Page 14 of Mended Hearts

OLIVER

“Trick or treat!”a half-dozen kids chorused on my front porch a few weeks later. “Cool costumes, guys! We've gotThor,Elsa, and do I spy aBluey?”

Said blue doggo rejected my fist bump and hid behind her big brother, whose face was caked in an impressive layer of black-and-white skull paint.

I deposited a king-size candy bar in each of their buckets and bags, grinning as the little one squealed with excitement.

As they ran off, I shouted, “Happy Halloween!”

Waving to their parents as they departed down the sidewalk, I was about to close the door when a smokeshow in a short red wig sauntered around the corner, clad head-to-toe in skin-tight faux leather.

Father forgive me, for I am about to sin.

Leighton dressed up asBlack Widow?

Shit, she was hotter than the original, and as she spun in a circle, the sight of that perfect ass in spandex had me thinking very not-familial things.

Grinning, she threw her arms out wide, her camera dangling from her wrist, twisting those perfect hips from side to side.

“Did I bring it?I think I brought it.”

Did she have any clue how fucking sexy her confidence was?

I’d never realized how hot that quality was in a woman until Leighton sauntered into my life.

Shaking my head, I didn’t bother to hide my smile, gesturing down at my ownCaptain Americacostume.

She shrugged airily.

“Yeah, yeah, Bucky is better,” I bit out, rolling my eyes as that bright smile grew. “But Cap is the OG. The bigdawg.”

Leighton wrinkled her nose, and I flicked it.

“I mean, technically,Iron Mancame out first.”

“ButCaptain Americais literallyThe First Avenger. Did you just conveniently forget that part?”

Her eyes brightened, and she dropped to her knees with a squeal.

“MyWinter Soldier!”

My kid—who liked literally no one—launched himself out the front door and into her arms like a projectile.

I shook my head, grinning as she crushed his tiny body against her chest.

The kids always loved Leighton.

But after the car accident, she'd been around even more than usual—always checking in on Mattie, helping her with her hair, bridging the gaps in ways I hadn’t even realized needed bridging.

In the process, even my chunky little guy had fallen in love with her.

“Auntie Lay! Auntie Lay! Look!” Beau wrenched out of her grasp to show her how shiny his fake metal arm was.

“Sick, dude!But where’s your hair?” Running an affectionate palm over his short dark buzz cut, she grinned as he hopped away from her.

“He’s got shor’ hair in da’ new ones. We take a picker?”

Needing no translation, she grinned back at him.

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