Page 4 of Hideaway Heart

He nodded his approval.

“But I wish he needed a different kind of favor.”

“What’s he need?”

“Security for his sister.” I explained who his sister was and why he was concerned about her staying alone.

“Holy shit. So you’re moving in with Pixie Hart for two weeks?”

“I’m notmoving inwith her,” I said, annoyed. “I’m providing residential security. Close protection.”

“For who?” Veronica strolled into the garage, followed by Austin’s twins, seven-year-old Adelaide and Owen.

“Pixie Hart,” I told her.

Adelaide let out an ear-piercing squeal. “Pixie Hart! IlovePixie Hart! You get to meet her?”

“He gets to live with her,” said Austin.

I glared at him. “I promised my buddy I’d keep her safe, and that’s all I’m doing. And I don’t even want to do that.”

“Why not?” Owen asked. “She’s famous.”

“Because famous people are a pain in the butt. They don’t like being told what they can and cannot do, and they all think rules don’t apply to them.”

“So why do you have to do it?” Veronica asked.

“Because her brother saved my life in Afghanistan,” I said. “Carried me half a mile, under fire, to safety after I’d been shot twice in the leg.”

“He must be strong,” said Owen. “You’re even bigger than my dad.”

“Notthatmuch bigger,” countered Austin, who continued to resent the two inches in height I had on him.

God, I loved those two inches.

“So are you going to Nashville?” Veronica asked, taking a seat in a wooden folding chair by the fridge. She was tall, blond, and blue-eyed, a perfect contrast to my brother, who had dark hair and brown eyes. He and I looked a lot alike, except I was taller, with more tattoos and a better beard.

“No,” I said. “She’s renting a cabin somewhere in the woods outside Petoskey, which means I’ll probably have to delay the opening of Buckley’s, even though I promoted the date already.”

“Why?”

“Because I won’t be around as much as I need to be to get it up and running. I’d need a temporary manager or something.”

Veronica looked thoughtful as she hugged her knees to her chest. “Maybe I can help you out so you don’t have to delay.”

“Thanks, but you’ll have your hands full with the new studio, won’t you?” Veronica, who’d been a professional dancer in New York, had taken over an old dance school just outside town. Austin was helping her rehab it.

“It’s only two weeks.” Veronica lifted her shoulders. “And Austin is still doing the remodeling. I think I can manage both—just tell me what you need me to do.”

“You’re a life saver,” I said gratefully. “Thanks.”

Adelaide came over and stood in front of me, her expression hopeful, a mint green blotch on her white shirt from her ice cream. “Will I get to meet her, Uncle Xander?”

“Maybe.” I tweaked one of her braids. “You excited for school to start next week?”

“Yes,” she said. “Hey, maybe I can bring Pixie Hart for Show and Tell!”

“I think she probably needs to lie low,” I told my niece, although I hated disappointing her.