At Home in His Heart (20 page)

W
ith a heavy heart, Sandi let herself through the museum gate and paused to take in her surroundings.

The weathered stone. A front porch needing fresh paint. Over grown bushes demanding a trim. A pot of weary geraniums by the door. Had she seen it through eyes of love, so hadn’t noticed those things? It was all she could do not to pull out her notebook and add new items to her checklist.

But what would be the point?

A week of nonstop campaigning had netted dozens of promises for financial support, but none that approached what the bank representative insisted would be required.

As she started up the stone steps, the front door opened and Bryce’s imposing form filled the open space. With barely concealed excitement in his eyes, he stepped onto the porch—but she didn’t see a For Sale sign clutched in his big hand, so at least he was showing a little sensitivity.

He motioned to the cozy area on the far end of the porch. “Want to have a seat? No point in confining ourselves inside on a nice day like this.”

She followed his lead and seated herself on a padded wicker chair, leaving the hard-backed bench to him. Then she turned to him, forcing a tight smile. This was going to be harder than
she thought it would be. “I guess you know why I invited you to meet me here.”

His expression sobered. “Guessing.”

“We can’t swing it. Not the down payment. Not the monthly mortgage. Not the remodel.”

“Your anonymous donor didn’t come through?”

She shook her head.

“That donor turned out to be LeAnne.” And not even presenting her with a veterans memorial as big as the state of Texas would have ever won her mother-in-law’s approval. How had she been so blind?

He gave a low whistle. “Whoa. Didn’t expect that. But she can’t help out?”

Her memory flashed to LeAnne’s proposed “deal” involving him. She wouldn’t go into that. “No.”

“I’m sorry.”

But pity wasn’t what she wanted from him. He looked so handsome sitting there across from her. Big, rough and tough on the outside—with a marshmallow center. What had gone so wrong between them, so quickly?

She gave a little shrug, as if it didn’t matter. As if nothing mattered. “You’re free now to post your sign. Find a buyer.”

Was it wrong to wish he couldn’t find one?

Bryce leaned forward, forearms resting on his knees and hands clasped. “I already found one as a back-up plan.”

Her stomach tightened as hope toppled.

His eyes searched hers, gauging her reaction, but his words squeezed out any foolish dregs of expectation that might remain in the bottom of her heart. Hope that he might negotiate. Bring down the price. But he’d known all along she didn’t stand a chance of pulling it off. He’d humored her. That was all.

“When do we have to be out?”

“Grandma could transfer the property August 1. The
potential buyer would like to get started on a remodel before month’s end.”

She hadn’t expected it to happen so quickly. Where would they store everything? Relocate? She reached into her purse and pulled out her notebook. She had a lot to get done in the remaining days of July. “What’s he plan to do with it? And please don’t tell me Canyon Springs is getting yet another real estate office.”

He chuckled. “No, he’s a more civic-minded gentleman.”

“Oh. Government offices?”

“Actually, a museum.”

She frowned.

“Historical,” he added, watching her closely.

“I…I don’t understand. Who is this guy?”

“A descendant of the family who built this house. Lives in California. Made it big during the real estate boom, but got out before the crash. Now he wants to give back to the community his great-grandparents helped found, where his grandparents grew up.”

She leaned forward.

“Are you kidding me?” The pitch of her voice rose right along with the hope within her. “He wants to remodel
this
place? Keep the museum
here?
”

“That’s right. At no cost to the society”

She put her hand to her mouth. Tears forming. “How on earth—?”

Bryce’s eyes twinkled.

“You.”
She laughed, still not taking it all in. “You did this, didn’t you? Made it happen. But
how?
How did you find him?”

Rising to his feet, hands on his slim hips, he grinned down at her. “Let’s just say I’ve gained a new respect for digging through the musty belongings of dead people. And the ties that bind U.S. Army alumni.”

She stood, as well, her gaze never leaving his. “I think I want to hug you.”

“I think I’m going to let you.”

She laughed again and, stepping into his arms, pressed her cheek against his solid chest. Held him tight, just as he held her. She looked up. “Thank you, Bryce. I can’t put into words how I feel. I can’t believe you did this for me, even after changing your mind about us.”

His gaze sharpened. “I never changed my mind about us. You did.”

She pulled back slightly, shaking her head. “No, I didn’t.”

They stared at each other, eyes questioning.

Realization dawning.

Then he laughed—a laugh she loved—and tugged her into his arms again. “I asked you once before, Sandi, if we could be more than friends. What do you say now? Considering our track record, you may find it hard to believe, but I love you.”

She tightened her hold on him. “I love you, too.”

He glanced cautiously heavenward. “No lightning strikes. I think the Almighty approves. And Keith.”

Her breath caught. And Keith.

You can forget about having any more children. At least with me, anyway.

She squeezed her eyes tightly shut.

“What’s wrong? I’ll fix it whatever it is.”

“I don’t think you can.”

“Tell me.” His fingers tightened on her arms.

“I can’t go into this without you knowing the kind of woman I really am. What you’re getting yourself into.” She opened her eyes. “Did Keith tell you about his last conversation with me?”

His forehead creased, and he started to shake his head, then stopped. “About your ultimatum?”

“Right. So why are you talking of love? With
me?
”

“Because I love you.” He chuckled, but his expression said
he thought she’d lost her mind. “Am I missing something here?”

“It doesn’t matter to you that I sent my husband to his grave thinking I didn’t want to have any more children with him?”

His countenance stilled. “That was your ultimatum?”

“Yes.”

“You don’t want any more kids? Ever?” He was withdrawing from her. She could sense it. Pulling away emotionally even though he still held her to him.

“No. Yes. I mean I told him if he didn’t resign from the army, come home, I didn’t want any more children. I couldn’t take it anymore, Bryce. Him being gone all the time, in constant danger. Me alone in Canyon Springs with Gina. It was foolish and childish, and I’ve regretted those words every day of my life.”

“He never told me what you said, Sandi.”

“But you just said you knew about my ultimatum.”

“He didn’t confide specifics.”

She swallowed. “Then it must have wounded him deeply.”

“I don’t think so.” He shook his head. “I saw Keith before he climbed on that copter for the last time. He didn’t tell me the nature of your call. But he was in high spirits, plotting and planning how he’d woo you and win you over to his point of view.”

She stared, not comprehending.

“In fact, his last words to me were ‘wise up, buddy. You need to get yourself right with God—and get yourself a woman like Sandi to boss you around. You’re missing out on the fun of persuading her to change her mind.’”

“He said that?”

“I thought he was nuts, but he could hardly wait to get back to you and Gina—and start that persuasion.” Bryce’s eyes grew tender as he cupped her face in his two hands. “But you’ve
lived the past five years carrying that burden, haven’t you? Reliving your last words.”

She nodded.

“What were his last words to
you,
Sandi?”

“He said—” Tears pricked as her mind unwillingly went back to that day. Again heard the sharpness in her voice. The anger. The selfishness. The wounding, hateful words.

She took a shaky breath, trying to remember Keith’s response. His final words. “He said…he said, ‘I love you.’”

With a gasp, her gaze sought that of Bryce.
Why had she never remembered that before?

“See? He loved you.” Bryce’s hands tightened on her, his gaze gently insistent. “I’ll never hope to replace Keith—but I love you, too.”

He loved her. Bryce loved her.

“I don’t deserve to be loved. By either of you.”

“Nobody
deserves
to be loved, Sandi. That’s what love is all about.” He chuckled, his warm brown eyes twinkling. “So what would you say if I invited you and that little checklist of yours to boss me around—let’s say, for a lifetime?”

O
h, man. Just his luck.

Sandi Bradshaw-soon-to-be-Harding.

His fiancée.

And Meg. They weren’t supposed to be back from that Phoenix overnight shopping trip until Saturday evening. Not morning.

Bryce clapped a hand over Gina’s mouth, swept her into his arms and ducked behind a U-Haul trailer parked outside the provisional museum at a Canyon Springs shopping plaza.

Wouldn’t you know it. There went the surprise.

He had half a dozen historical society members painting walls. Kara, Devon—and LeAnne—cleaning storefront windows and miniblinds. Grandma Mae serving refreshments. And he, Trey and Joe still had to unpack a display case delivered late yesterday afternoon, then make dozens of trailer trips between the old and new facility. With the funding coming through for the firefighting job, there wasn’t much time to get everything taken care of before he launched into exams and the training academy.

Car doors slammed. Familiar female laughter echoed across the parking lot.

“You can come out from your hidey-hole, Bryce,” Meg
called between giggles. “Sandi saw you. And it’s a little hard to camouflage a dozen recognizable vehicles and that big trailer.”

Sheepish, he stepped from behind the U-Haul and set Gina on her feet. Waving her U.S. Army cap, she charged toward her still-laughing mother and he followed along behind.

“Mommy! Mommy! What are you doing here? This is a surprise.”

Sandi knelt for a hug, then stood to level a what-am-I-going-to-do-with-you look on him. But her eyes danced with the same love he knew reflected in his own.

“So what happened?” He slipped an arm around her waist, but turned an accusing glare on Meg. “Who’s responsible for this breach of security? I want names. Ranks. Serial numbers.”

Meg and Sandi pointed at each other.

“Oh? A collaboration, is it?”

Gina grabbed his free hand. “What’s
laboration,
Uncle Bryce?”

“Collaboration in this instance means willingly assisting the enemy.”

Sandi playfully punched him in the arm. “Since when am I the enemy?”

Meg laughed. “I can’t be accused of aiding and abetting. More like breaking down under duress of intense cross-examination. Interrogation just short of bamboo shoots under the fingernails.”

He pulled back from Sandi. “I knew you had some bossy inclinations, but nobody warned me about outright torture. I might need to rethink this engagement stuff.”

Grabbing a fistful of his shirt, her gaze flickered from his eyes to his mouth and back again. “Just try it, Sergeant, and you may find yourself begging for mercy.”

“Sounds intriguing.”

Gina tugged on his hand. “Mommy says you’re going to be my new daddy?”

It was a question rather than a statement, as if seeking confirmation. He glanced at Sandi. So she’d talked to Gina about this. He’d never want the little girl to think he could replace Keith. Nobody, even on his best day, could ever replace his good buddy. Ever be a better dad than Keith would have been.

But he himself would be the only father Gina would remember. And he never wanted her to regret it. Sandi smiled encouragement, and he crouched down by the little girl. Tugged on the bill of her army cap. Looked her in the eye.

“I’d be proud to be your daddy—if you want me to be.”

Gina studied him a long moment, her brow crinkled in concentration. Then her face brightened.

“Uncle Daddy!”

She flung her arms around his neck, all but squeezing the stuffin’ out of him. He lifted her into his arms, then turned to the woman he loved. “Uncle Daddy, huh? I think we’ll have to work on that one.”

“I don’t know.” She tilted her head. “Has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?”

“Guess it does at that. Kind of like our new place will. Hardings’ Hideaway.”

“I love that name.”

“Grandma promises there will be frequent off-base outings to the park for a certain little someone when I’m not out on fire fighting business. You know, to ensure coast-is-clear canoodling time.”

“Ooooh. I like the sounds of that even better.”

“Me, too.” He gave the “certain little someone” snuggled in his arms a hug, then set her on the ground to race after Meg to the new facility.

“I guess you want a peek at the interim Canyon Springs Historical Museum?” He gave Sandi an admonishing look. “Admit it. You’re back in town before you’re supposed to be
because you didn’t think we could do it without you here to manage things. To boss us around.”

“Speaking of which—” She rummaged in her purse. Pulled out a too-familiar red spiral notebook.

He groaned and tried to snatch it out of her hand, but with a laugh she spun away. Turned her back on him to run a finger down a tightly scripted page.

“It’s not that bad.” She gave him a flirty over-the-shoulder smile.

He narrowed his eyes. “I’ll be the judge of that.”

“Hmm. Let’s see.” She made a soft clucking sound with her tongue. “Oh, here’s one you may like.”

She snapped the notebook shut and sashayed back to his side, a smile playing on her lips.

“I don’t think I want to hear it.”

“Oh, but I think you do.”

He heaved a beleaguered sigh. What did she have in mind for him this time? “Okay, let’s have it.”

Eyes dancing, she slipped her arms around his neck. Snuggled in close.

“What’s this?” he pretended to protest, but slipped his hands around her waist. “Buttering me up for my chores?”

“Nooo.” She placed a silencing finger to his lips.

“Spill it, soldier, or I’ll throw you in the stockade.”

She took a deep breath, eyes focused on his. “As happy as I am to now have the support of the society members, to feel at home in Canyon Springs at long last, the thing that makes me happiest is—”

“Yes?”

“Finding a home in
your
heart.”

Man, that sounded good. His words came husky. “But about that chore you’re withholding…”

She pulled slightly back in his arms. “Not to be diverted, are you?”

He shook his head.

She sighed, and behind his neck he could hear the pages of the little notebook she still held flipping through her fingers. “Ah. Here it is.”

He groaned in resignation.

“Page fifteen. Line three.”

Get ready. Here it comes.

Then he heard the notebook drop to the ground behind him.

And slowly, tantalizingly, her sweet mouth smiled up at him, sparkling eyes gazing deeply into his. Man, she was buttering him up. Big-time. Must be a chore to end all chores.

“So, here it is, Sergeant,” came her breathless whisper. “Kiss your fiancée—and that’s an order.”

Heart soaring, he responded with a hearty laugh.

Would have saluted, too, but he found himself otherwise engaged.