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

“You really think I can do this in one day?”

“I sure do. You’re you and I’m me. We’ve got this.”

“Did you teach my dad to ride a bike?”

Ross’s heart sank. The one subject he didn’t want to get into. “No. My dad did that. He taught us both.”

“Is he still alive?” Mason peered up at him. “My other grandpa.”

Okay, make that two subjects. It was past time for his parents to be in the know. “He sure is. Your grandma too.”

“Where are they? How come they haven’t visited us yet?”

“In another part of Texas. I haven’t told them about you and Madison just yet.”

“Why not? Don’t they like kids?”

“They love kids, but your aunt Stacia and grandpa Maverick aren’t used to y’all having any other family members. I guess I was just trying to give them time to get used to everything. We’ll see them soon though.”

Was Stacia on board with that? Yesterday, they’d seemed to jump another hurdle.

Mason darted around the side of the garage attached to the farmhouse and Ross followed. Through the side door, he found the boy astride a red bike dotted with checkerboard winners’ flags.

“Hop off and I’ll get those extra wheels off there.”

“How will I ride without them?”

“I’ll help you, don’t worry.”

Mason climbed off, then squatted beside Ross as he loosened the bolts and slipped the training wheels off.

“Okay, hop on.” Ross held the bike steady.

The boy swallowed hard.

“I won’t let you fall. I promise.”

Mason grinned and climbed on. “I can’t wait to tell my friends at school.”

“Just pedal, like you normally would.”

They wobbled out of the garage.

“I don’t know, Uncle Ross. This is hard.”

“You just need a little practice.”

Heavy on the right side, steady for a second, then Mason’s weight transferred to the left. Ross kept him stable, trotting behind. Back and forth, they went up and down the driveway—only stopping when store customers pulled in or left.

After at least a dozen tries, Ross felt Mason’s weight balance and steady.

“I think you’re ready.”

“I do too.”

“You felt that?”

“Mmm-hmm.”

“Okay, let’s stop right here at the end of the drive and I’ll call your grandpa.”

Mason stopped and put his right foot on the ground as Ross dug his phone out and tapped his address book, then strolled over to the open doors of the workshop. Stacia glanced his way and he gave her a thumbs-up, just as Maverick answered.

“Hey, Maverick, can you and Madison watch out the window? Mason has something to show everyone.”

“Sure.”

The curtain moved aside in the family room. Madison waved at him and he could see Maverick sitting beside her as Stacia stepped around the side of the workshop so she could watch.

“Here we go, bud.” Ross pocketed his phone and gripped the back of the bike with his heart in his throat. What if Mason fell or got hurt?

“I’m kind of nervous with everybody watching.”

“You’ve got this. We both felt it. Just do it again.”

“You won’t let go if I can’t?”

“I won’t. But if you’re doing it and I let go, don’t freak out. Just keep riding. When you get to the end of the drive, you can either turn and come back or stop. You ready?”

“Yep.” Mason took his foot off the ground, put it on the pedal.

“Here we go.”

A little wobbling and then Mason found his balance. Ross let go, held his breath, as Mason kept going without him. All the way to the end of the driveway and then came to a flawless stop, then steadied himself with one foot on the ground.

“Yeehaw!” Ross shouted as his chest swelled.

“I did it!”

“You sure did!” Stacia hollered, clapping her hands.

Ross hadn’t felt such euphoria since he’d learned to ride when he was a kid. He turned to Stacia, picked her up and swung her around. With her hands resting on his shoulders, she laughed. As he set her down, her hands slid to his wrists. Their gazes locked.

“Do you think I can come back by myself?” Mason asked.

“I think you can.” Stacia backed away from him, peered down the driveway.

Mason turned the bike to face them and lifted his foot off the ground as Ross held his breath again. A bit of wobbling ensued, but Mason found his balance and pedaled toward them.

“Look at you go.” Stacia let out a whoop. “All by yourself.”

Mason’s grin was as wide as his face. And it made Ross’s heart dance. Or was it Stacia’s nearness? For the first time, they were like two proud parents. A team. Or maybe more.

CHAPTER NINE

Their day in the workshop had been productive, especially since the salvage guys had delivered the promised load from the hotel early that morning. With plenty of materials, they focused on their work, no conversation. Even more tension vibrated between them since Ross had gotten all caught up in Mason’s achievement yesterday and made the mistake of embracing Stacia.

His phone rang and Stacia turned her sander off.

He fished it out of his pocket and scanned the screen. “Hey Mom.”

“Hey stranger. Have y’all been watching the news?”

“Uh no. Been too busy.” Supposedly helping Papaw with the ranch in Hondo.

“There’s a tropical storm brewing into a hurricane and if it holds its current pattern and intensity, it could hit Houston next week.”

His heart took a dive. “I’ll come home.”

“No. We’ve got things covered here. Miss Cotton’s grandson is taking a semester off, so he’s helping out. We’ll probably get evacuated and end up there with y’all in Hondo anyway.”

Only he wasn’t there. He really needed to go home. It was time to tell them. And he couldn’t do it over the phone.

“Let me talk to Daddy.” Mom’s voice interrupted his thoughts.

“Uh, I, he’s not with me at the moment.” Maybe she wouldn’t call Papaw now and find out Ross hadn’t been there.

“I tried the house but didn’t get an answer. Well, I better get back to packing stuff up. Watch the weather.”

“I will. Keep me posted on y’alls plans.”

“Bye sweetheart.”

“Bye Mom.” He ended the call, slid his cell back in his pocket, closed his