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

him for waiting. But at the moment, if she said anything, she’d start blubbering. Instead they trudged to the cement structure and entered.

Seemingly miles later, she spotted his truck. It beeped when he clicked the fob.

Once inside, she buckled her seatbelt, leaned her head back, closed her eyes, and took deep breaths.

His hand covered hers.

But this time, she didn’t pull away. “I was standing in Larae’s room bawling my eyes out. How can I be so happy for my friend and so sad at the same time? I’m a horrible person.”

“You’re not. You’re a person who’s unable to have something you badly want.”

“I don’t know if I can do this. How can I hold her baby and act like I’m okay?”

“You have to tell her.”

“But I don’t want to put a damper on her happiness.”

“If you don’t tell her, she’ll wonder why you cry every time you see her.”

“I’ve held it together so far.”

“But you can’t keep bottling your feelings up.”

“I don’t. I pray about them.”

“And that’s great. But you’re not being honest with your friends. And from what I’ve seen y’all are really close. How do you think they’d feel if they knew you were keeping this from them?”

“But I can’t talk about it without crying.” She clasped her hand to her mouth, but a little moan slipped out as tears coursed down her cheeks.

“I think they can handle it. And so can I.” Ross leaned toward her, and strong arms came around her. “Stupid console.”

But she was glad it was there. He was way too close as it was as she soaked his shoulder and he awkwardly patted her hair.

* * *

How could Stacia act like nothing happened last night, while all Ross wanted to do was touch her hair again? It had been just as silky as he’d imagined and he’d had to force himself not to run his fingers through it all day.

She finished painting the coffee bar, pulled her mask down to under her chin and caught him staring. “What?”

“Um. I was, um, just thinking.” He pulled his mask down as well, trying desperately to come up with something other than the truth. “Wondering if you’re still sore.”

“A little.” She stretched her back. “But much better than it was.”

Stop staring. “Isn’t it about time for the twins to come home?” He checked his watch.

“It is. Mind if I open the doors, to help with the fumes?”

“Not at all.”

“At least it’s a little windy today. I’ll be glad when October comes. But then this is Texas, it may not really cool off during the day until November. Or January.” She opened the double doors and the breeze played with her hair.

“I wish—”

“What do you wish?”

That they could explore whatever made the air crackle between them. Was it them? Or just him? Think fast. Something to cover.

“That we all lived closer. It’s all so complicated. My parents aren’t the type to be long-distance grands. Especially since they’ve already missed five years of Mason and Madison’s lives.”

Something in her eyes softened. “You really don’t want to hurt anyone involved, do you?”

“Nope. Especially not the kids.”

“And you weren’t trying to manipulate me with the whole Adrian happily-ever-after offer, were you?”

“Nope.” In fact, he was pretty pumped that she didn’t love Adrian. Even if he couldn’t allow himself to fall for her. And she was making it tougher by going all soft, like she might could trust him.

“I’m sorry I’m so gun-shy. After my mom died, her sister came to stay with us and help Daddy. But it turned out, she wasn’t anything like Mom. Aunt Eleanor was very manipulative and my experience with her makes it hard for me to trust people. But I’m trying.”

Her phone made a sound and she checked it. “Looks like your background check came back clean.”

“Just like I said it would.” Could she find it in her heart to trust him now?

A knock sounded at the door from the store.

“That’ll be the twins. Do you think it’s okay for them to come in? I get so used to paint fumes, I can’t tell.”

How would he know? She made it hard for him to breathe.

He forced his focus from her and inhaled. “I think it’s okay.”

“Come in.”

Mason burst through. “Look at the picture I drew. My teacher gave me a gold star.”

They both met the boy as Madison followed him inside.

“That’s Uncle Ross and that’s you, Aunt Stacia, with me and Madison in the middle.”

“This is really good.” Ross inspected the drawing, typical stick figures in crayon. But the figures were all holding hands looking like a happy family. Just like he was beginning to wish they could be.

“Grandpa said Bluebell had her calf. Can we go see it now?” Madison asked.

“Let’s go.” Stacia took off her smock.

“Yay.” Mason scurried for the open door.

Stacia followed with Madison, then stopped and turned back. “Want to join us?”

“More than anything. But what about the workshop?”

“It won’t take long and we both could use a break.”

“Come on, Uncle Ross,” Madison called over her shoulder.

He followed the threesome, who’d become so important to him in such a short time. All three of them. But what could he do about that? He’d figure something out for him and his folks to be family with the twins. Stacia was a different subject. Could she ever trust him enough to explore a relationship with him? Or if he gave in to his developing feelings for her, would his heart get broken?

No. No. No. He’d been through this with Nora. Constantly trying to prove himself. Constantly trying to gain her trust. Constantly realizing he hadn’t when she did a one-eighty on him. He couldn’t go through that again. And besides that, he had to go back to Houston and help his folks with the store.

The part of the day when he was in the workshop with Maverick was beginning to be his favorite. They’d developed an easy rapport. So much easier than the constant tension between him and Stacia as he tried his