Harlequin Love Inspired March 2021--Box Set 2 of 2 Patrice Lewis (i read book txt) 📖

retrieved dishes while she raked leftovers into the disposal and loaded them in the rack.

“I think tonight went well.” He set two glasses beside her.

“As easily as you lied to them, how do I know if you’re even telling the truth about why you’re here?”

“Back to that, are we? I don’t consider it a lie when covering up the fact that their father totally doesn’t care anything about them. If anything, he feels guilt.” The sadness in his tone tugged at her. “And besides, your dad’s the one who made up his oh-so-important job.”

“Your brother’s a real piece of work.” She hugged herself. “Making us both cover up for him. No offense.”

“None taken. Ron has always been selfish.”

Did he really have such a harsh opinion of his brother, or was he only trying to tear down her defenses?

“What about your sister? What was she like?”

“Heartbroken. Our mom had a heart condition.” She rinsed each dish before loading them in the dishwasher. “Mom died when I was thirteen and Calli was eleven. She took it really hard and was never the same. She went from this fun, outgoing little girl who loved church to a sullen child who refused to go and looked for trouble at every turn.” Which is when Aunt Eleanor came to stay with them and made everything even worse.

“Was she a good mother to the twins?”

“Calli’s teens and twenties were completely reckless. Until the twins. Once she had them, she settled down, even started going to church with us again and accepted Jesus as her savior. She was a very devoted mother.” Her voice broke. “They grounded her, reached the reasonable side of her when no one else could.”

“She must have been terribly young when she died.”

“Twenty-three. She had the same heart condition as our mom.” Stacia blinked tears away. Even after three years, she couldn’t talk about Calli and remain dry-eyed.

“I’m sorry.”

“Thanks. Were you and your brother ever close?”

“When we were young.” With the dishes cleared, he grabbed the soapy washcloth out of the sink and wiped down the table. “He was selfish then too, never wanted to share, always thought the world revolved around him. But I guess I did too, so we got along well. Until he started singing and people made a big deal over him. He sprouted an ego the size of Texas and we steadily grew apart.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Thanks.” He helped her load the dishwasher. “It doesn’t seem like you get much time with the kids in the evening.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Her eyes narrowed.

“By the time you close the store, it’s time to prepare supper. Then once they eat, it’s time to get them ready for bed.”

“And you could do better?” Everything he said seemed to rub her the wrong way.

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Then what do you mean?”

“It was just an observation, that we live in such a busy world, I wish there was more time. Once I start at the store, I won’t see them much.” A tinge of longing echoed in his tone.

One she understood since she never seemed to have enough time with the kids now that they’d started kindergarten. Back in preschool, they’d gone only three days a week. She missed those years.

“Well before my store clerk married my ranch hand and moved to Waco, everything wasn’t so busy around here.” She jerkily scrubbed the baked-on cheese off the casserole dish. “Daddy and I took turns, spending alternating days with them, while the other worked in the shop. I’m hoping with you at the store, we can get back in that routine.”

“Well, look who’s getting along.” Daddy stepped into the room, took his seat at the table.

“Just be glad you didn’t show up a few minutes ago.” Ross grinned.

Stacia ignored him. “Are they both bathed?”

“Yep, read them a story and they’re down for the count.”

Ross slid the last plate into the rack. “I better be going.”

“Maybe not.” Daddy scratched his chin. “I have an idea.”

“What’s that?” Ross asked.

“There’s an apartment across from Stacia’s workshop in the cattle barn. Used to be where our ranch hand lived. You could move in there if you don’t mind a few moos and whinnies.”

“Daddy. No.”

But he ignored her. “It might need a deep cleaning, a little sprucing up, but it would save you some money and a commute if you’re gonna be here every day.”

“Absolutely not.”

“What’s gotten into you, Stacia?”

“What’s gotten into you, Daddy? We don’t know this guy.” She waved her hand at Ross. “For all we know he could be a serial killer. And you’re practically inviting him to move in with us.”

Maverick turned to Ross. “I apologize for my daughter’s rudeness.”

“It’s okay, I appreciate her caution when it comes to my niece and nephew.”

Her gaze pinged back and forth between them, then landed on her dad. “Stop it, Daddy. You’re supposed to take my side.”

“I am on your side. But I’m on Madison and Mason’s side too. This is their uncle. He has as much of a right to be part of their lives as we do. I’m trying to make the best of a difficult situation.”

“By inviting a man we don’t know to move in.” She did a little fake shudder.

“Nonsense, Stacia.” Daddy scoffed. “He’s not moving into the house. And I’ve still got my gun.”

“In that case—” Ross laughed “—maybe I should just go back to Bandera for the night.”

“No you won’t.” Daddy pulled a key from the hook on the wall, handed it to Ross. “The place is yours for as long as you wanna stick around.”

“I appreciate it. But I’ve already paid for my cabin, so I’ll stay there tonight.”

“After church tomorrow, if you’ll come by, we can get the apartment cleaned up and move-in ready,” Daddy suggested.

“Sounds like a plan.”

So now he’d won over the twins and her dad. But not Stacia. She had to remain on high alert, in protective mode. The twins depended on her. And she wouldn’t let this guy just waltz in, pull an Aunt Eleanor, and