Page 28 of To Hold and Protect

What should she wear for her grand tour?

At precisely one o’clock, Willow rang the Church brothers’ doorbell.

The door opened, and Everly grinned up at her. “Look, Miss Willow. I got cowboy boots, too!”

Well, just go and melt my heart, sweet girl.“I see that. And they’re pink. I want pink cowboy boots, too.”

“Aunt Skylar and my almost Aunt Harper took me shopping yesterday. I can tell you where you can get pink ones.” She formed an O with her mouth and clapped. “I know! I can take you shopping to get pink boots, Miss Willow.” She looked behind her. “Daddy, I need to take Miss Willow to the boot store.”

Parker walked up behind his daughter and put his hands on her shoulders. “Not today, kiddo. Miss Willow is here to get a tour of the house and see our studio.”

“She could see it better with pink boots.”

“No doubt, but—” Parker’s gaze slid over her sundress, then down to her feet “—her brown boots will have to do for today. Where’s your manners, ladybug? Are you going to invite Miss Willow in or make her stand on the porch?”

“I have manners.” Everly took her hand and pulled her inside. “See.”

“So I see. Why don’t you go out to the studio and finish getting your illustrations ready to show Miss Willow? We’ll be there shortly.”

“Okay, but hurry. I’m so excited to show her what I drew.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Before you go, Everly, I brought you a present.” She handed the little girl a small gift bag, something she’d seen in a bookstore in Charlotte and had thought of Everly.

“I love presents.” She wasted no time digging into the tissue, and when she pulled the gift out, her eyes widened. “Is this mine?” Willow nodded. “Oh, thank you! I wanted a quill so bad. Is it magic?”

“No, quills are only magic in stories. I got it for you so you could say you have one.”

“It’s pretty, but I’d like it better if it was magic.”

“Everly,” Parker said with a reprimanding tone.

She gave her father a defiant look. “You said always tell the truth.”

Willow swallowed a laugh, both at the little girl’s statement and Parker’s sigh. “I wish it was a magic quill, too, sweetie.”

“Go to the studio and get ready to show Miss Willow what you’ve been working on.” Parker gave his daughter a push. “Sorry about that,” he said after Everly left.

“Nothing to be sorry about. I want a magic quill, too.”

“Don’t we all?” He stuffed his hands in his pockets. “So, a tour. You’re obviously in the foyer.”

“Andrew said you designed the chandelier. It’s beautiful.”

“Thanks.” He walked to a door behind the staircase on the right, and she followed him. “This is the library.”

She stepped inside the room. “Oh. My. God.” On all four walls were built-in floor-to-ceiling shelves filled with books. “You can just leave me in here for the rest of my life.”

He chuckled. “Sure. I’ll just throw food in once a day.”

“Who’s the booklover? Have you read them all?” She wandered to one of the shelves and skimmed the titles.

“Our aunt, and no, I haven’t read any of them. Tristan and Kade are determined to work their way through them.” He muttered something.

“Pardon?”

“Nothing.”

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