Page 64 of Winter Vows

“Now that’s an interesting suggestion,” she admitted.

She crossed the few feet between them until she was so close that Hardy could feel her breath fanning across his cheek. He forced himself to wait, to let her make the choice.

Finally, after what seemed an eternity, she reached up and pressed her hand to his cheek. Hardly a smack, but not the kiss he wanted either.

“Trish?”

“Hmm?”

“I’ve missed you,” he whispered, his voice ragged.

“I’ve been right here,” she reminded him.

He touched her cheek, then ran his thumb over her lips. “You can’t get the words out, can you?”

“What words?”

“That you missed me.”

Eyes sparkling, she challenged, “Who said I did? Laura, however, is another story. She has definitely missed you.”

“Has she said so?” he teased.

“No, but she fusses, and I can tell she’s not happy that I’m the only one around to pick her up.”

“Maybe I’ll come see her tonight, if I’m invited.”

Trish’s gaze locked on his. “I don’t know what to make of you, Hardy Jones,” she said almost to herself.

“I’m a straightforward guy,” he insisted.

“No,” she contradicted. “You’re the most complicated man I think I’ve ever known.”

“Is that good or bad?”

Looking bemused, she admitted, “I’m still trying to figure that one out.”

“Let me know when you do, okay?”

“Oh, you’ll be the first to know,” she assured him.

Hardy was deliberately driving her a little bit crazy, Trish concluded after his visit to the store and his brief stop to see Laura that same night. She didn’t want to be falling in love with a man she couldn’t figure out, but she was afraid it was too late to stop herself.

She also couldn’t help wondering if that was why she’d put off finding a house in town. She’d made up a dozen excuses for not even looking. Kelly had aided her indecision by insisting that she loved having Laura with her all day, that Trish was doing her a favor by staying on and filling Kelly’s “empty nest,” as she put it.

But despite her inability to find a new home for herself, Trish was feeling good about her new life in Los Piños. She was surrounded by friends. Her business was already showing distinct signs that it would thrive. And Laura was getting bigger every day. At four months, she was already the delight of her mama’s life, the bright spot in her days.

Satisfied that her life was on an even keel, and tired of Dylan’s constant pestering, she finally decided she was strong enough to withstand her father’s pressure and her mother’s disappointment. She called her father at his office.

“Patricia Ann, where the devil have you been hiding out? I’ve had my men combing every major city in the country looking for you,” Bryce Delacourt blustered when he recognized her voice.

“I thought you called them off,” she chided. “Well, of course I did, for a time. Then I started to get worried when I didn’t hear from you again. Thought maybe you’d gotten yourself in trouble in some strange city.”

Trish grinned when she thought of how close she really was and how her unsuspecting father had never even considered looking in such a small town. She drew in a deep breath and admitted, “Actually I’ve been staying with some friends of yours.”

“Who?” her father demanded indignantly. “They can’t be friends of mine if they’ve kept your whereabouts a secret. Besides, I’ve called everyone I could think of to see if they’ve heard from you.”

“I insisted that they keep quiet,” she said. “I told them I would disappear if they told you. They’ve been doing you a favor by keeping my secret.”

---