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"Celebrate."

"Can't help it."

He groans and hands Charlie back to me, then points a thick finger at my chest. "And don't think any of this changes what I told you last time."

"What part?"

"You hurt my daughter or granddaughter, I'll kill you with my bare hands."

I shift Charlie against my chest. "I remember."

"Good."

I hesitate. Then ask, "You know I love them, right?"

Dean goes still. "You tell her that?"

"Yep."

He doesn't respond for several seconds. Then he says, "Make sure she knows it every day."

"I will."

"And don't just tell her. Show her."

I nod. "Yes, sir."

His eyebrows shoot up. "I'm hungry and ready for that beer. There's a diner up the road. Afraid I'm not much of a cook."

I grin. "Dinner and a beer? Careful, Dean. Keep this up, and I'm gonna think you finally like me."

"Keep treating my girls right, and I might eventually stop picturing where I'll bury you."

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Lainey

Christmas Eve

I'm still half asleep when I reach for Jagger. It lands on nothing but cold sheets.

My eyes fly open. My bedroom in the Butterfly House comes into view. Then I remember.

Jagger and Charlie aren't here.

I grab my phone off the nightstand and check the time. 7:03 AM. Then I check my texts, but there's nothing.

He said they'd be back by noon.

I tap his name and call. It rings four times before he answers.

"Morning, darlin'. Did you sleep well?" his deep voice asks.

"Where are you?"

He laughs. "Good morning to you too."

"Jagger."