She picked up a box of berry-flavored tea. “Cole doesn’t drink this. I wonder what’s going on.”
Hailey: we’re home. Where are you?
He didn’t respond. “Maybe they’re in the screening room? That seems like a good way to pass the time with kids.”
“Sounds about right.”
Together, they searched the house, but there wasn’t a trace of them anywhere. “We had the car seats, so I don’t think they went anywhere.” She glanced outside, thinking maybe they were building another snowman. “Well, I’m all out of ideas. We’ve looked in every room in this house.”
“Not every room.” A slow grin lit up his extremely handsome features. “Not the room that caused him to buy this house.”
“We were just in the wrapping room.”
Not in on the joke, Trevor tipped his head in confusion. “I don’t know about that one, but there’s one room we haven’t checked. I can’t imagine he’d bring the girls there, but it can’t hurt to try. Come on. I’ll tell you about it on the way.”
He led her down the stairs, but instead of going into the screening or wrapping rooms, he tapped another hidden panel. “Back in the late eighteen hundreds, when only outlaws lived in this area, there was a brothel where this house now stands.”
On their way down the wooden staircase, Hailey touched the stone walls. Like a cave, they were cold and damp.
“It was popular at the time, and the owner would store the loot for the men in this hidden room beneath her saloon.” Trevor tapped the wall. “The only thing left of the original establishment is this cave.”
“He wouldn’t bring the girls down here, would he? Is there anything in it?”
At the bottom of the stairs, Trevor came to an abrupt stop. His features went slack. “Yep.”
That’s when she finally heard noises. “What is it?” It sounded like breathing.
He stood on the last step, his body blocking her from the room.
“Is it gross?” She didn’t want to see a rat or something. “Am I going to freak out?”
He broke into a soft smile, which was pretty devastating on a man as potently masculine as him.
Peering over his shoulder, she found a charming little room lit only by lanterns. The big bad hockey player with his bulging biceps and muscular thighs was sleeping on a giant red beanbag, Evvie sprawled across his chest and Paisley tucked against his side, his arm holding her tight to his body.
They were out cold.
Books were strewn about the cave-like room, and a thick blanket was spread out in the center. On it, she found a tea pot, little plastic teacups, and a plate of shortbread cookies.
“They had a tea party,” she whispered. And it was the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen.
In that moment, she toppled. Fell head-first in love with him.
How could she not? He was an aggressive, brutal hockey player, a happy-go-lucky charmer, and the man who made tea parties for two orphaned girls.
He was the most special man she’d ever met, and her heart ached to think of him leaving.
And these girls…it was more than feeling sorry about their situation or an obligation to Lindsay. A bond was growing that would last a lifetime. Even if the PI found the perfect family for them, she knew she’d stay in their lives. She’d watch them grow into strong, independent, creative, accomplished women.
“Let’s let them sleep.” She started back up the stairs. “I’ll get started on the cocoa.”
These feelings were just too powerful.
It was too hard to watch what she couldn’t keep.
ChapterSeventeen
After he andthe girls came up from the loot cave, they’d found a fire going and Hailey and his dad in bright red onesies. The girls squealed, more eager for the matching pajamas Trevor had brought than the presents they were about to open.