Harlequin Love Inspired March 2021--Box Set 2 of 2 by Patrice Lewis (best large ereader .txt) 📕

Something in her eyes softened. “Just give me a chance to explain things to my dad. And if you’re serious about the job, you’re hired.”

“I am, but what about your new hires?”

Pink tinged her cheeks. “I made that up. You were freaking me out staring at the twins.”

At least she was protective. “What time do you open?”

“Ten and we stay open until six. Every day but Sunday. One or both of us are usually in the workshop by seven or eight.”

“I’ll be here. But instead of leaving and coming back tonight, what if I stick around tonight while you tell them?”

“I’m not comfortable with that.” She hugged herself.

“Well maybe I’m not comfortable leaving it to you. You might tell them I’m some ogre who’s come to take them away. Or smuggle them out of town and move somewhere else to keep me away.”

She got that deer caught in the headlights look for a moment. “I haven’t known you long enough to know if you’re an ogre or not and I’d be lying if I said running hasn’t crossed my mind in the last five minutes. But only for a moment. This is their home and I’d never uproot them for a life of hiding, with legal consequences if we were caught.” She grabbed the broom, swept the dusty floor.

“If I was an ogre, I wouldn’t be here. I’d have contacted a lawyer and taken you straight to court for a custody battle. But I didn’t.” To be honest, if they were still babies, he probably would have. But the twins were five. “Their lives have always been here with you and your father as the two constants. I don’t want to disrupt that. Unless I find they’re not being well cared for or are abused.”

“I can assure you that’s not the case,” she hissed.

“All I want is to be part of their lives. I really think we can work through this very difficult situation together and do what’s best for my niece and nephew. And the first step to that is to tell them who I am.”

She closed her eyes, leaned on her broom. “Come to the house around seven tonight. That’ll give me time to talk to Daddy and you can have supper with us.”

“The farmhouse next door?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll be there. But supper isn’t necessary. I don’t want to intrude.”

“You’ve already done that.” Her stiff posture was in full Mama Bear mode.

“This isn’t easy for me either, you know?”

“No, I guess it’s not.” She swept the pile of debris into a dust pan, dumped it in the trash. “Where are you staying?”

“I’m renting a nightly cabin in Bandera at the moment, but if I stick around very long, I’ll find something else more long-term.”

“I’ll see you at seven.” Her eyes said she hoped he’d move on. But he couldn’t. His niece and nephew deserved to know about him. About his parents. The twins had seemed fine in the store earlier, but he couldn’t be at peace until he knew for certain they were happy, healthy and loved. Somehow, he had to work this out with complete strangers.

CHAPTER TWO

“How do we tell them about this new uncle showing up, without getting into the subject of their father?” Daddy settled heavily on the couch in the great room, covered his face with his hands.

“I’m not sure, but he’ll be here soon, so we need to figure it out.” Stacia, on autopilot, set the casserole dish in the center of the table in the adjoining kitchen.

“Are you sure he’s telling the truth? That he’s not some reporter?”

She filled him in about the picture on his phone and his driver’s license. “But there’s something about him. I can tell he’s genuinely interested in the children.”

“Or maybe in the support his brother pays you. Maybe he just wants the money.” Daddy stood, paced the room—a trait they shared when unnerved. “It’s a pretty penny. Some people would use it for themselves instead of strictly for the kids and socking everything that’s left away for their future.”

“I hope you’re wrong.” She hugged herself. The whole thing reminded her of Aunt Eleanor. “If he insists on inflicting himself into Mason and Madison’s lives, I want him to love them.”

“Me too.”

But not in an obsessive way like Aunt Eleanor, who’d been so determined to raise Stacia and her sister, she’d tried to romance their dad, kidnapped them and fought for custody. They’d have to be on guard.

“Do you think it would be better if we told them before he gets here?”

The doorbell rang.

Stacia closed her eyes. “Unfortunately, I think that option is off the table.”

“I’ll get it.” Daddy stood, ambled toward the front door, as if a rattlesnake waited on the other side.

Seconds later, male voices came from the foyer. Though their tones sounded cordial, Stacia couldn’t make out their words.

What was up with that? She’d expected Daddy to be defensive, combative where Madison and Mason were concerned.

She hurried down the hall, popped her head into the guest room–turned–play area. Both children sat on the floor, contentedly building a large Lego structure.

“It’s a dollhouse.” Madison clicked more blocks into place.

“Uh-uh, it’s a fort.” Mason grabbed the Legos she’d just added and tugged them apart.

“Hey, none of that now,” Stacia chastened. “Madison can pretend it’s a dollhouse and you can pretend it’s a fort.”

“Or we could each build something different,” Mason grumbled.

“As long as you do it happily. But right now, it’s time for supper. And we have a guest.”

“Who is it?” Madison piped up.

Someone who will change our lives forever.

Stacia’s stomach churned. “Let’s go see.”

By the time she’d ushered the kids into the kitchen, Daddy and Ross were there waiting. And Daddy was smiling, like he’d made a new friend. Huh?

“We saw you in the store before.” Mason sized Ross up.

“That’s right.” Ross looked as nervous as she felt.

“This is Mason and Madison.” Her introduction came out forced.

“I’m Ross.”

“Are you Aunt Stacia’s boyfriend?” Madison giggled.

“Madison.” Stacia shushed her niece as heat crept over her face.

“Actually, I’m