The Strong Family Romance Collection

by Cami Checketts

  The shop had finally calmed down in the late afternoon when a blonde lady about Mary’s age swept in. Mary didn’t recognize her. She would’ve been naturally beautiful, and she seemed to know how to enhance that beauty with thick makeup and a white satin tie-front shirt that showed off her well-endowed chest and her fake-tanned abs. Her red skirt was so miniscule that Mary didn’t want to see her bend over or sit down.

  “Where is your gluten-free menu?” she demanded of Chelsea.

  “Um …” Chelsea looked to Mary. “Isn’t all ice cream gluten free?”

  Mary smiled. In their small valley not many people were into dietary restrictions and crazes unless they had health issues, and the ones who had health issues usually knew exactly what they could or couldn’t eat.

  “Any of our simple flavors like chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry will be gluten free,” Mary said. “Plus the sorbets.”

  The blonde gave her a disdainful look, her eyes sweeping over Mary’s outfit, and then narrowing with a jealous glint Mary knew well. A confident woman would ask about the outfit and within thirty seconds be signing up for her newsletter or downloading her app. A jealous woman would glare and pout.

  “Where’s your sugar-free?” the blonde demanded.

  Mary kept her fake smile in place and pointed. “The sugar-free flavors today are cookie dough and rainbow sherbet. If you’re allergic to gluten you might want to go with the sherbet.”

  “I didn’t say I was allergic to gluten. What about vegan? Don’t you have any vegan flavors?”

  Mary was about ready to roll her eyes. She was starting to doubt this woman had any intolerances and was simply being difficult. One of her good friends in Boston had celiac disease and lactose intolerance. Holly knew exactly what she could and couldn’t eat and rarely made any kind of fuss, simply requesting what she needed in a pleasant, patient way. Mary thought that showed a lot of class, especially since Holly could be hospitalized by a dietary mess-up.

  “The sorbets are vegan as well, that might be a good choice for you,” Mary said.

  “It’s so disgusting to me how you people can support consuming dairy.”

  Mary’s eyes widened, and she glanced at Chelsea.

  “Disgusting,” Chelsea drawled with a fake smile on her face. “Almost as disgusting as boobs spilling out of a shirt and a fake-tan that would make Cheetos jealous.”

  Mary hid a smile as the lady gave a gasp of outrage.

  The door swung open and Mary turned to the next customer, hoping whoever it was would distract the blonde. The lady indeed spun to see who’d walked in, but all Mary could see was the tall, dark-haired man filling the doorway. Her heart fluttered in her chest.

  He held the door and ushered three children in. Two older boys, both with big brown eyes but one more golden-haired while the other was dark and a little taller and ganglier. In Nick’s arms was a small girl with thick black hair and soulful dark eyes, as if she’d seen far too much sadness in her short life.

  “Nick,” Mary breathed.

  “Nick!” The blonde gushed out, rushing across the open space and flinging herself at him.

  Mary’s eyes narrowed. She hated that her stomach squirmed with jealousy. She had no hold on Nick. He stepped out of the blonde’s reach and the woman frowned, but then immediately squealed and grabbed onto the golden-haired boy. “Austin! Am I still your girlfriend?”

  Austin. Mary remembered the little boy from when he was smaller than the little girl in Nick’s arms. Austin screwed up his nose and shook his head. “Sorry, not anymore. I came to see Chelsea. She’s one of my favorites.”

  The blonde’s jaw dropped. Austin edged around her and up to the counter. “Hi, Chelsea.” He gave her the cutest wink with his right eye closing tight and his left eye struggling to stay open. “I brought my cousins to meet you.”

  Chelsea lit up and hurried around the counter. She bent and gave Austin a quick squeeze. Mary watched them as she kept one eye on Nick and the woman. The blonde eased into Nick’s space, pressing her chest against his arm. Mary’s stomach rolled.

  “I thought you were going to call me,” she pouted.

  Nick backed away. He shifted the little girl to his left as he wrapped his right arm around the dark-haired boy’s shoulder. “Sorry, Teya, my niece and nephew came to visit from Park City, so we’ve been busy.”

  Mary wondered whose children they were. She’d heard through her mom about the shock that rolled through the valley when everyone found out the youngest Strong sibling, Austin, wasn’t a sibling at all but Gavin’s son. Now Gavin was married and on his honeymoon. Mary had always thought Austin was adorable as a small child. He’d grown up a lot in seven years but still looked small compared to his tough uncle Nick.

  “If you’ll excuse us,” Nick started forward with his niece and nephew staying close to his side, but Teya, apparently, was having none of it.

  “I’ll have ice cream with you,” she declared, giving Nick a sultry stare.

  “Sorry, I’m on a date with this beauty.” He gave the little girl a squeeze, and she giggled. “But you were here first. Please go ahead and order while we check out all the flavors.”

  “It smells so good,” the dark-haired boy piped up, smiling up at his uncle.

  Mary’s heart melted. Nick looked really good with a darling little girl in one arm and an adorable pre-teen looking worshipfully at him.

  Teya edged in closer, looking like she wanted to shove the child out of Nick’s arms. “Rain check for later?” she asked in a suggestive tone.

  Nick smiled easily and Mary felt a moment of panic. He was going to succumb to this diva’s charms. How any man could think a demanding, fake-looking woman like that was charming was beyond her, but she was probably just being petty because of the jealousy mounting inside her.

  “I’m taking Will and Austin out for steaks at the lodge.”

  The woman’s face pinched.

  “I’d hate to … upset you with the smell of the cooked meat, the blood dripping from the steak, and the prolonged chewing that we’ll obviously be doing.”

  Teya’s smile stayed in place but her eyes were calculating. “You know where to find me … after dinner.” She ran her tongue over her lips, and Mary had to look away or risk hurling.

  “No thanks,” Nick said easily, still smiling that devil-may-care smile.

  Teya gave a little gasp of frustration. “Your loss,” she spat out.

  Nick simply shrugged.

  She pushed past him, slamming out the door.

  Austin looked around. “You finally get rid of her, Uncle Nick?”

  “Hopefully for a minute, bud.” Nick winked at Mary.

  Austin gave a pretend shudder. “Me and Uncle Nick met Teya on a mountain bike ride. She’s here with some ‘model convention’ up at the lodge. She’s hot, so of course we asked her out.”

  Chelsea made a noise of disgust in her throat, Mary’s stomach clenched, and Nick looked uncomfortable as he shifted from foot to foot.

  “Big mistake!” Austin called out. “Huge! She moaned and groaned as we ate. Telling us how disgusting it was to watch us eat red meat. We didn’t make fun of her when she chomped on her salad. And she was mean to my favorite waitress Jade. Teya kept bugging Jade about everything being wrong with the food, nothing was good enough for her.” He pulled a face and drawled out, “Annoying.”

  “Be nice,” Nick cautioned though it was obvious he was hiding a smile.

  Mary felt a rush of relief run through her. Nick wasn’t into the blonde bombshell. Thank heavens.

  Nick walked up to the counter with his niece and nephew close. Chelsea came back around the counter and started dishing up Austin’s cone.

  “Hi.” Mary smiled at the little boy then the girl. “I’m Mary.”

  “Will,” the boy grunted, looking down.

  Nick gave him an encouraging squeeze then grinned at the girl. “And this beauty is Izzy. Can you say hola, mija?”

  “Hola,” Izzy whispere
d, obviously shy and maybe uncomfortable because she didn’t know the language.

  “It’s so nice to meet you,” Mary said. “What kind of ice cream is your favorite?”

  Will’s eyes swept greedily over all the flavors. “Cookies and cream,” he said decisively.

  “All right. Cone or bowl?”

  “Cone, please.”

  “What size?”

  Will looked to Nick with a question in his eyes. Nick grinned down at him but as he met Mary’s eyes she could see something in his gaze, compassion, worry? What was this boy’s story? “Better make it a triple,” Nick said, ruffling the kid’s hair. “He’s a growing boy.”

  Will grinned up at him. “Thank you, Uncle Nick.”

  “Sure.”

  Mary started piling cookies and cream on a cone until it was a towering delicacy. She handed it over, and Will immediately started licking it. He looked so happy. Ice cream did that for a kid. Mary hoped he was happy always, thinking he should be if he was in the Strong family, but something about him tugged at her. He had a lean look as if he’d fought hard in his short life.

  “He eats more than I do,” Austin piped in, also licking his Moose Tracks piled high on a cone.

  Will shrugged, looking shy again.

  “I’m Austin, by the way.” He lifted his eyebrows and gave Mary what he probably thought was a suggestive glance. Oh, my, he was cute. “I don’t think we’ve been … introduced.”

  Mary laughed. “I knew you when you were little, Austin. I’m Mary. It’s nice to get … re-introduced.”

  “No kidding?” Austin tilted his head. “How could I have forgotten a beauty like you?”

  Nick chuckled. “Mary used to help me babysit you. I think she changed your diapers, bud.” He gave Mary a sly wink.

  She remembered helping out with Austin when Nick’s mom was busy helping his dad who had a horrible ski accident and was paralyzed from the waist down. They’d been young, maybe middle school, but she’d already had lots of Nick Strong fantasies.

  “No!” Austin protested. “Well, this just got awkward.” He focused back on Chelsea. “You didn’t change my diapers, right pretty girl?”

  Chelsea shook her head. “No, sir.”

  “Whew. Dodged a bullet there.”

  The adults all laughed.

  “Get Izzy’s cone, Uncle Nick, and let’s go to the park.”

  “Okay, slow down, big guy.” Nick focused back on Mary. “Cassie says this sweetheart loves the exotic fruits. Let’s do a small cone of pineapple sherbet.”

  “All right.” Mary started scooping. “Cassie’s her mom?” They had to be adopted then. Cassie and her twin Ella were a couple years younger than Nick and Mary. At twenty-three Cassie couldn’t biologically be Will’s mother. Plus Mary’s mom would’ve told her about a story like that.

  Nick nodded. “Yeah.”

  “What would you like, Nick?” Chelsea asked.

  “A peanut butter chocolate shake, please.”

  “You got it.” Chelsea got to work scraping out a generous serving of chocolate ice cream then adding creamy peanut butter and a shot of hot fudge sauce.

  Mary handed over the little girl’s cone. Nick took it from her, and as their fingers brushed Mary felt a warm current rush through her. She drew back quickly. This man was lethal with his looks and his touch, and he sadly only thought of her as a friend.

  Chelsea quickly blended the shake and handed it to Nick. He had his hands full with the little girl and holding his shake. He set the shake on the counter and shifted Izzy to his left arm so he could pull out his wallet. “How much do I owe you?”

  “Your money’s no good here,” Chelsea said. “We’re grateful for your service to our country.” Chelsea and Mary’s parents were very patriotic, still lowered and raised a huge flag in their yard every day. When they were children and teenagers they’d stood outside with their hands over their hearts during each ceremony. Mary remembered being annoyed about it at times, more respectful and grateful at others. Now she thought it was an honor and tried to be there for the flag ceremony when she could.

  Nick’s brow furrowed. “Thanks,” he grunted. He pulled out a couple of twenties and shoved them in the tip jar. Chelsea opened her mouth to protest but Mary shook her head. Nick’s pride had always been strong, and he wouldn’t like the handout.

  His bright smile returned quickly, and he turned to Mary. “Let me buy you an ice cream, and you can come to the park with us.” He was like an incorrigible little boy in a tough man’s body.

  “I’m working here.”

  “She’s worthless to me,” Chelsea said. Pushing at her, she demanded. “Go to the park. Anna will be here in half an hour, and it’s dead right now.”

  Mary glanced back at Nick. His gaze was begging her. She finally sighed and said, “I’d love to.”

  “It sounds like it.” Nick laughed easily.

  Mary smiled. “I really would. It’s such a pretty day.” And she would love to be around Nick and these beautiful children. She peeled off her gloves and apron and hit her hip against Chelsea as she walked past.

  “Hey,” Chelsea protested.

  “What about your ice cream?” Nick asked.

  “I’m fine.” She waved a hand. “I already had a hot fudge sundae for lunch.”

  “Nice.” He chuckled.

  Mary sauntered around the counter. Nick waited for her with his easy grin decorating his handsome face. He walked over and held the door for her.

  “Thanks, Chelsea,” he called.

  “Thanks,” Will muttered.

  “See you soon, pretty lady.” Austin held his ice cream cone up like he was toasting Chelsea.

  Little Izzy said nothing but she gave Mary a pretty dimpled smile as they walked into the bright spring day. It was high sixties this afternoon, amazingly warm for their high-elevation valley in early May, but the little girl immediately shivered and cuddled into Nick’s chest.

  The boys dashed ahead with their cones in hand, down the short Main Street toward the spot where the church and park were. It was a miracle neither of them dumped their ice cream.

  “Can you hold this?” Nick asked Mary, extending his shake.

  “Sure.”

  He handed it over then wrapped both arms around the little girl. “Are you cold, mija?”

  She burrowed into him. She was wearing long sleeves and long pants, but she was shivering. She’d been licking her ice cream in the shop, but now she held it gingerly as if it were freezing her.

  “Wait one second,” Mary said. She ran back into the shop, still holding Nick’s shake, and asked Chelsea, “Can you give me a spoon and a bowl?”

  “Sure.” Chelsea handed them over. “Have fun with that beautiful man.”

  Mary shook her head. “We’re just friends.”

  “No way! I saw how he looked at you. Friends! That’s stupidity right there.”

  Mary ran back out with Chelsea still squawking at her from behind. She hoped Nick couldn’t hear what her sister was saying. That was the last thing she wanted, things being awkward around Nick.

  She reached Nick and Izzy and held up the bowl. “Put your cone in here, sweetie, then it won’t freeze you.”

  Nick directed Izzy to drop her cone in the bowl. They walked to the park with Mary holding the cone and the shake. The boys were already climbing up the playset, their ice cream cones dwindling quickly as they licked while they climbed, slid, and chased. How they managed to not drop their cones or trip and fall Mary didn’t know. It was fun watching them interact together.

  She and Nick settled into a bench with him holding Izzy close to keep her warm. She reached for the sherbet and happily ate it with the spoon while she watched her brother and cousin play. At least Mary thought it was her brother.

  “Those two are the best of friends,” she remarked about the boys.

  Nick smiled. “They only met a couple of days ago, but Austin was so excited to have a cousin his age he pulled out all the stops to make W
ill feel welcome and have a good time.”

  “Austin’s so friendly it would be hard to resist him.”

  “For sure.” Nick dropped his voice. “Plus Will wasn’t in the best situation with his foster care family. The kid just seems to lap up any positive attention, and food, as you can see.”

  Mary had so many questions but as Nick shifted closer to her and his arm brushed hers, her stomach heated up and she forgot her own name.

  Izzy lost interest in her sherbet and pointed to the playset. Nick grinned, set her bowl on the ground, and carried her over. He set her on a lower platform, and she quickly scrambled up the ramp toward the boys.

  “Izzy!” Austin called in delight. “C’mere.” He put his arms out. She toddled unevenly to him and Will as the platform shifted with each step.

  Will grabbed her before Austin could reach her and asked, “You wanna go down the slide, sis?”

  “Hey. I want to take her,” Austin said.

  Will jutted out his chin. “She’s my sister.”

  Austin held up his hands. “It’s chill, bro. Can I take her next time?”

  Will studied him for a beat then nodded. “Sure.”

  They hurried toward the slide and all seemed fine. Nick walked back to his seat by Mary and sank down. She gestured toward his untouched shake. “Did you really want that?”

  He chuckled. “I forgot about it.” He picked it up and took a spoonful, “Auntie Sue’s ice cream is the best.”

  “Thanks.” She smiled and inclined her head to the playset where the boys were racing down the parallel slides with Izzy on Will’s lap. They were all grinning. “They have little battles very often?”

  Nick shook his head. “Austin’s pretty easy-going, so he hasn’t let it escalate. Will’s two years older and trying to find his place in a new family.”

  “My big brother was a boss hog, so I guess I get the older brother thing.”

  He smiled. “Gavin was always in charge too. Sometimes he gave me advice …” His eyes swept carefully over her face. “… that I didn’t like.”