Page 13 of The Runaway Bride's Vow

After he took a moment to enjoy her obvious discomfort, he stepped forward. “Kaylie, this lady is here because we’re working together.”

Kaylie nodded her head. She looked at Brooke and held out her doll. “Want to play with me?”

Aw… Brooke really liked the little girl. How in the world did such a grump end up with such a cute kid? It must be the mother’s genes shining through.

Her gaze moved over the mess of benches, lumber, and tools scattered about. She was worried about Kaylie getting hurt. But it wasn’t her place to say anything.

Logan turned to his daughter. “Sweetie, she can’t play with you. We have some business to discuss, and then she has to leave. Why don’t you go over there and play with your toys?” Once his daughter was out of earshot, he asked, “What do you want?”

“I’m here to discuss the renovations. We never got a chance yesterday.”

“What’s there to discuss? I went over all of the details with Clara, and she approved them.” He made a motion to walk past her. “I have to get back to work.”

He’s dismissing me? No way. “Wait.” She straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin ever so slightly. “That’s nice, but Clara isn’t here, and I am.” Her voice rose. “So, I’d like you to go over the details with me.”

“You can’t yell at my daddy!” The girl’s face was creased with frown lines.

Heat returned to Brooke’s cheeks, setting them ablaze. She’d forgotten about the little girl. She hadn’t meant to upset her.

She approached the little girl and knelt down so they could speak eye to eye. “I wasn’t yelling at your daddy. I just got a little excited.”

“Excited?” The girl’s eyes shone with confusion.

Brooke nodded. “My best friend’s wedding is supposed to be in this chapel, and I’m worried it won’t be ready in time for the wedding.”

“Why not?”

Brooke’s gaze moved past the girl to her father, who had his muscled arms crossed over his broad chest. He wore a forbidding frown. No words were needed to let her know that she needed to fix this asap.

She turned her attention back to Kaylie. It was time to change the subject. “That’s a pretty doll you have. What’s her name?”

Kaylie held up the doll with a pink dress and brown curls. “This is Penny.”

Brooke smiled at the girl. She reminded her so much of herself at that age. Her older sister never liked to play with dolls. So, Brooke had played with them on her own. Every time a memory of her sister crossed her mind, there was a pang in her heart.

She hadn’t been back to Iowa since she’d left. She’d wanted to go, but her mother would make one excuse or another for why it wasn’t the right time. And when she spoke to her sister, it was the same way. By the way they’d acted, it was like she was the one who had called off her wedding to Josh.

She gave herself a mental shake. She had to focus on the here and now. And right now, her priority was getting this chapel ready for a wedding.

She centered her attention on the little girl standing in front of her. “I used to have a doll that looked a lot like her.”

Kaylie’s smile broadened. “She’s my favorite.”

“Kaylie,” Logan’s voice softened, “go back and play. We need to talk.”

While Logan talked to his daughter, Brooke’s gaze took in the two of them as they interacted. It was obvious he loved his daughter. It was also obvious that the emotion went both ways. Maybe he wasn’t such a bad guy.

Realizing the direction of her errant thoughts, she jerked them to a halt. He may be a good father but it didn’t make him a good contractor. After all, this was the man who’d taken her coffee, then he’d left the jobsite without a clear explanation and can’t have a civilized conversation. Her stomach knotted up. Hiring this guy was a big mistake, but how was she supposed to tell Clara?

Chapter Four

She got under his skin.

She was like an itch he couldn’t quite scratch.

Even so, Logan couldn’t help but be drawn once more by Brooke’s green eyes. When she got worked up, they sparkled like gems. They were so full of expression she’d never be able to bluff at poker. Her nose was small and pert. Her rosy lips were lush and glossy.

“Was it necessary to bring your daughter to work today?” Brooke’s disapproving tone drew him from his thoughts.

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