What an asshole. I forced a grin. “I’m on my way now.”
He stood there until I tucked my phone back in my pocket and walked past him. Looking up Devyn Daniels would have to wait.
I thought of her the rest of the afternoon, letting memories from years ago play through my head while I tried to keep my mind on my work. It didn’t do any good. Now that I knew she still lived around Broken Bend, I wondered if I’d passed her on the street when Graham and I had been down to visit Lou Ellen. Or if we’d been at one of the local restaurants or stores at the same time. If she’d seen me, surely she would have said something. Or would she?
Her brother Duke had been such a protective asshole. As soon as he caught on that I had feelings for his little sister, he’d broken off all contact and forbidden her to see me. That was after he tried to kick my ass. Lucky for me, growing up in a house full of foster brothers meant I had muscle to back me up.
“Dad?” Graham waved his hand in front of my face.
“Yeah, bud?” I snapped out of the past. “You want more spaghetti?”
Graham shook his head. “Did I eat enough for dessert?”
“How many bites did you take?” Based on the way he’d spread noodles and sauce all over his plate, he couldn’t have had more than a couple bites.
“Twelve.” He sat up tall and grinned.
“No lies, remember?”
His smile faded and his forehead creased. “Fine. Seven.”
My kid reminded me so much of myself at his age. I was always trying to pull one over on people. “What’s twelve minus seven?”
The crease deepened. He lifted his hand like he wanted to use his fingers to help him count. I shook my head, wanting him to try using his head.
“Four?” He looked up toward the light hanging over the kitchen table. “No, five.”
I ruffled his hair. “Good job. Now eat five more bites and you can have dessert.”
“Aw.” He grumbled, but swirled the noodles around his fork then shoved a bite into his mouth.
As difficult as it had been raising Graham on my own for the past five years, I wouldn’t trade a minute of it. And I’d also make sure he’d never have to worry about where he was going to sleep at night or if his dad would be around when he woke up in the morning.
I wondered what Devyn would say when I told her I was a single dad to an incredible five-year-old kid. For all I knew, she could have a kid of her own by now. The thought fled as soon as it entered my mind. She wasn’t the type of woman who’d take chances with her future, especially not with a stranger. Devyn wanted it all… the house in the country, the kids, and the extended cab truck to haul everyone around.
Hopefully, she wouldn’t be disappointed in me. At least not as much as I was disappointed in myself.
3
DEVYN
“You’re sure he said I could bring Houdini?” I had Lou Ellen on speaker as I pulled up in front of the swanky hotel in downtown Austin. I’d confessed the pact I’d made with my girlfriends in a weak moment, and she jumped on it. Evidently her nephew was in Austin for some award banquet and within minutes Lou Ellen had set us up.
“I’m sure. Houdini needs more practice around a big group of people. He said it would be fine.”
I peered out at the valet stand in the circular drive. Houdini needed practice, but I should have taken him to the feed store or an elementary school, not a five-star hotel.
“How did you talk me into this?” I mumbled, more to myself than to Lou Ellen.
“You did it to yourself, sweetie. Thank goodness for that promise you made to your friends. Otherwise, I don’t know if I ever would have gotten the two of you together.”
I hated the cheerful tone in her voice. Hated having to borrow a dress from my brother’s fiancée to wear to the fancy party. Hated the way the makeup felt on my face. Ugh. I hated it all.
“Don’t forget to ask him about poor Shirley,” Lou Ellen reminded me.
“That’s the whole reason I said yes.” I’d been willing to admit failure to my besties and not take Lou Ellen up on her offer, but then the vet said Shirley wasn’t going to make it. When Lou Ellen told me her nephew worked for a company that made prosthetics for animals, I didn’t have a choice. I’d do anything to save one of the animals at Back Forty, even get gussied up and take a goat to a hotel in downtown Austin.
“I’m sure he’ll be able to help. Put on a smile and do what you do best, Devyn.” Lou Ellen said.