Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

He averted his eyes from her, trying to find the right words.

"I get it. You're not all that into me, and you're not gonna settle just for the kids. How about we just say I came to check on you and the kids, and we acknowledge our situation publicly? Does that work for you?"

He was hoping to stop the media from spinning tales about him and the kids.

Emma nodded and quickly headed back to her bed. It was big, but squeezing four people in was still a bit tight.

"I'll set up the guest room for you," she offered.

But Dustin pointed to a makeshift bed he'd already laid out on the floor. Emma was taken aback, unsure how he'd managed to dig up a blanket, especially since there was only one. It wasn't cold, but the floor was no place for a comfy night's sleep. So, she fetched a few extra quilts from the closet to soften it up.

catching a chill." Jaime snuggled in and was

been a year since she'd heard such comforting sounds in her bedroom. She couldn't help but turn slightly, trying to catch a glimpse of Heather sleeping. But the rural setting was dark, lit only by the soft glow of the moon, making it hard to see

the darkness, she heard Dustin's

Want me to bring Heather

already on his feet, bending over with Heather in his arms. She grabbed his wrist

falling on

soft. He looked up, startled, realizing his hand had landed on Emma's chest, Their eyes met in the dim light for a brief moment before he quickly withdrew his hand, and Emma awkwardly covered herself with the blanket. Heather, nestled

"Let Heather stay on the bed. It's not her that's keeping me up."

their spots, but now it was Dustin who found himself wide awake. Maybe it was the nighttime setting that stirred up old feelings, but his mind kept going back to that night, despite the fever, it remained crystal clear. He was no stranger to these situations, but Emma's hesitance was both

the village chief showed up in the morning, he

"Mr. Lynch, where's Emma?"