Temptation Trails (The Haven Brothers #3)

Of course, there was no way I was bringing that thing inside. I didn’t really believe inanimate objects could come to life at night. But still, why tempt fate? Especially when I was still under the dark cloud of the bad luck curse. If anyone was at risk of being murdered by a creepy teddy bear, it would be me.

I got out and deposited the gift bag in the corner of the garage. I stepped back, eying it for a second, then found a moving box I hadn’t recycled yet and put it over the top. If it did come to life after dark, I didn’t know if a cardboard box would stop it. But the barrier, however flimsy, made me feel a little better.

So did the text from Garrett that came through a moment later.

Garrett: Did you make it home okay?

Me: Yep. Nothing unusual. I’m leaving the creepy bear in the garage though.

Garrett: Good. I’ll take a look at it when I can. I’ll also see if any of the businesses have a camera on that parking lot. See if I can pull footage.

Me: It’s okay, you don’t have to go to all that trouble.

Garrett: Yes, I do.

That made me smile. His concern was comforting.

Me: I don’t think Aunt Doris ever put up cameras, but maybe one of the neighboring buildings did.

Garrett: Let’s hope so.

I didn’t want to stop talking to him, even just over text, but I wasn’t sure what else to say. I went inside and made sure to lock the deadbolt on the door from the house to the garage. Not because I thought a murderous bear would come rampaging inside. But because it was weird that someone had left it on my car. And while no one had followed me home, this was a small town. It wouldn’t be hard for anyone to find out where I lived.

The whole thing was just strange.

But I felt a lot better knowing I had Garrett Haven looking out for me.

CHAPTER 14

Garrett

The noise level at my parents’ place reminded me of my childhood.

There weren’t quite as many kids running around, but our family had certainly grown. Annika and Levi had brought their four kids to visit Grandma and Grandpa. Mom had called to ask if Owen wanted to join them. He was older than his cousins, but he still had fun with them, so we’d come up for the afternoon.

Somehow it had turned into an all Havens on deck situation. Zachary and Marigold were there, as were Luke and Theo. About ten minutes after we’d pulled up, Josiah and Audrey had arrived, adding to the chaos with their two dogs, Max and Maggie.

The yard had turned into a free-for-all, and it wasn’t just the kids. Zachary chased our nieces, Emma and Juliet, around the swing set while they shrieked with glee. Theo had started a four-and-a-half man football game with Luke, Owen, and our nephews Thomas and Will. Half because Will was only three, although what he lacked in size, he made up for in determination. The dogs happily ran around, zig-zagging through people’s legs.

Mom watched it all from off to the side. She stood in the grass, dressed in a light blue shirt and khaki shorts, her hair pulled back. I wondered if she was thinking about the days when she’d had seven little kids playing in that very spot.

Although, my brothers and I had been crazier.

Dad brought her a glass of lemonade and leaned in to give her a kiss on the cheek. I’d thought about it before, but as I watched them, it brought to mind something Dad and I had in common—a rough divorce. Not in the sense that there’d been a lot of fighting involved. My biological mother had essentially done what my ex did years later—just up and left.

But Dad hadn’t let it make him bitter. When he’d met Mom, his hurt hadn’t kept him from loving someone again. And our family was infinitely better for it.

It made me think of Harper and what it would be like if she were there, at my side. Which was crazier than two people with six little kids between them starting a new family together. Whatever was happening between us, it was still early. I shouldn’t have been missing her like I was, or thinking things like the L-word.

I needed to be cautious. I’d already gone from I’m not dating anyone to pursuing a woman pretty aggressively. And I’d thrown caution completely out the window once already.

That kind of spontaneity wasn’t like me.

My sister-in-law, Marigold, wandered over to stand next to me. She pressed her lips together, like she was trying to hide a smile.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

Her smile widened. “I met Harper the other day. She came into the salon. I really like her.”