Page 41 of Burning Love
“It is. I’m glad you can see it. And I’ll cook for you tonight if you want. Or we can go out.”
“Nope,” he said. “Not going out. I’m serious. I don’t need any dirty looks from people.”
“They might think I’m your daughter. You’re old enough to have a teenager.”
“Not even close to funny,” he said.
“You’re right. It’s kind of creepy.” She slid her sneakers off since she noticed he was in socks and jeans.
“You can keep them on.”
“Nope,” she said. “You’ve got nice new floors and want to keep them clean.”
“Thanks for that.”
“You put a lot of hard work into the house. It shows. I know what hard work is, even though for years I tried to get out of it.”
“Why?”
She shrugged. “Maybe I thought I was dealt a bad hand in life by losing my father so young and it was owed to me. That’s stupid. I grew up. My mother is the strongest person I know. She could sit back and enjoy life and yet she still works.”
“It gives her a purpose,” he said.
“That’s it exactly. I think I’m finally finding mine.”
13
BEING GREAT
“It’s so good to see you, Jace,” Lauren said to him on Sunday. He was the last to arrive as always.
“Thanks for the invite.”
“You’re always welcome and you know it.”
He did. As if his father wasn’t one of the most stand-up guys he’d ever met, Lauren was equally the same.
His stepmother could have been bitter and jealous, but she’d done nothing more than accept him into their life. Lauren and his younger sisters decorating the spare room that became his and letting him join their family as if he always belonged.
“Where’s Dad?”
“Talking to Rob and Kelsey in the barn about something. Janey has the boys in the backyard playing.”
“Is there anything I can help you with?”
“Nope,” Lauren said. “Grab a beer and go on the patio. I’ll be right out.”
“Don’t mind if I do.” He went to the fridge and pulled out a can of Fifth Kid. His father must have made a trip there recently since you could only buy the beer at their brewery and not in stores.
“Uncle Jace!” His nephew William, who was five, raced toward him. Jonathan at three tagging behind.
“Hey, guys. Are you abandoning Aunt Janey for me? You know she doesn’t like that.”
He gave his nephews high fives. His youngest stepsister coming to stand next to him.
“You always steal them away.”
“Get your own,” he said.
