Page 40 of Fourth Heartwarmers Trilogy
Today the girls wore matching outfits of shorts and blouses. The tops were knotted in front and were made with a cotton material that didn’t wrinkle. Maisie looked precious in yellow with bumble bees as the theme and though he hadn’t mentioned anything to Mia about hers, the tiny pink flamingoes on the white background had been cute as hell.
Any man hosting these two would be fortunate. How prideful to be seen with such eye candy. His thoughts made him grin, and Mia arrived just in time to see the tender look of love on his face as he watched his tiny companion.
He didn’t know why her expression had softened. But she sent him a warm smile, similar to the ones he had from her the day before. His heart lightened and the tightened muscles in his stomach smoothed out.
He didn’t care why she seemed happy, wouldn’t question the change. Instead, he reached out to pull her toward him so he could hug her.
That’s when she stepped from his reach and spoke, “Come on, sweetkins. Let’s go home. My car’s all ready, and I put our suitcases in the back.”
Stunned, Jack spoke up. “Darlin’, I would have done that.”
“I know.” She didn’t let her eyes meet his. Instead she fussed with Maisie, re-wiping her perfectly clean face and urging her forward. “Angie called and says she wants you to stop by again as she forgot to tell you something important. And I called the rental agency and told them that due to the accident, we wouldn’t be returning the van to their place here in Phoenix until tomorrow, so you can just use that vehicle. If you don’t mind, we can unpack in the morning. I’m exhausted, and Maisie and I can get ourselves home and rest up till then.”
“Sure. Fine. I’m glad to come out and help you first before—”
“No! You need to see Angie, and you should rest after the concussion. See you tomorrow, Jack.”
He watched them leave, feeling abandoned, and copied Maisie’s sad wave before they disappeared.
Chapter Seventeen
When Jack returned to the hospital, Angie had her war feathers ruffled and was ready for battle.
Before she could light into him for something he had no excuse for, he growled, “Don’t say a word. I have no idea why Mia was so upset this morning, and even if I did, we aren’t going to talk about it.”
“That’s not why I’m mad.”
“So, what’s happened to make you look like you could take on mud wrestling.”
“Ha! Funny. Not.” Angie waved her hands around her face, her fists pumping. “It’s that jerkass, Matt Lowborn.”
“His name is Lotborn, and he’s a jackass not a jerkass.”
“You call him what you want, and I’ll call him as I see him. That mayor is messing with Maricopa bigtime. Wants to build a huge golf course and resort center in a municipality that hasn’t enough resources for the folks who already live there. Where’she getting the water? And the future employees? And where will they live? Something has to be done to stop that madman.”
Relieved to be off the subject of Mia, Jack answered with a grin, “Okay, I agree. So, what do you want me to do?”
“I want you to run for city mayor in the upcoming election is what I want you to do.”
His grin slid off, and a frown appeared that he couldn’t hide. “Are you raving? Did they give you some bad drugs or something? I’m a contractor not a politician.”
“You were born to lead, Jack. Trust me. You care about people, about the future of the whole blasted planet and about truth and honor. You’d never let them rape this area for the pleasure of the rich, like they don’t already have enough playgrounds where they’ve taken advantage of the beauty of the land for their own selfish entertainment.”
“Don’t even try it, Angie. I’m not interested. I have a lot of work in front of me and no time to take on a campaign.”
“You’ve got a great crew who’ll do what you tell them because you pay them a decent wage, give them benefits they need to be able to live a decent life, and treat them like family. Jack, we need you. The city needs you. Jack…!”
Heading for a fast exit, Jack stopped at the door because her loud whining of his name touched his soft heart. “Sorry, sweetheart. I can’t do what you want. But I promise not to vote for the jerkass if that makes you feel any better.”
Jack escaped her room and headed for the nursing station, where he saw her doctor filling in a report. “Hey, Doc. How’s Angie’s prognosis coming along?”
“Like I told you both the other day, she needs that pacemaker, Jack. Who knows how many more heart stoppages she can handle before one kills her?”
“You haven’t been able to convince her yet?”
“She keeps wobbling. One day she says yes and then it’s no… I’ll take my chances. I think she’s scared if she goes under, she won’t come out.”
Shaking his head, Jack had to admit, “I can see her worrying about that. I think you’ve hit the nail, Doc. She’s a brave woman about so many things, but that’s not one of them. Hell, I’d be a bit scared myself.”
