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

Larae entered, joined their circle. The swell of her pregnant belly always put an ache in Stacia’s heart.

“Madison told me in class that their uncle is here. But she doesn’t have any uncles. But since she calls me and Lexie aunt sometimes, I figure he’s a friend. But then I got a load of Mr. Tall, Dark and Handsome with your dad.” Larae thumped Stacia’s shoulder. “I can’t believe you’re seeing someone and you didn’t tell us.”

“Trust me, I’m not seeing him. We only met yesterday and he’s their biological uncle.”

“Wait, you don’t have a brother, do you?” Lexie’s confusion stamped a crease between her eyebrows.

“Their father’s brother.”

Her friends’ gasps echoed each other, followed by their joint, “Noooo!”

“I’m afraid it’s true.”

“But Ronny Ridiculous doesn’t have any family,” Lexie insisted.

“That’s what he told me. Obviously he lied.”

Larae’s eyes turned steely. “Did he give you any proof? He could be some reporter. Or a blackmailer.”

“I thought the same thing. I saw proof.” She filled them in on Ronny’s estrangement from his family and then confession to his brother after his accident.

“What does he want?” Lexie bit her lip.

“He claims he wants to get to know the twins. For now.”

“He can’t take them from you, can he?” Larae clutched her arm.

“I don’t know.” She closed her eyes.

Both friends hugged her.

“We won’t let that happen,” Larae promised. “I’ll get you the best lawyer.”

Larae was the sole heir to her parents’ deep pockets. On top of that, she owned a profitable rodeo. Her friend never threw her wealth around and Stacia didn’t believe in handouts, but this was different.

“If it comes to that, I’ll take you up on it.” Stacia’s voice quivered.

Her friends stayed by her side as they made their way to their pews. But Stacia kept going. Straight to the altar. Before the service even started, she knelt.

“I can’t do this, Lord,” she whispered. “I can’t lose them. I know it’s selfish. Their grandparents have a right to know them, but please don’t let them take the twins away from me. Take all my worries, ease my anxiety, give me peace. And fix this for me. Please. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.”

She stood, noticed Ross kneeling a few feet away. Stunned, she forced herself to return to her seat beside her niece. At least he was a Christian. The knowledge settled her nerves.

Minutes passed and Ross stood, came to their pew, started to sit by her dad.

“Sit between me and Mason, Uncle Ross.” Madison patted the pew. “That way Mason’s sitting by Grandpa, so we’re still between y’all, but we get to sit by Uncle Ross too.”

Despite his presence, peace swept through her. Only the kind God could give.

Their eyes met and a silent acknowledgment passed between them. They were on the same page spiritually. All they had to do was act like it, get along in a civil manner and do whatever was best for the twins. Surely he could see that Madison and Mason needed to remain in the only home they’d ever known.

Only time would tell. She needed to show her best, sweetest, nurturing side. Easy when it came to the twins. But when it came to him, not so much. She’d certainly do her level best to kill his worries with kindness. If she had to bite her tongue off to do it.

* * *

Unsure if she hadn’t heard him enter the workshop or was ignoring him, Ross watched as Stacia ran the wire brush attachment on her drill over a stubborn rust spot that refused to relinquish its hold on the exterior side of the tub.

After church yesterday, her dad had helped him clean the apartment, while she’d taken the twins for a ride in the woods on their four-seater side-by-side. Her only contribution had been freshly laundered sheets. Maverick had invited him to supper as well and she’d obviously been uncomfortable during the meal, picking at her food.

Finally, the corrosion came loose and melted away into dust. She turned off the drill, pulled her goggles up on top of her head and ran her hand over the iron.

“What should I tackle?” he asked.

Stacia squealed, dropped her drill.

“Sorry.” He picked up the power tool, pulled the trigger to make sure it still worked, then set it on her worktable. “The door was open and I thought you’d be expecting me.”

“Not this early.” She clutched her hand to her chest. “You almost gave me a heart attack. The twins haven’t even left for kindergarten yet.”

“I was hoping to see them before they leave. I went to the house first, rang the bell, but didn’t get an answer.”

“Daddy probably thought it was a delivery and I’d handle it. He’s getting the twins ready and driving them to school this morning. We take turns.”

Maybe someday, he could have a turn. But not anytime soon from the looks of her. Despite their Christian bond at church yesterday, today the wariness in her eyes had returned.

“You look like a cartoon character with those goggles on your head.”

Her face reddened. “Glamour doesn’t usually hang around in the workshop.”

“You don’t need glamour.” If they weren’t on opposite sides of the issue, he could easily get caught up in her beauty. He cleared his throat. “I feel like we made progress yesterday, that you at least found a reason to trust me.”

“I’m trying to.”

“Truce?” He offered his hand.

“Truce.” She clasped it and electricity shot up his arm.

That first day, he’d noticed a smattering of coppery freckles splashed across her fair nose and cheeks. But yesterday and this morning, there was no trace of them. Fascinating, along with her aqua eyes a man could lose himself in and auburn hair with honeyed highlights that begged for fingers to run through the silky lengths.

He needed to get to work. “So do you want me to help with the tub?”

“I’ve got it.”

“I’m not good at sitting around waiting. And I’m here to work.”

“Okay. Since you’re good at building furniture, you can start on the coffee