by Dora Hiers
Normal. For her that meant Willow and Tessa would be back in Florida. Minus Gunner.
A pang of disappointment zinged through her lungs, stealing her breath. That’s what she wanted, wasn’t it? Normal? Normal didn’t include Gunner. She set the mug on the counter. The sweet taste had turned sour.
Chad helped Regi into a sweater.
Gunner handed Regi a spare key to his apartment. “Just in case we’re not up when you get back.”
“We won’t be too late.” Chad escorted Regi out of the apartment.
Gunner locked the door and peeked inside Tessa’s bedroom. He cast an anxious glance toward Willow. “She’s out cold right now. Think she’ll sleep okay?”
Gunner’s worried eyes softened the scarred edges of Willow’s heart. He cared about Tessa. Maybe he really did plan to be part of their lives after this business with Malcolm was over. Maybe he would visit Tessa around the holidays. Other people’s uncles lived in different states. Why should she care that he not be close?
“I hope so, Gunner. I gave her some ibuprofen. She wasn’t talking about what happened earlier tonight when I tucked her in, so maybe she’ll sleep through the night. Plus, I’ll be there with her in case she wakes up frightened.”
“What if you wake up scared? Who’s going to chase away your nightmares?” Gunner pushed a button on the television remote, and the football game went mute. He patted the spot on the couch next to him.
She sat down and sighed.
His arm slipped behind her and pulled her against his side.
Why did her heart still jump and her pulse rocket at his touch? Her lungs refused to release the air she needed to breathe. Every part of her body tingled with the need to be near this man, to smell his mixture of aftershave and outdoors, to hear the rich timbre of his teasing tone.
His breath whispered against her hair. “Where’s a chaperone when we need one?”
“Maybe we'd better watch a movie.” Her voice came out a little shaky. He was too close, too male. And she felt a little too vulnerable tonight.
He laughed and moved away, only slightly, keeping his arm looped around her shoulders. Far enough for her to catch her breath but close enough to see the gleam sparkling from his eyes.
“I think I’d rather talk.” His voice came out husky.
Talk? He wanted to talk?
She swallowed shame. Talking wasn’t anywhere near the top of her list of priorities tonight. “Okay. Talk.”
“Tessa’s worried that when you go back to Florida, she won’t see me again.”
She blinked. Tessa wasn’t the only one. The sunshine state meant nothing to her if Gunner wasn’t there. Why hadn’t she realized that before now? “She mentioned that to me also.”
“I want you to know—” He paused, appearing to stumble over what he wanted to say.
Yes?
“That I want to be part of Tessa’s life.”
Only Tessa’s? A stabbing sensation sliced clean through to her heart. The air whooshed out of her lungs, painful and searing. Of course, he was Tessa’s uncle.
“I want to be a big part of your lives.” Gunner’s other hand came around and gently pulled Willow around to face him.
Great. Now he could see exactly how his words affected her, the pain and confusion springing up from deep inside. “You live here. We live in Florida. How exactly do you plan on being a big part of our lives?”
Gunner repositioned and stretched his long legs out on the coffee table. He tugged her so that she was snug against his side then wrapped his arms around her and nuzzled his lips against her hair.
She felt his chest-heaving sigh. Her heart sank. Was this going to be it? Goodbye? Over before it started? Maybe it was for the best.
Is that what she wanted?
Yes. She couldn’t just pick up everything and move to North Carolina. Could she?
No. She wanted to explore a relationship with this new and improved Gunner. But how could they do that in two different states with six hundred miles separating them?
“I don’t know, sweetheart. I just know that I want you and Tessa in my life. You’ve both become very important to me.”
Important? Hmm. That sounded so impersonal. Maybe she should show him how much he meant to her, how being with him these last few days made her feel.
Hearing his voice, feeling his arms draped around her, being with him again made her day that much brighter, that much sweeter. If she was honest, he had quickly carved out a huge place in their lives too.
Her finger traced the dimple in his cheek, the cleft in his chin, and then roamed his face, not neglecting even an inch. Her arms wound around his neck and her fingers toyed with the ends of his hair. “I don’t know if I can deal with a long-distance relationship, Gunner.”
His eyes closed, breathing became labored. He lifted heavy lids. “I don’t know that we have a choice, Mina.”
She closed her eyes and pulled his head down. She could almost taste the chocolate and whipped cream—
He pulled back slightly, shoulders tense. “Mina, I—”
Seriously? Was he asking permission? “Kiss me, Gunner.” Eyes closed, she breathed the words and sighed when he tightened his grip around her back.
Soft, gentle kisses fluttered across her lips, teasing with their tenderness. After what seemed like just seconds, Gunner groaned and pulled away, not bothering to hide the moisture around his eyes. Gentle hands framed her cheeks.
“A little distance between us might be a good thing. With kisses like that, I won’t be able to keep my promise. To God, or to you.”
17
Gunner ripped a long strip of tape and secured the box lid then heaved it against the wall with the others. “Just the box we were looking for. The last one.”
“Funny guy. You don’t have that many.” Mina eyed the twenty or so boxes lined up against the family room wall as she wiped the kitchen counter.
“Yeah. Good thing I’m not a packrat, right?”
Mina chuckled and tossed the disposable rag in the trash. She wrinkled that cute little nose of hers. “It took Regi and me an entire day to pack my stuff to move into the condo.”
“Whoa! Sounds like you need a short lesson on how to throw things away. Or give them to charity.”
Doubt clouded Mina’s face. What things were so important to her that she felt she needed to keep them forever? “I guess. But it’s so hard to part with Tessa’s baby things.”
Tessa, sitting at the dining table playing with an electronic game, made an undecipherable noise and mumbled. He only caught “more than baby things.”
Gulp. He took a long look at Tessa, spindly legs sticking out from under the table, a figure that hadn’t taken shape yet, the angelic face that still had child embossed on it. “You got me there, Mina. I wouldn’t be able to do that either.”
Nope. He would have displayed every picture she drew, clung to every piece of clothing she wore, savored every baby blanket she cuddled. He imagined the new house, garage stacked from floor to ceiling with boxes of his baby’s belongings. Was that considered being a packrat? When you couldn’t bring yourself to get rid of your baby’s stuff? Or just sentimental?
Regret and longing entangled so tightly together, the emotions clogged his throat. Regret that Tessa wasn’t his, and that he didn’t share this connection with Mina. Things could have been so different.
Oh, yeah. They could have been different all right. She might have ended up in the hospital like the last girl he dated. Overdosed. From a broken heart. The one he gave her.
But the longing. Ouch. It hurt. Dug deep. Wrapped around his heart, squeezed the air from his lungs like a boa constrictor would before swallowing its prey. He’d entertained fleeting thoughts of a wife and family before now, but this time the intense yearning for a family to share his life, to share his home, hit him square in the chest. He caught his breath from the actual ache that settled there. Exhale, buddy, exhale.
What was it Trent had told him? Gunner
was a “new man.” God had wiped the slate clean. That meant Gunner’s past mistakes, bad habits, old earthly desires, were all forgiven.
In Jesus was his strength, his purpose, his reason for being. Best that you remember that, Chapel. Get over what could have been, what was, and focus on what God’s will is for you today.
“You know you didn’t have to clean the apartment, Mina. I would have hired somebody to do that.”
“I didn’t mind. Gave me something to do. So what’s the game plan?” She tied the handle to the trash bag and set it by the door.
“Chad will help me load as soon as he gets back with the truck. It might take us a couple of hours to get everything in the truck.”
“That’s it? A couple of hours? For all this?” Mina spread an open palm around the apartment.
Grinning, he turned to the side and flexed his biceps like a body-builder in a competition. He held that stance, then turned, and flexed the other side, relaxing when both her and Tessa giggled. “What? You don’t think we can handle it, Mina?”
A flirty look twinkled from her eyes, and her lips curved in a sassy smile.
He might have acted on it had Tessa not been gawking at them with wide eyes.
“Oh, I’m sure you won’t have any problems lifting furniture.”
Ah. Now he knew where she was going with this. They’d been horsing around one rainy afternoon in his apartment, and he’d accidentally dropped her on the couch. He took a step toward her.
Her eyes widened. Her lips formed a silent “oh.”
He took another step.
Blonde eyebrows shot up, and her jaw dropped, leaving her mouth wide open. She held up her palms and backed herself strategically behind the kitchen counter. “You wouldn’t, Gunner. You can’t.”
“I would. I can.”
“But, Tessa—”
Three steps, and he had her encased in his arms. He grabbed behind her knees and lifted her legs into the air.
A loud rap sounded at the door, and a key inserted into the lock. The door flung open. “We’re back. Everybody ready to load up?” Regi yelled.
“I don’t think so,” Tessa’s voice sang. She giggled and pointed at them.
“Put me down.” Mina’s voice tickled his ear. Man, if she kept this up, he’d never make it to Serenity Ridge this afternoon.
Regi swiveled in their direction. Her eyes and lips rounded.
Chad cleared his throat. “Are you moving today, Chapel, or sometime next week?”
Gunner set Mina down, carefully, reluctantly. “Yep. I’m moving. Have to get this show on the road. Mina here was distracting me.”
Mina gasped and swatted him on the arm. “I was distracting you? Gunner, you are the world’s biggest distraction.”
Hmm. Now might be the time to stick a big toe in and test the water. “A pesky distraction or a blessing distraction?”
Regi huffed. “Would you guys get over it already? It’s time to get you loaded up and rolling down the road.”
Gunner narrowed his eyes. “What’s your hurry? I thought you were sticking around to visit your family.” He zipped his gaze to Chad and grinned. “And get to know Colburn here a little better.”
Mina shook her head, a smile curving her luscious looking lips.
He held up his palms. “Okay. I’m going, I’m going. Grab the other end of the couch, Chad. Mina didn’t think we could load the truck in a couple of hours. Let’s show these ladies what we’re made of.”
****
Willow knew what Gunner was made of, all right. Sass mixed with sweetness, toughness blended with sensitivity, macho muscle lined with gentleness.
A man who fulfilled her wildest dreams.
But that was it, right? Her dreams? Because that’s all it could be. They had a past with too much baggage, too many broken promises, and shattered concepts of what family and commitment really meant.
Even though she tried, Willow couldn’t peel her eyes away from the man. As Gunner maneuvered the bulky sofa through the front door, he turned and caught her staring at him. Sent her a saucy wink, a grin splitting his face.
Heat climbed up her neck. Good thing Tessa was busy with her game.
Well, Gunner might be interested in starting a long distance relationship, but she was not. She had zero desire to be just another notch in his long string of girlfriends, one strategically located out of his immediate vicinity, six-hundred miles away in Florida.
No way. She wanted forever. That’s why she never dated. Storybook endings and men like Gunner, the new and improved Gunner as he liked to call himself, only existed in fairy tales. Or in her dreams.
Her phone vibrated through the pocket of her jeans and startled her. She pulled it out and wrinkled her nose at the name on the screen. Her boss.
Should she let it go to voicemail? Wade had insisted she take some time off while the police hunted down Malcolm. Was he calling her back to work? Or did he have an update on Malcolm’s whereabouts? She’d better take the call.
“Hello, Wade.”
Tessa’s head jerked up from the game and her face drained to a chalky white. Afraid of cutting time short with Gunner? Willow offered a gentle, reassuring smile.
“Willow. Glad I caught you. How are you doing?”
How am I doing? There’s an irate client, a lunatic, threatening to abduct my daughter, and he wants to know how I’m doing? She sucked in a deep breath to calm suddenly agitated nerves and slowly let it out before answering, “Do you have any news on Mr. Brugman?”
“No, I’m afraid not.” He cleared his throat. Not a good sign. He’d been her boss for the last nine years. Long enough for her to know that he only cleared his throat when he was nervous about something. “But I do have news. We secured the Henderson account.”
He was calling to tell her that? He could have waited until she returned to work. “That’s wonderful. I know you’ve been working to bring them on board for quite some time now.” So now that they had the pleasantries out of the way, why was he really calling?
“Yeah. It is kind of a good-news, bad-news scenario. That’s the good news.”
Uh-oh. Here it comes. Willow never asked for time off, only when Tessa was sick, which wasn’t often. And now he was trying to cut short what time off he gave her?
She did another quick inhale, exhale exercise. Tessa must have heard it because she left her game on the table and joined Willow at the kitchen island. “Ahh. And the bad news?” She forced the words past the humongous lump in her throat.
“We discussed an audit they would like performed as soon as possible. Which means I need you back at work.”
Tessa tugged on Willow’s sleeve and looked up with pleading eyes. Willow put an arm around Tessa’s shoulders and pulled her close. Dread pitted in her stomach. What was she going to do? Tessa needed this time away as much as she did. And the police still hadn’t caught Malcolm. “I see. How soon are you talking?”
“Monday after the Thanksgiving holiday.”
Guilt weighed heavy on her chest. Willow’s work, her audit findings, had put her daughter in danger. And now Willow’s boss wanted her right back in the thick of things? How was she to protect her daughter?
Willow took a deep breath and swallowed. She didn’t know what to say, what to do. She looked around the room. Where was Gunner? “Mr. Brugman hasn’t been apprehended yet, right?”
Wade cleared his throat. Again. “We don’t really have a choice in the matter. Henderson is an enormous client with widespread potential. I don’t think I have to tell you what that means. Securing their company will be a huge boost to our firm in this economic climate. I’ll have to hire at least a couple more CPAs and if you can’t get here to work, I’ll have to find someone else.”
Find someone else?
Wade was threatening to fire her? For what? Taking a week off, at his insistence, while the police hunted for the man who attempted to abduct her daughter? Willow couldn’t wrap her brain around this.
Tessa plac
ed a tiny hand on Willow’s leg to still her foot from tapping. “Mommy, what’s wrong?” Tessa whispered, anxiety transforming her expression from the earlier happy face.
“Okay, bozo. Why didn’t you measure the truck first? What else do you want to leave behind?” Chad’s words brought Gunner’s laughter as they walked back into the apartment with Regi trailing, bringing a swish of cool air with them.
Like the frigid temperature sliding through Willow’s body. She tried to focus on this phone conversation. “Wade. You’ve never resorted to threats before. Why now?”
She sensed Gunner’s head jerk in her direction. She couldn’t look his way, didn’t want him to see need showing on her face. Because she didn’t need him. She wanted to feel his arms surround her, to hear his tender words of comfort, to experience his newfound peace. She closed her eyes.
Peace. God gave Gunner peace when he asked for it. Told her that’s all she needed to do to receive it.
God, please, show me what to do. Have mercy on me. Forgive me for the mistakes of my past. Thank You for Tessa, though. I don’t count her as a mistake, but a blessing. Please grant me peace like You have Gunner. Help me make the right choice for my daughter. Don’t let Malcolm hurt her. And Lord, it might be too late for this, but please don’t let Gunner hurt my daughter’s heart. Or mine.
Willow opened her eyes and collided with Gunner’s serious gaze. He’d moved over to stand in front of her with Tessa tucked under an arm, right where Willow wanted to be. Chad and Regi hovered on the other side of the kitchen bar.
“I have to look out for my business, Willow. You understand?”
What could she say? It was his business. But Tessa was her daughter. “You’re absolutely right, Wade. You have to look out for your business. But Tessa’s safety and well-being are my business. May I think about this and call you back over the weekend? I wouldn’t want either one of us to make any rash decisions.”
Wade cleared his throat. “The ball’s in your court, Willow. I need you here Monday. That’s the bottom line.”
She disconnected the call and slid the phone back in her pocket, drew a shaky breath and exhaled through chapped lips. Gunner held out his other arm, and she tucked herself next to him.