Gabe listened as Lily regaled him with details about some Pokémon she was sure was the best one. Supposedly it sang some kind of song that put other Pokémon to sleep and, apparently, his daughter could talk non-stop about it.

He loved Lily more than life itself. When her mother had shown up one day, all of Lily’s things in her arms and a pitiful excuse about not wanting to be tied down on her lips, he hadn’t hesitated. From the day Lily was born, she’d been the center of his world.

The older she got, however, the less he understood just what made Lily tick. He didn’t know if it was that she was a little girl and his knowledge on all things sugar and spice were sorely lacking or that they were just on different wavelengths. He’d grown up playing sports and craving being part of a team. Lily struggled to make friends and had no interest in sports of any kind. While he tried to limit her screen time, she reveled in videos and books about Pokémon and other creatures that didn’t exist.

Though he didn’t always understand her or the things she liked, he loved her to pieces. She was his whole word.

Her dark hair matched his own, though her eyes were blue like her mother’s. She was missing a few teeth and he tried to take a lot of pictures because he knew, someday, she’d be too busy or self-conscious to let him.

“She’s pink. Like really pink. Like that medicine Grammy gives me when I have a stomach ache. But round, not liquidy. There’s one that looks like a—” Lily’s head shot up and his spine straightened when there was a crash behind them. “What was that?”

He turned but there was nothing there, just the empty park and the Batten Down the Hashes truck.

“Can I go see if Violet’s okay?” Lily asked.

He was sure the woman was fine. Probably knocked something off a shelf.

“Sure,” he told her. She ran off and he picked up her plate, throwing it in the trash.

At Lily’s high-pitched scream, he raced for the truck. When he skidded around the corner, he found Lily, her face ashen-white, near tears.

“Daddy, help!”

He stepped into the truck and saw Violet, laid out face-first on the floor, surrounded by blood. It was a gruesome scene and he immediately ordered Lily to turn around.

She didn’t argue and spun around, covering her eyes for good measure.

“Is she dead?” she asked.

There was so much blood. What in the world had gone on in here? he thought. Had someone snuck in and attacked her?

Gabe gently flipped her over and revealed a gaping wound on Violet’s forehead. Hoping it was clean, he snatched a dishtowel off the rack and pressed it. Hard.

“Ow,” she groaned, her hands weakly slapping at his.

“You’re bleeding, Violet. What happened in here?”

She blinked up at him, her green eyes dazed. “Cut off my finger.”

He shot a look at her hand and sure enough, it was wrapped in a towel soaked with blood.

“How’d you manage that?” he growled, imagining her carelessly wielding a knife. Being the owner of a construction company, he’d seen just about every boneheaded injury imaginable, from fingers meeting hammers to circular saws through legs. All it took was one careless employee and a business could be down the tubes. He was sure Violet could have done something to prevent her injury.

Her face scrunched up, her nose wrinkling in the process. “Chorizo.”

“How’d you get your head?”

“I’m not so good with blood.” Even her voice sounded weak. “I think I passed out.”

“Son of a…” He let the curse die as both Violet and Lily watched him, eyes wide.

“Turn around,” he ordered Lily again. He didn’t want her to be scarred by seeing some horrific accident scene.

“Don’t yell at her,” Violet slurred.

When he looked down, she was scowling, but the effect was minimal as her pale face was so distracting. She looked like death warmed over. Barely.

“Okay, you need a doctor.” He looked to Lily. He wouldn’t ask her to call an ambulance. Violet wasn’t dying but needed a doctor for sure. “Is there anyone we can call?”

“We’ll drive you to the clinic!” Lily beamed.

Gabe sucked in a breath through his nose and pursed his lips. He didn’t want to be the one to drive Violet to the clinic. The farther he stayed away from her the better. An injured woman was like kryptonite, no matter how much you disliked them. He wanted to stay far, far away from this woman, especially when she was injured and needy.

She was watching him, eyes full of stubborn pride but also a pain she couldn’t disguise. He hadn’t looked but she must have done a number on her finger, because the towel was dripping now, soaked through completely.

“We’ll drive you,” he conceded. “If you’re sure you don’t have anyone else.”

At his words, she tried to sit up, her hands pushing him away. All she managed to do was get blood on his shirt. “I’ve got it,” she murmured stubbornly.

“Dad!” Lily scolded.

“Okay, we’ll drive you. Come on.”

It took some doing but she finally stopped fighting and let him help her up. Her usually golden-red hair was plastered with deep, red blood that stained her head nearly black. She’d probably need a few stitches.

He couldn’t believe what he was about to ask, but he had no choice. “Do I need to find and bring your finger?”

“It’s on the counter. With the chorizo.” She looked sheepish and he steeled himself. He would not soften.

He wasn’t opposed to getting involved with women. Hell, he loved women. But he was looking for a woman that knew when to take life seriously, a woman that had goals and knew how to succeed. He wasn’t interested in a woman that blew in and out of town and lived life on a whim.

He had a baby with a woman like that and was now raising a kid on his own.

Never again. Not even for fun.

Not even if she looked like a walking pinup girl.

Not even if her big, green eyes stared up at him, helpless and needy.

As she’d said, he found the fingertip on the cutting board. He put it on ice and packed it up. He had to hand it to Lily, she stepped it up, keeping Violet calm as they rode to the clinic.

Lily continued the conversation she’d been having with him earlier about Pokémon. He could hear Vi murmuring back but her gaze was firmly locked out the window.

The clinic was not far from Providence Park, Fortune’s Bay small enough that everything was close by. He looked forward to getting Violet checked in and getting back to work. He’d already taken too long at lunch as it was; he needed to get back. Plus, he didn’t want to get stuck with her any longer than he needed to.

When they got there, he parked in front and helped her out of the passenger side. He tried to grab her arm, to help steady her, but she pulled away, a sulky look on her face.

“I’ve got it.”

“Can I stay with Violet?” Lily asked. “Just to make sure she’s okay.”

The woman in question headed for the clinic door looking unsteady on her feet, weaving instead of walking. He rolled his eyes at her stubbornness and grabbed her arm anyway, leading her inside.

“We’ll stay for a little while, Lil, but then I’ve got to get back to work.”

That seemed to please her and she shrugged, trotting along with them.

The woman at the front stood as they approached, her eyes wide with alarm. “Right in the back,” she waved. “You can’t sit in the waiting room like that.”

The woman practically shoved Violet in a wheelchair and rushed her to a room. “Doctor Miles will be with you in a second. I’ll get you set up.”

Doctor Miles had been on Gabe’s basketball team in high school and they’d been friends ever since. He should have just called Miles directly but for some reason, the thought had slipped his mind.

The woman helped Violet onto a bed and Lily stayed by her side, talking softly the entire time. Gabe stood awkwardly by the door, trying not to notice how utterly fragile Violet looked, a bloody bandage around her hand and another pressed to her head. There were dark circles around her eyes; she looked paler than before, if that was possible.

She needed to be patched up, get some meds in her, and head home to rest.

He pulled out his phone and texted his father.

If there was anyone he could count on in an emergency, it was his father. After a few quick taps, he had his father on the way and a plan to get Lily home for the afternoon.

All he had to do was get Violet seen by the doctor, find her a ride home, and get her out of his hair.

* * *

As if embarrassing herself into oblivion wasn’t enough, she had to endure the entire thing with Gabe Atwood boring holes into her the entire time. His glower was like a laser, burning into her every time he looked her way.

She hadn’t meant to cut her dang finger off. Accidents happened in life. Some people dealt with them better than others. Sure, she’d fallen like a tree in the forest, but she was standing strong now. Gabe on the other hand, was by the door, beefy arms crossed in front of his chest, sighing every five seconds.

The only saving grace to him still being around was that Lily came with him. They were a bit of a package deal and Lily had been her rock so far. Silly to say that of a nine-year-old, but the girl had been steady and kind. When the doctor came in and started talking about stitches and possible transfusions, she’d admittedly had a little freak out.

Lily on the other hand, had stayed strong and held her hand, assuring her it would all be fine.

The doctor had said the same; he’d just been more serious about it.

When she explained to him how she cut her finger off in the first place, Gabe had commented from the door. “If you’re not going to be careful, you shouldn’t be handling knives.”

Okay, that was true, but she was careful. And, he wasn’t the boss of her. Who went around saying things like that anyway?

When the doctor asked about her head and she had to admit, in embarrassing detail, that she’d keeled over like a Victorian maiden, Gabe had scoffed.

Actually scoffed.

He was the worst—his only saving graces that he’d somehow raised the sweetest child on the planet and he was hot. The latter she could take or leave if a man had a stellar personality. When you were a boorish ape, like Gabe Atwood, he would need his looks to lure women in, otherwise, he’d have nothing going for him.

The nurse had given her an IV and through it, medication that made her feel cold and kind of floaty. Its purpose most likely to kill the throbbing pain in her hand, which it did, but there were side effects. She felt a little dreamy and sleepy.

“You’re my favorite,” she slurred to Lily, who still held her hand. “It can be hard to make new friends in new places. Sometimes, people think I’m weird.”

“Me too,” the girl admitted.

“Time to go,” Gabe interrupted.

“I can go?” Violet asked, surprised. “That was fast.”

“Not you,” he said as if she were an ignoramus. “Her.”

“Dad,” Lily whined.

“No arguing, Lil. This isn’t the place for you. I’m sure Violet wouldn’t want you to be traumatized anymore today. Grandpa is here to pick you up.”

“Can I wait, at least? So, I can see Violet before she goes home?”

“We’ll ask Grandpa what his plans are.”

Lily turned back to Violet. “I’ll try to wait for you. I’m sure the doctor will fix you right up. Dad’s going to stay with you.”

“Lily,” he argued.

“Your dad hates my guts.” The words fell out of Violet’s mouth without her meaning them to. “Thinks I’m a she-devil.”

“Now, wait a second,” he began to argue.

“Dad’s like that with everyone,” Lily said at the same time. Violet laughed at the look on Gabe’s face. “He doesn’t mean anything by it.”

“Let’s go.” He held the door open and ushered his daughter out.

The doctor stepped in at the same time. “All numbed up?”

“And doped to the gills,” Gabe added.

“Don’t listen to him,” she told the doctor. “He doesn’t have any idea what I sound like when I’m doped to the gills.”

“Don’t listen to her. She’d argue with me if I said the sky was up and the grass was green.”

The doctor looked between them. “You want me to wait till you get back to stitch up her forehead.”

“He can go,” Violet said, not needing a babysitter.

“I’ll be right back,” he ground out, shutting the door with a firm click.

The doctor was nice. Miles, Gabe called him. Blond with warm, blue eyes, he smiled down at her as he rolled his chair so he was directly above her forehead.

“I’m going to start here, if that’s okay with you.”

“I can’t feel my face,” she admitted.

“That was the idea when I shot you full of local.”

He poked and prodded, then got out his tools. Much safer to close her eyes in case she saw something bloody. After a minute or two of what felt like him pulling the skin off her forehead, she heard the door open and close. She assumed the nurse had come in until Gabe spoke.

“Is she asleep?”

“No, I’m not asleep,” she said. “I’m keeping my eyes closed so I don’t see anything gross.”

“Lily insisted she stay, so she can see you when you leave.”

“She’s my favorite.”

There was a beat of silence before he answered. “Mine too.”

“So, Violet,” Doctor Miles cut in, “I heard you’re the genius behind the new food truck down at the park. You’ve sure got everyone talking.”

“About food, I hope.”

“Among other things. Talk to me about a new hash every day. I haven’t been yet but have been meaning to get down there.”

“I wouldn’t come tomorrow. The chorizo hash might have a bit of fingertip in it.”

He laughed, which pleased her. She wanted Gabe to see that other people enjoyed being around her and that the problem lay with him, not her.

“You might have to take a day or two off,” Gabe cut in.

“This is true,” the doc added. “You’ll have to be careful with your finger to keep it clean and dry.”

“I’ll figure it out. Don’t worry about me.”

“I’m going to switch to your finger now. Remember we talked about the tip being a loss. It’ll be a little shorter than the other fingers but you won’t lose anything other than the fingernail and some length. You’ll regain full mobility.”

“No worries,” she assured him. He’d already told her all about the finger and the damage the rogue tip had sustained. She felt him begin working on her finger.

“How’d you learn to cook?”

“My family lived on a horse ranch for a year. There was a woman there who took me under her wing a bit and taught me. I was about Lily’s age.”

“Living on a ranch sounds like fun.” He was making conversation and she let him. The distraction was nice and she nearly forgot Gabe was in the room as they talked. She told him about their year on the ranch and her sisters learning to ride the horses while standing on their backs. That was never her kind of adventure but they’d been glorious. It had been one of her favorite years.

She cracked an eye, only to find him staring at her face, his deep-brown eyes studying her.

“You’re all set here, Violet.”

Miles snapped his gloves off and helped her sit up. He gave her some instructions she was sure she’d never remember. She nodded and smiled, but there were painkillers and blood and she was still out of it.

“She’s not getting any of that,” Gabe complained, reading her like a book. “Give me the sheet and I’ll make sure she gets it.”

“I’ve got it,” she argued.

“Let him help you, Violet. That way you can just work on healing up. I expect to be treated like royalty when I come to the truck.”

“Royalty? My finger’s in the garbage.”

“Well, if you weren’t such crap with a knife you’d have cut better margins.”

Violet smiled. She liked him after all. Just took some warming up and morphine.

“Touché.”

She gathered her things and Gabe held the door open for her, much like he’d done with Lily. He caught up to her enough to lead her into the waiting room where Lily was playing cards with an older man.

“Violet,” the girl beamed. “You look better.” She ran to her but slowed enough to wrap her in a gentle hug instead of pummeling her.

She hugged Lily back with one arm. “Good as new.”

“Dad?”

At Gabe’s voice, Violet looked at the man that had been with Lily in the waiting room. He was staring at her, his eyes wide, his mouth open.

He looked from her to Gabe and back again. Much like Gabe, his hair was dark, his eyes deep and fathomless.

“You’re…” the man trailed off.

“Violet,” she supplied.

“You’re Iris’s daughter.”

It was her turn to be surprised. Since she’d come to Fortune’s Bay to live in her grandmother’s old house, no one had spoken to her about her mother. Years ago, her mother had left town on a whim with a perfect stranger. After that, it was like they forgot she existed.

“I am,” she confirmed. “Did you know her?”

He nodded. “I did.”

He didn’t say any more than that and Violet didn’t offer anything else about her mother. While intriguing, the exchange was stilted and awkward.

“I knew your grandmother well when she lived here. She never said anything about you coming to town.”

“She didn’t want the house to be empty all the time so she said my sisters and I could come stay for a while. They were too busy right now, so it’s just me.”

His smile was almost wistful. “How many sisters do you have?”

“Three.”

“And your mother. Is she well?”

“She and my dad are sailing the Caribbean this summer on a catamaran. My mom’s newest hobby is diving for treasure.”

“I’d love to have you to the house for dinner sometime and hear about how she’s doing.”

“That would be awesome,” Lily chimed in.

The invitation seemed a bit out of the blue but still sincere. It had been a long time since she’d had dinner with anyone other than herself at her grandmother’s empty house.

“I might just take you up on that.” She smiled, her eyes cutting to Gabe.

How bad could a dinner be?