Harlequin Heartwarming March 21 Box Set

by Claire McEwen

  He got his luggage, then headed up the steps to her. “How’s it going here?”

  “Pretty good,” she said.

  Once inside, he put his bag on the stone floor, stripped off his jacket and tossed it onto the bench. He looked around, hoping to see Quinn, but she wasn’t in sight. “So, how did things go in Seattle?” she asked.

  He’d left the black hat at the ranch and when he saw it laying on the bench, he knew he’d missed it. “I’m not going back for the foreseeable future, if at all,” he said. “Max called and said that Tripp might get cleared sooner than we thought, but no promises. Where’s Quinn?”

  Julia shrugged. “She headed down to the stables. I haven’t seen her since.”

  “Is Sarge awake?”

  “He’s snoring.”

  Seth grabbed his bags and headed upstairs to change. “We’ll talk in a bit,” he called back over his shoulder.

  * * *

  QUINN LED ANGEL back into the stables through the rear doors and out of a growing wind that brought a biting cold with it. A new hire of Dwight’s, a young, lanky guy named Gill, met her just inside the doors.

  “Ma’am, I’ll take her for you and clean her up, if you want?”

  She hesitated, then handed him the reins. “Thank you. I appreciate it.”

  He gave her a slight tip of his hat and said, “My pleasure, Ma’am,” before he headed off with Angel. Quinn kept going through the building to the open front doors and barely took a step outside before she ran into someone in her path. Hands gripped her shoulders to keep her on her feet, then she was looking up into hazel eyes.

  “Hey, slow down,” Seth said.

  For a moment, she felt a surge of pure happiness that he was there, but then reality hit her. She made herself take a step back. He pushed his hands deep in his jacket pockets. “I didn’t know you were back.”

  “I just got here, and I was looking for you.”

  She blinked. “Why?”

  “Julia said you were riding.”

  “I was, but it was getting really cold and it’s going to be dark soon, so I came back.”

  “Good thing you did. There’s that feeling in the air that a storm’s coming,” he said with a glance up at dark clouds starting to gather overhead. “I saw your car’s back.”

  The small talk felt awkward to her. “Henry really did a good job on her. He even figured out how to put in a working heater and brand-new three-point seat belts.”

  “I told you Henry’s terrific. Julia said you were out with Boone, so you got your guided tour?”

  She’d been so thankful that Boone had asked to go see the area. “Sort of. We went for a ride, then Henry called when I got back here. So Boone dropped me at Henry’s after we had lunch at one of the dude ranches. It was nice.” Pushing her hands into her jacket pockets, she went around Seth to start toward the house. He was right beside her. “I hope things went well for you in Seattle.”

  “Let’s just say things are settled,” he said. “How was your ride with Boone?”

  “Good. It’s really beautiful around here,” she said. “But I had a lot of time to think on the ride.”

  “About anything important?” he asked her.

  “Yes. I think—no, I know—I’ve been confused and terrified at losing Michael all over again if I…keep going. I’ve never figured out how to just be alive without feeling guilty.”

  Seth was silent, and when she looked at him, he was staring straight ahead. “I can see how you could feel that way,” he said.

  “I need to figure things out. I have to make sense of my life. Michael told me to have a good life, but I’m not there yet.”

  Seth was silent as they approached the house and went inside. Quinn slipped off her jacket, then sank down onto the bench to take off her boots. When the second one dropped onto the stone floor, she looked up. Seth came closer, then crouched down in front of her. He took off his hat and laid it beside her. A foot of space separated them, but her awareness of the man was overwhelming.

  “Good news,” he said. “McFarland might be able to shorten Tripp’s stay at the headquarters by another day, and Burr found an attorney in Casper who’s done a lot of work in adoptions with the foster care system.” His face lit up. “As soon as Tripp’s here and settled, I’m going to contact that attorney and see what I have to do to get the process going.”

  She felt the sting of tears behind her eyes. “That’s wonderful.” She blinked rapidly. “I hope it all works out.”

  “Whatever I have to do, I’ll make it happen,” he said with real determination, then added, “Secondly, I want to apologize to you.”

  She swallowed hard, knowing what he was going to say, but hating having to listen to it. She lowered her head and stared down at her boots laying between them on the stone floor. When he touched a forefinger to her knee, she didn’t move. “I didn’t mean to upset you,” he said. “I’m not good at this sort of thing, and I know life’s complicated for you.”

  Complicated? He had no idea how complicated and wrong her life was right then.

  She heard him take a breath. “I know the time’s not right, that you’re still sorting through things in your life.” His voice dropped lower. “I saw Maggie and Sarge together, and I’m pretty sure their relationship was the same kind you and your husband had. It’s never over, it can’t be. I want you to know that I understand that as much as I can. Take all the time you need, and do whatever you have to do, but don’t forget I’m here.”

  The silence between them was heavy, and Quinn felt the tears silently slip down her cheeks. Seth thought he knew. He was offering to wait, to let her figure it all out, but he didn’t know that he’d shown her that she’d been standing still since Michael died, focusing on keeping her promise to him. By doing that, she’d actually isolated herself behind Michael’s Shield, using it as her protection from ever being hurt again.

  She could hear each breath Seth took as he waited for her to say something. She kept her eyes down. “You don’t owe me an apology,” she whispered. She remembered her response to his kiss and felt heat rising in her cheeks. “I don’t even know what I need. Can we leave it at that for now?”

  “However you want to play this out,” Seth murmured, and she knew right then that if things were different, she could feel so much for him. She made herself look up, ignoring the tears still falling. “Thank you,” she managed as she got to her feet.

  She couldn’t bear what he was offering her when she didn’t deserve it. “Remember. Don’t forget I’m here,” he whispered.

  She headed quickly toward the east wing. Once she was inside her room, she made it to the bed and sank down on the edge of the mattress. She looked at the picture by the lamp and whispered, “I love you, Michael. I always will.”

  Her phone vibrated in her pocket and she took it out. Her mother had texted her, but before she opened it, she looked at the last picture she’d received, the photo of Seth and Tripp. Their smiles made her heart skip, then the reality of what could have been crashed down around her. She fell back onto the bed, curled up on the blue comforter and silently cried.

  When there were no tears left, she slowly got up and made herself go into the bathroom to splash cold water on her face. She’d promised herself she’d leave quietly. She would. She just didn’t want Tripp to think she’d forgotten about him.

  Then she had a remarkable thought. If she went to Denver and the final company wanted Michael’s work, if that was settled and her promise had been kept, maybe sometime in the future she could come back to the ranch. Maybe she could see Seth and Tripp and Sarge and know they were okay. Maybe, just maybe, she could make sense out of her feelings for Seth and the boy who would be his son.

  That helped her breathe a bit easier, knowing she might not be walking away forever. When she finally headed out, Julia was stepping into the entry. She saw Qu
inn and motioned behind her. “Seth’s in there if you’re looking for him. It’s almost seven and no one seems hungry, so don’t worry about dinner. I’m going in to play some poker with Sarge and hope I don’t lose what matchsticks I have left.”

  “Good luck,” Quinn said, then she went down into the great room and saw Seth. The side lamp was on, and he was on the couch, his feet propped up on the ottoman with his head resting against the sofa back. She thought he might be asleep, then he turned toward her.

  “Hey,” he said softly. “Come and sit down.”

  She stopped by the end of the couch. “Do you want something to eat?”

  “No, thanks. I want you to sit down.”

  She gave in and crossed to sit on the leather cushions between him and the arm of the sofa. What excuse should she use to justify leaving as soon as Tripp was here? Personal business, a family emergency, a job offer in Pasadena? “So, you aren’t going back to Seattle?” she asked.

  “No, I’m not going to drag Tripp back and forth with me or leave him and Sarge here while I’m gone.”

  “You’ll be stepping back from it all?”

  “I did this morning and the board agreed. My executive VP is going to take over as CEO. My time will be my own, and it’ll be spent here. I want time to be here with Tripp, to try to do for him what Sarge has done for me.”

  That smile was there, slow and easy, touching his hazel eyes, and her heart lurched. “Wow, just like that, you changed your life?”

  “It wasn’t that simple.” He shrugged. “I wanted things to change. So I took care of everything I could on this last trip. I settled my future with the company, and I’m straightening out my private life.”

  “What do you mean?” His life seemed pretty well laid out so far.

  He hesitated, then shrugged again. “I’ve had a past that’s pretty messed up. I mean as an adult, as in relationships. It took me a while to realize that no matter how I went into a relationship, I always carried heavy baggage with me.”

  “Baggage? You were married before or…?”

  He shook his head and said, “Oh, no, nothing got that far. I’m talking about my money, what I have. Anyone can read a financial magazine and find out Seth Reagan’s worth, and I’ve just happened to come into contact with more than one woman who saw dollar signs when they saw me. The last one, a couple of years ago, I swear, I thought I knew her, but… I found out I was wrong again.” He actually looked embarrassed as he shook his head ruefully. “All Allie wanted was what she thought I could give her—money. She had me believing her for too long before I figured out what was fact and what was fiction with her. I was just a means to an end.”

  He sat forward, hands clasped, elbows on his knees, then he glanced sideways at Quinn. “It was all my fault.” She almost flinched at the look of disgust and self-anger in his eyes, and her heart was hammering. He exhaled heavily. “Live and learn, and I’m here now, taking control of the life I want.”

  Quinn never wanted him to look at her the way he looked when he talked about Allie. She’d played him. Not like that woman had, but she knew he’d probably see it that way. She’d been right to plan on leaving without saying a thing to him about Michael’s Shield. She’d go quietly, very quietly and directly to Denver.

  They both jumped when Julia yelled, “Seth! Help!”

  Seth was on his feet immediately and took off running toward the west wing. Quinn hurried after him and stopped at the door to Sarge’s room. Julia was crouching beside Sarge, who was on the floor slouched back against his bed, his legs splayed out in front of him. He looked fine, if a bit rumpled in his jeans and T-shirt, but Julia was flushed.

  “He decided to lay down, and I thought I had him positioned, then I turned to get his pillows. The next thing I knew, he was sliding down between the rail and the footboard and onto the floor.”

  Sarge smiled up at Seth standing over him. “Hi, there, son. Glad you’re back.”

  “Sarge, why did you do this?” Seth asked, as he hunkered down by him.

  The man smiled slyly. “Because I wanted to.”

  “Can I help?” Quinn asked from the doorway.

  Julia waved her closer. “Yes, please,” she said as she got to her feet.

  The three of them worked together and finally got Sarge safely back on the bed, lying on top of the blankets, with the rails readjusted. The older man looked pleased, as if he’d had an adventure, while Julia and Seth just looked stressed out. Julia touched Sarge’s shoulder. “Promise me you’ll never do that again.”

  He looked up at her questioningly. “Do what?”

  “Never mind. Are you comfortable?”

  “I would be if you’d quit fussing over me.”

  “Okay. I’ll quit,” Julia said and stood back.

  “Good,” Sarge muttered and closed his eyes.

  Quinn was watching Seth watch Sarge. Then he said, “Sarge, is it okay if I go and take care of something?”

  There was no response at first, then Sarge slowly opened his eyes and looked up at Seth with a certain sadness in his faded blue eyes. “Are you leaving again?”

  “No, I’m staying here for a very long time. You’ll get sick of me being around.”

  “Never, son, never,” he murmured.

  Seth moved closer and bent down over Sarge. Quinn heard him say, “I hope you know how grateful I am for all you’ve done for me.”

  Sarge smiled up at Seth. “You’re my boy. I’d do anything for you,” he said, then closed his eyes again and sighed. “Maggie and me love you and your brothers.”

  Seth stayed there without moving, then Quinn saw him close his eyes for a second before he straightened up and turned. Without looking at Julia or her, he strode out of the room. Julia caught Quinn’s eyes and motioned toward the door with her head. “I’ll be fine. You go.”

  Quinn went out into the hallway and hurried back to the great room. Seth was on the couch, leaning forward, his face buried in his hands. She didn’t hesitate going to sit beside him. Even though Sarge was fine, Seth wasn’t. She almost couldn’t bear it. Fighting the urge to rub his back or take his hand, anything to lessen what he was going through, she asked, “Are you okay?”

  He didn’t move for a long moment, then finally sank back into the soft leather of the sofa. Raking his fingers through his hair, he said, “Is it going to be like this forever? I won’t see it coming, then it hits me like a sledgehammer. What if Tripp had been here?”

  “It won’t be easy, but it’ll be worth it, knowing you’re doing the best you can for Sarge, because he’ll know that, too, whether you think he does or not. I think Tripp would have laughed seeing the way Sarge thought it was all an adventure. And Sarge wasn’t at all upset that he ended up on the floor. He didn’t get hurt,” she added. “Besides, I think Tripp should see how much Sarge loves you. He needs to see that relationship.”

  “I know, I know,” he said.

  “Can I get you a drink of something?” she asked.

  She wasn’t certain he’d heard her until he finally said, “No, thanks, but could you sit here with me for a while?”

  She wouldn’t leave him alone, not until she had to. “If you want me to.” She was angry with herself, wishing she’d never lied, never manipulated, no matter how well intentioned.

  Seth reached for her hand, lacing his fingers with hers, then he closed his eyes. “I want you to,” he said.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  QUINN STAYED WITH Seth as he fell asleep, still holding her hand, and she didn’t move. She knew she wouldn’t let go of him until he broke the connection himself. She’d stay right there and wait, no matter how long he needed her to be there. She never wanted to leave him, and she’d have to live with that. When his hand tightened slightly on hers, then he shifted back, turning toward her as his eyes slowly opened. A sleepy smile shadowed his lips. “You’re still he
re,” he whispered.

  “You needed to sleep,” she said.

  “What time is it?”

  “It’s around nine o’clock.”

  He shifted to sit up and leaned forward, letting go of her to rub both hands roughly over his face. “Sorry, I just meant to rest for a few minutes. I didn’t get much sleep last night.”

  “That’s okay,” she said, thankful he looked better and less stressed.

  “I need to check on Sarge.”

  She stopped him before he could get up. “Julia said to tell you Sarge is fine. He doesn’t even remember the fall.”

  He exhaled and sank back again. “Good.” His hazel eyes studied her, then he said, “Whatever brought you to this place, I’m glad it did.”

  His words left her breathless. He’d never know what brought her to this place and into his life, not now. But maybe someday when she’d kept her promise to Michael, she could come back and the truth wouldn’t be as destructive as it would be right now. She wanted to believe that was a possibility.

  Before she could say anything, Seth spoke again. “I have a confession to make.”

  She blinked. “What?”

  “I’ve been thinking about how things happen, and I’m convinced life isn’t a bunch of random acts that happen to connect in some crazy way. There has to be a plan at work.”

  She felt sick to her stomach.

  A chime sounded, Seth hesitated, then reached to take his cell out of his jeans pocket. He checked it, then looked at Quinn. “I’m sorry. I have to make a quick call to the office. There’s so many loose ends to tie up.” He hesitated, then cupped her chin lightly. “Just remember where we left off okay?”

  Quinn wouldn’t forget anything about Seth.

  A few minutes later, Seth was on a video call with Owen. The man’s expression didn’t bode well for the reason he’d made contact. “What’s going on?” Seth asked, anxious to get back to Quinn.

  Owen was sitting behind the glass desk in the executive offices, the city at night behind him as he spoke. “Apparently, you requested a background check from Platt-Overton on a new hire?”