“I’m starting to have feelings for you, Stacia. Feelings that have nothing to do with the twins.” He took her hand in his.
Warm and calloused. His touch sent butterflies from her stomach to her heart. But she had to stay focused.
Memories surfaced. Of Aunt Eleanor touching Daddy’s hand, leaning close.
She jerked her hand away, jumped up. “There’s no us.”
“Did I misunderstand?”
“Are you for real? Or are you only trying to romance me to get to the twins?”
“How can you think that?”
Playing innocent? Did he plan to woo her? Maybe even marry her so he could get custody of the twins? Or did he really care? How could she know for sure?
She couldn’t. But why would he want her? Damaged goods, destined to never birth a child.
“What did your aunt do to you? How did she make you so distrustful? Was it just her or the principal too?”
“My personal life is none of your business.” She jabbed a finger at him. “Just go.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” His jaw clenched. “Not until I read them a story like I promised. So I suggest you go hurry bath time up since we’re done here.”
She bolted inside, leaned against the door, hugged herself.
The only problem was, she’d been beginning to trust him. And to fall for him.
CHAPTER TEN
Ross hesitated outside the closed workshop doors.
After coming clean with Stacia Saturday night, he’d barely been able to focus as he’d read the twins a story. Once Stacia darted inside, he hadn’t seen her again. Instead, Maverick had come to tell him the twins were story ready. Though he’d been preoccupied, spending the bonding time with his niece and nephew had been great.
He’d gone to church in Bandera yesterday, giving himself a reprieve from Stacia, then spent part of the day with the twins and Maverick.
But now with the cattle fed, he had to face her. He’d only thought things were tense and awkward between them last week. Now, he’d let his feelings for her show, but she thought it was a ploy. After all this time, after all the ways he’d worked at proving himself, she still didn’t trust him.
Proving he was a brainless sap for falling for her. He’d known better. Why did he insist on banging his head against the wall? Why was he such a chump for women who couldn’t trust him?
Sucking in a deep breath, Ross opened the door and strolled inside.
She didn’t acknowledge him. Fine by him.
With only power tools for noise, he went to work.
Her sander died but she wouldn’t look his way. “I thought you’d leave yesterday. I guess you plan to stick around until after school to say bye to the twins.”
“No goodbyes and I work here.”
“Not anymore. I told you to leave. You’re fired.”
He blew out a sigh. She’d expected him to leave Medina? A hard knot formed in his gut.
“Even if I leave, I’m still a blood relative of the twins. My parents will want to be part of their lives. We have to work something out, Stacia. You can’t just send me home and ignore the situation. And besides that, you can’t complete the B and B order without me. Not with Maverick laid up.”
She blew out a huge sigh. “I guess you’ve got me there.”
“Let’s just finish the order. Whatever time we end up spending together with the twins, we’re in this for them. We play nice, keep our distance from each other and get through this. Once the order is finished, I’ll go home.” To tell his folks about the twins. He dreaded that, knowing they’d be hurt that he hadn’t filled them in sooner.
“Whatever you say.”
“I still plan on convincing them the kids should stay with you.” He stalked over to her and waited as several seconds ticked past, until she looked up. “Whether you believe it or not, I say what I mean. I don’t have any ulterior motives. I’m being as straight with you as I know how to be. Okay?”
“Okay.” She nodded. “We’ll stick with the visitation plan we discussed with as little interaction between us as possible.”
“Works for me.” But his heart took a nosedive. He’d miss her. In spite of himself.
The rest of the day passed in silence, except for the buzz of the sander or the psst of the paint sprayer.
How could Stacia not believe he had feelings for her? Did she not realize how many times he’d wanted to kiss her? Ross had gone and done it. Fallen for Stacia Keyes in a mere matter of three weeks. And told her about it. Yet there was no getting around her distrust.
So they’d had several nice moments with the twins. She’d shown some vulnerability, revealed her deepest fears about Ron. He’d let it go to his head. Allowed himself to hope for a future. But without trust, what kind of relationship could they have? None.
Maybe it was better that she thought his profession was a ploy since she obviously didn’t return his feelings. No matter what she believed, their days together were winding down. In spite of himself, he already missed her and he hadn’t even left yet.
Finally when his nerves could take no more, a knock sounded from the store door. He checked his watch as Stacia turned off her spray gun. Time for the twins.
“Y’all come around back,” Stacia called. “But don’t come in, it’s really fumy in here.”
“Okay,” Madison said.
Minutes passed and both kids appeared outside the open back doors.
“We have an idea,” Mason announced.
“What’s that?” Stacia slipped her goggles up.
“Since we don’t have any homework, we want to take you to play putt-putt again.” Madison grinned.
“Is that so?” Stacia smiled, for the first time all day.
“You always love it and we don’t play much since we always want to swim.”
“I’m game.” She slipped her mask and goggles off, then shrugged out of her smock.
“Can you come too, Uncle Ross?” Mason asked. “It’s more fun with four.”
“I wish.” Ross winced, as if he really hated it, even though he didn’t.
