The Family You Make (Sunrise Cove #1)

“And Mateo too,” Jane said. “And now maybe Levi? It feels like too much. It’s like . . . the quintessential nightmare of going to school naked. I’m out there hanging out in the breeze, vulnerable, just waiting for someone to say it’s time for me to move on.”

“I’ll never say that,” Charlotte said fiercely. “And you know that no matter what happens with your grandpa—or doesn’t happen—you’re going to be okay because . . . why?”

Jane gave a reluctant smile. “Because I’ve got you at my back.”

“Aw. You’ve grown up so fast—” Charlotte caught a glimpse of the tall man in scrubs who strode into the diner. She gave an unladylike squeak and slid all the way out of her chair and under the table too.

Jane stared at her. “What the—”

“Mateo’s here,” Charlotte hissed.

Jane blinked. “And?”

“And this is not a drill! Congratulations, you’ve taught me how to be ridiculous. Hope you’re proud. Now scoot the hell over and make some room!”

Jane snorted, but scooted, just as Mateo spoke from above them. “Morning, ladies. Did you drop something?”

Jane smirked at Charlotte.

“Don’t you dare leave—” But she was talking to air because Jane was gone as if she had the hounds of hell on her heels.

Not Charlotte. It wasn’t the hounds of hell chasing her. It was her past.

Which felt just as scary.





Chapter 8


Levi woke up to the unmistakable sound of paws scrambling in his direction, but he didn’t move or open his eyes, hoping he was invisible. Not likely though, as he was on the pullout couch in the Cutler family den slash office.

Which was how a very hot, wet tongue was able to lick him from chin to forehead.

“Thanks, Jasper,” he murmured.

Apparently encouraged by the greeting, his mom’s goldendoodle slash Wookiee leapt on top of him, wiggling all ninety pounds with the grace of a bull in a china shop, breathing his doggy breath all over him.

Levi managed to hug the silly, lovable dog while protecting his favorite body parts, not an easy task with Jasper’s four massive paws. “Good boy, but time to get down.”

Jasper lay down—on top of Levi.

He had to laugh. Who’d have thought he’d actually miss his childhood bedroom? But after Tess and Peyton had moved back in for the duration of her ugly divorce, his room had been turned into a proud princess palace. They’d offered to move out for his stay, but he’d refused, saying the couch was fine.

Not that it mattered where he slept in this house, because he’d always felt just a little misplaced in it. The square peg shoved in a round hole. For one thing, he’d been an oops baby to his parents, who’d thought they were done after having Tess nearly ten years earlier.

The three of them had been a tight unit by the time he’d come around. Levi had done his best to fit in. He’d been a good skier and probably could’ve gone somewhere with it, but even though he’d gone to the University of Colorado, where he could have skied competitively, he’d concentrated on getting his data science degree instead. Which of course had baffled his parents beyond belief. As far as they were concerned, he’d taken his athletic talent and walked.

Looking back, Levi understood their point of view, but he also knew they’d never understood his. He’d worked at the family store growing up, putting in his time, even if he’d always had his nose in a book or been on the computer creating software and apps, and then later working in tech before, during, and after college to support himself.

More than Levi being good, he’d been lucky, making the right connections, and now his start-up, Cutler Analytics, was thriving. Yes, he missed the mountain. Actually he missed the mountain a whole bunch, but hadn’t missed feeling like that square peg again.

He’d done well on his own and had learned how to be okay exactly as he was. Sometimes he was even more than okay. Sometimes there was actual joy and excitement—like five minutes ago when he’d still been sleeping, his dream starring one sexy, smartass nurse named Jane. Unfortunately, his reality was as far from that erotic dream as humanly possible.

That was when his niece, Peyton, bounced into the room like the Energizer Bunny in a tutu and tiara, waving a sparkling staff.

Jasper jumped down—finally—and ran to his favorite person.

“Down,” the six-year-old commanded, the one who weighed less than the dog.

Jasper lay down like a perfectly behaved dog. Probably because Peyton was also carrying a bowl of cereal, and Jasper knew only good boys got bites of cereal.

Peyton leaned over Levi, her warm little girl breath scented like the Froot Loops she’d carried in. When she saw his eyes were open, she grinned her toothless grin. “Uncle Levi! Uncle Levi! Uncle Levi!”

“Yes, baby.”

“Is your girlfriend here?”

He narrowed his eyes. “Did your mom tell you to ask me that?”

“No. Grandma.”

Levi sighed.

She giggled. “Where is she hiding?”

He had no problem bending the truth for his nosy mom and sister, but he wouldn’t lie to Peyton. “Can we talk about something else?”

“Okay, let’s talk about my tea party. It’s soon. You’re coming.” She had a purse around her neck, one of Tess’s, and from it she pulled a small notebook and pencil. She opened it and made some scribbles and quickly closed it back up.

“What’s that?” he asked.

“It’s my secret diarrhea.”

He bit his lower lip so as not to laugh. Maybe one day he’d correct her, but today wouldn’t be that day. “What do you write in there?”

“Important notes. Mommy writes important notes in her diarrhea to save and show Daddy so she can kick his ask if he comes to visit.” She lowered her voice. “Don’t tell her I said ask, okay? Ask is a bad word.”

Levi mimed zipping his lips closed.

“Do you think my daddy’s coming soon?”