Page 49 of Shattered Secrets

Matt shrugged. The gossip train in this town was often scary accurate.

Four scanned the playground, then dropped his voice. “I heard about the break-in at Scarlet’s. Are they doing okay?”

“I think it shook Scar more than she’s letting on, but she’s hanging in there. I don’t know if she’s talked much with Daisy about what happened, but the kid hasn’t brought it up. Thankfully, neither of them was hurt.” He ground his molars together as a surge of anger washed over him. “They had to hide out on her fucking balcony.”

Four cursed under his breath. “Man, that’s totally fucked up.”

“Tell me about it.” He had seen the outdoor chair they’d hidden behind. It was fucking tiny. God, he couldn’t imagine what would have happened if the sirens hadn’t scared off that asshole...

“Where’s Scarlet?” Four asked, looking around the play area.

“She’s meeting with Wayland at her place. Figured while Scar was doing that, I’d take the little Otter Pop over here and let her burn off some energy.”

“‘Otter Pop’?” Four laughed, elbowing him in the side. The fucker.

“What? The kid loves Otter Pops.” Matt knew his comeback was lame. But whatever. It was the truth. The nickname fit.

“Sure, bud.” Four snorted. “You keep telling yourself that.”

It was on the tip of his tongue to tell his friend to fuck off—nicely, of course—but Daisy came running up. “Matty, I gotta go potty.”

He froze. “Uhhh...” His gaze swung to Four. Who burst into laughter.

“Don’t look at me, dude,” Four said, holding his hands up. “I know less about kids than you.”

Fuck.

Daisy began hopping from foot to foot, her cute little face scrunched up. “I gotta go bad.”

“All right, let’s go,” he said, scooping her up and scanning the nearby buildings. His eyes landed on Ray’s Diner. “Oh, thank fu?—”

He slammed his mouth shut.Shit, that was close.

Taking her stuffed animal from her hands, he tossed it to his friend. “Four will watch Mr. Slothy while we get you to the bathroom,” he said, striding toward the diner with Four on his heels—laughing like a damn hyena.

Matt burst through the diner’s front door, knowing he looked like a crazy person. “Martha!” He hustled to the older woman. “Daisy has to go to the bathroom. Bad. Can you please take her?”

Setting a dish towel down on an empty table, Martha reached for Daisy.

The little girl shook her head and burrowed into his chest. “No, Matty. You!”

Fuck. He patted her back. “Sorry, Otter Pop, but I’m not allowed to go into the bathroom with you.” Nor did he think it was appropriate. As much as he adored the kid, no way was he helping her in the bathroom without explicit permissionandinstruction from Scarlet.

Daisy’s lower lip popped out, and panic rushed through him.Shit. “I’m not a lady, sweet girl. I’m not allowed to go into the ladies’ room.”

“But I’m not a lady. I’m just a little girl,” Daisy whined.

He shook his head and tapped her nose. “No, you’re a little lady. Now please go with Martha.”

Heaving out a giant sigh, Daisy turned in his arms and reached for the older woman.

“We’ll be right back,” Martha said in a singsong voice.

Matt grimaced at the shit-eating grin she flashed him on her way to the bathroom.

“Don’t look now,” Four murmured, elbowing him in the side. “Gossip train. Ten o’clock.”

Matt peeked over his friend’s shoulder and bit back a groan. Mrs. Abbot, Mrs. Yoshida, and Mrs. Green—the head honchos of Hudson Island gossip—sat together at a table with their attention glued to him. They all had matching knowing smiles.Damn.

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