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

a fist bump with the child. “Want to ride with me?”

If he got the kids in his truck, he could disappear with them. Just like Aunt Eleanor had all those years ago.

“No!” The single word dripped all the panic that clenched Stacia’s heart. “I mean, we can’t all fit in there and we’d have to move their car seats. You can follow us.”

“Or he could ride with us,” Daddy said. “There’s plenty of room in your SUV with its third-row seating.”

She closed her eyes, stole a deep breath. Like it or not, Ross wasn’t going away. And she didn’t like it. Not one bit.

* * *

Maverick pulled into the church lot, and Ross opened the passenger door as soon as the SUV stopped rolling. He’d enjoyed the other man’s easy conversation and Mason and Madison’s constant chatter.

But even with Stacia in the back seat, her strawberry scent had distracted him the entire ten-minute drive. Not in a cloying, allergy-inducing way. But in an unmistakably feminine manner and he was more than eager to escape it. She very well might be the enemy and he couldn’t afford to find her attractive. No matter how beautiful she was.

Besides that, she was bent on mistrusting him and he needed to wrap up this mission and get back to Houston.

“Come to Sunday school class with us.” Mason unfastened his car seat and bailed out, grabbing Ross’s hand and tugging him toward the church.

“I’m afraid your uncle is an adult.” Stacia clutched her Bible against her heart, like a shield. “He can’t go to your class.”

“But Rance and Larae are adults and they’re in my class.”

“They’re your teachers or they’d be in the adult class.”

“You’ll see Uncle Ross during the church service.” Maverick herded the group toward the building. “Maybe you can sit by him.”

“That will never work.” Stacia grumbled. “The kids have to sit between us or they won’t be still and quiet.”

Obviously she planned to fight him every step of the way. Was she being protective or did she have something to hide? Was she worried the children might out her on some sort of abuse or neglect if they got too close to him?

Inside the lobby, Maverick introduced him to the pastor, a baby-faced man though the graying in his temples revealed he was probably in his forties.

“Y’all go on to class.” Stacia hugged each twin.

They waved bye to him and dashed down a long corridor.

“No running.”

Their steps slowed.

“Don’t you need to walk them to class?”

“It’s just the fourth door down. And I trust my church family.” Her gaze shot darts.

Message relayed, loud and clear: he was the only one she didn’t trust.

A man stepped from the fourth door down, greeted the twins.

“Who’s that?”

“That’s Rance Shepherd.” Maverick led him down the hall. “He’s married to Stacia’s best friend, Larae. Good stock with a truckload of biblical knowledge. The twins have memorized countless Bible verses this year with him and Larae as their teachers. Our class is this way.” The older man stopped, turned back. “Aren’t you coming?”

Stacia stood in the entry. “I’m working the nursery.”

“It’s not your week.” Maverick frowned. “Is it?”

“No.” Her pale face turned blotchy red. “But I heard Mrs. Johnson is sick, so I thought I’d see if they need help.”

In other words, to avoid Ross. Worked for him; he’d had enough of her strawberry presence.

Maverick continued down the hall, turned into a classroom where a man and woman were seated at the front of the room with rows of chairs facing them.

“Denny, Stella, y’all doing okay this fine morning?”

“Just fine. How about yourself, Maverick?” Denny shook his hand.

“Can’t complain. Not too much anyway.”

A veiled complaint about Ross.

“Maverick, always the first to show.” Stella stood and hugged him. “And you brought a guest.”

“This is Ross Lyles. He’s staying at the ranch for a bit, helping with the store and the cattle.”

“It’s nice to meet you.” Stella offered her hand as Denny did the same.

“Ross, meet Denny and Stella Parker. Their daughter, Lexie, is friends with Stacia.”

“Nice to meet you both.” Frustration bottled up in his chest. He wanted to clarify, tell these people that he was the twins’ uncle. But apparently Maverick wanted to keep that bit of news private. He’d let it ride, for now.

Other church members filed in. Couples and apparent singles, from young adults to grandparents. Maverick introduced him to each person and he promptly forgot every single name. Except for Lexie and her fiancé, Clint, since the former had been pointed out as friends of Stacia. Anyone connected with her—or the twins—piqued his interest.

The study was in-depth on Romans, one of Ross’s favorite books of the Bible. He lost all sense of time and worries as Denny and Stella tag teamed the topic with frequent questions and discussion from the class. As an older gentleman closed in prayer, Ross had to admit, so far he really liked this church.

As people spilled out of the classroom, Ross thanked the teachers for a well-thought-out, obviously studied lesson.

“Grandpa.” Two small voices blended together as the twins squeezed through the sea of people leaving.

“I didn’t know Uncle Ross came to class with you.” Mason piped up. “You’re old and he’s not.”

Ross suppressed a chuckle. “Your grandfather isn’t old and besides he’s young at heart.”

The room had gone silent. It hit Ross why. Mason had called him Uncle. Two sets of wary Parker eyes rested on him. It was obvious from Denny and Stella’s stricken stares, they knew who the twins’ father was.

A few others had apparently heard, but theirs were only curious glances his way before leaving the room.

“We better get to the sanctuary.” Maverick hustled him out the door.

Maybe Maverick hadn’t explained who he was because anyone who knew the twins’ parentage wouldn’t welcome him with open arms.

CHAPTER THREE

As soon as Stacia entered the sanctuary, her friend Lexie pounced on her. “So who’s the cute guy you brought to church with you? Are you dating him?”

“That would be a hard no.” A sigh emanated from Stacia. “You