Dad on Demand: Lone Star Dads, #3 by Lori Wilde & Pam Andrews Hanson

Author:Lori Wilde & Pam Andrews Hanson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: L&P

10

As the week passed, Becky developed a new daily routine.

Mornings weren’t difficult. Nate was always in a hurry to get to work. She showed up. He briefed her on Lucy’s night and then left.

It was the midnight-or-later homecomings that sapped her resolve not to get emotionally involved with him. He reminded her of the warrior home from battle, a gladiator victorious but drained. She had wild impulses—to cradle his head on her lap, to kiss his droopy eyelids, to cuddle up on the couch, or to whisper sweet nothings in his ear.

This was insane. He deserved a swift kick in the pants for getting her into this pretend girlfriend thing, not tender loving caresses. She had to build a wall between fantasy and reality, and the real Nate was everything she didn’t want—macho, headstrong, cocky, and too darn handsome for her own good.

Friday night was the worst.

Nate came home, hollow-eyed and visibly drooping. She’d already learned that cops didn’t talk much about their work except with their fellow officers. But he looked as if a bulldozer had flattened him.

“Rough night?” she asked.

“It’s a living.”

“But you’re big and tough. You can handle it.”

“Pretty much so.” He turned the full blast of his blue on her on her.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“No.”

“It might help.”

“Women.” He laughed and rolled his eyes. “Let one of them through the door, and she’ll expect you to bare your soul.”

“I was just making conversation,” she mumbled, feeling a little hurt by his cavalier attitude. “I didn’t realize you thought so little of me. Lumping me into a pile with the other women you’ve dated. We are all individuals.”

She headed for the door, but he was too quick, and he got in front of her to block the exit. She was moving pretty fast herself, and she almost plowed into him.

“Hey, hey. Look, I apologize. That was snarky and you were right. It is unfair of me to pile you in with the women I’ve dated. I had a bad night, and I took it out on you.”

“Apology accepted,” she said.

He inhaled. “There was a terrible accident tonight on the interstate and a baby, close to Lucy’s age, was badly hurt and I was the one who had to unbuckle her from her car seat.” His voice came out raspy, and she could see the pain in his eyes.

Now she felt like a jerk. She’d only been thinking of herself. Truth was his comment had triggered her and instead of supporting a good guy who had a hard job, she had chosen to get huffy.

“I took offense too easily,” she said. “I should have cut you some slack.”

“And I should do the same for you.” His eyes were contrite.

Becky didn’t want him to apologize. She wanted to be mad at him. Anger was good. Anger pushed any sappy ideas she was brewing about him to the back of her head, but after that confession, how could she stay mad at him?

“At least you’re not really my boyfriend,” she said.

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