Harlequin Heartwarming March 21 Box Set

by Claire McEwen

  “Once he’s here, I’ll find a way to make sure that doesn’t happen to him.” Seth had always known that fostering was supposed to be a stopgap measure for a kid, not a permanent situation. That was the nature of the service. He looked at Quinn. “I won’t let Tripp be up for grabs in the system.”

  “I’m so glad he has you fighting for him now,” she said just above a whisper and her breath faintly misted into the night.

  “Answer me something?”

  She nodded and he asked, “Would you foster him if you had the ability to?”

  She didn’t hesitate. “From the moment I found him crying, I just wanted to make him smile. I always wanted children, but my life just… Well, it didn’t work out. Now I’m not in any position to help anyone very much. But if I realistically could, I would do whatever it took to care for him and protect him.”

  Quinn took his breath away in so many ways. “I thought so,” he murmured.

  “Can you imagine if he were out here now, watching the moon? He’d remember this forever and have a good memory to help blot out some of the bad ones.

  He could see her smiling almost wistfully. “I like that idea. One good memory gets rid of one bad memory.”

  He knew that happened. His scattered early memories were blurry, but he knew they were bad. His memories of life with Sarge and Maggie at this place were vibrant good memories that overshadowed the ones he hated. He stared out at the night. This memory would be a good one, no matter what happened in the future.

  They sat silently together, Quinn never looking down, while Seth faced his growing feelings for her, things he’d never felt for any woman who’d come into his life before. Nothing even close. And Tripp was in that mix. Right then, he wasn’t looking back at what had been but attempted to look into the future, at what might be. As the moon rose above the earth, he felt Quinn shiver against his arm. “Cold?” he asked.

  “A bit.”

  He did what he’d wanted to do since he’d first sat down by him and she’d moved slightly to keep from making contact. He slipped his arm around her shoulders and tugged the blanket up higher for both of them. “Body heat,” he said, thankful that she didn’t jerk away from him. But she didn’t come any closer, either.

  The night was an odd combination of light and dark as Seth felt each breath Quinn took. “The moon’s clear of the earth. It’s wishing time.” He watched her close her eyes, then become very still. When she finally opened her eyes, she sighed.

  “Done?”

  “Yes,” she murmured as she turned to look at him. “How about you? Did you make a wish?”

  He’d wanted to as silly as that sounded, but he hadn’t. “I’ve learned to not count on wishes,” he said matter-of-factly.

  “I made my wish, so now you have to, too.”

  Her scent, something that was elusive but gentle and warm, lingered around him and he found himself faltering, then agreeing. “Okay,” he said, and closed his eyes. His world became all about Quinn, about possibilities, about her breathing, the slight unsteadiness as she exhaled.

  He found himself actually making a wish and hoping that for once it would come true. “Done,” he said as he looked at Quinn again.

  “So, what did you wish for?” she asked with an endearing hint of a smile.

  “You know the rules. You can’t tell a wish without losing it.”

  “You’re right, but promise me that if…no, when it comes true, you’ll tell me.”

  “I will if it ever comes true,” he murmured.

  Quinn looked back at the moon as it rose higher. His breath tightened as he skimmed the sweep of her throat, the tilt of her chin and when he realized he was clenching his free hand, he forced himself to ease it open on the blanket over his thigh.

  “If you wished you’ll do well with Tripp,” she said in a soft voice, “that’s a given. He’ll do better than you could even imagine being with you.”

  He knew right then that he’d almost missed the whole point of what he wanted for Tripp. He wanted the very best for the boy. He should have known that when he’d felt Tripp shaking in his arms. He didn’t want any half solution or anything temporary. He didn’t want a constant fight to keep Tripp with him, a fight that would probably never end. He knew what he had to do probably when Tripp hugged him at the ranch, though he was just admitting it to himself now. He wanted to make Tripp his son. Then they could never take him away.

  “I’m going to talk to Burr when we discuss the blind curve and get a recommendation for an adoption attorney who would know their way around adopting a child out of the foster care system.”

  Her eyes widened, and she gasped, “Oh, my gosh, do you mean that? It’s been only days that you’ve known Tripp.”

  “You were right, that sometimes a person comes into your life and from the start you know they belong there forever.” That’s the way it had happened with Quinn, too. He couldn’t imagine not having both Tripp and Quinn in his life.

  “That’s wonderful,” Quinn said, then the next thing he knew, she was hugging him.

  He wrapped her in his arms and held on to her. “Thank you,” he whispered.

  She eased back to look up at him. “For what?”

  The question hung between them, until he finally answered her honestly. “For helping me remember what it was like being in Tripp’s position where nothing was certain from day to day. The only thing a child in the system wants is forever. Thank you for reminding me.”

  Seth couldn’t even define what that meant to him. He knew he should just let go of her, but he couldn’t make himself do that. And she didn’t move away. Her eyes held his and her lips parted softly. He felt her warm breath on his face when she exhaled, and he slowly moved closer to her. He hesitated until she lifted her hand and touched his face gently.

  He couldn’t turn back. He didn’t want to turn back, and he went even closer until his lips were on hers. Then he could taste her, feel her heat, and she slowly slipped her hand around to the back of his neck.

  The kiss became real, with Quinn responding this time, and it grew between them, shattering whatever promises he’d made to himself about going slowly, taking time, giving her time. He drew her closer, then framed her face with his hands. Gently he kissed the healing scar, and she trembled at the contact. “I’m so sorry you got hurt,” he murmured.

  When he spoke again, his voice wasn’t quite steady. “I don’t know how you and I found each other at all, but the possibility of a master plan doesn’t seem so crazy anymore. I was so worried you couldn’t…that you wouldn’t want…” He tried to find the words. “I thought you were still working through your life, you know, and that has to be hard for you. It’s a lot to figure out.”

  He was surprised when a tear escaped and ran down her cheek. He brushed at it with his thumb and whispered, “No, no tears.”

  She slowly moved back until he lowered his hands. “I can’t. I can’t do this. I thought… I’m sorry.” She was breathing quickly now and turned from him, freeing herself from the blanket to scramble to her feet. “I’m so sorry,” he heard her whisper again as she looked everywhere but at him.

  The moonlight had lost its intensity as the moon rose higher, and he couldn’t quite see her eyes now. All he knew for certain was the woman standing there was ready to run. Before he could think of what to say or do, Quinn turned and headed for the ladder. He got up, grabbed his hat and went after her.

  He went down quickly, and by the time his feet hit the concrete floor, she was out the open doors and gone. He hurried out, saw her heading down the driveway, and jogged to catch up with her. “Slow down,” he said. But she ignored him, so he reached out and caught her by her arm. That stopped her immediately, but she didn’t turn to him, or try to free herself.

  He was lost. He couldn’t say he was sorry for what had happened. He wasn’t. “I think we need to talk.” />
  Quinn shook her head. “No, we don’t. I don’t know why I did that. I’m confused and forgot,” she said in a slightly breathless voice.

  His wish had been that he could kiss her one more time and have her want it as much as he did. It had barely come true, before it had been shattered. Reality still trumped fantasy and wishes. It always did. The reality was Quinn was in love, but not with him. Michael was still her love. He always would be. “Let’s get back,” he said, drawing his hand away. The really stupid thing about the whole mess was he envied a man he could never meet, a man he could never compete with, but whom Quinn loved. He knew right then that she always would.

  * * *

  AS THEY NEARED the house, Quinn finally found the ability to breathe evenly, despite the tightness in her chest. She never looked at Seth as he walked beside her. Her hugging him, she understood. She was thrilled that he was going to give Tripp a forever home. But the kiss… She didn’t understand why she’d gone closer, why she’d needed to kiss him, to breathe him in. Then he’d said, “I don’t know how you and I found each other at all. I thought you were still working through your life.”

  They’d found each other because of her manipulations and her lies. Michael was part of this, too. She cared about keeping her promise. It was what had kept her going for so long. But now she found herself caring for Seth and she had to let that go. She’d let him believe what he did about her reasons for being here, and he was honorable enough that he’d never kiss her again.

  But what really hurt was the simple fact that she thought about fighting, explaining things to Seth, trying to get him to understand. Maybe he would, but most likely, he’d never trust her again for anything. She couldn’t fight and win. The loser would be Tripp. He’d be torn by her disappearing, and Seth had enough on him with Sarge and Tripp and getting away from the company.

  She’d do the right thing and leave after Tripp got here. She’d explain to him that she’d remember him forever, and that maybe they could write to each other. Although, she doubted Seth would want her to have any contact. Her throat tightened. An uncomplicated break was the best way for her to walk away. Maybe she was a coward, but everything just hurt too much. She’d leave knowing Tripp was safe and happy.

  She took a deep breath as the moon rose higher and became smaller in the night sky, and it seemed to take forever before they got up on the porch and the entry door to the house. “I am really sorry to give you the wrong idea,” Quinn said in a tight voice she barely recognized as her own before Seth could open the door.

  “Please don’t,” Seth said, tension edging his voice. “You made your wish, and that’s what’s important.”

  She started to shake for some reason and tried to stop it by hugging herself. He studied her for a long awkward moment before he opened the door to go inside. She didn’t want to say anything else or try to explain the unexplainable to him. She’d never tell him how his kiss had shattered every truth she had believed about her life after Michael was gone.

  “I’ll go to bed, if that’s okay?”

  His eyes flicked over her. “Sure. Good night.”

  Quinn knew she couldn’t sleep, but she needed time alone. She turned and headed to her room. The moment she had the door closed behind her, she leaned back against it, then slid slowly down until she was sitting on the floor.

  Pulling her legs to her chest, she wrapped her arms around them, then pressed her forehead against her knees, taking almost the same position Tripp had been in when he’d felt all was lost in the hay barn. She’d never felt more lost.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  AS SETH HAD watched Quinn close the door to her room, it felt very permanent to him. A stopping of whatever he’d let himself feel. He headed for his office, passing her room without glancing at it, knowing that he had to get away and not just for a ride or a drive. He needed to not be around Quinn so he could think and breathe. Now was the right time for him to go back to Seattle one last time and take care of unfinished business before Tripp came home. He checked the clock. It was just ten thirty.

  Once in his office, he called a jet-leasing company out of Cody, and they assured him they could get him wheels up by 2:00 a.m. to fly him to Seattle. Then he sent a message to Max. Any news on Tripp?

  As late as it was, Max’s answer came right back.

  McFarland says to give him three more days. No promises, but he’s trying.

  Keep me in the loop. Heading to Seattle. Will call Tripp at ten in the morning. Back late tomorrow.

  His next message went to Owen: Coming back. I want this settled now. He put in his flight information, then added, Put Conrad on standby for flight back tomorrow afternoon by three.

  When Julia told him Sarge was doing well, and with Quinn there and Cal coming out to the ranch in the morning, everything with Sarge was covered. One burden had been lifted, but a bigger one still hovered over him throughout the day as Seth sat alone in his private living quarters in the corporate tower in Seattle. He silently watched the city far below. Life was everywhere, but his life wasn’t in Seattle anymore. He’d talked to Tripp earlier and just making contact with the boy had underscored that he was doing the right thing for Tripp and Sarge and himself.

  Now he was waiting for Owen to show up. He’d been gone over two hours, and Seth was anxious to get answers. Lately, he often seemed to be waiting for a corporate decision about his life. This was the last time he’d have to do that. This one was the big one. He turned toward the door to the executive office when it finally opened. Owen came into the room. “Hey, it’s done.”

  But Owen wasn’t smiling. Seth’s heart sank. He didn’t want a fight with the board over his new demands. “Did it turn nasty?”

  Owen sank down on one of the chairs by the window and motioned Seth to the other one. “They were not happy you weren’t in there, and dealing with me didn’t seem to be what they wanted.”

  “Too bad. I’m sure you did everything right.”

  Shadows under Owen’s eyes gave away the fact that he probably hadn’t had a good sleep for a while. Despite that, his buttoned-down white shirt, red tie and navy pants did look nearly perfect.

  Owen exhaled. “They finally left. Do you want to hear the board’s terms and final answer?” he asked without giving away anything in his tone, good or bad.

  Only if it’s good news. “Okay.”

  “I’m glad you told me I could let them know about Tripp. I think that kind of mollified them and explained how you could even think about stepping back from the company. Personally, I think you adopting the kid is pretty great.”

  “I still love the company and want it to grow, and I want to leave it in good hands. But my life’s in Wyoming now.”

  Owen nodded. “I understand. I just never thought you’d ever leave.”

  “Me, neither,” Seth admitted with a slight smile of relief. “But the day has come, and from now on, decisions and operations are up to you and your team. The board did agree that you’re now CEO, right?”

  He smiled a bit at that. “I will be after the full board meets and does what they need to do. It’s a formality.”

  Seth could feel more of the pressure leaving him. “Good. That makes this a whole lot easier for me.”

  “You’ll get the notice along with the paperwork in a week or so. They agreed with the existing stock shares. Actually, they agreed to all your terms, even your continuing use of the corporate jet. It’s all on the way to Legal, but before you leave, they need a few signatures.”

  More relief swept through Seth. His demands had been extreme, but those were the terms he had to have. He was just thankful it had gone smoothly. “Thanks for handling all of that,” he said. “I don’t know what I would’ve done without you all these years.”

  “Thanks for trusting me.” Owen, who hardly ever showed emotion, almost blushed as he stood. “All my best to Sarge, and good luck
with the little boy.” He held out his hand.

  Seth stood but ignored his hand and gave the man a hug. As he stepped back, he said, “You’re a good man, Owen Karr. Come on up to the ranch and we’ll go riding.”

  “If you know a good riding instructor,” he said with a laugh, then patted Seth on the shoulder. “Just go. Don’t worry. I’ve got this.”

  Later that day, Seth was in the corporate jet heading to Wyoming, officially out of the business side of his company. He took out his cell and called Julia. She answered after two rings. “I’m on my way. How’s Sarge doing?”

  “He had a good night. So far, so good.”

  He heard laughter in the background. “Sounds like a party going on.”

  “Boone just brought Quinn back.”

  “What?”

  “They went out for a drive earlier this morning.”

  There was more laughter, which he knew came from Quinn. “Oh, well, the weather cleared so tell Sarge I’m on my way.”

  He put away his cell and settled back in the seat. Now he was heading home and not looking back.

  They landed through heavy gray clouds at the Cody airport, and the old red truck was right where he’d left it. Driving that truck was part of coming home, too. By the time Seth was pulling between the boulders and through the gates at the ranch, he felt a sense of freedom that had grown steadily since the takeoff in Seattle. He didn’t know what was going to happen in his life, but he’d be with Sarge and Tripp through it all. He’d back off from Quinn, and maybe the old saying time heals all wounds might prove true. He really hoped so. He didn’t want to lose her.

  As he topped the rise in the driveway just before five o’clock, he was surprised to see the gray VW parked by the porch steps. He didn’t know how to feel now that Quinn had her car and her wound was healed. Before the truck had come to a stop beside the small car, the front door opened and Julia stepped outside. Seth was out of the truck when she called, “So glad you’re back.”