Lone Star Father

Scarlett pictured a woman passing out at her desk after suffering a heart attack, stroke or brain aneurism. “What happened?”

“She backed the forklift into a bunch of wooden pallets and they fell on top of her.”

Scarlett winced.

“My grandparents died a long time ago,” Jessie said. “That’s why Mrs. Delgado had to call my dad.”

Had to call? “You didn’t keep in touch with your father?”

Jessie shook her head. “My mom said he didn’t want anything to do with us.”

Wow. No wonder Reid and his daughter appeared uneasy with each other.

“His name was on my birth certificate.” Jessie pulled Fang closer to her body as if the animal was a shield. “So I’m stuck with him.”

Stuck? That wasn’t the way things worked in social services, especially with children Jessie’s age. If she hadn’t wanted to be with Reid, her caseworker wouldn’t have forced her to live with him.

The lobby door opened and Fang barked. Reid stepped inside, wearing pajama bottoms, a rumpled T-shirt, his cowboy boots and hat.

Scarlett smiled at the pillow crease along his cheek. “Good morning.” It took immense willpower to maintain eye contact with him and not allow her gaze to drift over his muscular chest and the cotton bottoms clinging to his slim hips.

He dragged a hand down his tired face, then looked at his daughter. “I woke up and you weren’t in the room.”

“Fang had to pee,” Jessie said.

“I bet you could use some caffeine.” While Scarlett made him a cup of joe, a deafening silence filled the room. When she offered him the drink, his fingers skimmed her knuckles and tiny sparks raced up her arm. “There’s cream and sugar on the table.”

“Black is fine.” He took a sip, then spoke. “You hungry?”

“We had oatmeal,” Jessie said.

Scarlett smiled. “I can make you a bowl, if you’d like.”

“I’ll pass, thanks.”

A vehicle pulling into the parking lot caught Scarlett’s attention. “Sadie’s here.” She glanced at the wall clock. “She’s up early.”

The white minivan parked in front of the window and when the rear door opened, Scarlett’s nephews hopped out and raced over to the office. It took both boys pulling on the handle to open the door and when they burst into the lobby, Tommy shouted, “Aunt Scarlett, we got a girl cousin!”

Scarlett laughed. “I heard.”

“It sucks.” Tommy looked at his brother. “Right, Tyler?”

Scarlett frowned at the pair. “Your mom told you not to use that word.”

“I forgot.” Tommy noticed Jessie sitting in the chair and walked over to her. “Is that your dog?”

“His name is Fang,” Jessie said. “And just so you know, boys suck, too.”

Tommy and Tyler exchanged wide-eyed glances.

“You two look alike,” Jessie said.

“That’s ʼcause we’re twins.” Tommy nudged Tyler in the side. “Right?”

Tyler pointed to the dog. “Can I pet him?”

“Sure.”

The boys took turns petting Fang and then Tommy spoke when Sadie walked into the office. “That’s my mom.”

Jessie pointed to Reid. “That’s my dad.”

“We’ve got two dads.” Tommy glanced at Tyler and his brother nodded.

“Sadie, this is Reid.” Scarlett introduced the adults. “And Reid’s daughter, Jessie.”

“You and Jessie couldn’t have picked a better time to visit.” Sadie smiled. “The whole family will be here when Lydia and Gunner bring the baby home from the hospital.”

Scarlett loved her cousin for acting nonchalant about the fact that her husband’s brother had returned to town unannounced and with a daughter no one had known about. Not that Sadie’s easy-going personality put Reid at ease. His gaze swung to the door, then over to the window before returning to the door. The cowboy wanted to flee.

“Scarlett,” Sadie said, “I need you to come with me and the boys to buy party supplies for the baby’s homecoming tomorrow. I’m planning a surprise get-together for the new parents at the ranch.” Sadie nodded to Jessie. “As long as the dog doesn’t mind waiting in the van while we shop, why don’t you come with us.”

Tyler patted Jessie’s thigh. “Will you come?”

Jessie looked at Reid, and he said, “We don’t have any plans.”

“Sure,” Jessie said. “I’ll go.”

Reid’s rigid stance relaxed. He didn’t seem bothered that his daughter hadn’t wanted to spend the day with him.

Jessie scooped Fang off the chair. “I’ll get dressed.”

“Do you have a key card to get back into the room?” Reid opened the lobby door for her after Jessie flashed the card in his face. “Take a twenty out of my wallet on the nightstand in case you see something you want to buy for yourself or the dog.”

Sadie sent Scarlett a curious look when Jessie left without saying a word to anyone. “Boys, have you said hello to your dad’s brother? This is your uncle Reid.”

“I thought Uncle Gunner was Dad’s brother,” Tommy said.

“Your father has two brothers.” Sadie smiled at Reid.

“Nice to meet you, boys,” he said.

“We’re five.” Tommy walked over to Reid and squinted up at him. “My dad wears a cowboy hat but his is black.”

Scarlett hid a smile behind a pretend yawn. The boy’s forthrightness took getting used to.

“Are you older than my dad?” Tommy asked.