Tinsel (Lark Cove #4)(40)

Do I feel beautiful?

Yes. Yes, I did.

Except I’d been wearing makeup since I was twelve. It was more than just a habit, it was part of how I presented myself to the world.

Though, thanks to the magazine article, I had new doubts about that presentation.

Did I need it today? Not really. This was Lark Cove. There were no reporters or photographers here. I’d just be in the bar where the dark lighting was forgiving.

I put my brush away and rolled up my case, packing my makeup away. But before I put it all on the shelf Dakota had cleared for me during my stay, I grabbed my mascara, quickly swiping a single coat over my lashes.

Baby steps.

I hustled out of the bathroom, leaving the mirror before I could change my mind. I got dressed in some skinny jeans and a V-neck black sweater that cut low in the center, nearly to my pink lace bra. I tugged on Thea’s shoes, having claimed them for the rest of my trip, and walked out of the bedroom.

Dakota was waiting by the back door, his coat already on and mine in his hands.

The corner of his mouth twitched when he saw my face. He helped me into my coat and outside, across the icy walk to the door of his garage.

Then he drove us to work with a smile on his face.




Two hours later, Dakota and I were at the bar and little boots were running down the hallway from the back door.

I was standing around the corner, unable to see down the hallway, but I smiled as I waited to greet my nieces and nephew. Except the child that emerged was not a Kendrick.

It was Willa and Jackson’s little boy who came rushing in wearing a police officer’s costume. As he ran up to Dakota’s leg, I scrambled to remember his name.

Ryder was Jackson’s teenage brother. Their son was—it starts with an R—Roman. His name was Roman.

“Hey, bud.” Dakota ruffled his hair. “How’s it going?”

“Went skiing wif Daddy and Wyder!”

“Yeah?” Dakota grinned at him just as Jackson, Willa and Ryder emerged.

“Hey guys.” Jackson nodded to me and shook Dakota’s hand. Ryder did the same.

“How was vacation?” Dakota asked.

“Went skiing!” the little boy repeated. “On snow.”

“Yes, Roman went skiing on the snow.” Willa ran her fingers through her son’s blond hair, which matched her own, and came over to give me a hug. “It’s good to see you again.”

“You too.”

Since Jackson was practically Thea’s brother, Willa was a pseudo sister-in-law. Whenever there was a family event in Lark Cove, they were there, and I’d gotten to know her a bit over the years. She was sweet and shy.

And enormously pregnant.

“What are you guys doing here?” Dakota asked.

“Just wanted to stop by and see how things were going.” Jackson looked me up and down the same way Piper had days ago.

“Let me guess.” I rolled my eyes. “Thea and/or Logan called and asked you to check up on me.”

Jackson grinned. “You’d be right.”

“Those two need to learn how to take a vacation and stop worrying about me.”

I’d talked to both Thea and Logan on New Year’s Day. They’d called to see how the party had gone, and I’d assured them it had been a success. I’d also assured them I still had all my fingers and toes.

They must have thought I was lying.

“How did the party go?” Willa asked. “Was it fun?”

“It was a blast.” I smiled. “One of the best I’ve had in a long time.”

I ducked my head, hoping she wouldn’t be able to read my thoughts, which had quickly turned dirty as I thought back to how much of that night’s fun had been spent in Dakota’s bed.

“The place was packed,” Dakota told Jackson. “Ran out of Crown about eleven. Next year, we’ll have to stock up.”

As Jackson, Dakota and Ryder spoke about the upcoming NFL playoffs, Roman walked over to stand at his mother’s side.

“I like your costume,” I told him.

He pointed to his badge. “Cop.”

“This is Xavier’s doing.” Willa sighed. “He’s obsessed with this costume. Xavier convinced him he had to be a cop for Halloween, and he doesn’t want to wear anything else now. It’s a fight to get him into regular clothes for daycare. Since it’s just us today, I gave in and let him wear the costume.”

“It’s cute. Maybe he’ll join the police when he grows up.”

“Maybe.” Willa smiled down at her son. “Did you ever have a favorite Halloween costume?”

I thought over all of them and shook my head. “Princesses. There were a lot of princesses.”

“I was a princess once. Then I went through a long streak where I dressed up as a science teacher, complete with my safety goggles and white lab coat, because I wanted to grow up and be a teacher like my dad.”

“I wonder if Roman will stick with the cop costume.”

She shrugged. “Who knows? But he’s dedicated.”

I’d never had any excitement for a job, pretend or real. I envied Roman, the two-year-old boy who had more conviction for a costume than I’d had about much of anything lately.

If I could pick any job in the world, what would it be?