CHAPTER EIGHT
THE NEXT MORNING Bo stood at the living room window, sipping coffee and watching as Becky left for the day. He didn’t know if she was coming back or staying in Austin for the week. But he had a sneaking suspicion she would be back for the night. She wasn’t going to leave Luci that long.
All night he’d thought about her change of heart that would let him see Luci without a big argument. She was up to something but he really didn’t care what it was. Talking about the past was uppermost in his mind. If they could do that, they might be able to bridge the gulf between them. And if Luci was his, the talk would be even more important. One he had been waiting on for eighteen years.
He locked the house and headed for a training morning in Austin. A cop had to put in so many hours of training each week, but as a SWAT member his training was more vigorous and more frequent. The lieutenant hadn’t mentioned keeping up his training while he was on vacation. As a sergeant, he knew the drill and his butt would be in the fire if he didn’t.
He did his full routine at the police gym, from lifting weights to working with the machines, and then he put on his full tactical gear and ran the obstacle course: up stairs and down stairs, up walls and over to the other side, crawling through brush and falling to his belly to shoot at a moving target. By the time he dragged himself into the locker room he thought he might not want to do this for the rest of his life. It took a lot of stamina, and at his age he had to wonder how long his stamina would last. At thirty he used to fly over that wall. Today it took a little more energy.
There were other cops in the gym and on the practice field, but he hadn’t seen anyone he worked with on SWAT. He was sure the lieutenant would get a full report of his workout, though.
Driving back to Horseshoe, he hoped Luci wasn’t sitting on the step waiting for him.
As he pulled into the driveway, he saw her sitting there, once again, with the ball on her lap and Pink and Purr beside her. When she saw him she got up and ran toward him, but she fell and the ball bounced out into the street. He lifted her into his arms and brushed the grass from her pink outfit.
“Hey, little angel, are you okay?”
“Yeah. Wait. You.” Her eyes were as bright as the sky.
He was going to ask about her grandpa, but then he saw Craig standing in the doorway. Bo walked toward him.
“I was watching her,” Craig said. “I couldn’t get her back into the house.”
“Play.” Luci pointed to the backyard.
Bo picked a piece of grass from her pink top. “Have you had lunch?”
Luci nodded.
Craig handed him some papers. With a frown, Bo took them. “Becky left some notes for you.”
Luci wiggled down and ran to the back door. Looking through Becky’s notes, the frown on Bo’s forehead deepened. Was she kidding? It was a list of things to do to help Luci speak. Singing helps. Reading helps. Try to get her to repeat sentences after you. Anything to engage her in speech. Well now, this was a nice turn of events.
“Does Becky think I have some magical powers?”
“You’ll have to ask her that. This is her decision and I hope you two can be amicable for Luci.”
“Yeah.” This was looking more and more like Luci was his and Becky was giving him time to adjust. He didn’t think beyond that. Right now, a little girl was waiting for him. He ran outside and got the ball from the street. He was looking forward to spending the rest of the afternoon with Luci.
They kicked the ball. They threw the ball. Luci laughed and giggled, running around the backyard. She was full of energy.
“Catch. Me,” she screeched. He ran behind her, caught her and threw her up into the air. Her screams of delight echoed around the neighborhood. But her face was red and she was hot. The summer heat still lingered in the air. He saw the hose that Craig had left out while he was watering the yard and flower beds. He turned it on and sprayed Luci. She giggled uncontrollably and tried to run away. He followed with the hose and she doubled over with childish laughter and fell to the ground.
He lifted her into his arms and held her close to his chest. She was soaking wet and so was he. But he was having the time of his life with this little girl.
He sat her on the grass beneath a large oak tree and held her on his lap, trying to remember some of the things Becky had written in the note.
“I like Luci.”
She smiled broadly, the water drops glistening off her eyelashes. But she wasn’t getting the message.
“I like Luci. I like Luci. I like Luci. Your turn.”
She shook her head.
“I like Luci. I like Luci. I like Luci. Your turn.” He didn’t want to come out and say repeat the words because she’d become more resistant, as she was with Becky. He had to try something else.
He stood. “I guess I better go back to my house since no one wants to talk to me.”
“No! I. Talk.”
He squatted in front of her. “I like Luci. I like Luci. I like Luci. Your turn.”
“I.” She paused and Bo shook his head.
“I like Luci.” He said the words slowly but he didn’t pause. “I like Luci.”
“I like Luci.” She said the words fast and all together without pausing. He grabbed her and held her close.
“Thank you.” He had meant for her to say I like Bo in return, but he’d take what he could get. He got to his feet and noticed Becky standing on the patio in her scrubs. She’d come home early.
Luci noticed her too, and went running. “Mom-my!” She tripped and fell into a water puddle they’d made while playing.
Bo picked her up by the waist and carried her to Becky. “I believe this belongs to you.”
Luci giggled.
“She’s soaking wet.”
Craig brought out some towels. Becky wrapped them around Luci and they went into the house. Becky didn’t say a word to him. “Thank you, too,” he said to himself and turned off the water hose.
Becky put dry clothes on her daughter and ran back outside to catch Bo. She reached him as he headed down the sidewalk toward his house. “Bo.”
His clothes were wet and that black T-shirt was clinging to muscles she’d never touched. And it scared her that she still wanted to. “Could we talk?”
He sauntered toward her with a glint in his dark eyes and she wanted to smack him. “What did you say? Talk? How many times have I asked you that?”
“Well, it took me this long to make up my mind,” she replied with more sass than she was feeling.
He sat on the step and she eased down beside him, careful not to sit too close.
“If you’re going to tell me not to splash her with water or not to take her out in the sun, I’m already aware of those problems. I kept her in the shade and made sure she was hydrated. She was never in any danger. I do have some medical training.”
“It’s not about that. I just want to know how she did today. Did she say anything in a full sentence?”
He turned to look at her and his dark eyes rivaled the heat level of the sun. “So when it benefits you, it’s okay to talk to me.” She could hear the hurt in his voice and she remained steadfast.
“You started this by playing with her when I told you not to, and now you have somehow become her hero.”
“Oh, Bec.” His eyes glittered with humor. “I used to be your hero.”
“Can we have a conversation without going back to our relationship?”
“Honestly, no. Until we resolve the issues from our past we can’t go forward. I read that in a book somewhere. Aren’t you proud of me?”
She gritted her teeth. “I’d be prouder if you could stick to the conversation. How did Luci do this afternoon?”
“I had to push her, but she said a sentence and then reverted back to her old way of speaking.”
The kn
ot in her chest eased. “That’s a step. She won’t do anything for me. She knows I’m her protector and won’t hurt her.”
“And I will?”
“You took that the wrong way.”
He got to his feet, six foot two of muscle and strength. “Yeah, I take a lot of things the wrong way. Like a woman who won’t admit who’s the father of her child and makes a mystery out of it. That I don’t understand at all, but obviously I’m taking it the wrong way.”
She stood, her hands clenched at her sides. “You are so aggravating and…”
“It would help if I knew a little more about the situation.” He interrupted her as if she hadn’t spoken. “Exactly what is Craig’s schedule? Evidently he’s not working at the bank.”
“Dad is retiring permanently in January and he goes in part-time now to train the new president of the bank. He takes Luci with him and she colors and does puzzles and things. She’s very good and she thinks she’s working. He brings her home for lunch and puts her down for a nap.”
“I don’t know if I can be here every afternoon. I do have things to do, you know.”
That threw her. “Oh, of course. I don’t want to intrude on your time off from work.”
He pointed to her face. “Your eye’s doing that little thing it does when you’re upset.”
“It is not.” Instinctively she put a hand over her left eye. Ever since she was small, when she was upset or stressed her left eye would twitch for a moment. She hated that she couldn’t control it, but as she’d gotten older it didn’t happen as often. Why did it have to happen now?
He touched her arm and a surge of energy similar to electricity shot through her. An explosive energy she’d forgotten. Almost. Her hands were clammy and the sweat coating her body had nothing to do with the temperature.
“I… I better get back to Luci.” She turned to go into the house. She couldn’t stand being this close to him and not be affected. “Thank you for helping Luci. I appreciate it and if…”
“I’ll be here tomorrow.” He strolled across the street and she watched, unable to look away from his long strides. Heaven help her.
* * *
ON TUESDAY MORNING Bo did the laundry, mostly to wash his gym clothes. His mother had been late getting in again the previous night, and against his better judgment he intended to talk to her about it. She couldn’t continue with those long hours. She needed some rest. And in that moment he realized he did the same thing, working so he didn’t have to deal with everyday life or memories—just work. He definitely would talk to her.
He spent the afternoon with Luci. They played with the ball and the water hose, and then sat under the oak tree while Bo read to her from one of her books. He read through the whole book and then started over. Luci listened avidly, her blue eyes wide.
“Let’s read it together.”
Luci shook her head.
“Once upon a time. Your turn.”
Luci shook her head again.
“Once upon a time,” he repeated, and a stubborn look marred her pretty face.
He scooted over to where Purr was stretched out in the sun. “If you won’t read with me, Purr will.”
“No. Me. Read.”
He scooted back to sit in front of her. “Once upon a time.”
“Once.” She paused.
He shook his head and said, “Once upon a time.”
“Once upon a time.” The words flew from her mouth.
He read the next sentence and she repeated it after him. He went through the whole book and she never paused or shook her head.
“The end.”
“The end.”
“Perfect.” He leaned over and kissed her forehead. “You are perfect.”
She giggled and he carried her into the house for dry clothes. She ran to her bedroom and Craig started to follow her, but stopped when Bo held out the small recorder he’d had in his pocket.
“Would you mind giving this to Becky?”
Bo had put the recorder in his pocket hoping he could get Luci to talk. Now, Becky would be able to hear her daughter speaking in complete sentences. Tomorrow he would do the same thing because he wanted Luci to speak as much as Becky did. Deep down he knew Luci was his daughter and he would do anything for her.
Craig looked puzzled, but he took the recorder.
Back at his house, Bo called his mother to find out if she was working late again that night.
“Yes, son, do you need anything?”
“Not a thing. I’m just worried about you working so many hours.”
His mother laughed. “Really? How many times have I said those same words to you?”
“You got me. I think I’ll get in touch with Cole and see what he’s doing. We haven’t visited much since I’ve been home.”
“That’s a good idea.”
He slipped out of his wet clothes, took a shower and put on a clean pair of shorts and T-shirt. As he dressed he thought about the DNA test. He should’ve heard something by now.
He reached for his phone, called the lab and within seconds Marla was on the line. “I sent it to you yesterday.”
“I didn’t get it.”
She read the email address to him and asked if it was correct.
Damn! “I wanted it to come to my cell. I gave you the information.” He was trying very hard not to get ticked off.
“Sorry, Sergeant. It went to your email.”
“Never mind. I’ll check my email.” He cursed himself for not checking them like always, but he’d had other things on his mind. He sat at his desk, opened his laptop and brought up the document. He read through it with a sense of disappointment and a sharp pain pierced his chest. Luci wasn’t his, not even close.
Dammit! Dammit! Dammit!
He jerked to his feet. It didn’t make sense. He had a connection to Luci; he’d just known she was his. How could she not be? He shoved his hands through his hair and paced in his bedroom. He couldn’t run over and confront Becky because she wasn’t home. But the confrontation was coming.
He yanked off his clothes, put on his running shorts and sneakers and hit the front door. He ran through Horseshoe, up and down streets, and found himself on the county road where his grandparents used to live.
As his chest was about to explode he stopped, drew in a ragged breath and stared at the old house. It was now a pale yellow and Grandma’s flowers were all gone, replaced with cacti and something else he didn’t recognize. The chain-link fence was rusted in spots and in one area it was held up by boards. A man on an old tractor was plowing under the cornstalks where his grandfather’s cornfield used to be. The place looked so small compared to the picture in his memory. Two air conditioners were stuck in windows and some kids played in the yard. They waved at him and he waved back.
Through all the pain and agony of the past all he had to do was bring up the memories of this home and they gave him peace. They kept him sane. But his memories were slightly flawed.
As he watched the tractor, a recollection wedged its way into his brain. His grandfather would say, “Never let a woman get the best of you. You’re the man. Be the man.”
He’d believed that one straight into the biggest heartbreak of his life. Yeah, his memories were flawed.
“Treat it kindly,” he said under his breath and continued running.
While he was running he tried to keep Becky out of his mind. She’d known Luci wasn’t his and yet she kept tempting him and asking him to help Luci. She worked him. She played him. And now he would get the answers he wanted.
He ran by the sheriff’s office and saw Cole’s truck. He darted in, going straight to where Cole was sitting and collapsed into a chair. Sweat soaked his clothes and his breath came in shallow gasps. He’d overdone it.
Cole got up, went into another room and came back with a towel and bott
led water. Bo wiped his face and patted his chest, then twisted off the bottle top and took a big swig.
“What’s going on?” Cole asked in his calm, steady voice.
Bo took another gulp of water. “Luci’s not mine.”
“Then it’s time to back away.”
Bo leaned forward. “Not until I’ve had my say. She led me on, letting me believe Luci was mine and even letting me visit with her, even asking me to help her with Luci’s speech. How could she do that?”
“How many times does anyone have to tell you that you and Becky need to talk?”
“Obviously no one has told that to Becky, but it’s going to happen tonight.”
“Don’t do anything stupid.”
“She’s been with someone else and has a kid by him.” Bo couldn’t get past that fact.
“She’s been married before, so obviously she’s been with someone else.”
“Did you have to remind me of that?” Bo ran a hand through his damp hair. “It’s time to face reality and I’m having a hard time doing that. I got really attached to that little girl and I’m going to miss her.” He wiped his face with a towel. “I should’ve stayed in Austin, especially when I found out Becky was here. Now…” He got to his feet. “I’ll see you later.”
“Bo,” Cole called before he could make it to the door. “Come out to the house and we’ll have a beer in the barn like we used to, except we don’t have to hide it from Grandpa anymore.”
“Thanks, but I’m going home to handle this the best way I can.”
When he reached the door, Bubba Wiznowski, a deputy, was coming in. “Hey, Bubba.”
“Hey, Bo. I didn’t mean to scare your parents the other night.”
Bo couldn’t stop a frown from spreading across his face. “What are you talking about?”
“I got a call the other night about loud voices in the park so I went to check it out. You know people call about every little thing these days. It was your mom and dad and I apologize for disturbing them.”
“What were they doing?”
Bubba shrugged. “They were just sitting there on the bench talking.”
Harlequin Heartwarming December 2020 Box Set Page 32
