Page 155 of Cold As Ice

“Don’t yous remember me? We met outside—”

“Immy, baby, what are you—” Madison stopped dead as she came through the door separating the shop from the kitchen.

“Look, Mommy. It’s Mr. Austins. And he gots me flowers.”

“Oh my God,” Madison breathed, sliding her wide-eyed gaze from me to her daughter and back again. “I’m not sure those are for you, sweetheart,” she said with a hitch in her voice.

“Actually, they are.” I crouched down to the kid’s eye-level and smiled. “Beautiful flowers for a beautiful girl.”

Fuck. My chips were well and truly in now. But I couldn’t regret it when Imogen grabbed the bouquet and beamed, “Oh, I loves them. I loves them sooooo much. Wook, Mommy.” She swung around almost hitting me in the face with the dozen red roses and bounded over to her mom.

“Austin is right.” She leaned down to study the flowers. “They are very beautiful.”

Her gaze found mine again, conveying everything she couldn’t say in front of her daughter.

“I’m sorry,” I mouthed. “I didn’t think—”

“Why don’t you go with Kayleigh into the back, sweetheart. I think she’s about to take a fresh batch of brownies out of the oven.”

Madison gave Kayleigh a meaningful look and she jumped into action. “Yes, of course. The brownies.” She gently grabbed Imogen by the shoulders and steered her away. “Why don’t you come with me, princess.”

“Fuc— I mean, shit. Jesus.” I blew out an exasperated breath. “I’m sorry, I had no idea she would be here.”

Madison stared at me with a horrified expression but then her whole demeanor shifted. “It’s fine,” she chuckled. “Although you might want to lay off the cuss words. Most kids this age soak up and regurgitate everything they hear.”

“Lay off the cuss words, got it. Anything else I should know before—”

“Mommy, Mr. Austins, I gots you both a brownie.”

We watched her approach, precariously balancing a plate of brownies in her hands.

“Immy, be careful, baby.” Madison didn’t rush to take it off her, instead, she waited, giving her gentle encouragement.

“Why don’t we sits down?”

I smothered a laugh as the little hellion marched right past us to an empty table.

Thankfully, there were only a couple of customers in, and they seemed to find the whole thing as amusing as I did.

“Come on thens.”

“Are you sure about this?” Madison whispered under her breath, hesitation written all over her face.

“It’s fine, I’ve got this. I promise.” I went to reach for her but caught myself, settling for brushing the back of her hand as I headed for the table.

“These smell really good,” I said, sitting down opposite Imogen.

She looked so much like her mom, I couldn’t believe I’d missed it the first time we met.

“They are. Mommy says Kayleigh makes the bestest brownies in the wholes of Olin Bay. Try one Mr. Austins.”

I helped myself to a brownie and tore it in half offering the remainder to Imogen. She glanced at Madison for permission.

“Go ahead, baby.”

“Mmm, so good,” she murmured around a mouthful of chewy chocolate goodness.

The Reynolds girls were right. Kayleigh baked some damn good brownies. I could see why Harper had started to come around here.

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