Harlequin Heartwarming December 2020 Box Set

by Cari Lynn Webb, Linda Warren, Mary Anne Wilson

“Then what are you upset about?”

  “Luci spent the morning with Bo.”

  “What?” Becky was visiting with a patient in the hospital and she took her phone and went into the hallway. “What are you talking about?”

  “Obviously, yesterday he told her he would play with her and she remembered. When he saw her outside, he came over. I told him we had other plans and Luci’s eyes filled with tears and I couldn’t deny her wish. So he stayed.”

  “Is he there now?”

  “No. I told him Luci needed a nap and he went back over to Ava’s house. I don’t know how to handle this. You need to be here.”

  “Dad, we have a double mastectomy patient who’s not doing very well. Her husband walked out and she doesn’t think he’s coming back. She wants to die and I can’t leave her right now. I’m waiting on a therapist and the patient’s daughter to get here. But as soon as they arrive I will come home and deal with the situation. When Luci wakes up, take her to the park for a little while and I’ll be home by then.”

  “Why weren’t you answering your phone earlier? I called.” Her dad’s agitated voice was getting stronger and she knew it wasn’t right to dump the situation on him. She had to do better. For her child. And for herself.

  “I turned my phone off when I was in a meeting and I just turned it back on. I’ll take care of the problem when I get home. I’m off tomorrow so you don’t have to deal with it.”

  “I got the impression from Bo that he thinks Luci is his daughter. Is that possible?”

  She took a deep breath to calm her shaky nerves. “He’s just fishing for answers. He asked me who Luci’s father was and I guess he’s now testing you.” Oh, she wanted to kill Bo Goodnight. Why couldn’t he stay out of her life?

  “Why don’t you just tell him the truth?”

  “Okay, Dad. I have to go. Just take care of Luci and I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

  She’d told her dad she would take care of the situation, but in truth she didn’t know how to deal with Bo’s interest in Luci. Her dad was right. She had to talk to Bo and bare her soul, and maybe then he would leave her in peace.

  * * *

  IT WAS AFTER two when Bo returned from the gym. He’d texted his mom and told her he wasn’t going to be home for lunch so she didn’t need to worry about him. His mother’s car was in the driveway, though. He glanced toward the Tullous house and noticed Becky’s car wasn’t there. Or maybe they’d gone to the park, but he didn’t think so. The moment Becky found out he’d been visiting with Luci there would be fireworks. He was depending on that. He was good at defusing fireworks.

  He went in through the garage, as always. The house was quiet. He found his mom in the living room, sitting in her chair with her feet propped up, sound asleep. His heart ached at the sight. For years she’d worked hard just to put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads. Of course, he had helped, but it had to have been an enormous burden for her. And it just spiked his anger for his father.

  When he’d joined the army, he knew his mother couldn’t make the mortgage payments without Bo’s help. He feared she would lose the house and then she and Kelsey would be homeless. He talked with a guy at the bank and they set up an account so his earnings from the army would go straight into it and the mortgage payments would be deducted from that. At that time, the banker had alerted him that the house was still in Mason Goodnight’s name.

  From thousands of miles away, he contacted Gabe Garrison, an attorney in Horseshoe. He’d asked if Gabe could take care of it and he’d said he could, but he needed Mason’s signature on the papers for it to be legal. Gabe had tracked Mason down and said that Bo’s father had signed without a problem. For that, Bo should be grateful, but somehow he couldn’t dredge up that emotion concerning his father.

  He sat on the sofa and his mother woke up. “Oh, Bo, you’re back,” she said in a sleepy voice. “What time is it?”

  “After one.”

  “Oh, my goodness. I have to get back to work.” She pushed forward to get up.

  He put out a hand to stop her. “Mom, you’re the boss. You can come and go as you please.”

  “I don’t want to take advantage.”

  “Could we talk for a minute?”

  She pulled her cell phone out of the smock she was wearing. “I have to call my assistant to let her know.”

  After speaking to someone, she leaned back in her chair and yawned. It made him wonder if she was getting enough rest.

  “You look tired.”

  “The owner of the store and his entourage are coming next week and we’re working a lot of overtime to make sure everything is spick-and-span and up to his standards.”

  “That store is always clean. I can’t see that he would have an issue with anything, so stop worrying.”

  “It’s not just that. We haven’t had a raise in over two years and I’m going to bring up the subject. I have two single mothers working and they need more money to support their families. They work very hard and I’m going to see that they get it. I may lose my job over it.”

  “Go get ’em, Mom. And if you lose your job, I’ll take care of you. Don’t worry about it. Stand up for what you want.”

  “I don’t need you to take care of me, thank you very much. I can take care of myself. My kids are grown and I want you to live your own lives now.” She clapped her hands together. “I’m so very proud of both of you, despite my terrible ineptness as a mother.”

  “Hey, you’re talking about my mother, and neither Kelsey nor I blame you for anything. You gave us all you had so get those thoughts out of your head.”

  She sat forward. “What did you want to talk about?”

  “You’re good friends with Craig, right?”

  “Sure. After his accident I helped him out while Becky worked and got to know him a little better. We’re neighbors, after all.”

  “Then you would know who Luci’s father is.”

  She frowned that trademark frown she’d worn when he did something wrong. “Why would I know that?”

  “Why is it such a secret? Luci has a father. Who is it?”

  “Why are you bothering with this? It’s only going to cause trouble and it doesn’t concern you.”

  “Again, why is Luci’s father such a secret?”

  Her phone buzzed, and she glanced at it and pushed it back into her pocket. “Craig and I agreed a long time ago to never discuss our children because we knew I would take your side and he would take Becky’s. So it was best if we just left that subject alone and we have. When Craig told me Becky had a baby, I said congratulations. When Becky brought the baby home, I fell in love with her. She’s just so sweet. I know her problems will get worked out. Becky just has to be stronger.”

  He could hear the love in his mother’s voice and that made his cop sensors go off. Did she know Luci was his? And was she keeping it from him, like everyone else seemed to be? He couldn’t make himself believe that. Maybe his mother saw Bo in Luci. That could be the only explanation. But something else caught his attention.

  “What did you mean, Becky has to be stronger?”

  She got up and waved a hand. “Oh, nothing. I have to get back to work.”

  “What did you mean?” he asked in his best cop voice.

  His mother shook her head. “Oh, you’re so tenacious. I’ll tell you, but you promise me you’ll leave this alone. This is Becky’s problem, not yours or mine or anyone else’s.”

  “What is it?”

  “Becky has a problem making Luci do what she’s supposed to. Luci cries and says Becky doesn’t love her, and Becky doesn’t force her. The therapist can get Luci to talk normally in her office, but with Becky, Luci drifts back into the same old pattern. It’s become a habit. Luci has to be forced to talk and Becky is struggling with that.”

  “You mean she’s impeding Lu
ci’s progress?”

  “No, that’s not what I meant. What I meant was for you to stay out of it.” Her eyes narrowed on his face. “You know, you haven’t visited your grandmother in a while, and now that you have some time off you need to do that.”

  “Oh, Mom, I don’t like that place they put her in.” After his grandfather’s death, his grandmother, Estelle, had lived on the farm for a while, but she’d lost her driver’s license after getting too many tickets and smashing her car into the courthouse. She had to depend on her daughter to take her places. Aunt Lois and his grandmother didn’t get along all that well, and the next thing he’d known they were selling the farm and putting his grandmother in a retirement home.

  “It’s called Enchanted Oaks and it’s very nice.”

  “I know he talked her into selling.” It always irked him that his father had so much control over his grandmother.

  “He did not. Estelle was tired of the isolation and having to ask Lois to take her places. Imogene Cooksley moved to Enchanted Oaks and your grandmother went to visit her. She liked the place and decided on her own that she wanted to be around people. It was her decision, totally. Now be a good grandson and go visit her. She always asks about you.”

  Bo drew a deep breath and succumbed to the guilt trip. “I’ll go tomorrow.”

  “I’m sure she’ll appreciate it.”

  But would he? Every time he visited his grandmother she always questioned his marital status. Or the lack of it. He braced himself for another round the next day.

  Bo got out of his sweaty gym clothes and took a shower. He dressed in his usual jeans and T-shirt, and walked into the living room.

  Sitting on the sofa, he called Hutch. He had to know how things were going at work.

  “Hey, Sarge, are you lying on the couch, watching a movie and drinking beer?”

  Bo ignored the sarcasm. “How are things going?”

  “Fine. We had a convenience store robbery this morning and the guy was holed up in there. We had to go in and take him.”

  “Anyone get hurt?”

  “Of course not. We’re professionals and the lieutenant was on the scene.”

  “Did she call anyone in to take my place?”

  “No. We got it covered.”

  “Yeah. Talk to you later.”

  Bo stared at his phone, feeling deflated because he wasn’t really needed. He ran the team, but he guessed they were doing just fine without him.

  A scratching sound caught his attention. Did his mother have a mouse in the house? If she did, he would be looking for that thing all night. She hated the little critters.

  He followed the sound to the front door. To his surprise, Luci stood there with Pink and Purr at her feet.

  She raised a hand. “Hi. Bo. Can. You. Play?”

  “Does your grandfather know you’re here?” He had a sneaking suspicion he didn’t. She’d walked across the street on her own.

  Luci shrugged. “Don’t. Know.”

  Bo glanced at the Tullous house as the front door opened and Craig came out. “Luci!”

  “Uh. Oh.”

  “I got her, Craig,” Bo shouted, and picked up Luci and strolled across the street.

  When Bo reached him, Craig grabbed Luci and held her close. “You scared Grandpa.”

  “I. Sorry,” Luci mumbled into Craig’s shoulder. “Play. With. Bo.”

  “Don’t you ever do that again.”

  Bo thought about how lonely it must be not to have anyone to play with, and a mother who worked all the time. He wasn’t Luci’s age but he was someone other than her mother and grandpa who paid attention to her and didn’t bully her about her speech. And now he would have to be the adult and impart to her how dangerous it was to be out alone and crossing streets.

  “Your grandfather is right. You shouldn’t be outside by yourself. Do you understand?”

  “Sorry. Go. My. Room.” She wiggled down and marched toward the hallway.

  “Is that usually her punishment?” Bo asked.

  “Yes. Sometimes it’s five minutes and sometimes it’s ten. Right now I feel like locking her in there. I was so scared when I couldn’t find her.”

  “Do you mind if I go talk to her?”

  “No. Go ahead. I need my heart rate to subside.”

  Bo walked down the hall and into a pink-and-white room that was like a cotton-candy dream. A candy-striped comforter highlighted the white furniture and light pink walls. Lace ruffles adorned the pillows and the comforter on the single bed with half rails. Stuffed animals and dolls rested in every nook and cranny. Children’s books filled a large shelf. Luci lay on the bed, facedown, whimpering. Purr had crawled up next to her and Pink lay on the rug beside her bed, which just happened to be pink-and-white stripes.

  He sat on the bed. “Hey, Luci.”

  She turned over and scooted to sit beside him. “You. Mad. At. Me?” Her feet barely hung over the bed. She was so tiny, which probably had to do with the developmental delay.

  “No. I’m just concerned. You see, I’m kind of like that. I’m a cop and I’ve worked a lot of jobs. One of those jobs was a liaison to the schools. A liaison is someone who tries to keep kids safe and let children know the dangers of their actions. You know what the number one rule is for kids your age?” He was making this up as he went along to get her attention, to make her realize that what she did was wrong and not to point a finger at her.

  She shook her head.

  “To never go out alone.”

  “Oh.”

  “And to never, ever, cross the street by yourself. That’s very dangerous. Cars whiz by here all the time. I would hate for a car to hit Pink.”

  “No!” she shouted, her eyes big. “I. Not. Do. It. Again.”

  “Good.”

  “Are. You. Mad. At. Me?”

  He put his arm around her thin shoulders. “I could never be mad at you, angel face.”

  A smile widened her features and she pushed those pink glasses up her nose and smiled even bigger, if that was possible. This kid was extra special and he knew that deep in his heart he would do anything to keep her safe. He realized that that was a father’s job, and if Luci was really his, he’d lost a lot of valuable time. Anger gripped his stomach. He couldn’t take it slow. He needed to know, and as soon as Becky showed up he intended to get that answer.

  * * *

  BECKY HURRIED INSIDE. It had been a horrible day. Men were such jerks when it came to women’s breasts. Mr. Batson had just disappeared. He couldn’t take it that his wife would no longer have breasts. Ms. Batson was a mess and didn’t want to live anymore. Finally, her daughter had arrived and gone looking for her father. Becky stayed until the therapist got there and ordered sedation for the night. As Becky was leaving the hospital she saw the daughter and the father going back in, which was good. She was hoping they could work this out. It always took time to adjust to this kind of situation, especially since the woman was only forty-two.

  “You’re finally home,” her dad said from his chair.

  She threw her purse on the sofa. “Yes. I’m sorry it took so long, but we had a situation that had to be addressed. Where’s Luci?”

  “In her room.”

  “I’ll check on her and then we’ll talk.”

  “She’s not alone.”

  Becky swung around. “What?”

  “Bo is in there with her.”

  Becky took a deep breath. “Why is he here?”

  Her dad told her a story that gave her chills. “Luci walked across the street on her own?”

  “Yes. I was scared to death until Bo brought her back. She knocked on his door. He’s in there now, talking to her and hopefully telling her how dangerous that was.”

  “I don’t need him to tell my child anything.”

  “Well, you should’ve been he
re, then. It’s the weekend and Luci needs you. I’m sorry that’s blunt, but Luci is soaking up Bo’s attention because she needs it. She needs to be around children. Things have to change, Rebecca.”

  “Dad, please, not today.”

  “When, then?”

  “I have to talk to Bo.”

  “Now there’s an idea.”

  She headed for the hallway, fuming. Why was she angry all the time? It was pulling her down, affecting her actions and her words. And it was all because of Bo. He thought he could come back into her life and take over her child. He was mistaken and she was going to get rid of him one last time.

  CHAPTER SIX

  BECKY STOPPED OUTSIDE the door when she heard Bo’s deep smooth masculine voice, which touched her skin like cashmere, soothing, comfortable and deliciously rich. The baritone made her want to lean her head against the wall and absorb every nuance of his voice into her skin. She hated herself for that reaction. She would never give in to those feelings again. She’d learned her lesson, but her heart was not on her side. It craved his voice.

  “You have a lot of stuffed animals and dolls,” Bo was saying.

  “This. Is. Bear. Soft.” In Becky’s mind’s eye she could see Luci rubbing her face against the stuffed animal.

  “What’s this one’s name?”

  He wasn’t worming his way into Luci’s life. She stepped into the room and Luci ran to her.

  “Mom-my.”

  Becky picked her up and kissed her cheek. “How’s my baby?”

  “I. Bad.”

  “We’ll talk about it later. Go help Grandpa fix supper. I want to talk to Bo.”

  Luci ran to the kitchen and Becky faced Bo with steel-like determination. He stood from the bed and his tall frame looked out of place in this pink little girl’s room. Dark eyes stared back at her with a heat level that matched hers and she didn’t know if there was a way to win against him. It would be better if he wasn’t so darn good-looking. With his longish hair and growth of beard he reminded her of Keanu Reeves. And Bo was just as big a daredevil as the characters the actor played.

  “You want to talk? Talk. I’ve been trying to get you to talk for years so this is a momentous occasion.”