Page 55 of Bourbon and Secrets

“Oh my gosh, Dad, really?!” Lark shouts, at the same time that Lily squeals. It’s all very loud with a lingering hangover headache, but it’s hard not to admire and appreciate. The way they are together is endearing.

“Did you hear that, Kit?” Lily says as the dog barks, seeming just as excited as the girls.

“How about you both thank Faye for fostering Kit for you.”

Lily sing-songs, “Thank you, Faye.”

Lark gives me a short smile when she adds, “Thanks.”

Lincoln kneels in front of me. “I have something to ask you,” he says as he ties his shoe.

My smile falters from the chaos that just erupted about Kit.

Lincoln stands up and asks, “How do you take your coffee?”

“Why?” I ask, curiously watching him.

“Something my brother said to me once. Stuck with me. Wanted to know.”

I sit up a little taller, very aware of how his girls are petting Kit, but they’re watching our exchange. “Depends. Some days, I just want to wake up and have strong black coffee. Other days, I want to sip on something sweet and iced.”

He smiles at the answer.

“Are you going to bring me coffee, Foxx?” I smile curiously.

The corner of his mouth ticks up to one side, flashing his dimple, before he says, “Maybe next time.”

Oh hell, I want to kiss him again. Feel him again. This isn’t what I came to town for—late night hookups and morning flirting with LincolnfuckingFoxx. So why does it feel so good? So effortless?

He claps his hands out in the most dad-like move and says, “Alright, let’s go, girls. Who wants to get pancakes at Hooch’s?”

“Me!” Lily shouts with a little jump that Kit matches. “We already had breakfast, though.”

Lincoln smiles, giving her shoulder a squeeze. “Brunch, then?” he asks as they walk down the porch steps and meet Griz at the bottom.

Looking over his shoulder, he gives me a wink before he calls out for Lark, “Lark, come on, kiddo, I’m hungry!”

“I saw you, ya know,” Lark says to me, standing at the top step.

My stomach sinks because I have no clue aboutwhereshe might mean.

“In the stables at Uncle Ace’s. You were going to kiss my dad.”

I swallow, and even though I don’t want to, I answer her truthfully. “I was.”

“Lark, you coming?” Lincoln calls out from down the driveway.

“He’s the greatest dad in the world,” she says, tilting her chin up, but I see the way it wobbles just a little. “We don’t need anybody else.”

It’s easy to be swept up in this attraction that I have for him and forget he has a whole life that’s centered around these two girls who depend on him. I never had the courage to say this to any of the men who came into my mother’s life. But I felt that way too. How threatening it was for them to take any part of her away. So I ignore the way my eyes water the slightest bit and say the only thing I can. “Okay.” I nod, hoping she can see I mean it.

She doesn’t say anything else as she turns on her heel and walks away.

Releasing a heavy breath, I lift the blanket to stand and am quickly reminded I’m sans pants.Fuck!It’s freezing.

My phone buzzes from somewhere under the blankets. I feel around for it. Where the hell is it? When I finally find it, I have to push my hair out of my face with a huff.

FOXX

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