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

Escaping Stacia’s silence for a few hours would make his day. “I’ll have to stay here and work.”

The door from the store opened and Maverick limped in. “I say y’all go and I can stay here and work.”

“No, Daddy. You only went back to the store today. I don’t want you overdoing it.”

“I can sit down and paint.”

“You can’t even paint standing up.”

Madison chuckled. “She’s right, Grandpa. You make a drippy mess when you paint.”

“Okay, but I can sand sitting down and I can put together coffee bars while I lean against the work table.”

“I don’t know.” Stacia obviously didn’t want him to go.

Any more than Ross did. “We’ll make it some other time.”

“Please.” Mason resorted to begging.

“Just go for an hour.” Maverick approached the worktable. “I’ll do what I can without hurting myself and we’re still ahead on the order anyway. An hour won’t hurt. You both deserve some time off.”

“Let’s go.” Mason and Madison echoed each other, then Mason grabbed Ross’s hand while Madison grabbed Stacia’s and tugged.

“Okay.” Ross caved.

“I better stay here and help Grandpa.” Stacia tried to beg off.

“No way.” Madison tugged harder. “The whole putt-putt thing is for you.”

“Go.” Daddy shooed them toward the door.

“Okay. We’ll take my SUV.” She gave in.

“Yay.” The twins jumped up and down and as usual, their voices blended together.

But it didn’t sound like Stacia planned to enjoy herself.

Because of him. He’d gone and ruined the progress they’d made by admitting his feelings. Feelings she didn’t believe and couldn’t trust. Too bad her rebuff didn’t make his feelings go away.

She grabbed her purse and they filed out of the workshop. The kids raced ahead to the vehicle. Ross was tempted to sit in the back, but he was pretty sure he couldn’t maneuver around the car seat to get in, so he ended up in front.

Soon they were on the road and Mason and Madison filled the drive with chatter about what happened at school.

At the dude ranch, Ross paid the fee and collected their clubs and balls.

“I’m first.” Mason scampered toward the beginning of the course, where a plywood cowboy silhouette stood near a tin cup hole.

“A gentleman always lets ladies go first.” Ross did an exaggerated bow.

“Okay, you go first Madison.”

Madison set her ball on the green and did a few practice swings, then sailed her ball into the hole.

Stacia was next. Her swing was awkward, but she still managed to make a hole in one.

Mason followed suit with ease as did Ross.

“We’re all even.” Madison wrote down their scores. “But it gets harder as you go.”

She was right. Their next stop had a slight curve to the green, but they all managed to make it.

The third hole had a hill to it and Stacia missed.

“Come on, Aunt Stacia, you can do it.” Madison encouraged.

“Remember I never claimed to be good at it.” Stacia laughed as she missed her second try.

“Here, let me help.” Ross put his hand over hers on her club.

She jerked away. “It’s not a big deal. I’m just trying to have fun.”

“Let him help you, Aunt Stacia.” Mason pinched his nose closed with his finger and thumb. “You really stink.”

“Oh do I now?”

“You really could use some lessons.” Madison leaned on her club. “You like putt-putt so much. Why not let Uncle Ross teach you, so you can be good at it?”

Stacia let out a big breath. “Okay, go ahead and try.”

“First thing you should do is relax.” He gripped her shoulders and she stiffened more, so he let go. “Now align your feet side by side. Good.” He touched her hand on the club and she flinched. “Move your grip up a little.”

Standing just behind her, he covered both of her hands with his, which made her stiffen up again. “Now make sure your swing is lined up with the ball, give it a smooth tap, and follow through.” He let go of her, stepped back. “Now relax. You try.”

She did a shoulder roll, swung and putted. Her ball bounced, hit the hill and plunked in the gravel outside the green.

“Whoa. I didn’t think you could get worse.” Mason laughed.

“You definitely need more lessons, Aunt Stacia.” Madison tried to contain her giggles.

“No more lessons.” Stacia retrieved her ball, took two more putts to make the hole, then stepped aside so Mason could have his turn. “Just let me have fun and get through the course.”

But it was obvious she wasn’t having any.

The final shipment was set for Saturday. Whatever weather the hurricane blew at them should be cleared out by then. Then Ross would go home. And when his folks came to meet the twins, he’d try to skip it. He’d had enough of Stacia Keyes to last him a lifetime. His only choice was to get her out of his system.

* * *

Silence reined between Stacia and Ross in the workshop the next day, until she almost longed for small talk. Almost. Their close encounter at the putt-putt golf course had haunted her thoughts since.

But the twins should be home any minute and she’d escape his presence for the rest of the day. One more workday and they should be able to complete the B and B order. And then what?

“I’ve made a decision.” Ross tested the sturdiness of the coffee bar he’d just completed.

Could he read her thoughts? “And?”

“We should be able to finish the order tomorrow, right?”

“Yes.”

“Once we get everything done, I’ll help you get the delivery truck loaded and then I’m going home. To Houston. To help prepare in case the hurricane hits and tell my folks about Madison and Mason. They’ll probably want to come here to meet the twins, but I’m not coming back to Medina. Once we set up a visitation schedule, I’ll see Mason and Madison in Bandera and eventually when they come to Houston.”

“Okay.” Resignation tinged her tone. If his parents went along with his plan and didn’t take her to court, everything would be okay. Except that she’d miss Ross.

His phone rang. He