Page 48 of Shattered Secrets

The playground was nearly empty, which surprised Matt since it was a sunny Sunday morning. Only two other kids were playing—two boys on the large climbing structure, who looked to be a few years older than Daisy. They were screaming their damn heads off while their mother stared at her phone, completely ignoring them.

Glaring at the boys behind his sunglasses, Matt carried Daisy to the opposite end of the play area. “Do you want to swing?”

“Yes!” she squealed.

He set her down and helped her climb onto the swing. “Here,” he said, taking Mr. Slothy from her and shoving half the stuffed animal in his back pocket. “You have to hold on really tight with your good hand, okay?”

He looped her casted right arm around the chain so it was snug in the crook of her elbow. Then he frowned. Shit. This hadbad ideawritten all over it.

With a gentle push, he set the swing in motion. Daisy wobbled and let out a little yelp, and he swore his damn heart stopped. He scooped her out of the swing and had her back on his hip in under a second.

“Sorry, Otter Pop.” He ran a hand over her hair as she clung to him. “Swings aren’t a good idea when you have your arm in a cast, huh?”

“I almost falled down,” she whispered, eyes wide.

He met her bright-blue gaze. “I won’t let you fall.”

“Promise?”

The center of his chest ached, and he rubbed his fist against it. Damn, this kid... “Do you know what a pinky promise is?”

She shook her head.

“Do this,” he said, holding out his pinky.

She imitated him with her left hand.

“Now, a pinky promise is one of the most important promises. Ever.” He hadn’t thought her eyes could grow any wider, but they did. Biting back a smile, he hooked his much larger pinky with hers. “I promise, Otter Pop, that I won’t ever let you fall. Not on my watch. Now we shake.”

Daisy giggled as they shook pinkies. “Pinky promises are funny, Mr. Matty.”

“They are, but they’re also a pretty big deal. And you know what? You can just call me Matt from now on. You don’t need to call me mister.”

“Okay, Matty.”

He couldn’t help his grin.Matty it is.

Pulling Mr. Slothy from his back pocket, he gestured to the playhouse behind the swings. Given the shorter slide and the structure’s lower height, it seemed geared toward smaller kids. “Want to take Mr. Slothy and play over there?”

She nodded, and he handed the stuffy over as he placed her on her feet.

At the playhouse, he stood to the side of the structure. His position provided a visual on Daisy no matter which part she played on. “I’ll be right here, okay?”

Waving, she took off to explore the playhouse with Mr. Slothy.

“Uh, hey. What’s going on, dude?”

Matt glanced to his right and saw Four walking toward him. He lifted his chin in greeting. “How’s it going, Four?” He shifted to face his friend, but he still had Daisy in his sights. “Wait, what the hell are you doing here?”

Four smirked. “I’d like to ask you the same thing. I mean, there I was, driving down the street and minding my own damn business, when I spotted you. At theplayground. I’ll ask again, dude. What’s going on?”

Matt motioned toward the playhouse.

Four’s eyes narrowed. “Is that Scarlet’s daughter?”

“Yup.”

“Ahh. Rumor has it they’re staying with you. I didn’t quite believe it, though.”

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