Page 29 of Patio Lanterns

A knock at the front door interrupted the frivolity.

“That’s probably Mr. Hunter,” Dove said to her. “You get the door, I’ll pour the Caesars.”

“Extra thick celery salt on the rim?” Robin requested.

Dove flicked her a double-barrelled finger gun salute. “That’s the only way I roll, baby.”

Robin welcomed any excuse to leave the lovefest in the kitchen. This evening was turning out to be a total bust. Aidan’s father would be well advised to leave and save himself before he, too, got sucked into the Lardan vortex.

A man in a light blue dress shirt stood at the bottom of the steps, facing away from the cottage. She immediately noted his impressive shoulder span. Just like Aidan. The apple sure didn’t fall from the broad-form tree. “Mr. Hunter?”

He did an about-face.

Rick?

She instantly felt a glow inside, the warm, sensual heat erupting low in her belly, sending lava between her thighs. While she was certainly happy to see Rick again, he couldn’t have had worse timing. She and her sisters were expecting another guest to arrive any minute.

“Hi,” she greeted him brightly, pushing the door open. “What are you doing here?”

He looked pale. And from his lopsided smile, she couldn’t tell if he was confused or having a stroke. “Robin? This is… your cottage?”

“Yeeeah,” she said, dragging out her reply as more questions pinballed in her brain. How did Rick find her? Why did he come over? And why was he now staring at her with that goofy, stunned look on his face? Now she was as puzzled as he appeared perplexed. “Please don’t take this the wrong way, but now’s really not a good…”

“Hey, Dad!” Aidan called out from behind her.

D-dad?

Robin’s knees buckled as she gaped in disbelief. “You’re Aidan’s… dad?”

Before Rick could answer, Aidan, Lark, and Dove had joined them at the entrance. Woozy, Robin braced herself against the wall. Holy fuck.

Lark thrust out her right hand while bouncing Nova on her left hip. “Mr. Hunter? It’s so good to finally meet you,” she said. “I’m Lark Pelletier.”

“It’s Rick, please,” he said as they shook. “And likewise, Aidan has always spoken so warmly of you.” He presented her with a bottle of wine. While Lark tittered over his thoughtfulness, Robin thought she might burst into flames.

“I’d like you to meet my sisters, Dove,” Lark said, allowing them to exchange hellos, “and this is Robin.”

“Robin,” Rick repeated, reaching out to grasp her hand. “It’s a pleasure.”

“You too, Mis-ter Hun-ter,” Robin said, punching every syllable extra hard. How could she have missed it? The truth was as plain as the nose on Rick’s fine-looking face that he was Aidan’s father. Well, of course he is, you idiot. You were inside Aidan’s goddamn cottage! How did you not put two and two together?

He sheepishly held her stare before turning to Nova. “And who’s this cutie-pie?”

“This is Nova,” Lark said. “Say hi to Uncle Aidan’s daddy, sweetie.”

Instead of saying hi, Nova curled herself around Lark’s neck and played shy. Robin didn’t blame her one bit, especially now that she herself was the poster child for stranger danger.

Rick held up his palm. “I bet you know how to do high fives, don’cha?”

Nova’s eyes brightened. She knew precisely what was expected of her, and slapped her chubby toddler hand against Rick’s palm with gusto. He winced, overacting like she’d really knocked the wind out of him. Nova laughed heartily.

“Think you’ve got a future lightweight champ there, Lark,” he joked.

“She doesn’t usually get it on the first try. You have the touch,” Lark told him, looking down at Mutt. He was rubbing his head against Rick’s leg trying to get his attention, his tail happily thrashing from side to side. “And a way with dogs too, I see.”

Rick leaned down and scratched Mutt behind his ears. “Well, hello there, pup,” he said, acting like he’d never laid eyes on the dog in his life while smoothing his hand over Mutt’s shiny, clean fur. “Aren’t you the handsome fella?”

“Well, come on in,” Dove said cheerily. “You’re just in time to join us for a Caesar.”

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