about her—the thing that allowed her to work such a miracle. But when she looked at him and flashed a small smile he was distracted by the sensation something was off.
‘You okay?’
She avoided his gaze and nodded. ‘I’m fine.’
‘Did I ever mention one of my detective skills is the ability to spot a lie?’ Tyler raised his hand and waggled a forefinger over his shoulder. ‘Hairs on the back of my neck stand up.’
‘They all hugged me.’ She shrugged a shoulder, her tone deceptively dismissive. ‘I’m not used to that.’
It made him want to sit her parents down for a little chat. Didn’t they know their daughter at all? Would it be such a damn hardship for them to get to know her?
They obviously needed someone to tell them what they were missing.
Dropping her gaze to the ground for a moment, she took a short breath and asked, ‘How long has it been since your father passed away?’
‘Nine years. He had a heart attack.’
Her voice softened. ‘I’m sorry.’
‘It happens.’ Tyler shrugged. ‘Work hard, play hard—that was his motto. I doubt he had many regrets.’
They crossed the street to the boardwalk before she commented, ‘You were different with them.’
‘So were you.’
‘I don’t usually meet families.’ She scrunched her nose a little. ‘I mean, I do, but...’
‘But?’ he prompted.
‘It was different this time.’
Tyler was about to ask why when he glanced ahead. ‘Can you run in those shoes?’
‘They’re not exactly designed for running.’
‘Try.’ He took her hand. ‘Ferry’s in, we gotta move.’
They were the last people to board before it departed. Miranda looked up at him with sparkling eyes and flushed cheeks, so beautiful she was making it difficult for him to look anywhere else. When she laughed he smiled back at her. Every time she did that it made him want to be a funnier guy so he could coax the sound from her lips.
‘Can we stand outside?’ she asked breathlessly.
‘You’ll get cold.’
She shook her head. ‘I don’t care.’
Guiding them to what shelter he could find at the end of the deck, he watched her reaction to the new experience as she caught her breath from the run. He drank in her animated expression, the way her eyes sparkled with delight, and as always wondered how it felt to see the world through her eyes. The little adventures they’d taken might have been an attempt to keep them out of the bedroom but they’d done more than that. At least they had for him.
He saw the city with fresh perspective. It wasn’t tarnished by cynicism or taken for granted the way he normally did. As a result he’d thought about the small part he played in the greater scheme of things and come to the conclusion a little was better than nothing. One less perp on the streets was one less crime—several in the case of repeat offenders. If it meant she was safe when she began to explore on her own he’d arrest each and every one of them in her name.
‘They liked you,’ he told her, in case she didn’t know. ‘That’s why you were treated to the hug-fest.’
‘I got the impression your family would make anyone you brought home feel welcome.’ A soft smile came through in her voice. ‘You’re lucky to have them.’
‘They’re not bad,’ he allowed. ‘Probably a bit late to trade them in.’
‘It can’t have been easy for your mom with five little kids running around.’ She waited until he looked into her eyes. ‘You’re all quite close in age, aren’t you?’
‘Arrived in an eight-year bonanza of adorability.’
‘That kind of time frame would terrify me.’
‘My great-grandmother had eleven.’
Her eyes widened. ‘Seriously?’
‘It’s why the Irish never have to invade a country. We infiltrate.’ The comment had the desired effect: she laughed. But Tyler shook his head when it was followed by an involuntary shudder. ‘I said you’d be cold out here.’
‘I don’t want to go inside.’ When the wind blew a lock of hair across her face, she raised her hand to brush it back and looked over the water again. ‘This is amazing.’
Releasing her hand, Tyler took a step forwards, folded the edges of his jacket around her narrow shoulders and wrapped his arms around her body. ‘Better?’
She settled in as if she’d always been there, her arms around his waist and her cheek against his chest. ‘Much.’
He rested his chin on her head as they sailed past the Statue of Liberty.
‘She’s humongous.’
Tyler looked down at her with amusement. ‘How can you not know that?’
‘She