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once.”
    It wasn’t very high, as far as cliffs went, but it was high enough to be dangerous. It was part of the hillside that crept out and divided the beach, and often you’d find kids and adults alike trying to scale it to get to the other side.
    “Did you get to the top?” Emily asked, her voice trembling.
    “Yes.” She lifted her fingers from Emily’s arm and smiled down at her. “And you know what? It totally wasn’t worth the cuts and bruises I got.”
    “It wasn’t?”
    “Nah. Pretty much just kind of boring in the end. So, if I were you, I’d skip trying again, okay?”
    Emily nodded and bit her lip, clearly trying not to cry again. “Okay.”
    “Can you tell if she broke anything?” Colin asked tightly from behind her.
    “I don’t think she has. Likely just landed on it pretty hard and might’ve sprained it. She’ll have a nasty bruise at the very least. But you’ll probably want to swing by the ER and have it x-rayed to be sure.” She gave a slight smile.
    “The ER?” Emily’s voice rose in pitch. “Oh no, I hate those places. Can’t you just tell me if it’s broken?”
    “I really wish I could, sweetie. Unfortunately, just because I’m a nurse doesn’t mean I have x-ray vision.”
    Colin snorted with obvious disdain. She kind of had the urge to smack him again. Funny how he brought out that urge in her.
    “I’ll take her to the hospital to be safe.” He glanced back toward the trees and sighed. “Emily, lass, we’ll have to make the hike back up to the parking lot, all right?”
    “All the way back up that hill?” Tears gathered again in her eyes. “I can’t walk up that hill right now, Uncle Colin, my arm hurts too much.”
    Impatience and confusion flashed in his eyes. “Em, it’s your arm, not your leg. It’s just a ten- or fifteen-minute walk.”
    Clearly Uncle Colin was new at this kid thing. When a kid was in pain, even a two-minute walk was agonizing. Be it all in their head or not.
    “You know, my car is actually in the lower lot. I could drive you up to yours. It would only take a second.”
    Colin’s dark expression turned even darker. He glanced away from her, as if the idea of accepting her help was as appealing as dealing with the devil. Well, tough. He’d already accepted her assistance this far, what was five more minutes?
    “Please, Uncle Colin? Let her drive us. If I have to walk I’m going to die . I just know it.”
    Having worked with kids plenty, Hailey bit back laughter at Emily’s dramatics and waited for Colin to give in.
    “Fine. That would be great.”
    Every polite word nearly killed him, she could tell. While she wanted to laugh, somehow she just barely managed to keep her expression blank as she nodded.
    “All right. Let me just grab my stuff superfast and we’ll go.”

Chapter Four
    Colin watched as Hailey jogged back to her blanket a hundred feet away or so and began to collect her things. He hadn’t even realized she was on the beach—had instead been so focused on making sure nothing happened to Emily.
    Which had been his biggest fear today. It being his first time baby-sitting, and his niece would be hurt on his watch. He liked kids, but lacked sorely in the baby-sitting department.
    Of course it only figured that the moment he’d chosen to answer a phone call from the station Emily had gotten herself into trouble. He’d known he shouldn’t have answered. It was habit and he’d been curious if there were any updates on the series of home invasions in the area.
    As he watched, Hailey slung a backpack over her shoulder, gathered the blanket in her arm and made her way back to them. Despite his effort, it was hard not to notice her tanned legs stretching out from denim shorts. Or the way her black cotton halter top hugged her breasts and the flat stomach below it.
    “All right. Are you guys ready?” She gave a cheeky little smile that had both his scowl deepening and his blood quickening.
    “I’m ready,” Emily answered.