A Texas Soldier's Family by Cathy Gillen Thacker

Author:Cathy Gillen Thacker
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2016-07-02T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Garrett set the groceries on the kitchen counter with a thud. He had shaved before going into town, and the tantalizing fragrance of his aftershave still clung to his jaw. His dark hair was tousled. He had on worn jeans and an untucked dark blue shirt that brought out the intense sea blue of his eyes. “I thought you weren’t going to throw my mother to the wolves.”

Determined not to put herself in an emotionally vulnerable position with him, especially when it came to the foundation work, she said, “I’m not.”

He strode closer, clearly trying to intimidate her. “Then?”

She feigned immunity to his disapproval. “Lucille called while you were out. Half an hour ago, the foundation’s attorney received a demand letter from a lawyer representing fifteen of the charities.” Keeping her voice low, she shifted Max a little higher in her arms so he could look out over her shoulder. “They’re threatening to sue.”

Garrett’s gaze darkened as the information sank in.

“Apparently, it’s going to be an exclusive for KTWX on the eleven o’clock news. Which is why I called my contact at rival KMVU, and told her the promised payments had been going out all afternoon at the foundation offices, and would be completed by 5:00 p.m. tomorrow.”

“And my mother approved this.”

“I spoke with her at length, while you were in town. She understands that we have to make it clear she was doing the right thing before she received the threatening demand letter. Otherwise it looks as if she only followed through because she was facing legal action. Which brings me to the next thing we need to discuss...the personal check you wrote to West Texas Warrior Assistance.”

As she moved closer, Max reached out and put a tiny fist in the short sleeve of Garrett’s shirt. Ignoring the tender look he threw her son, Hope swallowed through the dryness of her throat and prodded, “In addition to the five thousand dollar check you were to deliver from the foundation.”

His expression quickly became veiled. He squinted. “How did you know about that?”

Easy. “Bess Monroe wrote your mother an email, thanking her and citing your generosity. Your mom was impressed, by the way.”

So was she.

“Don’t make a big deal out of it,” he told her gruffly. “And don’t even think about putting what I did in any press release.”

Luckily she hadn’t thus far. Mostly because she had wanted to speak with him first and find out what had prompted him to be so generous, when she knew from Lucille that he and his siblings lived only on what they were each able to bring in, which in his case was his military salary. She watched as Max fisted his other hand in Garrett’s shirt. “Why not?” Figuring she might as well let Max have what he wanted, she transferred her little boy to Garrett’s waiting arms.

“Because it’s not really charity if anyone knows about it.” Despite the tension hovering between them, Garrett flashed a heart-melting grin at the baby cuddled against his chest.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.