It Had to Be Him

by Tamra Baumann

  The way Pam slowly licked her cone had all the guys waiting in line for their ice cream staring. Or maybe it was all the cleavage she was showing.

  “Complicated? Sounds like we need a girls’ night. That is, if I’m forgiven?” Pam batted her eyes again.

  Maybe eye-batting worked on girls after all. She could never stay mad at Pam for long because she loved her. “Oh, all right. Now go away, you’re holding up my line.”

  “’Kay. Call you later.”

  As Pam sashayed away, a bottle of water appeared on the counter in front of Meg. Josh whispered, “Looks like you need a hand. How’s the head today?” He tied on an apron and stood beside her.

  She glanced over her shoulder to check on Haley’s progress. About half a cone left and a major mess to clean up.

  “My head’s fine—except for the pounding part. Why don’t you take the chocolate and I’ll do vanilla?”

  “You got it.” He reached into the pocket of his nicely fitting cargo shorts and pulled out a little travel pack of aspirin. “Got this for you too.”

  Hallelujah! Her morning dose of painkiller had worn off. “Thanks.”

  She ripped open the little packet, tossed the pills back, and chugged the ice-cold water as Josh jumped right in like he’d been serving ice cream his whole life. He scooped both flavors while she took her short break and he introduced himself to everyone like he didn’t have a care in the world.

  She found it hard to draw a deep breath in anticipation of making the introductions of father and daughter soon. She’d been getting enough curious glances all day to know everyone was hoping for a big show.

  She moved beside Josh and grabbed a scooper, ignoring the sexy way his forearms flexed as he doled out ice cream.

  They’d just gotten the lines all under control when the number-one pain in Meg’s ass, Amber, strolled up.

  Josh, having no idea he was dealing with Satan’s spawn, smiled like he had at everyone else. “Hi. Chocolate or vanilla?”

  Might be good to avoid Amber and go clean the ice cream off Haley, but it’d be cruel to leave Josh alone with the woman. He’d done her a favor by helping her out with the ice cream stand, after all.

  Amber’s eyes took a long stroll up and then back down Josh’s exceptional body. When her lips tilted in a slow, come-hither smile, there was no decision. Meg was staying.

  “Welcome to Anderson Butte, Josh.” Amber stuck out her claw. “I’m Amber Grant-Downey. It’s a real pleasure to meet you.” She leaned so close her fake boobs almost touched Josh’s hand.

  He slipped his hand from her clutches, then dove for the scoop. Sending Meg a sideways what-the-hell glance, he said, “Nice to meet you too. Chocolate or vanilla?”

  “Oh, no, thank you.” Amber ran her hands down her sides and her voice turned all blonde-bombshell whispery. “Maintaining a figure like this doesn’t allow for ice cream. I just wanted to welcome you to town. And to offer you a friendly place to stay.” She turned to Meg. “You did tell Josh about my guesthouse, didn’t you, Megan?” Her knowing smile spiked Meg’s blood pressure.

  Josh said, “Casey told me earlier the mayor nixed anyone renting me a place in town.”

  She hadn’t heard that. She hated that her father had the power to do that. Why couldn’t he just butt out?

  Amber waved her hand. “I live just outside of town and couldn’t give a flip what the mayor says.”

  Typical of a Grant.

  Haley picked that moment to tap on the back of Megan’s shorts and leave a chocolate stain. “All done. More?”

  “Nope. We’ll go get a sandwich if you’re still hungry, sweetheart.” She glanced at Josh to gauge his reaction at seeing his daughter for the first time. He completely ignored Amber and smiled at Haley as Amber rattled on about the lovely attributes of her guesthouse.

  Luckily Meg’s ice cream scooping replacement arrived, so she greeted her, untied her apron, and then passed it over as an idea struck her. “Josh won’t be staying in your guesthouse, Amber. He’s going to stay at my lodge. We’ll find our own ways to work off the rent.”

  Her replacement worker, and third grade teacher, Mrs. Mitchell, raised a brow.

  Yeah. That had come out all wrong, dammit.

  She sent a stern glance Josh’s way to be sure he knew it was his job to play along, and was met by his naughty grin.

  Men. He probably thought he’d get the same sexual favors Amber was clearly offering. “By installing a dock and refinishing floors. That kind of thing. And Haley and I will still be living in Grandma’s guesthouse.”

  Josh’s smile never wavered. “Ah.” He turned to Amber. “Thanks for the offer, but it looks like I’m all set.”

  Smart man.

  The only reason Amber wanted Josh to live in her guesthouse was to annoy Meg. And probably to sleep with him too. But no way was she letting Josh anywhere near Amber-the-man-stealer. Amber had stolen her boyfriend in high school but wouldn’t get away with it again. But that would imply Josh was hers and that wasn’t the case. Josh seemed to want to make it the case. But she shouldn’t, and didn’t, want him back. Did she?

  Admittedly, the urge to set all his fancy shoes on fire was finally gone.

  She’d have to think on it later. After she dropped the daddy news on her kid. Doing that just right was the most important thing. She didn’t want to scar Haley for life. “We’re going to hit the bathroom and get cleaned up. Bye, Mrs. Mitchell.”

  Josh untied his apron and fell in step with Meg as she carried Haley across the square.

  Amber called out, “Pity. I was looking forward to getting to know you better, Josh. See you around.”

  Wench.

  “She’s a piece of work.” Josh opened the door to the blessedly cool hallway to her dad’s office. “By the way, I’m partial to being included in my own housing decisions.”

  She stopped walking and huffed out a breath. “Fine. If you’d rather go live with the Wicked Witch of the West, be my guest. I was trying to do you a favor. We’ll be right back and then we’ll do the . . . thing!” She slapped the door to the ladies room open and set Haley down. Haley’s widened eyes proved Meg had let the pressure of what she was about to do get to her. She’d crossed the line to scary-mommy mode.

  She was just about to apologize to Haley when a set of strong hands spun her around and into a tight hug.

  Josh whispered in her ear, “We can do the thing later. I don’t want to cause you more problems with your father by staying at your place.”

  She hadn’t realized how much she’d missed the feel of his arms wrapped around her. Maybe she’d let him hold her for just a minute . . . or two. “Amber knows how to get under my skin. I shouldn’t have let her. I’m good now.”

  He gave her a quick squeeze. “Your call.”

  Haley looked up at the two of them like they’d both lost their minds. “Only girls can come in here.”

  Her little rule follower. How a rebel like her ended up with such a sweet kid was a mystery.

  Now was probably as good a time as any to break the news. At least they had some privacy. “Josh was checking to be sure we were all right.” She wet some paper towels and cleaned Haley’s hands. “Josh is your father, Haley. Remember we talked about that a little while ago?” Man, that was lame. Maybe she’d better try that again.

  “Uh-huh.” Haley grinned around the wet paper towel dabbing at her face. “Do you have a doggy? Mommy won’t let me have one.”

  Really? That’s the first thing she says to him? They’d already talked about why they couldn’t have a dog. She refused to feel guilty about that much.

  Josh said, “Nope.” Then he knelt to Haley’s level. “But I like dogs. I saw some fun games going on out there. Do you want to try a few with me?”

  Haley looked up at her. “Can I, Mommy?”

  “Sure.”

  And that was that? Meg wasn’t sure what she’d expected, but it was a pivotal moment in all of their lives. Haley meeting her father for the
first time, looking at her mirror image, finally understanding why she didn’t look like Meg? Being two and a half and filled with innocent trust must be nice. She hoped Josh wouldn’t be the one to make Haley lose that sweet trust by hurting her.

  Josh wasn’t sure if that had gone well or not. Haley hadn’t rejected him outright, so that was good. But she’d seemed more interested in whether he had a dog than in him.

  It amazed him how much Haley looked like him. Same blonde hair, and looking into her eyes was like looking into a mirror and seeing his own. He’d always imagined her looking like a mini Meg, not like him.

  Suddenly, he had an overwhelming desire to know every little thing about her. What were her favorite things? Did she hate fish sticks too? She had asthma like he’d had—did that mean she hated broccoli like him? He’d missed out on so much that she should feel like a stranger to him, but it was as if he’d known her all his life, even if he didn’t know many of the details of hers. He wanted to ask a million questions, but then Casey’s words echoed in his head. “Don’t try to push it. Let it happen naturally.”

  So maybe he’d just go with the flow and learn as they went along.

  He held the bathroom door open as Megan and Haley passed through. Megan’s stepmother was closing the door to the mayor’s darkened office down the hall. When she noticed them, she pulled up short, tucking the papers she carried under her arm.

  “What on earth were y’all doing in there? Lord, you’re just always up to no good. You’d think you’d have grown out of that by now, Megan.”

  “We were just telling Haley that Josh is her father.” Megan proclaimed the news like that was a perfectly normal thing to do in a women’s bathroom. Then she added, “What were you doing in my dad’s office?”

  Anger flashed in Sue Ann’s eyes before she recovered and raised an indignant brow. “Not that it’s any of your concern, but your daddy’s down with a headache. He asked me to fetch some papers from his desk he’d forgotten to bring along home with him to work on this evening.” She glanced at Haley. “Your shirt’s a mess, child. Just like your mother, aren’t you?”

  Who talked to a little kid that way? His kid, dammit!

  When Haley’s forehead scrunched, Josh scooped her up. “It’s a kid’s job to get dirty, right? Let’s go see if we can win some prizes. I think I even saw a blue dog you’d like.”

  “Yay!” Haley rewarded him with a big smile.

  Megan rolled her eyes at Sue Ann and then turned and led the way to the door. When they were outside again, her hand curled around his arm and she tugged, so he leaned closer. She whispered in his ear, “Rule number one, Josh. Never make promises you can’t definitely keep. Haley’s going to expect that blue dog now. If you can’t win it, you’ll disappoint her.”

  Disappoint her? Dammit! He’d screwed up in the first five minutes.

  He’d just have to win that damn dog for Haley, even if it took all the quarters in town.

  Stuck holding all the prizes Josh had won with Haley, including the blue dog, Meg stood on the sidelines while the three-legged race participants lined up. Haley, her leg secured to Josh’s, sent her a big grin and a wave. They wouldn’t have a chance of winning because Haley was so little, but she was loving all the attention from Josh.

  Next to them stood Amber’s husband, Randy, and their six-year-old, Heather. They both leaned forward in anticipation. Randy was the most competitive guy in town. What she’d seen in the man in high school, other than his good looks, baffled her. He’d surely pick his kid up and make a run for it at the end so they’d win.

  Once a cheater, always a cheater. He and Amber deserved each other.

  The gun sounded and they all took off.

  Zeke appeared at her side. “Looks like Granger’s trying. Gotta give him points for that.”

  “I guess. But it’s one thing to play games and have fun and entirely another to deal with the hard stuff and be a parent.”

  Zeke chuckled. “Never thought I’d see the day words like those came out of the town hellion’s mouth. Looks like you’ve gone and grown up on me, kid.”

  “Hellion? I prefer rabble-rouser, if it’s all the same to you.”

  He smiled. “Either way, I’m proud of you, Meggy.”

  Not used to hearing words like that, she shifted the stuff in her hands and wrapped her arm around Zeke’s waist for a quick hug. “Thank you, Zeke. That means a lot coming from you.”

  Clearly embarrassed, he frowned. “Well, I’ve had enough. See you around, kid.”

  “Bye.”

  Zeke walked away as loud cheers rang out. As predicted, Randy and Heather were victorious. Haley and Josh were bringing up the rear and just crossing the finish line, but you’d never know it from the smile on Haley’s face.

  When Josh held out his fist for a knuckle bump, Haley gave it all she had and then splayed her fingers in a move that matched Josh’s perfectly, just the way they’d practiced before the race. Then they both turned and beamed their identical smiles at her.

  The concrete wall around her heart cracked a little as she smiled back.

  Josh untied them, then lifted Haley onto his shoulders and jogged toward Meg.

  Her father had never done anything like that. Made her feel so special. It chipped away another layer of that wall.

  Josh flipped a laughing Haley to the ground at Meg’s feet and then whispered in her ear, “That guy who won cheated big-time. Who does that in a kid’s three-legged race?”

  That explained where Haley got her rule following from. She sometimes forgot Haley had two parents. “Randy does. He’s married to the piece of work with a guesthouse you met earlier.”

  “Ah, Amber. Speaking of that, where is my new home, exactly?”

  She hoped she hadn’t made a mistake by offering up her house in the heat of the moment. “The other side of the lake. Number sixteen. I’ll need to get your room ready so maybe you could move your things in tomorrow?”

  “If you’re sure about your father.”

  She was done being bullied by her father. “I’m sure.” She juggled all the loot and then took Haley’s hand. “Well, we’d better get going. Nap time.”

  Clearly exhausted, Haley lifted her arms to be picked up, but Meg didn’t have enough hands.

  Josh said, “How about I carry you?”

  Haley turned to him without hesitation. After he picked her up, she snuggled her face into the crook of his neck. Just as Meg had when he’d carried her home. With a smile on her face, Haley fluttered her eyes closed, sending another pinch to Meg’s heart.

  Heading for Gram’s guesthouse, she whispered, “Thanks for playing Pluck the Duck with Haley twelve times until she won the dog.”

  He whispered back, “That’s a stupid game. All based on chance. There’s no real winning involved unless it takes some skill.”

  Such a guy thing to say. “She’s two and a half, Josh. Standing in line, waiting for her turn, and then getting her to pick just one duck when she has two perfectly good hands is an accomplishment. Believe me.”

  “If you say so.” He shifted Haley to his other arm and leaned closer. “We probably need to talk about my rent.” He quirked his eyebrows. “Amber offered some pretty hot terms. What are you offering?”

  She swatted his arm. “This is a business deal, pal. Nothing more. Do you know how to hammer nails and strip wood floors? If not, I’ll just charge you money and then use it to hire Toby to help me.”

  That wasn’t nice to throw Toby’s name out there, but a part of her needed to test Josh some more. She hated how her defenses against him were slipping. Besides, it wasn’t easy to rile him, making it that much more fun to try. That she’d slept with Toby clearly bothered him.

  He pulled her against his side. “I’ll bet I’m a lot better with my hands than Toby.” He drove his point home by sliding a big hand down to her rear end and giving it a quick squeeze.

  “I don’t know. Toby’s pretty good.” Liar, liar, pants on fire. Literally, b
ecause Josh’s hand was still on her butt.

  He gave her bottom a sharp pat before he opened the door to the guesthouse. “After you.”

  Smiling because she’d almost forgotten how fun Josh was to flirt with, she dumped the new toys onto a chair and then led the way to the bedroom and pulled the covers back.

  Josh laid Haley down and gently tucked the sheet under her chin before he whispered, “She’s great, Meg. Thanks for today.”

  Moved by the tenderness in his eyes as he looked at Haley, she could only nod before she turned to show him out.

  They walked side by side in silence. Outside on the porch, he wrapped his arms around her and slowly pulled her against his chest. As he stared into her eyes, Josh maneuvered them until her back pressed against the wooden front door. The desire in his gaze made her heart skip a beat just before he whispered, “I think I’d like my kiss now. And while we’re at it, how about I remind you just how skilled my hands are?”

  Before she could protest—like she would have anyway—he laid his mouth on hers.

  It wasn’t a sweet kiss; it was hard, needy, and damned sexy. With his solid body and soft lips pressed against hers, she kissed him back just as urgently. Standing on her tiptoes, she circled her arms around his neck. While his tongue did a primitive dance with hers, his hands wandered all over her body, squeezing, caressing, and driving her even crazier with need.

  After she pulled away slightly for some much-needed air, she nipped at his bottom lip. It used to drive him wild.

  Josh groaned, pulled her closer, and then dove back in for more.

  Very bad-girl thoughts of dragging him inside to the couch and having her way with him were interrupted by the sound of a rifle cocking.

  Freezing mid-kiss, they both slowly turned their heads toward the sound.

  Grandma narrowed her eyes. “You have to the count of ten to get off my property, boy! One!”