“Why am I such a mess?”
Drake stared at me but didn’t give me an answer. He’d stopped crying on the drive over.
I had to get over this issue with Jill. This had to end.
She bugged me. God, she bugged me. It was her attitude toward me that rubbed raw. But I didn’t have a lot of options.
There weren’t other daycare centers with infant openings. I’d called every single one last week. And it wasn’t like I could talk to the owner. What would I even say? Tell your niece to stop loving my child so much?
Jill spoiled him. So what? I could not. That was my sad reality. I couldn’t afford an expensive costume or to stay home with him all day, carting him around on a hip. Somehow, I had to get rid of this gnawing envy and just let her favor my son.
And I’d settle for the moments that were mine. Like tonight.
I tugged the hat I’d made over Drake’s hair and blew a raspberry on his neck, earning a smile. “I’m not so bad, am I?”
He kicked his legs, squirming to be picked up.
I lifted him into my arms and kissed his soft cheek. “You’re a cuter lamb than you are a pumpkin.”
I’d taken a white onesie and glued cotton balls all over it, then done the same with a white cap. Then I’d pulled the onesie over a long-sleeved black shirt and matching pants. With a pair of black felt ears, he was a little fluffy lamb.
The majority of the trick-or-treating would happen in the local neighborhoods tonight, but Eloise had made sure that any kids who stopped by here wouldn’t leave empty-handed. She’d splurged on king-sized Reese’s Cups, Butterfingers and Twix.
I expected the leftovers would be in the break room tomorrow morning. Hopefully I could snag a Snickers for breakfast.
With his car seat stowed in the corner of the room, I carried Drake to the lobby, where a cluster of people were gathered around the candy bowl.
“Memphis.” Eloise waved me over to the huddle. She was wearing a black witch’s hat and held the broomstick she’d been toting all day.
“Hey, Memphis.” Winslow stood beside a handsome man who looked a lot like Knox—which was why I thought he was handsome.
“Hi, Winn.” I’d seen her a few times at the hotel when she’d come down with her grandfather for lunch. As the chief of police, she usually wore her badge and gun. Tonight, a baby boy about Drake’s age, dressed as a lion, was propped on her hip instead.
“I’m Griffin Eden.” His blue eyes crinkled at the sides as he held out his hand. Though he had the same height and build as his brother, Griffin lacked the tattoos and bearded jaw. “Nice to meet you.”
“You too.”
Griffin was one of the last Eden siblings I had yet to meet.
Lyla visited the hotel often, usually bringing along a tray of her pastries from Eden Coffee. Mateo, the youngest, worked as a front desk clerk. The days when he was around I’d walk through the lobby and usually see at least one woman flirting with him at the counter. It was always a different girl.
Now the only sibling I had yet to meet was Lyla’s twin, Talia. She was a doctor at the hospital and I’d meet her at Drake’s four-month checkup next week. When I’d called to make my appointment, they’d told me I’d be seeing Dr. Eden.
In my short time in town, I’d learned that the Edens were practically famous. An Eden had founded Quincy and their family had lived here for generations. Their ranch was one of the largest in the state and they had their fair share of businesses in the area, in addition to the hotel.
Apparently the Edens were a big deal in Quincy.
In New York, a family of prestige would have flaunted it. The Wards certainly did. But every Eden I’d met seemed so humble. So real. Like Knox.
It was a thrill, meeting his family. Knowing the people who loved him most. Maybe that was because Oliver had hidden his life from me. Because I’d been his dirty little secret.
I wasn’t sure what was happening with Knox. He’d almost kissed me the other night. I would have let him. My better judgment screamed at me to keep our relationship platonic. Stay on this side of the line, where he was just a friend.
“Hey.” The deep rumble of his voice sent a rush of shivers down my spine.
Hell. This was the problem with that line. Every time he was around, I wanted to cross it.
I turned to watch Knox cross the lobby. He’d shed his chef’s coat and was in a long-sleeved thermal, the sleeves pushed up his sinewed forearms.
My heart did its expected skip.
He glanced my way as he walked but otherwise, his focus was on his brother. “You guys here for dinner?”
Griffin held out a hand to shake with Knox. “No, we’re heading to Mom and Dad’s so they can see Hudson’s costume. But we thought we’d raid the candy dish here first.”
“Raid away.” Eloise handed Winn four candy bars. “Two for Hudson. And two for the baby.”
“Thanks.” Winn splayed her hand over her flat belly. “This one loves the sugar.”
“Maybe that means you’re having a girl.” Eloise smiled.
Winn’s belly was flat, not yet showing. Just the idea of adding another baby to the mix would have sent my head spinning. But she had help. She had a husband.
I had a Knox. Sort of. For now. Whatever that meant.
“We’re going to head out,” Griffin said. “Get to the ranch before the roads get worse. See ya later.”
The phone rang from the other side of the lobby as Griffin escorted his family out the glass doors.
“Will you man the candy dish for me?” Eloise asked and before I could figure out if she was asking me or Knox, she ran away, broom in hand, to the reception counter.
“All decked out, huh, boss?” Knox raised a hand to touch Drake’s nose, but pulled it back at the last minute. The flash of anguish was there and gone before I could blink.
“I made it. It’s not perfect but . . .”
He met my gaze and it was like those blue eyes could see my every insecurity, my every doubt. “What are your plans? Trick-or-treating?”
“No, it’s too cold. Eloise told me how much candy she bought and was worried no one would come.”
“Are you heading home? Or can you stick around for a while?”
Home was the right choice, but all that waited for me in the loft was laundry and his hated blue-box macaroni and cheese. “Um . . . stick?”
“Good. Come on.”
“What about the candy dish?”
Knox grabbed a handful of bars, grinned and nodded for me to follow.
I fought a smile and walked with him through the lobby, waving at Eloise as she waved back, hanging up the phone to return to her post by the door.
“It’s so quiet in here,” I said as we walked through Knuckles. All but one table was empty.
“First snow. Halloween.” Knox pointed to a booth. “Take a seat. Be right back.”
“Okay.” I picked the table in the farthest corner in case Drake got fussy. Then I set him on my lap, bouncing him lightly and handing him a spoon to grasp in his chubby fist.
It was strange to sit at a table like I was an actual guest. With the exception of fast food drive-thrus on the trip to Montana, I hadn’t been out to eat since New York.
Knox’s menu had the perfect blend of lighter fare and heavy entrées. None of it was in my budget. Not even the McDonald’s dollar menu was in my budget. But that didn’t matter because Knox had been regularly dropping off meals.