Back Where You Belong

by Vonnie Davis

  “Honey, when I was a teenager, your dad was a married man.” She reached out to touch Olivia’s arm. “With a baby. You, my beauty. Any attraction to me would have been wrong. Your dad was always devoted to your mother and you.” She had to get this mess straightened out before Olivia started announcing some phantom wedding date.

  The girl gave a wave of a hand to dismiss her remarks. “Mom never treated him right. Or me, either. She left us both.”

  This conversation was getting so out of hand. Was Olivia merely an angry teen trying to get back at her mother? Was that why she was on her gotta-get-my-dad-married kick? “If there’s not a strong bond of love between two people, they shouldn’t think about getting married.” She continued, hoping to get her point across. “My parents never married.”

  “Well, don’t you worry.” She hiked her pointy chin, determination set her jaw. “Cassidy and I will see you two are married before any babies come.”

  “Cassidy?” Oh, she was so losing this argument.

  “My BFF. She’ll love you, too.”

  “Too?” She had to get a handle on this conversation. “I’m trying to say that romantic relationships have to move in a progression of steps. First, the attraction.”

  “Which you and daddy already have. I see how he looks at you.” Olivia pushed her glasses back up, her expression eager with her get-daddy-married campaign. “He’s even started playing music again. After Mother left, he wouldn’t play music anymore. Said it was full of people crying about their broken hearts. Now, he’s listening and humming.”

  “Your dad hums?” Stay focused. Get this mess straightened out. “Ah…then the dating starts. They slowly learn things about each other.”

  “I can help with that. What do you want to know about Daddy? Just ask, I know it all.”

  “I just bet you do. Slowly, feelings of love develop.”

  “But what about love at first sight? Or unrequited young love?”

  Unrequited love? How did a thirteen-year old know about that? “You can’t make someone love you. I’ve learned that.” She wasn’t making any progress with Olivia. “This conversation is not to be shared with your dad.”

  To her relief, the girl nodded. “Right. It’s just between us women. Daddy won’t stand a chance.”

  Oh crap.

  A doctor stepped into the waiting room. “Who’s here for Tyler Desmond?”

  Olivia stood, and Lacy elbowed Pete awake. “We are.”

  He came to where they stood. “I’m Doctor Paulino.” He turned toward Lacy. “Are you Mrs. Desmond?”

  “Not yet,” Olivia chimed in, grinning from ear to ear.

  “Olivia, hush!” Was there no stopping her?

  The girl raised herself to her full four-foot-nine height. “I’m his daughter. Tell me about my dad. How is he?”

  “MRI and CT scans show he has a badly sprained left ankle and will be on crutches for a week or two. We had to operate to stop some internal bleeding. Removed his spleen. He has a concussion. Lots of scrapes and contusions. He’ll be here for a couple days. As soon as he’s out of recovery, you can see him. I suggest you go get something to eat. By then he’ll be in his room.”

  Olivia extended her hand. “Thank you, Dr. Paulino. You’ve been most kind.”

  The corners of the young physician’s mouth quirked as he shook hands with this child-woman. “It’s what I do, miss.” He turned and left the waiting room.

  She turned, a starry-eyed expression beaming. “Isn’t he the most handsome thing?”

  Lacy laughed. The girl might be petite, but her hormones were gigantic. She had romance on the brain.

  Chapter Nine

  Olivia didn’t seem so grown up when she saw her daddy asleep with wires and tubes hooked up to him. Her hand flew to her mouth and tears filled her eyes. “His face.”

  A mass of bruises, one eye and his nose were swollen, there were stitches from his nose to his lip and someone had shaved his mustache, evidently so they could sew up the wound.

  Lacy wrapped her arm around the girl’s narrow shoulders and pulled her in for a hug. “He’ll be okay, honey. He just needs time to heal. Why don’t you sit next to him and hold his hand. Even though he’s out of it, he’ll know it’s you. It’ll bring him comfort.” She slid a chair over for Olivia.

  The young beauty slipped off her glasses to wipe tears from her face as she sat. “He’s always so strong. Now he looks weak.”

  “He’s not though. He’s just battered. The strength is still there.”

  Olivia nodded, seemingly accepting what she said. “Where will you sit?”

  “I saw a chair in the hallway. I’ll get it for you, Miss Lacy.” Pete ambled out of the room and returned, pushing a chair. “I’m taking off for a while. Need to check on things at the ranch.” His gaze slid to Tyler. “Damn bull. Ought to go shoot it myself.” He ran a hand down his craggy face. “I’ll be back to take you two home in a couple hours.”

  “Thank you, Pete. Don’t hurry on our account. Tomorrow’s Sunday, so it’s not a school night for Olivia. We’ll be fine here, won’t we?”

  “I don’t want to leave Daddy. Can we stay all night?” She laid her head on her dad’s hand. “Please?”

  Lacy turned to Pete. “Looks like we’ll be staying here for the night. Get some rest. I have the number at the ranch if I need to contact you.”

  He nodded. “Suit yourself. Livvy, don’t you be showing any drama now.”

  “I won’t,” she breathed on a sigh.

  Lacy slid the chair on the opposite side of Tyler’s bed and settled into it. From the looks of things, it would be a long, uncomfortable night. Still, she was glad they’d decided to stay.

  “Hold his other hand, Lacy. He’ll know it’s you.”

  The girl was determined; she’d give her that. “I think it’s more important that you hold his hand.” She noted his vitals on the monitor. His temperature was slightly elevated, fighting infection, no doubt. His blood pressure seemed low. Hopefully, the worst was over. Now would begin his time of healing.

  Over the next few hours, the two talked in hushed tones. They shared memories and hopes for the future. Likes and dislikes. Good times and bad. Olivia was a lonely child in many respects. Even with the attention Tyler heaped on her when he could, she yearned for a mother and siblings. Having grown up alone in a house with grandparents, she understood Olivia’s feelings of isolation.

  When she asked the girl about school, her young features tensed. “It’s okay. Classes are good.” She lifted a narrow shoulder. “I’m on the newspaper staff.”

  “Do you go to any of the dances or sporting events?”

  Olivia shook her head and changed the topic to her dad. Lacy asked many questions. What kind of father was he? Strict? Indulgent? In return, Olivia wanted to know what he was like as a younger man. What things about her dad had Lacy found so appealing?

  “Wish you two would quit talking about me as if I’m dead. ’Cause if I were dead, I wouldn’t hurt this damn much.”

  “Daddy, you’re awake.” Olivia stood and kissed his swollen face. She burst into tears and rambled as only a teenager could. “I was so scared. No more bull riding. You hear? I forbid it.”

  “Shh, don’t cry now, Angel. I’ll be fine.”

  “I’ll ring for the nurse.” Lacy pressed the buzzer, feeling as if she were intruding on a private father-daughter moment. Not that she would know what one of those was like. Still, she did have grandpa and knew how she’d feel if he were hurt as badly as Tyler.

  ****

  The next time Tyler opened his eyes, Olivia’s head was next to his waist. He ran a hand over her hair, taking note of her gentle snoring. “Angel.”

  “A very intelligent angel.”

  He turned his head toward the voice in the dark. Lacy. “Hey.”

  She shifted in her chair. “Hey, cowboy.” She leaned toward him. “How are you feeling?” Cool fingers brushed the hair off his forehead.

  “Like I was kick
ed in the head by a bull.” His head throbbed so bad he could barely see.

  “Want some ice water?”

  “Oh, yeah.” He took a few welcome sips of cool water and wiped off his chin. “My mouth doesn’t want to work. I’m surprised you stayed. Glad, but surprised.”

  “I needed to know you were okay. Plus, someone had to stay with Olivia. Pete went home to check on things.”

  He nodded and winced at the throbbing pain the slight movement caused. “Give me the rundown of my injuries, ’cause I hurt like hell.”

  She placed his hand on a button contraption. “First, this is your morphine drip. Press it once to get some relief from pain.”

  He pressed it twice.

  Her lips pursed. “You pressed it twice, didn’t you?”

  “Hell, yeah.”

  She shook her head, her displeasure evident. “Men are such wusses when it comes to pain.” Her whispers were evidently to keep Olivia from waking, but the tone of her voice had a sensual quality to it.

  “Hunh. A kiss would make me feel better.” A man could always hope.

  When she leaned over him to press a tender kiss on his forehead, his hand drifted up to her waist to hold her in place. Her floral perfume was a welcome change from the antiseptic smell of the room. The warmth of her nearness soothed his battered body.

  “My head hurts so bad, one kiss won’t take care of it,” he whispered.

  “You’re going to milk this for all it’s worth, aren’t you?”

  More gentle kisses feathered across his brow. Her fingers sifted through his hair in a gentle, soothing motion.

  He sighed, relaxing more from her touch than the drugs. “Don’t stop, Sugar. I need this.” When had a woman touched him the way she did? When had he needed the comfort another person could provide? Anna Beth was never one for tenderness, but there was something in Lacy’s being that oozed it for people she cared about. Could she ever come to care for him and Olivia? “More.”

  She feathered kisses over his cheeks and nose. “I can’t kiss your mouth with the stitches there.”

  “Try.” He heard the plea in his voice and, although the tone should have unmanned him, he didn’t give a damn. What he needed right now was her. One petite woman with a mountain of strength and an ocean of caring.

  Warm lips kissed the corners of his mouth, and he was lost. Lost in the essence of her. His hand slid to her back and pulled her closer. Both of her hands slipped behind his neck, sending chills of heat down his spine. Her tongue swept along his lips, and he opened for her taste. Breaths mingled. Soft moans danced around the sterile room. One thought prevailed as she gently kissed him. He was home—home where he belonged.

  Advice from his pappy floated back. “Find a woman who spoils you, son. Then spoil her back so she never leaves you. Ain’t nothin’ finer than two people seein’ to each other’s needs.” If only he’d listened to pappy’s words before he hooked up with Anna Beth, Miss Austin Texas. Still, if he had, he wouldn’t have his daughter.

  Beeps on the monitor grew louder. Slowly, Lacy pulled back. “If we don’t stop this, alarms are going to go off and nurses will come running in to see why your pulse rate is sky high.”

  “Damn the nurses. Kiss me again.”

  She patted his chest. “I think you’ve had enough.”

  “I’ll be the judge of that.” Could he ever get enough of her?

  “Sorry, cowboy. With your injuries, you need your strength for healing, not for making out with the ladies.”

  “There’s only you.” Hell, is that how I really feel? Am I starting to get serious about her? How damn foolish is that? No doubt, first chance she gets, she’ll leave me for another man just like Anna Beth did.

  “I think it’s time we change the subject. You asked about your injuries.” She fussed with his sheets, smoothing them out as she talked. “You’ve got a concussion, scrapes and contusions over your face and body, stitches from your nose to your upper lip.” Her voice grew shakier as her descriptions continued. “Surgery to stop internal bleeding. They took out your spleen.” She swiped at tears. “Badly sprained ankle.”

  He reached for her hand. “Not bad. Been hurt worse by a bull.”

  “Oh, Tyler, didn’t I tell you my coming to watch you ride wouldn’t be a good idea? I’m like a jinx where you’re concerned. Every time I’m around, something happens to you.”

  A stab of pain took his breath away for a few seconds. He pressed the button on his morphine drip—twice. “Bullshit.” A fuzzy grey haze pulled at him. He’d be asleep soon. “Stay…”

  The next time he woke, a nurse was peering under his hospital gown. “Whatever you’re looking for, it’s broken.”

  She chuckled. “Just checking your bandage. I see it needs changed. There’s some post-surgery drainage.”

  When she began tugging at the adhesive, he pressed his magic button—twice dammit.

  “Where’s everyone?” Lacy and Olivia were gone, and he fought a strange sense of abandonment.

  “Your wife and daughter went to the cafeteria for some breakfast. How about you? Think you could eat?”

  “Coffee, extra sugar.”

  The door to the room opened and Lacy walked in. She looked tired and wrinkled, having slept on a chair all night. Even so, he found her beautiful. “Mornin’ Sugar.”

  The nurse chuckled. “My husband calls me Sugar, too. I think it’s sweet.” She winked at him as she applied a fresh bandage. “Pun intended.”

  “I’m merely a friend. I’m not his wife.” A charming blush crept up Lacy’s throat and kissed her cheeks.

  Olivia was right behind her. “Not yet, but I’m working on it. Grownups can be so obtuse, don’t you think?” Her remarks were directed at the amused nurse. “I’m thinking if they were to marry around Christmas, I could have a baby brother or sister by the end of next September. Bella if it’s a girl and Tyler Junior if it’s a boy.”

  Tyler’s gaze ricocheted to Lacy’s. She was staring at the tops of her boots, her face red with embarrassment.

  “Do Lacy and I have anything to say about this?”

  His daughter tore a piece of pastry off the Danish she was holding and popped it in her mouth. “Not if I have anything to do with it. I mean, a Christmas wedding would be beautiful. Red poinsettias and pine. Lots of candles. I’d be the maid of honor, of course. A long, slinky red velvet gown.” She twirled around, obviously lost in her fantasy. “White cowgirl boots.”

  “Excuse me.” Lacy all but ran from his room.

  Well, hell.

  “Olivia Renee. What were you thinking to talk that way in front of Lacy? You’ve made her feel uncomfortable. What’s gotten into you?” Much as he wanted to, he couldn’t go after Lacy. How would he explain to her he had a daughter hell-bent on getting him married?

  “I want a normal family with a mother and siblings. Is that so wrong?” She crossed her arms and arched a brow.

  “You can’t force adults to fall in love. And marriage without love can be hell on earth.” I should know.

  Chapter Ten

  Lacy sat on the bench in front of the hospital entrance waiting on her grandpa. By now, Olivia had probably told Tyler all about her teenaged infatuation and her current attraction to him. She tugged her sunglasses from her purse and slipped them on. I’ll never be able to face him again. Probably just as well with that video coming back around.

  Her cell rang, and she answered.

  “Lacy, it’s Olivia. I’m sorry I upset you. I didn’t mean to.” Every word dripped with her teenage angst.

  “It’s okay, honey. Don’t cry. It’s time I went home anyhow. Pete should be here soon to pick you up. Stay in your dad’s room until he gets there, okay?”

  “Okay.”

  “I have a ride coming to take me home. Take good care of the patient.”

  “Wait.” She sniffled into the phone. “Daddy wants to talk to you.”

  She heard low conversation and rustling as the cell phone was handed over to Ty
ler. Her stomach clenched.

  “You okay?”

  “Embarrassed, but okay.”

  “Olivia and I had a long talk about not forcing people to fall in love.”

  Of course he wouldn’t want to fall in love with her. She was simply someone to pass the time with, nothing permanent or serious. “Don’t fuss at her. She’s just a kid.”

  “Kid or not, I don’t like her hurting your feelings. Where are you?”

  “Outside, waiting for Grandpa. I figure it’s time I get home. Shower and change clothes so I won’t feel so grungy. You need to rest.”

  “Will you call me tonight? Hold on. Olivia, what’s the number on my bedside phone?”

  He repeated the number for Lacy, and she scribbled it on a scrap of paper from her purse.

  “You won’t forget to call me? I’ll be going stir-crazy by tonight. I’m not one for being idle.”

  Grandpa’s truck rumbled in front of the hospital. “My ride’s here. I’ll talk to you later.”

  “Lacy? Thanks for everything. I won’t forget how great you’ve been. You’re a good person.”

  By eight o’clock that evening, Lacy’s eyes were gritty from too many hours last night in a hospital chair and too many today in front of her computer. She took another hot shower, slipped on her pajamas and soothed her eyes with drops before collapsing between the sheets. Honeybun jumped on the bed, turned around twice and settled next to her side.

  She scratched behind the collie’s ears. “What do you think, Honeybun? Should I call Tyler?”

  The bed jiggled with the thump of Honeybun’s tail as she rested her muzzle on Lacy’s arm.

  “He said I should call him, but…”

  A canine whine replied.

  “I should just do it, huh?”

  The collie woofed, and Lacy dialed.

  “Hello?”

  “How’s the patient tonight?”

  “Lonely. Hate lying still. Tired of having a flashlight shined in my eyes. These ice packs wrapped around my ankle make my foot feel like a frozen popsicle.”

  She laughed at his tone of voice. “Grumpy.”