Page 44 of Surrendering His Heart (Buena Hills #4)

Christian descended the stairs a few hours later, the living room cast in shadows from the hallway light.

Evidence of Isla’s botched party had mostly been cleared away, save for a few spider-bedazzled streamers hanging from the ceiling.

In the darkness, he could just make out Hallie’s silhouette hunched over on the couch. She’d stayed?

Of course she did. She was no doubt the person who’d put the room back to normal.

He headed over to her. “The girls are asleep. Did my mom and Dani leave?”

Hallie nodded but didn’t turn around. “They left about ten minutes ago,” she said, her voice soft. She swiped at her eyes as he came around the couch.

“You’ve been crying?” he asked, taking in the tear tracks on her cheeks in the dim light, “What’s wrong?”

“Why didn’t anyone come?” Another tear fell from her lashes.

Of course she’d be upset over someone else’s party. Hallie had shown her heart of gold time and time again. Was it any wonder why he couldn’t help loving her?

Leaning back against the couch, he pulled her against his chest. She snuggled into him, wrapping her arms around his middle.

“Unfortunately, I’m not shocked,” he admitted. “I had serious doubts about saying yes to a party in the first place. This is why.”

Hallie propped her chin against his chest. “What do you mean?”

“She’s been having problems with a girl at school.

Before she fell asleep, I finally got her to admit that Sammy convinced the other girls that Isla’s party idea was stupid, and they shouldn’t come.

Frankly, I think it’s because her mom refuses to let Sammy have any part in Halloween.

Apparently, it’s too devilish.” He rolled his eyes.

“When they were little, those girls were inseparable friends. Now Carrie won’t let her daughter anywhere near mine. ”

“Carrie?” Hallie sat up. “The woman from that monstrosity two doors down?”

Christian didn’t bother holding in his snort. The house was pretty massive. “You know her?”

She shrugged. “I met her a couple times. She had some interesting opinions about you.”

Had Carrie Pritchard attempted to reel Hallie into the neighborhood gossip? Awesome. “Like what?”

“Things that were completely untrue.” Hallie proceeded to explain everything she’d heard from his gossip-mongering neighbor, from his rumored hookups with past nannies to Isla’s psychological problems, and his tendency to enable them.

Christian groaned. “I won’t skirt around the fact that Isla’s anxiety makes her misunderstood.

She’s terrified of people leaving her. Can you blame her, though, after what her mom did?

Tell me how a child, already struggling to trust the people around her, deserves to be ostracized by every other kid in her class? ”

Hallie pursed her lips, her brows furrowing in a deep V. Her worried expression upended the hairs on the back of his neck.

“What is it?” he asked.

She shook her head. “It just hurts my heart. People can be so cruel.”

“Welcome to the world of parenting. One minute, you’re bursting with pride watching them take their first steps. And the next your heart is being ripped from your body, stepped on until it’s flattened beyond recognition.”

His comment only intensified the worry on her face. “That sounds awful. How do you live like that?”

“I don’t have a choice.”

The way she chewed on her bottom lip amplified his concern.

Were his words giving her further doubt about wanting a more permanent role in the girls’ lives?

They’d promised to be honest with each other about their feelings, but the lingering uncertainty caused by Sabrina’s abandonment made it hard to believe Hallie wouldn’t abandon them too.

She’s different though . He had to trust that she was nothing like his ex.

“Have you talked to her?” Hallie asked finally.

“Talked to who?”

“Carrie. Have you brought up her daughter’s behavior?”

Anger flashed through him at the reminder of how those conversations went. “Trust me, I’m not clueless. I know what goes on between those girls. And I’ll always advocate for my daughter. Always .”

Hallie looked away, her eyebrows creasing. A strand of her blonde hair fell in front of her face. “I didn’t mean to imply you were clueless. I just wondered how she’d react.”

Reaching out, he fingered the silky lock before tucking it behind her ear. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap. Carrie doesn’t like being confronted about things. It makes her … uncomfortable.”

Hallie’s eyes took on an uncharacteristic gleam. “Being uncomfortable once in a while would do her some good. She’s a piece of work.”

Her defensiveness forced a chuckle from deep in Christian’s gut. She’d never been anything but kind, though the glare in her eye when speaking of his neighbor showed a woman who wouldn’t hesitate to protect her people. At least today, that included his little family.

Would it always?

Again, his heart urged him to trust her, even as his head wasn’t fully on board.

“Come on.” She stood, reaching her hand out to him. “It’s been an emotional evening and there are three cakes in the kitchen begging to be eaten.”

They walked hand-in-hand into the kitchen. She grabbed two paper plates—jack-o-lanterns and ghosts printed on a plain black background—from the stack on the table while Christian flipped open the lid of the top bakery box, revealing Isla’s haunted house cake.

Hallie came up beside him. “Not that one.”

He raised an eyebrow at her.

“The birthday girl needs to be present to cut into her cake.”

“Good call.” Christian slid the box to the side and flipped open the next lid to reveal an all-white cake in the shape of a ghost. “Better?”

She nodded, pulling a knife from a drawer. The easy way she moved around his kitchen provided further confirmation that she belonged here.

“Would you like to do the honors?” She held the knife out to him.

“You made it.” He stepped aside, then placed his hands on her upper arms, slowly guiding her in front of the cake. Snaking his arms around her waist from behind, he stooped to kiss her cheek before whispering in her ear. “Have at it.”

She turned her head barely enough to flash him a smile before directing her focus back on the cake.

While she sliced a small piece for each of them, he retrieved two plastic forks from the cup on the table.

With their plates in hand, they headed back to the couch, settling comfortably next to each other.

“I propose a toast.” He sliced off a sizable piece of red velvet and held his fork toward her. “To tough parenting moments made easier with something sweet.”

“Cheers.” She laughed, the sound warming his core as she touched her bite to his. “Cake always makes everything better.”

His mouth stretched wide as he looked at her, warmth filling his core when she smiled back. No. You do.