by Vonnie Davis
Piper shook her head.
“His name’s Riley and he has a little girl. Her name is Brooke and she’s eight. Do you know what drugs are? The illegal kind?” Reece played with Piper’s little fingers.
“My mommy tells me to always say no.”
“She’s so right. Riley didn’t say no. He took drugs and got hooked. That means they took over his mind and he couldn’t think right.” Reece tapped Piper’s temple. “He took money meant for Brooke’s clothes and shoes and spent it on drugs. He used their grocery money for drugs. Finally, he left Brooke and her mommy and ran away. Brooke did not have a good daddy. He hurt her by leaving her, by thinking of his needs first.”
“My daddy left me, too,” Piper whispered, casting woebegone eyes on Reece.
Could he get this concept through to her? “Precious, do you think it was Brooke’s fault her daddy left her?”
She chewed on her bottom lip for a few beats. “No. He was selfish. All he cared about was himself. He left her instead of taking care of her the way my mommy takes care of me.”
“Now, is it your fault your daddy left you? Did you beat him up every day? Or shoot him?” He teased and tickled her ribs.
She shook her head and giggled. “No. I wasn’t even born yet.”
“Exactly. You know, I think you are a genius. Your dad left you because he was selfish just like my brother, Riley, was selfish. And you are just as lovable and sweet as my niece, Brooke.” He hugged Piper. “Lucky me to know two awesome little girls.”
Movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention. Gina leaned against the doorframe, looking delectable in her sleep clothes and wiping tears from her cheeks. Christ, was he going to have to console another crying female this morning? God, give me strength.
Piper’s impish smile was back as she bracketed his cheeks with her palms. “One of those lucky girls gets to call you Uncle Reece and I’m going to call you Daddy. I’ve decided and that’s that.”
Holy hell!
“Gee, and I was going to take my two girlfriends, you and your momma, to the Red Hen for pancakes this morning. Friends call each other by their first names, you know.”
Piper scrambled from his lap. “Pancakes! I’m wearing purple, my favorite color.” She ran for her room.
One catastrophe down—he looked at Gina—one more to go. He stood and she came to him, her arms outstretched. “What is it, baby?” He pulled her close and kissed the top of her head.
“You handle my daughter so well. She finally seemed to accept why she has no real father. Thank you.” She snuggled closer and kissed his bare shoulder. “Thank you so much. Now I need you to step out of my bedroom so I can get dressed for the day. And don’t think I didn’t notice how well you cleaned the bathroom. Not only doesn’t that old spigot leak anymore, but the tub sparkles.”
“My pleasure. Is breakfast out okay? It’s not like you have to rush to your first patient. He’s already here.”
Warm hands skimmed his pecs and abs. “Yes, I know.” Then she blew his mind by laving his nipple with her tongue and gently biting it. Need stormed through his system, numbing his mind and filling his cock.
“Gina,” he moaned and forked his fingers in her hair, bringing her face to his so he could kiss her. Lips massaged lips, tongues dueled, and the sweet friction of their bodies touching as much as possible nearly drove him to sexual overdrive. “Woman, thank your lucky stars there’s a six-year-old across the hall or we’d be back in that damn bed.”
He couldn’t deny his desires anymore. “One day soon, you and I need to have a long talk…alone.”
Chapter 12
Gina drew a pair of pink scrub pants from her closet. They matched the top of pink roses she held in her hand. Plopping on the edge of her freshly made bed, she tried to steady her heart. After that make-her-panties-wet kiss from Reece, she could sense her heart beating in her ears, her throat, and her arms. Hell, even her ankles pulsed. To say nothing of her girly bits, which demanded some one-on-one attention.
What was she going to do about him? He wanted to talk. Did he want to distance himself from Piper and her deep need for a father? What would his rejection do to her daughter? Where her little girl was concerned, Gina was always overprotective.
Perhaps he wanted to stop the beginnings of any personal, intimate relationship between them. He didn’t kiss like it. No, he worked her mouth as if he couldn’t get enough of her—and it was a damn heady feeling. Even with all she’d been through in her past, she wanted him, desired him like she’d never desired another man in her life. This was so not good.
Dressed, she stepped into her pink Nikes, rifled through her jewelry box for matching earrings, and applied another layer of pink lip gloss. Both Piper and Whirlwind bounded into Gina’s bedroom.
“Momma, wait until you see how Daddy cleaned the kitchen. It looks so much better than it did last night after my kitty made a mess.”
“Didn’t you and Reece decide you would call him by his real name?” Piper could be stubborn about things. Gina knew that only too well. She ran a brush through her hair. “Okay, I’m ready. Show me this immaculate kitchen.” Truthfully, with all that happened last night, she’d forgotten about the curtains and the poor aloe plant—and the upset flour canister. Oh God!
Gina warily stepped into the kitchen and smiled. The place was spotless. Reece had set everything back to rights and even washed her mother’s flowerpot she’d always kept an aloe plant in. Mom had given her a few little things from home as mementoes after the big blow-up with her dad. The Arizona aloe pot, as her mother called it, was one of those cherished gifts. It had come from an artist colony in Tubac, Arizona, where her mother and aunt had stopped during a road trip.
The sounds of a trash can bouncing over the grass and a man humming caused her to look out of the window over the sink. Reece carefully nudged the empty can back to where she always kept it. Gee, had he even taken the trash out front last night? No wonder he’d been tired.
She joined him outside. “Thanks for all you did after I crashed on you. I guess having your toe stuck in a faucet drains you in an odd way.” She smiled and he ran his knuckles down her cheek. “God, forgive that sick pun.”
“I was happy to take some of the pressure off. Didn’t I tell you I’d take care of you?” He stepped closer and she backed against the garage. His eyebrow arched in determination and his arm curved over her head to rest on the yellow siding. One stride and his muscular, hard body molded against hers.
Awareness twirled across her skin. Nipples peaked and her clit pulsed. She slapped a hand to the lid of the trash can. What a place to get turned on. No doubt her nosy next-door neighbor was watching through the crack of her curtains.
“You look great, by the way.” Reece kissed one corner of Gina’s mouth, dragged his lips across hers, and kissed the other corner. His warm breath heated her from her hairline to her core. “I’ve got your back, baby.” The hazel eyes pinning her were so serious, there was no doubt about the validity of his words. His lips covered hers again, sipping, tasting, controlling.
They were both breathing heavy when he pulled back. A slow sexy-as-hell smile she’d never seen and most definitely loved on sight lent a depth of passion to his handsome features. In this instant, the sullen warrior had been replaced by a man who could charm any woman in his path. Since he had her backed against the garage, she was his path. Gee, lucky me.
“I’m starving. Why don’t you lead the way to the Red Hen? I’ve heard Junebug talk about it, but I’ve no clue where it’s at.”
Typical man. Stomach before kissing. Damn.
Reece drove his truck behind Gina and Piper, who kept ordering her to slow down so they wouldn’t lose him, which was kind of hard to do in a town with two traffic lights. The Red Hen, a red barn-style restaurant, featured home-style cooking. Two five-foot-tall red iron filigree chicken statues, with potted daffodils and tulips at their feet, flanked the double front glass doors.
Reece s
topped to read a poster taped to one of the doors. “Are you going to this spring dance, Gina? Says it’s a fundraiser to upgrade the town’s park. It’s next Saturday night.”
“No, going alone is no fun. I’ll just give a donation or bid on one of the items in the silent auction.”
He looked at her, those long blond lashes fanning his eyes. “Would you go with me? Maybe Junebug could keep Piper for us.”
A date? He was asking her out on a date. She hadn’t been to a dance in years, but wouldn’t it be great to be held in this man’s arms? “I’d like that, if I can get someone reliable like Junebug to take care of my daughter.”
His arm slipped around her waist. “It’s a date, then. It says tickets can be bought inside. Wear your dancing boots, Blondie. This SEAL can bust a move.”
The expression on his face caused her to erupt into laughter as he opened the door for her.
“Don’t make me smack your behind. Why the hell is the idea of me dancing so damn funny?”
She sauntered past him into the restaurant’s entrance. “I just had a visual of you gyrating in your tool belt.”
“Just keep it up, Blondie,” his voice so low and sensual, she couldn’t help but glance over her shoulder at him. The passion in his eyes surprised her, taking her breath away for a few beats. He pressed his hand to the small of her back and wetness pooled in her panties. “Gee, they have a big breakfast crowd here.”
She glanced at Reece. “Table or booth?”
“Table. I’m still awkward at eating with my left hand. I’ll need elbow room.”
“Sounds great.” Gina had treated his stump and rewrapped it back at her house, so his prosthesis remained in the truck. He didn’t seem embarrassed to be seen with only one complete arm and she knew his tells. She was pleased with his confidence.
Piper grabbed Reece’s hand and pointed. “There’s a table, next to Grandpa Clint and Grandma Fran.”
Reece smiled from ear to ear. “I think sitting beside them would be great.”
What was up with him? He’d never met either one before. Gina led them to the empty table. Several of the townsfolk nodded and exchanged greetings with her. They also eyed Reece, their expressions questioning. One of the benefits—or drawbacks—of living in a small town, depending on how Gina looked at it, was everyone knowing everyone else’s business—and they all knew she never dated.
Dustin Franks stood from the booth he shared with his wife and strutted toward them. “Steelhead! What dragged your sorry ass off the ranch?” Dustin smiled at Gina and winked. “Or should I ask who?” He clasped Reece’s shoulder and they gave each other that back-pounding hug men do.
“None of your damn business, Dust. Did your wife finally coerce your stingy ass into buying her breakfast?” Both men laughed. The volume of conversation dimmed as if all the customers wanted to hear their exchange.
“It’s our four-month anniversary and Kelcee claims that means a pancake anniversary. Like one’s fiftieth is a golden anniversary.”
Reece laughed, a wonderful sound he’d only displayed today. Gina loved it. “I think Kelcee has your number, ol’ buddy.”
“Mommy, I see my teacher. Can I go say hi?”
“Okay, but don’t be long.” Piper hurried to Mrs. Evans. Gina left the two former SEALs, sat at the empty table, and smiled at Fran and Clint. “How are you two this morning?”
“Absolutely grand.” Fran beamed. “We’re here to celebrate. I’ve lost twenty-five pounds in five months.” Her double chins nodded. “I’m so tickled, I can barely contain myself.”
Gina squeezed Fran’s hand. “Congrats, my friend. I know you’ve been trying. I can see the results.”
“It hasn’t been easy. First thing I gave up was diet soda. Do you know I’ve been drinking that stuff for over thirty years and never lost so much as an ounce?” She leaned closer and lowered her voice. “I think it’s a conspiracy.” She speared a piece of melon with her fork. “I’ve given up all fried foods, even those darling little French fries that couldn’t possibly hurt a soul.”
Clint’s mustache twitched with humor. There was never a doubt how much he adored his wife.
“I’ve stopped eating potato chips and donuts and ice cream. I even tried giving up chocolate, but I got so weak I couldn’t get out of the bed.” She winked at Gina and they both laughed. Fran had the best sense of humor. She leaned toward Gina. “How’s your toe, dearheart?”
My toe? “It’s a little sore, but I can walk fine. How did you hear about that?”
The platinum-haired woman snorted. “Silver Stud told me all about your faucet incident after he went by your place around one this morning.” Fran lowered her voice. “A neighbor called him about a strange man going in and out of your back door and stirring up the neighborhood dogs.”
Gina’s gaze slid to Clint. “You were at my house?” She was more than a little embarrassed. In all of her time in Warrior Falls, the police had never been to her home. She prided herself on being a model citizen. Hell, she’d never so much as gotten a parking ticket from Mary Ann, the meter maid.
Clint set his coffee mug on the table and nodded. “It took a couple tense minutes for us to make our acquaintance, but he’s a nice fellow. He had me laughing so hard about Piper naming him her future father.”
“She’s going to scare him away.” Gina’s attention flitted to Reece talking to Kelcee and Dustin at their booth.
“That young man doesn’t strike me as the type to scare easily. He’s got a battle-scarred air about him that proclaims him a fighter.” Clint wiped his gray mustache with his napkin. “I’m betting he’d fight for those he cared about, although I doubt he lets that many people get close to him.”
“You’re right there. It’s taken me over a month to get him to speak to me beyond one-word answers.”
“Ms. Wilson? I understand congratulations are in order. Piper tells me she’s getting a new daddy.” The gray-haired teacher’s voice carried over the restaurant. A couple of pieces of silverware dropped. The Red Hen became very quiet.
“He spent the night in Mommy’s bed after he got her out of the tub. He forgot his nuts, though.”
Gina clasped her hand over her daughter’s mouth as folks gasped, their heads swiveling from Gina to Reece.
Clint was no damn help. He leaned his head back and roared with laughter. Damn the U.S. Marshal, anyway. Fran’s shoulders shook with a fit of giggles as she waved a paper napkin in front of her face. Honestly, this pair of senior citizens deserved each other.
God, why is it so freaking hot in here?
“A man was in your bed in your daughter’s presence?” Mrs. Evans huffed and drew her shoulders back in self-importance. “I’m sorry.” She cast a distinctly reproachful expression on Gina, her white eyebrows lowered. “Rarely do we have our students report such illicit behavior. I think it best to cross your name off the list as one of the chaperones for the first-grade field trip to the zoo.” She looked down her nose at Gina as if she were a flea-bitten cat that had just coughed a hair ball into the teacher’s new orthopedic shoes.
Gina ground her back molars as heat slapped her cheeks. You sanctimonious bitch. “Are you implying I would be a bad influence on the children because I have the attentions of a male?” Damn, she’d been looking forward to going along on the field trip. She wanted to be active in her child’s life, even if she was a working mother.
The teacher scrunched her already-wrinkled face. “If the shoe fits…Furthermore, I think you being one of my room mothers is a bad idea. You can keep your cookies and cupcakes.”
A painful groan of rejection rolled from Gina’s throat. She adored being one of the room mothers.
“Why is Mrs. Evans being mean to you, Mommy?”
Why indeed? Her husband was a regular at Duffy’s Bar if one went by town gossip and the local weekly newspaper. According to the paper’s police log, Roger Evans had been picked up time and again for public drunkenness. Holly Evans had her freaking nerve.
The warmth of a large hand settled on Gina’s shoulder. “Excuse me, are you Piper’s teacher? She talks very highly of you.”
“Why…why, yes I am,” Mrs. Evans sputtered as she took in the huge package of testosterone that was Reece Browning.
He bent and patted his muscular thigh for Piper to step on. He straightened and she slung her arm around his neck.
“Mrs. Evans was growling at Mommy.” Piper’s lower lip pouched out.
“Well, we’ll have to pardon Mrs. Evans’s mistake this one time. She didn’t realize we don’t allow anyone to growl at or upset Mommy.” He cast a smile in the teacher’s direction and arched an eyebrow in challenge. “Right, teach?”
Clint shoved the empty chair beside him away from the table. “Sit down, buddy. I want you to meet Fran, my wife of forty-six years. Best damn woman in all of Texas.”
The teacher shuffled over to Clint. “Marshal, did you hear that man threaten me?”
His unibrow furrowed. “No, Mrs. Evans. I did not. Allow me to introduce you to a hero, former SEAL Reece Browning. Believe me, if he was going to hurt you, you’d be dead already. Now, go sit and untwist your bloomers. He’s only protecting his lady who, by the way, has always been a model citizen. She’s taken care of a lot of Warrior Falls people, even when it meant she might not get paid what she’s worth.”
Several customers in the restaurant nodded their heads in obvious agreement with Clint’s remark. Thank goodness for that. Holly Evans marched back to her seat, her nose stuck so far into the air, a good Texas rain would have drowned the snooty bitch. No wonder Piper made sure her homework was always neat and perfectly answered.
One by one, a few came over to introduce themselves to Reece. Soon, the line grew to the back of the restaurant. How would a man who’d only recently become communicative handle all this attention? Would he revert to his one-word responses?
How can I help him get through this?
She wrapped her feet around his calf. Maybe her touch would help. As more and more folks came, his smile appeared frozen in place and a panicked look overtook his features. Sweat beaded on his forehead and above his upper lip.