Only His by Susan Mallery Read Free Book Online Page A

grandmother,” Denise said.
    Ethan stared at her. “That’s why you came by my office? She’s been gone twenty years.”
    â€œThat’s not why I stopped by. But I was thinking about her. She was wonderful to me. Do you remember her at all?”
    â€œSure. When we spent the night with her, we got to stay up as late as we wanted and we could watch anything. Every single time, I picked some horror movie you wouldn’t have let me see, and I scared myself so much I couldn’t sleep. Then I crawled in bed with her and Grandpa and she would sing to me until I wasn’t afraid.”
    Denise smiled. “That sounds like her.”
    â€œBut she’s not why you’re here.”
    â€œNo. I’m not sure what to do about Tucker Janack. I need your advice.” Neither statement was true. She knew exactly what to do about Tucker, but she didn’t say that to Ethan. Better to let him come to his own conclusions.
    Ethan frowned. “About what? Nevada’s going to work for him. She told me she was accepting the job.”
    â€œI know and I’m glad. It’s just…” She drew in a breath. “They have a past. Remember when Nevada was in college and you asked her to look up Tucker?”
    â€œSure. I thought he would be a good person for her to know. In case something happened, or she needed advice about school. Engineering’s a tough major, and he’d already been through it.”
    â€œShe did go see him. They were friends. Then…” She waved her hand. “Never mind. I shouldn’t discuss this with you.”
    Ethan’s frown turned into a scowl. “Too late now. What happened?”
    â€œHe got drunk and they slept together. He was involved with someone else, but they had briefly broken up. He took advantage of Nevada and then went back to his girlfriend. Nevada was crushed, of course. I get sick when I think about it. That man and my little girl.”
    In truth Denise wasn’t happy about what had happened, and she did want Tucker punished. She also believed that sometimes children had to learn by making mistakes and living through the consequences. But Tucker had gone too far.
    Ethan nodded once. “I’ll take care of it, Mom. Don’t worry.”
    â€œI knew I could count on you. You’ve always been there for me and for everyone else in the family.”
    She rose. Ethan stood as well and walked her to the door.
    â€œDon’t worry,” he repeated and kissed her cheek.
    â€œThank you.”
    Relieved and not the least bit guilty, Denise walked out of the office. There were those who wouldn’t agree with what she’d done, but she didn’t care. No one messed with her family.
    Â 
    J O T RELLIS LOOKED at the boxes piled in the back of her SUV and wondered if maybe she’d gotten a little carried away. She supposed part of the problem was that she was excited about the thought of her friends having babies, and that she would get to watch those kids grow up. She didn’t have any children of her own, nor was she likely to. So she would live vicariously through her friends—Aunt Jo to the new generation in Fool’s Gold.
    Within a few months, Charity’s daughter would be crawling and some months after that, Pia’s twins would join her. Dakota’s daughter was nearly nine months old already, and Dakota was pregnant with her second child. That explained the various toys Jo had bought.
    She’d already figured out that the back corner of the main room would make the perfect play area. Ethan had sent over one of his guys to install removable posts. She’d bought child-safe fencing, to keep the kids in and her customers out. With a little rearranging, she could have tables right by the play area, so moms could visit, their kids could play and everyone would be happy.
    She picked up the smallest of the boxes and carriedit inside easily. But the carton with the