Page 6 of Tragic (Lark Cove 3)

On the other side of the highway, the lakeside, the homes were larger. They reminded me of the houses in the Hamptons, though not quite as big and more rustic lake house than beach chateau.

Logan turned off the highway toward the lakeside of town, following a quiet road that wrapped around the shoreline until he pulled up to a house that screamed Logan Kendrick.

It was all class, like the man himself: handsome, with its cedar shakes and gleaming windows and well-manicured lawn. The boathouse on the water was larger than most of the homes we’d passed in town. The loft above it was going to be my abode for the next couple of weeks or months, however long it took to buy my own place.

As Logan parked in the detached garage and shut off the SUV, Charlie hurried to unbuckle her seat belt. “Piper, do you want to see my fort?”

“You know it!” I told her, helping Collin free from his car seat. The two-year-old squirmed out and crawled to the front before I could stop him.

“Daddy! Daddy!” he yelled, then giggled as Logan swung him out of the car and tossed him into the air.

“Come on, little one,” Thea said, opening the back door to get out Camila’s carrier. “I bet you need a diaper change and a bottle.”

Camila cooed at her mother, her tiny mouth forming a hint of a smile. The jury was out on which parent she took after, but I’d get a front-row seat to watch as she grew up.

I climbed out behind them all, deciding to leave my suitcases for the time being. I wanted to play with the kids some before dinner.

“When is the meeting with your realtor?” Thea asked as we walked toward the house.

“Tomorrow,” I said as Charlie slipped her hand in mine. “He’s got three places lined up for me to see.”

“Want some company? Logan can watch the kids and I can tag along to give you the inside scoop on potential neighbors.”

“You wouldn’t mind? I’d love to have your input.”

I’d thought of inviting Thea along on my house-hunting trip, but I didn’t want to smother her. The last four months had been incredibly lonely, and since she was my only girlfriend in Lark Cove, the chances were real that she’d get sick of me soon.

“Of course I wouldn’t mind,” Thea said. “Though I should warn you, I’m probably going t

o become that friend who calls and texts too often. Have I mentioned that I’m really excited you’re living here?”

She couldn’t have known, but I’d really needed those words and the enthusiasm in her voice. Thea Kendrick was good people.

“Ready to see my fort?” Charlie asked.

I looked to Thea, just to make sure it was okay. She nodded and smiled. “I’ll get Camila changed and fed, then we’ll come find you. White wine or red?”

I amended my earlier thought. Thea Kendrick was great people. “White, please.”

“You got it.” She smiled and disappeared into the house with the baby.

“I’ll take care of your suitcases,” Logan told me as he set Collin down to go play in the yard. “You just relax.”

“Thank you, Logan. For everything.”

He patted my shoulder. “You’re welcome. Glad you’re home.”

Home. I was home.

As he followed Collin to a stack of toys on the deck, I turned down to Charlie. “Fort time?”

She nodded. “Want to race?”

I slipped out of my four-inch stilettos. “Loser is a rotten egg!”

The next day, Thea and I were hiking through the trees behind the home my realtor had just shown us. This particular property was located in the mountains and had some acreage in the forest. So while the two of us were exploring, my realtor was back at the car, giving us a moment to debrief without him hovering.

“What do you think?” Thea asked.