Page 68 of Louder Than Words

She forces a smile, one that doesn’t reach her eyes in the slightest way before she shakes her head.

“I burned myself earlier,” she says lightly, sounding almost rehearsed. “Trying to check on the casserole. It was stupid.”

Before my brain can come up with a reasoning as to how sheburnedherbicep, she rises on her toes and kisses me quickly. “I’m okay. Promise.”

I don’t even get the chance to press for more and tell her I know she’s full of shit, because Ana, Desmond, and James come barreling into the kitchen.

Desmond stops first, standing in the middle awkwardly as he runs a hand over his head and squeezes the back of his neck. “You have a lovely home, Allie,’ he says softly.

She smiles, genuinely this time, as she tilts her head. “Thank you, Desmond. Dinner will be ready in about an hour if you guys want—”

Her words die in her throat when the doorbell sounds through the house.

My back straightens when I see the way Allie fumbles with everything all of a sudden.

Something isn’t right.

“Excuse me,” she says, slipping off her apron and laying it on the table.

Her hand brushes my arm as she passes, and I follow her down the hallway without a word.

I lean against the wall, arms crossed, eyes locked on the front door.

I watch her open it.

I watch both girls run inside and wrap themselves around her legs.

And I also watch the way Trevor looks more nervous than normal. His eyes avoiding hers, shoulders drawn tight. But the second his eyes land on mine—my blood runs cold.

I can’t place what it is exactly, but he just gives me a bad feeling.

I’m so busy staring him down I barely register the sound of tiny footsteps slapping against the floor.

“Jax!” Charlotte practically yells.

I catch her mid-run, lifting her easily and tossing her into the air before settling her on my hip. “Hey, Bug.”

When I glance back, Trevor’s still standing there, but the nervous look? Gone. It’s now replaced with a clenched jaw and a look that makes my spine stiffen.

He turns and says something to Allie, his eyes never leaving mine. She just nods, almost robotically, with Lydia glued to her hip.

Something in his body language doesn’t sit right with me. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve never trusted the guy as far as I can throw him. But tonight? Tonight that instinct is screaming.

The second the door closes and the bastard—sorry, Trevor—is gone, I turn my attention back to Charlotte and tickle her sides.

“Are you ready for some green bean casserole?” I ask in a silly voice.

She laughs, trying her hardest to squirm her way out of my arms. “No!”

“No?” I tickle harder. “What do you meanno? I think you’re lying.”

She’s still giggling uncontrollably when I set her down, and Allie walks up to us, smiling. And this time it doesn’t seem like a fake smile. She actually seems better, like having the girls back here and Trevor gone was what she needed.

Lydia’s on her hip, curly pigtails bouncing as she reaches her arms out to me with grabby hands.

I take her without hesitation. “Come here, you.”

Then I look back at Allie and lean in slightly, lowering my voice. “Are you sure you’re alright?”