Page 46 of No Ordinary Hate

Shrugging, he says, “I just can’t help but wonder what happened between you two all alone in the wilderness.”

“Oh, for …” Harper starts, rolling her eyes. “Alone? We had five kids with us. Not that it’s any of your business if something did happen.”

With that she turns around and storms up to the lodge while Needle Dick does his best to keep up.

* * *

Before heading off into the kitchen, I text Moira:

Me:We’re back if you want to round up your boys after breakfast.

Moira: Do I have to?

Me: Ha ha. Yes. I’m afraid I’m going to have my hands full today.

Moira: See you in thirty.

As I walk through the dining room, I see that two tables have been pushed together. My nephews are sitting with the Kennedys, chatting away excitedly, clearly enamored by Brett. He’s lapping up their adoration like a cat with a saucer of fresh milk.

Evie hurries out of the kitchen with a tray full of drinks. “Hey, boss, you hungry?”

“No, I’ll eat later.”

“Good, then you can grab this and take their order.” She hands me the tray before pointing to Harper’s table. “Grandpa Jack isn’t here this morning, so I’ve been on my own. I have to take the muffins out of the oven.”

“Is he okay?” My heart pounds at the thought of my grandfather not being well. He’s the last of the older generation around here. He’s the heart of our family.

“He had a date that turned into a sleepover.” She offers me a bawdy wink.

“Of course he did.” While I should be happy for him, the last thing I want to do is play server to that asswipe Brett Kennedy, but needs must.

I walk over and start handing out orange juices for the kids and coffees and waters for the unhappy couple.

Harper looks up at me, clearly uncomfortable. “Thank you.”

“No problem.” Turning to the kids, I say, “Pancakes all around?”

They all answer to the affirmative, then I look down at Harper. “Let me guess: two pancakes, two slices of bacon, and two eggs over easy?”

She nods and offers me a small smile.

“Whoa, you haven’t been eating like that every day, have you, babe?” Brett says. “Roles for chubby women aren’t all that easy to come by.”

I set my jaw so hard, it makes a crunching sound in my ears. Harper stiffens slightly but ignores his comment. “That sounds wonderful, Digger. Thank you.”

Swallowing every ounce of pride I have, I look at Brett. “Are you ordering breakfast?”

“No,” he answers, wrinkling up his nose. “I already had my protein smoothie this morning. I’m training for my nextHeliomanmovie.”

“Cool!” Wyatt says.

Brett smiles at him. “Yeah, I think so too.”

Oh, my God, I have never wanted to punch someone so badly in my life.

Instead, I turn to Lily. “Hey, Lily, do you want to come to the kitchen and flip the pancakes?”

Her eyes light up, but then she looks at her father whose eyebrows are knit tightly together. “If it’s okay with you, I kind of want to stay with my daddy.”