Once they reached the swing set, Nick lifted Ellie into a swing and Harper tried again.
“Would you like me to push you?” she asked.
Ellie twisted around to see her, her gray-green eyes earnest. “Can Daddy do it?”
It was a totally reasonable request from a little girl who loved her father, so despite a small pang of disappointment, Harper couldn’t begrudge her wanting Nick.
“Of course,” she said and stepped back.
Once Nick had a squealing Ellie swinging in rhythm, he glanced over at Harper. “You okay?”
“Sure.” She focused on Ellie’s utter delight in soaring through the air, her hair flying behind her. “I guess I didn’t think it would be this hard.”
“It’s only because she doesn’t see me often enough,” he said, as if that was all there was to it. And maybe it was, but deep down, Harper suspected it was more.
“It’s just that if I can’t get a three-year-old to let me push her on a swing, it doesn’t bode well for parenting two babies.” Her stomach dipped as she said the words aloud. This was why her first plan once she’d known she was pregnant had been to move home and get help from someone experienced with children.
He pushed the swing and turned to her. “You’ll be a great mother, Harper. Are you having doubts?”
“About that, and pretty much everything,” she conceded.
He arched an eyebrow. “About us?”
“Actually, this has shown me that you’re the person I need to help with the babies.” If he could inspire love and devotion in a child he didn’t get to see often enough, then he’d be a beautiful father for their twins.
“We’ll be great,” he said, his focus intense. “Together.”
It meant a lot that she had his support, especially when she was doubting herself. She smiled at him. “Thanks.”
“Right,” he said more loudly. “Who’s ready for the best snack in the state of Texas?”
“Me!” Ellie said from high in the air.
It was a fairly quick trip to the Royal Diner, a journey once again filled with father-daughter chatter. The diner, with its ’50s style decor and informal atmosphere, was popular, but they managed to squeeze in and were soon settled in a red faux-leather booth with menus.
A tall man in uniform stopped by and greeted Nick. Harper recognized him as Sheriff Nathan Battle. They might not have met before, but she’d seen him on TV. After shaking the man’s hand, Nick introduced Harper to him as his wife. The sheriff never missed a beat, but his eyes widened.
“Good to meet you,” he said and stuck out his hand.
She took his hand and shook it. “You, too, Sheriff Battle.”
He turned back to Nick. “Don’t suppose you’ve heard any whispers about anyone being targeted by Maverick?”
Nick shot her a look, and Harper was relieved all over again that they’d managed to marry before M
averick had gotten wind of their situation and caused trouble.
“Not a word,” Nick said. “Wouldn’t you be the first to hear?”
Sheriff Battle shook his head. “Some of the information Maverick has been digging up has been...of a sensitive nature, so if he has a new victim, there’s no guarantee the victim will want law enforcement involved.”
“I’ll keep an ear out and let you know if I hear anything.”
“I’d appreciate that,” the sheriff said and turned to go. “By the way, you should try the curly fries. I might be biased, but Amanda Battle makes the best curly fries in the state.”
Nick laughed. “Will do, Sheriff.”
After the other man left, Nick glanced across the table, his daughter by his side and his eyes full of mischief. “I know what Ellie wants.”