It Had to Be Him (15 page)

“You’re welcome. But you need one more plan. Finding a new place to stay. It’s high season and I may need your room.”

So he’d worn out his not-so-welcome welcome. “I’ll ask around some today.”

“It won’t be anywhere in town. My dad sent an e-mail this morning saying no one is to rent you a place. I turned the Internet back on in your room so you can search for someplace nearby.”

That son of a bitch. “Thanks. I’ll get on it.”

He made to leave but Casey called out, “Meg told me you’re meeting Haley today. Tread carefully there, Granger.”

He’d lain awake all night thinking about meeting his daughter. With few memories of his mother and never knowing his father, he had no idea how to be a parent. But he’d vowed his child would know who he was and that he’d do everything in his power to always be there for her.

As much as Casey could be a pain in his ass, he respected her fierce loyalty to Megan. “I’m not sure what to say to Haley today. Got a plan for that?”

Casey blinked as if taken aback that he’d ask her. He wasn’t sure she was going to answer, but finally she said, “Well, I guess just don’t try to push it. Let it happen naturally. Meg’s done a really good job with Haley. She doesn’t need you messing things up.”

The not-messing-up part was what weighed on him. “Got it. Thanks. See you later.”

Josh headed out the door and toward the town square. He passed by a house with a large workshop on the side. The whine of a power tool piqued his curiosity, so he headed for the big set of open doors. Zeke leaned inside an old tractor’s engine. Josh didn’t want to scare him and make him hit his head, so maybe he’d poke around the shop until Zeke came up for air.

The guy had some badass tools.

Josh was admiring an air compressor as tall as he was when Zeke called out, “Help ya with something?”

“Just checking out your incredible shop.” He moved beside Zeke and stuck his head inside the tractor’s engine compartment. Nothing like the simple engines back in the day. A guy could work on one without hooking up to a computer. “What’s the trouble?”

Zeke leaned back and slowly wiped his hands on a rag. “Won’t start. Slick guy like you know about engines?”

“Worked at a garage all through high school and college.”

“That so?” He pointed to a pile of dirty parts on a nearby workbench. “Know anything about rebuilding carburetors?”

“Sure. Need a hand?”

Zeke squinted as he tucked his rag into his back pocket, as if debating. “Not with that. But I could use a young guy like you to help pull a transmission tomorrow. If you’ve got the time.”

Josh missed getting his hands dirty. Anything was better than interrogating lying, scumbag criminals day in and day out. He wasn’t missing his old job in the least. “Sure. Eight work?”

“Yep. Going to the doings?”

“Yeah, I thought I’d stop by.”

“Let’s go.”

They started down the drive and then headed toward the town square. Zeke set a brisk pace, surprising Josh. The guy had to be in his seventies.

Josh said, “I met a kid who said you told everyone not to talk to me. Why the change of heart, Zeke?”

“Meggy’s mad at you, but she once saw something to like. Curious what that is. And this way I can keep an eye on you.”

Casey and now Zeke—Meg’s Rottweilers. “Fair enough. So, how are you related to Meg, Zeke?”

“I’m not.” The slight hesitation in Zeke’s gait and the way his eyes shifted contradicted his answer. “My last name’s Grant, not Anderson.”

Interesting. Zeke had just told him a big fat lie.

The day was warm and the sun bright, making the ice cream booth a popular place. Ben had dropped Haley off just after noon and, being the typical fun uncle, hadn’t thought to ask if she wanted some lunch. So a half hour into Meg’s hour-long shift, Haley declared she was starving.

Meg made her a cone.

Skipping church and now feeding her kid an ice cream cone for lunch? Just hand over the bad-mommy blue ribbon now. “Why don’t you go sit over in the shade and eat this? I’ll just be a little bit longer, then we can go do some of the games.”

“’Kay.” Haley’s mischievous grin told Meg she knew she was getting away with something big.

Reaching for the scoop, Meg looked up and her already shaky gut lurched. The Three Amigos were next in line with determined looks on their wrinkly faces. “Hi, ladies. Chocolate or vanilla?”

Mrs. Thompson said, “We missed you in church this morning, dear.”

The only acceptable reason to skip church was if a body was physically unable to attend. They didn’t have to know the root of the problem was too much alcohol. “I was puking my guts up this morning. But I feel a little better now. So was it chocolate or vanilla you ladies wanted?”

All three of the grannies’ eyes grew wide. When they looked at one another, some Vulcan mind link thing must’ve happened because they all shook their heads in unison.

Mrs. Ingalls swallowed hard before she said, “We don’t care for any ice cream, but we’re glad you’re feeling better. See you next Sunday?”

“Absolutely. Bye, ladies.”

Chuckling, Meg turned back to her line of customers. Pam, the traitor, was next. The speed at which Pam’s hand had popped up to volunteer to kiss Josh at Brewster’s still irked Meg. Without asking, Meg scooped a half-chocolate, half-vanilla cone for Pam because that was her favorite. “Here you go. You should double your donation for this to make up for last night.”

“It was an accident. My hand just sort of jumped before my brain caught up. His hotness must’ve mesmerized me or something. But I thought you said you were over him. Have your feelings changed?”

Had they? Her stomach had been in knots all day in anticipation of seeing Josh, but that was because of Haley. And on account of drinking way too much the night before. It probably had nothing
to do with the kiss she still owed him. “It’s just . . . things have gotten a little complicated, that’s all.”

The way Pam slowly licked her cone had all the guys waiting in line for their ice cream staring. Or maybe it was all the cleavage she was showing.

“Complicated? Sounds like we need a girls’ night. That is, if I’m forgiven?” Pam batted her eyes again.

Maybe eye-batting worked on girls after all. She could never stay mad at Pam for long because she loved her. “Oh, all right. Now go away, you’re holding up my line.”

“’Kay. Call you later.”

As Pam sashayed away, a bottle of water appeared on the counter in front of Meg. Josh whispered, “Looks like you need a hand. How’s the head today?” He tied on an apron and stood beside her.

She glanced over her shoulder to check on Haley’s progress. About half a cone left and a major mess to clean up.

“My head’s fine—except for the pounding part. Why don’t you take the chocolate and I’ll do vanilla?”

“You got it.” He reached into the pocket of his nicely fitting cargo shorts and pulled out a little travel pack of aspirin. “Got this for you too.”

Hallelujah! Her morning dose of painkiller had worn off. “Thanks.”

She ripped open the little packet, tossed the pills back, and chugged the ice-cold water as Josh jumped right in like he’d been serving ice cream his whole life. He scooped both flavors while she took her short break and he introduced himself to everyone like he didn’t have a care in the world.

She found it hard to draw a deep breath in anticipation of making the introductions of father and daughter soon. She’d been getting enough curious glances all day to know everyone was hoping for a big show.

She moved beside Josh and grabbed a scooper, ignoring the sexy way his forearms flexed as he doled out ice cream.

They’d just gotten the lines all under control when the number-one pain in Meg’s ass, Amber, strolled up.

Josh, having no idea he was dealing with Satan’s spawn, smiled like he had at everyone else. “Hi. Chocolate or vanilla?”

Might be good to avoid Amber and go clean the ice cream off Haley, but it’d be cruel to leave Josh alone with the woman. He’d done her a favor by helping her out with the ice cream stand, after all.

Amber’s eyes took a long stroll up and then back down Josh’s exceptional body. When her lips tilted in a slow, come-hither smile, there was no decision. Meg was staying.

“Welcome to Anderson Butte, Josh.” Amber stuck out her claw. “I’m Amber Grant-Downey. It’s a real
pleasure
to meet you.” She leaned so close her fake boobs almost touched Josh’s hand.

He slipped his hand from her clutches, then dove for the scoop. Sending Meg a sideways what-the-hell glance, he said, “Nice to meet you too. Chocolate or vanilla?”

“Oh, no, thank you.” Amber ran her hands down her sides and her voice turned all blonde-bombshell whispery. “Maintaining a figure like this doesn’t allow for ice cream. I just wanted to welcome you to town. And to offer you a friendly place to stay.” She turned to Meg. “You did tell Josh about my guesthouse, didn’t you, Megan?” Her knowing smile spiked Meg’s blood pressure.

Josh said, “Casey told me earlier the mayor nixed anyone renting me a place in town.”

She hadn’t heard that. She hated that her father had the power to do that. Why couldn’t he just butt out?

Amber waved her hand. “I live just outside of town and couldn’t give a flip what the mayor says.”

Typical of a Grant.

Haley picked that moment to tap on the back of Megan’s shorts and leave a chocolate stain. “All done. More?”

“Nope. We’ll go get a sandwich if you’re still hungry, sweetheart.” She glanced at Josh to gauge his reaction at seeing his daughter for the first time. He completely ignored Amber and smiled at Haley as Amber rattled on about the lovely attributes of her guesthouse.

Luckily Meg’s ice cream scooping replacement arrived, so she greeted her, untied her apron, and then passed it over as an idea struck her. “Josh won’t be staying in your guesthouse, Amber. He’s going to stay at my lodge. We’ll find our own ways to work off the rent.”

Her replacement worker, and third grade teacher, Mrs. Mitchell, raised a brow.

Yeah. That had come out all wrong, dammit.

She sent a stern glance Josh’s way to be sure he knew it was his job to play along, and was met by his naughty grin.

Men. He probably thought he’d get the same sexual favors Amber was clearly offering. “By installing a dock and refinishing floors. That kind of thing. And Haley and I will still be living in Grandma’s guesthouse.”

Josh’s smile never wavered. “Ah.” He turned to Amber. “Thanks for the offer, but it looks like I’m all set.”

Smart man.

The only reason Amber wanted Josh to live in her guesthouse was to annoy Meg. And probably to sleep with him too. But no way was she letting Josh anywhere near Amber-the-man-stealer. Amber had stolen her boyfriend in high school but wouldn’t get away with it again. But that would imply Josh was hers and that wasn’t the case. Josh seemed to want to make it the case. But she shouldn’t, and didn’t, want him back. Did she?

Admittedly, the urge to set all his fancy shoes on fire was finally gone.

She’d have to think on it later. After she dropped the daddy news on her kid. Doing that just right was the most important thing. She didn’t want to scar Haley for life. “We’re going to hit the bathroom and get cleaned up. Bye, Mrs. Mitchell.”

Josh untied his apron and fell in step with Meg as she carried Haley across the square.

Amber called out, “Pity. I was looking forward to getting to know you better, Josh. See you around.”

Wench.

“She’s a piece of work.” Josh opened the door to the blessedly cool hallway to her dad’s office. “By the way, I’m partial to being included in my own housing decisions.”

She stopped walking and huffed out a breath. “Fine. If you’d rather go live with the Wicked Witch of the West, be my guest. I was trying to do you a favor. We’ll be right back and then we’ll do the . . . thing!” She slapped the door to the ladies room open and set Haley down. Haley’s widened eyes proved Meg had let the pressure of what she was about to do get to her. She’d crossed the line to scary-mommy mode.

She was just about to apologize to Haley when a set of strong hands spun her around and into a tight hug.

Josh whispered in her ear, “We can do the
thing
later. I don’t want to cause you more problems with your father by staying at your place.”

She hadn’t realized how much she’d missed the feel of his arms wrapped around her. Maybe she’d let him hold her for just a minute . . . or two. “Amber knows how to get under my skin. I shouldn’t have let her. I’m good now.”

He gave her a quick squeeze. “Your call.”

Haley looked up at the two of them like they’d both lost their minds. “Only girls can come in here.”

Her little rule follower. How a rebel like her ended up with such a sweet kid was a mystery.

Now was probably as good a time as any to break the news. At least they had some privacy. “Josh was checking to be sure we were all right.” She wet some paper towels and cleaned Haley’s hands. “Josh is your father, Haley. Remember we talked about that a little while ago?” Man, that was lame. Maybe she’d better try that again.

“Uh-huh.” Haley grinned around the wet paper towel dabbing at her face. “Do you have a doggy? Mommy won’t let me have one.”