by Lori Wilde
He regaled her with stories about his time in basic training to become a deputy, and she reciprocated with tales of the high school cheerleading squad. He’d taken a gap year after high school and lived for a time in Australia with a buddy who’d gotten a job down there. She’d been a candy striper at Falling Star General Hospital and during the holidays, sang with an a cappella group that went caroling at nursing homes and retirement centers.
Nate asked her to sing for him one night on the porch, and she’d sung “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen.”
Mrs. Vander Polder had given them a strange look when she came up the steps.
Laughing, Nate said, “Becky is serenading me acappella.”
“I can hear that.” Their landlady smiled. “Christmas in July?”
“Sure, why not?”
“Becky,” Mrs. Vander Polder had said. “You have a beautiful voice any time of the year.”
With every passing evening, they shared meals and rocked on the porch, occasionally babysat for Lucy while Brad and Freddie had date night, watched TV, and took tentative walks around the local park as Nate graduated from crutches to a cane.
Then, three weeks after Nate fell out of tree from rescuing Ozzie and seriously spraining his ankle, Becky came home with takeout from Jake’s Place—barbecue brisket this time—to find his apartment empty.
She was just about to text him when she realized he’d had a late afternoon doctor’s appointment. A friend from his work had given him a ride. Nate was hoping to get the green light to return to work full time, even if it was just a desk job. Spending all day within the four walls of the apartment was driving him stir-crazy.
Becky wasn’t sure whether to leave the food and go back to her place until he got home or just stay in the apartment. But he was out with a friend. Maybe they’d gone out for a meal.
“Knock, knock.”
Becky had left the door open, and Nate’s mother popped her head around the corner.
“Mrs. Dalton, how nice to see you.” Becky put on an enormous smile, but she worried. She hadn’t talked to Nate’s mom in weeks, and she didn’t know how she’d taken the news of her “breakup” with Nate.
Odd, with all the talking they’d done, Nate hadn’t mentioned it, and Becky, who’d been having so much fun with him, forgot to ask.
Margaret swept into the room. “I’m so glad you’re home. I need to talk to you.”
Um, what about?
“Where’s Nate?” his mom asked.
“At the doctor.”
“Oh, good. It’s just us girls.” She shut the door behind her, linked her arm through Becky’s, and led her to the living room. She sat down on the couch and patted the cushion beside her. “Have a seat.”
Becky sat. Knees pressed together. Hands in her lap.
“I’ve been trying to pin Nate down, but he keeps giving me the runaround,” Margaret said. “Is there some reason he won’t give me your parents' address and phone number to invite them to the reception for Freddie and Brad? I would really love to know the parents of the woman my son is dating, if your folks are up for it.”
“Nate didn’t tell you?” Becky asked past the lump in her throat.
“Tell me what?” Margaret interlaced her fingers and rested her hands on her knees as she canted her head and leaned forward, giving Becky her rapt attention.
“Nate and I—” Should she go along with the fake girlfriend story or just come clean? Either way, she was throwing Nate under the bus.
Hey, served him right for not handling this himself.
She’d never been comfortable with the lie, so she just told the truth. “Nate and I were never dating.”
“Wh-what?” Margaret blinked.
“He just said that to get you off Freddie’s case the day you came here for Lucy.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You intimidated him, and he was embarrassed about hiring Mrs. Lorenzo. He choked and blurted out that I was his girlfriend.”
Margaret sat with that a moment, then said, “Hmm. Okay, Nate has trouble admitting when he made a mistake, but what about you?”
“Me?”
“Why did you go along with the lie?”
Becky sucked in her breath as she met Mrs. Dalton’s eyes and what came out of her mouth was the truth that she’d been unable to recognize until this very moment.
“I really wanted to be his girlfriend.”
“I see.” The older woman settled back against the couch.
“It’s no excuse for lying to you.”
“You were protecting my son.” She nodded. “While I don’t condone the lie, I admire your loyalty to him.”
Becky wasn’t sure how to respond to that.
“When I threw you in the same bedroom at my house—”
“Nothing happened. I swear. Nate slept on the floor.”
“Rather than simply tell me the truth?” Margaret clicked her tongue.
“It seemed like a good idea at the time.”
Margaret eyed her for a long moment. “I really like you, Becky. You’ve been good for my son. He’s happier now than I’ve seen him since he was a kid.”
“Nate’s had a positive impact on me too.”
“So, there’s no chance you two could get together for real?” His mother looked hopeful.
Becky shook her head. “We’re just friends.”
“Joe and I were just friends.” Margaret Dalton smiled, and her gaze took on a starry-eyed expression as if she were remembering a significant memory. “Until that stubborn man woke up and realized he was crazy about me.”
“Really?”
“Nate’s a lot like his dad.” She paused. “I just mention that in case you do have any sort of romantic feelings for my son.”
Becky shrugged, too afraid to hope. She’d been burned one time too many, and she didn’t think her heart could handle it if she dared to let herself dream and it didn’t work out. No, it was safer to shut this thing down now.
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Dalton, but Nate and I really are just friends.”
Nate got home from his doctor’s appointment—the doctor had been running late so he’d sent his friend on and taken a ride share—to find his mother in his living room, and he had a moment of déjà vu.
“You’re messing things up with that young woman,” Mom said, not even bothering with hello.
“Excuse me?” he asked, not really following her conversation.
“You’re keeping Rebecca on a string. Do you ever intend on proposing to her?”
“Mom, we’ve only known each other a few weeks.”
“Is that the only reason you’re dragging your feet?”
“Dragging my feet?” Nate shook his head. “Just because Freddie got married without a big wedding doesn’t mean you get to turn your sights on me.”
His mother hopped up off the couch. “Son, is there something you want to tell me?”
One look in her eyes and he knew he was busted.
“Why you kept putting me off when I asked for Becky’s parents’ contact info?”
She knew he’d lied. Well, it served him right for lying. He’d been miserable over it ever since he’d done it.
“Becky told you.”
“She had to. You wouldn’t do it.”
Nate blew out his breath, feeling like an A-number one jackass. “I can explain.”
“And tell me what? That you’d lie to me to protect your sister?”
“You already knew that about me.”
His mom laughed. “Always the white knight, huh?”
“I try.” He grinned at her.
“Well, listen to your old mother, hero; I think it’s time you told Becky the truth.”
“Huh?” He blinked at her. “What truth?”
“Oh.” His mother straightened and her smile broadened. “You don’t know either.”
He was completely lost. “Know what?”
“There’s a reason I so readily bought your story about Becky being your girlfriend.”
“Why’s that?” He angled his head. What was she getting at?
“Any fool can see you’re crazy about her.”
Becky was playing with Ozzie, using a wooden dowel to dance a plastic butterfly on a wire just out of his reach, when a firm, masculine knock sounded on her door.
Her heart jumped up and ran. Nate?
She dashed to the door.
“Do not open this without looking through the peephole,” he commanded.
Becky looked through the peephole to see him standing there with an enormous bouquet of daisies in his hand. “What do you want?”
“To talk.”
“Go away,” she said. “I’m mad at you.”
“Please open the door, Becky.”
“I had to tell your mother the truth.”
“I know,” he said. “Please open the door.”
“Only for the daisies.”
“I’ll take what I can get.”
She opened the door a crack and peered at him.
He stood there looking contrite. “May I come in?”
She hesitated. “How’s your ankle?”
“Better than expected. I can go back to work on Monday. I’ll be on limited duty, but at least I’m out of the apartment.”
“That’s good news.”
“It is.”
A long moment of silence passed as they studied at each other, and a million tingles zipped up and down her body. Finally, she opened the door, stood aside, and waved him in.
He crossed over the threshold and closed the door behind him.
“You put me in a tough position,” she said. “Having to explain things to your mother.”
“I know and I’m sorry. Will you accept my apology?” He extended the bouquet.
She reached for the daisies, but he pulled one flower from the bunch and held it aloft. What was that all about?
“I’ll put these in water,” she said, smiling at the sunny yellow centers of the flowers. She did love daisies.
He trailed after her, no longer using a cane, but favoring his right leg.
Becky found a vase, filled it with water and put the bouquet inside, then turned back to him.
Nate plucked a petal off the daisy in his hand and let it drift to the floor. His gaze locked on hers.
He loves me!
“I have something to confess.”
“Oh?” Her voice came out high and tight.
He plucked another petal from the flower and it followed the first petal.
He loves me not!
“When I first met you, I thought I knew what kind of person you were.”
“Cop’s instincts?”
“Law enforcement bias, shall we say? We’re taught to make snap judgments. Hesitate at the wrong time and you’re dead.”
“Understandable.” She fixed her gaze on his hand, on that daisy.
He took a step closer, plucked another petal.
He loves me!
Her heart was thumping so hard she could barely hear her own thoughts.
“I thought you were kind of ditzy—”
“Given the circumstances of how we met, not a stretch.”
Pluck.
He loves me not!
“Then there was the spider and that cinched it.”
“Cinched what?” she whispered.
“I put you in the damsel-in-distress pile.”
“I never asked you to dispatch the spider for me. It just scared me because it was in the shower. I have four brothers. You don’t think I’ve had spiders put down the back of my shirt?” She shuddered because she really didn’t like spiders.
“I thought you were like Margo and Freddie, the kind of women who drift through life looking for someone to save them.”
She notched up her chin. “You were mistaken.”
“I know that now.” Another step closer. Pluck.
He loves me!
“I was afraid I was falling for you because you were helpless.”
Becky snorted and backed up until her bottom hit the counter. She was trapped. Nowhere to go. “I’m not helpless.”
“No, you are not.” He took another step toward her and another petal hit the floor. “I pushed you away and acted like a jerk.”
He loves me not.
“But that was only because I was afraid of what I was feeling.” He kept coming. Kept plucking petals. “Terrified of falling in love with someone who just saw me as their rescuer.”
Becky gulped and stared deeply into his eyes. He never blinked. Never looked away.
“That’s not me.”
“I’ve discovered that the past few weeks. Becky Ryan, I have a very important question to ask you.”
Wow. Okay. She could hardly breathe. “What’s that?”
He was less than a foot away from her now and there was one petal left on the flower. He plucked it.
He loves me!
He moved to take her hand and held her gaze like it was a lifeline. “Would you be my girlfriend for real? I’ve had so much fun with you. The best time of my life. I’ve rescued you, but you’ve rescued me right back. I’d love to spend a lifetime getting to know you, but I want to experience all the precious steps along the way. I want to savor every minute with you. What do you say?”
“Yes! Yes! I’ll be your actual girlfriend.”
Nate gathered her into his arms and kissed her so thoroughly that he left her breathless and laughing.
“Now, here’s the enormous question,” he said.
“What’s that?”
“Who’s going to tell my mother?”
As she pulled his head down for another long kiss, she whispered, “We’ll do it together.”
“I love you, Becky,” he murmured.
“I know.” She smiled. “I love you too.”
And that was how Nate Dalton went from a daddy on demand to a man unafraid to express his feelings for the woman who’d changed everything.
Dear Reader,
Readers are an author’s life blood and the stories couldn’t happen without you. Thank you so much for reading!
If you enjoyed Dad on Demand, Pam and I would so appreciate a review. You have no idea how much it means to us. You are the best!
If you’d like to keep up with our latest releases, you can sign up for Lori’s newsletter @ https://loriwilde.com/subscribe/.
To check out our other books, you can visit us on the web @ www.loriwilde.com.
Love and light,
Lori and Pam
About the Authors
Pam Andrews Hanson
Before teaming up with Lori Wilde, Pam Andrews Hanson co-wrote more than fifty novels with her mom, including romance and cozy mysteries. She is a former journalist and currently teaches freshmen composition in a university English department.
* * *
Lori Wilde
Lori Wilde is the New York Times, USA Today and Publishers’ Weekly bestselling author of 90 works of romantic fiction.
Her books have been translated into 26 languages, with more than four million copies of her books sold worldwide.
Her breakout novel, The First Love Cookie Club, has been optioned for a TV movie.
Lori is a registered nurse with a BSN from Texas Christian University. She holds a certificate in forensics, and is also a certified yoga instructor.
A fifth generation Texan, Lori lives with her husband, Bill, in the Cutting Horse Capital of the World; where they run Epiphany Orchards, a writing/creativity retreat for the care and enrichment of the artistic soul.
Also by Lori Wilde
Cowboy Confidential
Cowboy Cop
Cowboy Protector
Cowboy Bounty Hunter
Cowboy Bodyguard (Coming Soon)
Cowboy Country
Montana Blaze
Arizona Heat
Texas Sizzle
Handsome Devils
Handsome Rancher
Handsome Boss
&nb
sp; Handsome Lawman
Handsome Cowboy
Handsome Hotshot
Handsome Wrangler
Handsome Hero
Handsome Flirt
Heartthrob Hospital
The Thunderbolt
The Jinx
The Hotshot
Kringle, Texas
A Perfect Christmas Gift
A Perfect Christmas Wish
A Perfect Christmas Surprise
Lone Star Dads
Dad in an Instant
Dad by Design
Dad on Demand
Sweet Southern Charmers
Reece
Blake
Boone
Colton
Jared
Texas Rascals
Keegan
Texas Rascals Three Book Collection
Matt
Nick
Kurt
Tucker
Kael
Truman
Brodie
Dan
Rex
Clay
Jonah
Wanderlust Academy
Entangled
Wish Upon a Star
The Cowboy's Charming Wish
The Cowboy's Forever Wish
Wrong Way Weddings
The Groom Wager
The DIY Groom
The Stand-in Groom
The Royal Groom
The Makeshift Groom
Watch for more at Lori Wilde’s site.
Also by Pam Andrews Hanson
Cowboy Country
Arizona Heat
Lone Star Dads
Dad on Demand
Wrong Way Weddings
The Groom Wager
The DIY Groom
The Stand-in Groom
The Makeshift Groom
