I pinned him with a warning stare and slowly shook my headno.
Miller looked at me, a cry for help on the face I was still thoroughly angry with.
I merely shrugged and made an intense study of my raggedy nails. So now he wanted my assistance?Nowhe trusted my expertise?
Miller shoved a hand through his already disheveled hair. “Ava, I’m sorry you’re having a hard time at school. You should’ve told me you felt alone. I didn’t say no to be mean. I said no because I love you and want you to be safe. Your mom put you girls in my care, and I take that very seriously. You bet we’ll have a birthday party at the farm. A big one. The biggest one your classmates have ever seen.”
“Really?” she whispered.
He held out his other arm to Ava. “You’re my favorite girls, and the thought of anything happening to you makes me a little nuts.”
Ava cocked her head as she faced down her uncle. “A little?”
Miller’s lopsided smile was regrettably adorable. “A lot.”
And with that admission, Miller’s oldest niece walked right to him and let herself be enfolded in his strong embrace. The trio stood there hanging on to one another, united in their struggle, bonded by their love.
I wasn’t crying or anything. Probably just allergies irritating my eyes again.
I sniffed and looked away.
“Hugs, Hattie!” Poppy called, waving a free arm. “Come hug with us!”
I cleared my throat and blinked a few times. “No, that’s okay.”
“Come on,” Ava said. “You know you want to.”
Miller smiled over the tops of their heads, his eyes warm on mine. “Bring it in here, Sutton.”
So tempting. But not before I made one thing clear. “Let the record show I’m still mad at you, Miller.”
He opened his arm even wider. “Just push pause on it.”
Oh, very well. “If you all insist.”
So I stepped into the circle, my heart inflating as the trio pulled me in. My cheek pressed to Miller’s chest, and I felt a sweet warmth there, an aching safety that I knew was only temporary. Yet a string of yearning tugged anyway.
A full minute passed, filled with laughter, questionably placed squeezes, and the sticky hands of two adorable girls before Poppy yawned loudly and declared she was ready to go. “Uncle Miller, I’m tired. I don’t want to cross the creek and walk off a cliff.”
He scowled. “What?”
“Nothing.” I patted the girl’s back and stepped out of the circle.
“Let’s get you all home and in bed.” He let Poppy slip down and guided the girls out my front door. “You two get in the truck. I’ll be right there.”
Under a canopy of stars that blinked their celestial approval, Ava and Poppy rambled off and shut themselves inside the still-running truck. They reminded me of my brother and me. Two kids thrown into a situation they didn’t quite understand but enduring it together as only siblings could.
Miller turned to me, and before he could say a word, I stopped him.
“Yes, you’re throwing Ava a party. I know I overstepped, but I wanted to detain them long enough for you to get here. And Ava needs a fabulous celebration. If you promise never to speak to me again, I’ll even recruit Olivia and help.”
His hand landed on my shoulder then slid to the crook of my neck. “Thank you.”
Nerve endings waltzed and hormones merengued.
What had Miller just said?
All I knew was the feel of his fingers resting on that pulse point—and it felt more than friendly. Maybe he was punch-drunk with relief and his stress came out in random hand placement? “Um…what?”
