Page 43 of Surrendering His Heart (Buena Hills #4)

Isla was in rare form the next afternoon when Hallie dropped off the cakes.

“Are you staying for my party?” she asked as soon as she’d thrown open the door.

Hallie hadn’t planned to stay. After waking hours before the sun the last two days to work on Christian’s cake order, she’d been looking forward to a night of relaxation and an early bedtime.

Especially since she’d stayed up way too late giving Beej a full recap of her date with Christian—not by choice—including follow-up questions.

Needless to say, a nap looked a lot more tempting right now than attending a birthday party with a bunch of six-year-olds. Celebrating Isla’s birthday with just the family was one thing; managing other little kids seemed more overwhelming than Hallie could manage.

But one look at Isla’s hopeful face pushed all that to the side. “I can if you want me to.”

“Yay!” Isla hopped a few times before tugging Hallie’s elbow into the house.

Hallie shifted the bakery boxes to the side to see as she followed Isla through the living room, already decorated for a Halloween birthday party.

Streamers draped from the ceiling with alternating black spiders and orange balloons hanging from the ribbons.

Web-like garlands wrapped around the banister leading upstairs.

Isla became distracted by the snacks set on top of the ghost-covered tablecloth lining the coffee table, so Hallie entered the kitchen alone.

Her attention immediately focused out the back window. An array of festive games set up in booths gave the impression of a carnival taking up the entire yard. Christian stood on the patio, front and center of it all, attempting to attach one side of a balloon arch to the deck.

Butterflies flitted about in Hallie’s stomach, the events of last night again playing through her mind.

Those stolen moments with Christian had been nothing short of heavenly.

And the way he’d handled the conversation surrounding their doubts eased some of the guilt she’d carried about unintentionally pursuing something with him.

Of course, things were far from settled.

She wasn’t na?ve to think the pieces would magically fall into place all because they’d talked about their feelings.

Love was more complicated than that. And she didn’t live in a fairytale.

They still had so much to figure out, but after last night, she wanted to try.

Hallie pulled her thoughts away from their date and recognized the young woman occupying the other side of the arch, her honey-colored hair pulled back into a single braid.

The same woman she’d seen at the library all those weeks ago—Penelope and Isla’s aunt.

Standing a few steps from them both, Christian’s mom surveyed the assembly.

Setting the cake boxes on the stove next to an assortment of party supplies spilling out of a plastic bag, Hallie headed outside. Penelope’s squeal announced her arrival. The child hopped off her patio chair and ran toward her.

Crouching, Hallie caught her, giving her a tight squeeze. “Hey, sweetie. I heard you had a special girls’ night last night. Was it fun?”

Penelope bobbed her head. “I sleep at Granny’s. We had apple cider.”

“Yum.” Hallie scrunched her nose as she touched their foreheads together. “Grandmas are the best, aren’t they?”

She stood, keeping the child in her arms. Her eyes locked on Christian, and his smile was as warm and inviting as the apple cider his daughter had mentioned. She stepped toward him, but his mom intercepted her before she could say so much as hello .

“It’s so good to see you again.” Mrs. Gustafson wrapped her in a one-armed embrace.

Hallie had expected a second meeting with Christian’s mom to be awkward after the other day, so her warm greeting surprised her. “Hi, Mrs. Gustafson.”

“Please, call me Sherry. Any friend of my son’s is a friend to me.

” A twinkle entered her eyes, the only acknowledgement of the very un friendlike situation she’d walked into two days ago.

Perhaps more-than-friend-like was a better description.

Whatever the term, Christian’s mom had to know that something other than simple friendship budded between Hallie and her son.

But the woman didn’t seem mad about it, which helped Hallie lower her walls.

“Have you met my daughter?” Sherry gestured toward the other woman on the patio. “This is Danica. Dani, meet Hallie.”

Christian’s sister tossed a smile in their direction. “I remember you from the library that one time. I’d give you a hug, but I’m all tied up. Like literally. My fingers are stuck in this twine. Mom, can you help me?”

Sherry rushed to her, giving Hallie the opportunity to approach Christian.

“You’ve been busy.” Her eyes swept the yard as she set Penelope down on the deck.

He finished securing the arch to the waist-high fence and turned to her. “We’ve worked on this all day, but I think it’s finally ready.” Bending at the waist, he planted a quick kiss on her cheek.

Okay, that was adorable. After the heated make-out session from the other day—and last night—Hallie hadn’t fully appreciated how a sweet gesture like a kiss on the cheek could make her melt just as much.

“Daddy, what are you doing?” Isla asked, suddenly appearing before them. Deep lines furrowed in the older girl’s forehead. Out of curiosity or disapproval? Hallie couldn’t tell.

Christian cleared his throat, and she could see the wheels turning in his head as he came up with a reason for putting the moves on her temporary nanny .

“In many cultures it’s customary to greet acquaintances with a kiss on the cheek.” He glanced at Hallie with wide eyes, sucking air through his teeth.

“Acquaintance?” Danica snorted. “Sure. And I’m Miss America.”

Hallie stifled a laugh at the eye roll he tossed at his sister. Leaning toward him, she lowered her voice. “Forgot they were watching?”

“Stop being so irresistible,” he hissed, shooting her a cheeky grin.

Hallie only had time to grin back before Isla’s excitement took over the deck. Bouncing on the balls of her feet, her arms flapped out to the side. “Is it time for my party?”

Christian tugged lightly on his daughter’s curly ponytail before checking his watch. “Your friends should be here any minute.”

“Come on!” She grabbed her father’s hand and dragged him toward the house. “Let’s go wait for them!”

He shrugged over his shoulder at Hallie. She smiled back at him, then followed his mom and sister inside to wait for the party guests.

“How many minutes has it been?” Isla asked for the fifth time, popping up from the couch and running to the door. She stuck her head out before coming back inside with a frown. Each time she checked, her spirits dipped a little more.

Sitting next to Christian on the couch, Hallie felt more than heard his dejected sigh as he checked his watch again.

She peeked at his wrist, another crack splitting her heart.

Almost an hour had passed since the party was supposed to start and still no guests.

At this point, it was safe to assume none would be coming.

Poor Isla. She’d been so excited. This rejection would surely send her right back to the despondent child she’d been when Hallie had met her. Why didn’t anyone show up?

Christian blew out another breath, rubbing his hands on his thighs before standing. “I have an idea.” He crossed the room to the entryway, kneeling in front of Isla. “How’d you like to go out to dinner? Anywhere you’d like.”

Her face fell. “What about my party?”

Christian gently placed his hand on his daughter’s arm. “I don’t think they’re coming, sweetheart.”

Chills skittered across Hallie’s skin at the sadness in his voice. She shared a pained look with Sherry, who sat with Penelope on her lap in the armchair next to the couch. Danica had abandoned the living room completely for the solace of the kitchen.

“Why not?” Isla asked.

He dropped his head. “I don’t know. And I’m so sorry.”

For a moment, Isla looked as though she might cry. But as Christian moved to wrap his arms around her shoulders, she stomped her foot so hard, her curly ponytail jumped straight up.

“This is all Sammy’s fault,” she shrieked. “I hate her!”

Isla darted around her father and ran toward the stairs, stomping all the way to the second floor. She slammed her bedroom door behind her.

Christian remained frozen in the crouched position. Hallie shared another glance with Sherry before joining him in the entryway. As he stood, she wrapped her arms around his waist. His body sagged around her through his exhale, opening a flood of realizations for her.

How lonely he must be raising these kids by himself. Not having someone to help navigate the challenges of parenting young children had to place even more burdens on his shoulders. The need to fix this latest crisis came over her, and she found his hand, linking their fingers together.

“Do you want me to call Tyler?” she asked. “Or my roommates? They know how to throw a good party. It wouldn’t be the same, but it would be something.”

Christian smiled sadly at her before raising their clasped hands to his lips. “If I thought that would help, then yes. But I really don’t think it will. This is bigger than her birthday party.”

“How do you know? ”

“By what she said.” He sighed. “I should go talk to her. Could you…?” He glanced over her head, and Hallie noticed for the first time that Sherry and Penelope had slipped from the living room.

Hallie turned back to him. “Don’t worry about us. We’ll handle the cleanup. Your daughter needs you.”

“Thank you.” He gave her hand another squeeze and slipped past her, disappearing up the stairs.