Page 18 of That One Night
Her heart pounded as she watched him lead the goat into his yard, tickling him under his chin like he was fond of him.
And then she walked back into her own house.
Chapter
Six
Pullingup outside his brother’s house, Hendrix climbed out of his truck with a sack of rabbit bedding slung over his shoulder, a frantic request from his niece, Delilah, the second she found out he was at the farm supply store.
He could already hear chaos from inside.
One of his three-year-old twin nephews was crying. Or maybe screaming. Possibly both.
He knocked once, then let himself in, because that’s how small towns – and his big family – rolled.
His sister-in-law, Cassie, was crouched in the hallway, wrangling a dripping-wet toddler who had only one sock and zero remorse.
“Oh hey,” she said breathlessly, brushing a strand of hair off her forehead. She had the look of a woman on the edge. “We had a milk incident.”
“I heard the banshee scream from the yard,” Hendrix said, holding up the bag. “I got the message from Delilah. Figured her rabbit might want some bedding before she goes to sleep.”
Cassie gave him a grateful smile and inclined her head at the stairs. “You’re a lifesaver. She’s in her room.”
“Good luck with…” he gestured to the puddle forming beneath the toddler, “whatever this is.”
Cassie sighed. “If you ever feel like becoming a live-in nanny, just say the word.”
Hendrix laughed and headed upstairs. His eleven-year-old niece’s door was half-open, soft light spilling into the hallway. He knocked gently before pushing it open.
The room smelled faintly of strawberries and sawdust. Posters of pop stars, planets, and one extremely dramatic horse covered the walls. In the corner, a fat white rabbit blinked at him from her hutch like she was the queen of it all.
Delilah was on the rug, painting her toenails a sparkly purple and wearing the look of someone withVery Important Thingsto do.
“Special delivery for Delilah Hartson,” he announced, hoisting the bag like it was pirate treasure.
She lit up, jumping to her feet and throwing her arms around him before grabbing the sack. “Thanks, Uncle Hendrix. You saved my life. And Bun Bun’s.”
“I live to serve.” He gave the rabbit a salute. “How’s Her Majesty doing?”
“She kicked all her bedding out this afternoon. Mom said she has an attitude.”
“She gets it from you,” he teased.
Delilah stuck out her tongue. “That’s rude. I’m a delight. You must be mixing me up with my brothers.” Her face suddenly turned serious. “I miss Club Solo.”
For a second, his mouth turned dry.Club Solowas the secret alliance they’d formed the week her twin brothers were born. Just the two of them against a world suddenly obsessed with multiples. He’d knelt beside her at the hospital, looked her in the eye, and told her he knew exactly what it felt like to be the odd one out, since he was the only brother of twins, too.
“I miss it too,” he said softly. “I’ve been a crappy president.”
She shrugged, looking delighted that he’d sworn in front of her. “You’ve been busy. Dad says you’ve been renovating your house.”
He reached out and gently tugged the end of her ponytail. “Still. I owe you at least one emergency meeting. Maybe with cupcakes.”
Her smile came slowly, but when it did, it lit up her whole face. “And a new secret handshake.” She dropped her voice. “Twins are the worst.”
“They are.”
“Too loud. Too sticky. Too twinny.”
