had her door open. “Grab your purse, Reagan.” She dutifully did as he instructed and climbed out of the car. From the looks of things, Lindsey wondered how often Keegan was tasked with looking out for his little sister. Was this the way things went when they were with their mother?

“Come on, Miss Hicks. Follow me. I’ll show you how to get inside.” Keegan waited for her to come around the front of her car then led them around the house to the backyard. Instead of finding a key under a door mat or under a pot, he walked over to a tree and pushed a concrete turtle over far enough to retrieve the key. He came back smiling and holding it up to show her.

“Wow. That’s a clever hiding spot. Not hiding it right around the door is a very good idea.” She’d have to remember that when she went to hide her own key.

Keegan opened the back door, leading the way. Reagan followed next, then Lindsey. She looked around the kitchen and found, surprisingly, that it was neat and clean. It was terribly small, but Trick kept it tidy for his kids.

Keegan dropped his backpack on the kitchen table next to some clean, folded clothes that needed to be put away. “I’ll be right back. I have to put the key back in case we need it again.”

“Okay.” She watched from the window above the sink as he did just that. Once he was back inside, he locked the door behind him.

“Do you want a soda or a bottle of water?” he asked so politely.

“Water would be fine. Thank you.” She accepted the water and followed him into the living room where Reagan was already flipping through television channels. She dropped her purse on the coffee table and took a seat in the middle of the couch. Reagan climbed up next to her with the remote in her hand. Her little baby teeth smile was so adorable as she looked up at her, she was finding it hard not to grab her and squeeze her. And could she be any cuter in her purple dress with its tutu and her sparkly white shoes?

“Reagan, why don’t you let Miss Hicks have the remote?” Keegan prompted his sister.

“Why?” Reagan’s brows dipped, clearly confused.

“Because she’s company.” His silent “duh” went over her head.

“Oh, that’s okay. I can watch whatever you guys want to watch.” Lindsey really didn’t care what they watched.

“Reagan, you want a snack?” Keegan asked, expertly distracting her from the television.

“Yes!” She hopped off the couch, dropping the remote in Lindsey’s lap and ran to the kitchen. No doubt that was Keegan’s plan all along.

“If you don’t pick something, she’s going to make us watch another princess movie and I don’t think I can watch another one right now,” Keegan informed her seriously, his expression clearly stating he was completely burned out on princess movies.

“Oh, okay.” She flipped through the channels and ended up turning it on the latestAvengersmovie. She hadn’t seen this one yet.

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