Page 59 of One Kind Goal

Morgan turned to face the girl again. “Con-sec-u-tive,” she said slowly. “It means in a row. Like one and two are consecutive numbers.”

“Con-sec-u-tive,” Nia said.

“Great job.” Morgan was impressed with Nia. Not only was she a sweetie, she also had a thirst for learning new things. Hence, her excitement at finding out Maplehaven had a children’s bookstore.

“I wonder if we can have three consecutive bestest days,” Sawyer mused.

“I think we can, Daddy.”

Sawyer looked up to the rearview mirror. “I do too, Nia-bunny.” Then he shot a quick glance to Morgan. “I do too.”

One squish cleanup needed in passenger seat, please.

He pulled the SUV into a spot in front of Trixie’s Attic and took the keys out of the ignition. Dangling them out to Morgan, he said, “You might have stuff to load if you buy anything.” He dropped the keys into her hand when she held it out. “Drive over to us at the bookstore when you’re done.”

“Okay.”

Sawyer grabbed her hand before she could retract it. He tugged her in for a kiss that could have easily gone X-rated if Nia hadn’t been in the vehicle with them. When he pulled away, however, his gaze did a tremendous job of eye-fucking her so that heat blossomed between her legs.

No man had ever been able to inspire that kind of physical reaction in her with a mere look. But Sawyer Lundin was way more than a mere mortal. Morgan was convinced of that much by now.

After Sawyer put on his baseball hat, they all got out of the SUV and met on the sidewalk in front of Trixie’s Attic. Nia took Sawyer’s good hand and yanked on it.

“C’mon, Daddy. We have to find the bookstore.” She tugged on his arm, but he stayed firmly rooted to his spot in front of Morgan.

“You’d better go,” Morgan said, though she loved everything about the way Sawyer appeared to have trouble leaving her.

Finally he took a step away. “See you.”

She gave him and Nia a little wave and watched them walk along the sidewalk together. Sawyer was so big and Nia was so small, but they swung their free arms in a similar fashion that made Morgan chuckle.

“How long are you going to stand out here, honey?”

Morgan jumped and whirled around to see Trixie leaning against the door frame. “I was—”

“Pining?” Trixie winked. “You looked as if you were pining.” She held up a finger. “Although I think, technically, you can only pine for things you don’t have.” She waved a hand toward the end of the sidewalk where Sawyer and Nia were about to cross the street. “There’s no doubt you already have those two.”

Father and daughter made their way toward the bookstore. Sawyer’s long legs strode along as Nia’s much shorter ones skipped beside him to keep up. They were so freaking adorable, Morgan feared she might explode over the uber cuteness.

“I’m a little afraid over how much I want those two,” Morgan admitted.

Trixie gave her a warm smile. “I have something for such a fear. Come inside.”

Morgan followed the woman into the shop to a basket by the front desk that contained polished stones. She picked up one and turned it over in her palm, letting the shop’s overhead lights glint off its contours.

“Tiger’s eye, right?” She held up the stone to admire its brown and amber coloring.

“Bravo,” Trixie said. “That’s correct.”

“My sister, Summer, used to collect stones like these. She said they’d take care of her.” She heaved in a breath. “She lied.”

“Well, rocks don’t take care of people,” Trixie said. “People take care of people.”

“Yeah. And I didn’t. I didn’t take care of Summer. She died a few months ago.” She let the tiger’s eye stone fall back into the basket.

“And did you kill her?”

Morgan’s gaze shot to Trixie’s. “Of course not.”