Second Chance Dad

by Pamela Stone

  They hadn’t even gotten dinner cooked when someone knocked on the back door. Vince set the plate of bacon on the table and opened the door. Boo bounded inside, tail wagging and tongue lolling out as Vince bent and scratched him behind the ears.

  Grayson Maguire followed the dog into the room. Not quite as tall as Vince, but similar style of dress. Tight, faded jeans, work boots and a ball cap, only his cap and dark-green button-down sported a Maguire Landscaping logo. “I had a job in town and thought I’d drop him off. Since Kenzie was in the house instead of playing with him, Boo decided to dig up the flowers Mom just planted.” He eyed Hanna and shuffled from one foot to the other.

  “Great, guess I get the opportunity to replant, courtesy of Boo?”

  Gray rubbed the dog’s head as Boo ambled back his way. “No permanent damage.”

  Vince glanced from Grayson to Hanna. “Oh, do you know Hanna Rosser? Hanna, Grayson Maguire, my brother-in-law and salvation when I need a day or two’s break from work. We trade out.”

  Gray removed his cap and extended his hand. “Hi, Hanna. Nice to see you back in town.” Dark, straight hair and nervous gray eyes that seemed to want to look anywhere rather than at her.

  “It’s been a long time.” She shook his hand. He obviously wasn’t comfortable with her being here, but she didn’t know what else to do except be friendly.

  “Years. Not since graduation.” Glancing around the kitchen, he backed toward the door. “Well, don’t let me interrupt your dinner. I need to get back over to the folks.”

  “Tell Mom thanks for keeping Kenzie.” Vince shook his head as Gray tugged his cap back on and practically bolted out the door. “Can’t say that I’ve seen him that nervous since some hot little redhead came on to him one night at dinner.”

  “He was always quiet. Not as outgoing as his three older brothers.”

  “Yep, still is.”

  “I don’t think Grayson was thrilled with finding me here.”

  Vince cracked eggs into the sizzling skillet and tossed the shells in the garbage. “Nah, don’t take it personally. Gray’s just got trust issues when it comes to contemporary women.”

  Hanna grinned, opening drawers until she located the silverware. “Wants a woman like his mom? Stay-at-home wife, dinner-on-the-table-at-six sort of woman?”

  “Claire Maguire is a hard act to follow.” Vince scooped the scrambled eggs into a bowl and grabbed the toast out of the toaster.

  “I’m sure.” She placed napkins and silverware on the table. Claire and Wayne Maguire were the grassroots of the community. Steadfast, good, upstanding citizens. Even Hanna’s mother was hesitant to gossip about any of the Maguire brood.

  Claire was everything Hanna no longer had the luxury of being. Hanna didn’t have a husband to take care of her and pay the bills so that she could stay home and take care of Ashton and the house. Another adjustment to her new status in life.

  AFTER DINNER, THE DOG stretched out on his back on the rug in front of the cold fireplace, all four paws in the air. Hanna and Vince settled in on the sofa to watch a movie, but she couldn’t help worrying that the neighbors somehow knew she was here. Vince’s answer to that was to wait until the lights were out in every house before taking her home. That might have worked, except her mother and Ashton would be home from dinner and the movie in a couple of hours. “I have to be home by ten or I turn into a pumpkin, so…”

  Boo’s ears perked up and he rolled to his feet at the sound of a second knock at the back door. Hanna narrowed her eyes at Vince. “Doesn’t anyone come to the front door around here?”

  With a sigh, he stood, straightened his shirt and headed into the kitchen. “Salesmen, sometimes.”

  Hanna recognized Mrs. Haythorn’s Southern drawl and stayed discreetly out of sight in the living room.

  “I saw Kenzie leave with Claire this afternoon. Just noticed your lights on. Thought you might like a piece of homemade apple pie.”

  “Appreciate it,” Vince said. “But you didn’t have to do that.”

  “Figured you might be hungry. I mowed your side yard. Out mowing mine anyway this morning before it got hot.”

  “You’re a sweetheart, but you don’t need to mow my lawn, Mrs. Haythorn.”

  “No problem at all. Ran out of gas or I’d have gotten the front, too. My granddaughter is spending the day tomorrow. Thought I’d see if Kenzie wanted to come over and bake cookies.”

  “She’s spending the day at her grandmother’s. She’ll be sorry she missed seeing Molly.”

  “Molly will be disappointed. Was that Grayson Maguire dropping off Boo earlier?”

  “That was Gray.”

  “Sweet man. He needs a good wife, too.”

  “Gray will figure it out. You take care now, okay?”

  The back door shut and the deadbolt clicked into place before Hanna let out her breath.

  Vince padded barefoot back into the room. “That woman needs a life.”

  Boo flopped back down on his rug as if disgruntled with the interruption of his nap.

  Hanna rubbed her forehead. “Wow, she’s persistent. She knew someone was here, you know?”

  “Yeah, kept trying to lean around me to see who was in here.”

  “So is Molly Mrs. Haythorn’s granddaughter?” Hanna tried to piece together the lives of the townsfolk since she’d been gone.

  “Yeah, thirteen-year-old Molly, not to be confused with her eighteen-year-old sister, Candace, who I recently learned from you was already in the oven when her scandalous parents married. I was shocked!”

  “Oh yeah, because we know that never happens.” Hanna giggled, but it really wasn’t funny. Her mother’s little network of friends would have a heyday with her and Vince being here alone. In small towns, people didn’t do that sort of thing until after marriage. At least, not unless they wanted to be the main topic of conversation.

  Tugging her to her feet, Vince ran his hands beneath her shirt and up her sides, then cupped her breasts through her satin bra. “Just so you know, I intend to continue to see you and to hell with the grapevine if they don’t approve.”

  Stretching her arms over her head, Hanna let him pull the shirt off. She wasn’t ready to admit how much she wanted to spend every waking minute with this man. Correction, not just the waking minutes. “Yeah, you just wait until I find out all the things they’ve said about you. You might not be so cocky then.”

  “I’ve never set out to burn up the airwaves, but I’m not going to change my life just because your mother and her friends disapprove. I’m too old and I’ve been through too damn much. And I don’t plan to let you get too caught up in it, either.”

  His shirt landed on the floor on top of hers. Then her bra. He pulled her tightly against him and started a seductive dance—bare chest to breasts, jeans to jeans. She hardly noticed the lack of music as she moved her hips with his and reveled at the touch of his calloused hands exploring her naked torso. The rub of his stubble as he nuzzled her breast and took her nipple into his mouth. His moist lips returned to hers and demanded attention as he hooked his thumbs into her waistband and slowed their moves to a sway.

  Working their jeans off and adding them to the clothing pile, he opened his mouth across hers, exploring and melding her to him. He eased her down on the sofa and buried his hands in her hair, holding her face firm for a kiss.

  “I tried not to worry about the grapevine when I was in high school. But every little thing made its way back to my mother before I even got home.”

  He backed away and stared at her. “So what did you do that warranted gossiping? Come on, you can’t drop a bomb like that and not give details.”

  Hanna squealed as he tickled under her arms.

  “I’m relentless until you give up every dirty little detail.”

  “Okay, okay.” She tried to stop laughing long enough to catch her breath. “One night I went skinny-dipping in the lake with Freddie Smith. Old Man Thompson saw us and told Old Lady Thompson, who told Mrs. Hayt
horn, who couldn’t wait to call Mom because of the whole Mom-spilling-the-beans-about-the-bun-in-the-oven thing, and Mrs. Haythorn had to get even. So by the time the story wound its way through the grapevine and I got home, my mother thought Freddie and I were going at it on the bank like rabbits. We just swam! Kissed a little. Why do old men fish at night anyway? That’s asinine.”

  Vince’s hand roamed over her belly and lower. “So I’m messing around with a wild child! Good to know. Skinny-dipping. Maybe we should give that a try.”

  Her breath caught in her throat as she enjoyed his ministrations. “Oh come on, I’m sure you were wilder than I ever thought about being.”

  “No, I was studious. Had my eye on that engineering degree.” His fingers kept up their ceaseless exploration. “I partied on occasion, but I was a good boy.”

  His stubble scratched her neck as he nuzzled lower toward her left breast. She cradled his head. “Oh you are very good.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Hanna woke up early and dressed. Still in her euphoria from the night before in Vince’s arms, she left her mom and Ashton sleeping. She stuck a note on the fridge to let them know that she was opening the shop and there was no need for them to hurry this morning. She couldn’t wipe the silly smile off her face at just the thought of making out with Vince. They were really going to give this thing between them a shot and suddenly all was right with the world.

  The sky had just enough wispy clouds to make it pretty, and Hanna breathed in the fresh scents from the newly mown grass and spring flower beds. What a great day.

  She stopped by the Barkley’s corner store for a box of Mrs. Barkley’s croissants on her way in. Nothing in the store had changed from the recently mopped well-worn beige vinyl floor to the tan metal shelves stocked with breakfast cereal. Hanna grinned at the red soda machine in the corner. Just as Dave had mentioned, the variety included those old-fashioned chocolate sodas she’d loved as a kid.

  Mrs. Barkley handed her the box of croissants and her change. “Say hello to Norma for me.” As they’d operated for forty-plus years, Mrs. Barkley got up before the sun came up every day and opened the store. She took care of the morning baking and Mr. Barkley ran the afternoon shift and closed up each night. The only difference in the woman was considerably more gray hairs than when Hanna had last seen her.

  “Thanks, Mrs. Barkley. I will. Have a nice day.”

  Hanna had the coffee brewing and had already given in to the temptation of the heavenly aroma of fresh bread by the time her mother arrived.

  Norma glided into the shop, wearing one of her dozen or so pairs of black slacks and today’s blouse, a deep royal blue. Yep, it was Saturday. Always blue on Saturday. Her salt-and-pepper curls framed her narrow face like a helmet and with all that hairspray, they were probably about as soft.

  “Morning, Mom. Is Ashton still asleep?”

  “I cooked him breakfast, and he was sitting in front of the TV when I left. Said he’d be by in a little while.”

  Hanna was still getting used to her son being old enough to stay alone. “Croissants are on the counter.”

  “Anne Haythorn rang this morning. Seems she suspects her neighbor has a new lady friend.”

  “Oh, really?” Hanna grabbed some Hill Country brochures to refill the plastic rack and tried not to snap at her mother. True, they were from different generations. Yet her grandmother hadn’t been a gossip, so that wasn’t enough to sell Hanna on that excuse.

  “She went over last night to take him a piece of pie, and he told her Kenzie was at her grandmother’s house, but she could hear someone in the next room. And somebody was in the truck with him when he pulled in earlier that day.”

  Hanna slammed the stack of brochures on the counter. “Mom, I’m not trying to stir up the rumor mill, but I am going to live my life.”

  Norma shoved her glasses up on her nose and turned to face her daughter. “You have a son to think about, Hanna. How is this going to affect him?”

  “Ashton likes Vince and vice versa.”

  “And if this relationship doesn’t work out?” Norma paused for a breath. “That boy has been through enough.”

  Very true. “Mom, I don’t want to argue about this. I enjoy Vince’s company. And for now, that’s enough reason for me to continue seeing him.”

  The bell on the front door jingled, and Anne Haythorn waltzed in. Her gray hair was cut in the latest style, in Hanna’s opinion a tad too young for her, but who was she to judge?

  “Good morning, Norma. Do you have that book I ordered for Molly? I was hoping it had come in before she arrives this afternoon.” She turned her beaming smile on Hanna. “Hi, Hanna. I see a lot of that boy of yours at the Keegans.”

  “He and Kenzie are friends.” Hanna pasted on her sweetest smile and walked over to the small coffee area. “Hot coffee? Croissant?”

  “I guess I can spare a few minutes.”

  “There’s sugar and creamer by the side. I’ll just run and see if I can help Mom find that book.”

  Bluebonnet Books got incredibly busy as the spring tourists wandered in. Lots of people out for weekend excursions to see the wildflowers, and Norma managed to sell something to almost everyone who entered.

  Ashton strolled in just before lunch with Kenzie in tow. Both kids had on faded jeans, T-shirts and backwards ball caps. “Mom, is it okay if we go to McDonald’s for lunch?”

  Hanna smiled at them. Neither she nor her mother had time to take off and make lunch for him. “Just a sec and I’ll get you some cash.”

  She handed him the money and straightened a curl that had fallen across his forehead. “Be careful and watch for cars.”

  Ashton stuffed the money in his pocket. “We’re walking today. Kenzie’s bike has a flat. And if we have room after McDonald’s, we may stop by Mr. Barkley’s store for a chocolate soda.”

  A chocolate soda. Wow, kids still liked those? At least they were walking, with all the tourists adding to the traffic. “Have fun.”

  She was so busy when Vince called to ask her to lunch, she had to take the call while ringing out a customer. He waited until she was done, and Norma took over the register. Hanna eased her way back to the office for a minute’s privacy. “I’m way too busy to take a lunch break today. Not that busy is a bad thing.”

  “No kidding. Kids tell you they were going to McDonald’s?”

  Hanna grinned. “They actually stopped by and asked permission for once. But you and I having lunch in public? Not such a good idea. Anyway, before we take this to the Falls Diner, we need to tell Kenzie and Ashton.”

  The line was quiet a minute. “Agreed. So we tell them after work tonight. Then I’ll grab a bucket of fried chicken and some fishing gear and we’ll pick you two up at seven.”

  Hanna frowned. “You don’t waste any time do you? Think they might need an evening to adjust before we all go out?”

  “They’ll get used to the idea. Fishing will help. I don’t think it’ll surprise either of them too much anyway. See you tonight.”

  VINCE HUNG UP AND DIALED GRAY. He wasn’t happy about being turned down for lunch, but he did want to tell Kenzie before someone else did. God, last night with Hanna had been hot, but with Ashton at home, Hanna had left early. Alone time was going to be a challenge.

  “Hey, bro. Got time to meet me at Mariah’s shop and give me a lift home? I need to drop the Harley off for a tune-up. Might be a free lunch in it for you.”

  More like brothers than brothers-in-law, Vince and Gray covered each other’s businesses when they needed time away. And since it was a pretty equal trade-off, they never worried about money. Still, it wouldn’t hurt to buy the guy lunch. Plus Vince was a little worried about Gray’s reaction about seeing his brother-in-law with Hanna.

  Vince parked the truck in the garage and straddled the Harley, ignoring the helmet on the shelf. He wanted the wind in his face today. Wanted to feel the power of the bike. Life was good. He and Hanna were both on the same page, at least enough to wa
nt to give this a shot. Kenzie was feeling better, and he had a date tonight.

  When he pulled his Harley into the shop, his gaze landed on Mariah Calabrezie’s jeans-covered rear end as she bent over a bike she was working on. Wiping her hands on a greasy rag, she straightened and flashed him a grin. Petite, pixie-faced, she looked like anything but a top-notch grease monkey.

  “Hey, Vince. Harley got a problem?”

  Vince put the kickstand down and got off. “Just came back from a short road trip. Engine’s cutting out, idling rough.”

  Gray then pulled into the parking lot, but remained in the truck.

  Mariah stared at the truck a second, but didn’t comment. “May be a couple days before I can get to it. Springtime. Everyone wants to hit the road. Probably just needs a little TLC.”

  “No rush. You’ve got my cell number.”

  She nodded. “I’ll call you after I get a chance to look at it.”

  He headed toward Gray’s old, faded, green-and-white pickup. “What do you think about Mariah?”

  “Thought you were hooking up with Hanna Rosser.”

  “Wasn’t talking about me.”

  The truck door squeaked open and Gray flashed him a go-to-hell look. “Me and the biker lady? What are you smoking?”

  “Mariah Calabrezie is the best damn mechanic this side of the Red River. This lady can make a bike hum like June bugs around a porch light.”

  Gray glanced at Mariah, but didn’t seem too impressed. “Not the kind of woman to bring home for Mom’s Sunday pot roast.”

  Vince was in a great mood and it seemed that a woman might be just what Grayson needed, as well. “So what is your type? Donna Reed?”

  Gray ground the starter, but it took at least thirty seconds for the engine to kick in. “Lay off. There’s nothing wrong with an old-fashioned woman who believes in the important things in life. The whole world is screwed up.”

  Vince raised an eyebrow and razzed him. “So you don’t think a woman should work?”

  Gray dropped the truck into first and growled. “Just saying that I don’t understand why there aren’t any women left who want to stay home and have babies. What happened to home and family?”