A Father In The Making Read Free

Both Olivia, Nate’s foster sister, and Ella were crying. Olivia from joy, Ella from frustration.
    And as he stood with Denny’s arm around his shoulder and Olivia’s around his waist, Nate felt like he had come home.
    â€œSo, Nate, what do you think of my future wife’s store?” Denny was asking, leaning on the counter as he flipped through the children’s books Mia had left behind.
    As Nate glanced around the building with its high ceilings, wooden floor and bookshelves lining every wall, he felt a craving rise up in him.
    â€œThis old store is cool,” he said with a grin. “And all those shelves of new books just waiting to be cracked open.”
    â€œSo you like to read?” she asked.
    â€œ Like to read?” Denny snorted. “This cowboy had his nose in a book so often I can’t believe he’s not shortsighted. Used to read on the way to school, on the way back, when he was riding fence. I had to snap my fingers in his face to get him to look up and even then he would barely notice me. You probably have at least three books with you now.”
    Nate just grinned. “There are two in my truck and a few more in my backpack.”
    Denny shook his head. “Of course there are.”
    The other baby girl in the stroller the older lady was pushing around let out a squawk, which made him wonder how Mia was making out with the little girl. And then he wondered why he cared. Someone like her was so out of his comfort zone, she may as well be in another country. It would be difficult enough for him to bring another person into his life, let alone another person with four kids. Then the back door of the store opened up and Mia came out, and in spite of his self-talk he couldn’t stop himself from taking another look.
    She was petite. Cute. Her dark hair cut in a short, pixie-looking cut. Her brown eyes were like a doe’s, large, brown, thick-lashed and held a hint of sadness. This, in turn, created a protective urge that surprised him.
    He pushed down the reaction. He was in no position to protect anyone. He was having a hard enough time taking care of himself.
    â€œEverything okay?” Evangeline asked as Mia walked over to where the older lady named Sophie stood, reading a book with one hand, pushing the stroller back and forth with another.
    â€œYeah. She’s settled. Hopefully that lasts until I get back to the store.”
    â€œHey, Mia,” Denny said. “Nate and I came to take Evangeline out for supper. You want to join us?”
    â€œSorry,” Mia said with a smile of regret. “I have to catch Zach’s father before he quits for the night and I’ve got a ton of other things to do yet.”
    She didn’t look at Nate this time and he was confident he was part of the reason she turned down the invitation. He felt like he should apologize for his reaction but then caught himself. Apologizing was Denny’s thing.
    He was always the one who felt like he had to smooth things over with Olivia, Adrianna and Trista. Nate would hunker down, avoid eye contact and keep himself from getting caught in the emotional storms. They usually blew over quickly in the Norquest family.
    As for Mia, Nate knew he wouldn’t be spending much time with her. As soon as Tango was healed, he would be on the road again. Back to a life that he was more comfortable with.
    Just him and his horses and no one depending on him.

Chapter Two
    W as that smoke she smelled?
    Mia took another sniff as she walked out of the grocery store, the evening light slanting over the parking lot. Probably just her overactive imagination.
    As she came around the corner of Mug Shots, she heard Evangeline call her name. She was leaving the café, Denny and Nate right behind her.
    â€œYou only now finished your grocery shopping?” Evangeline asked.
    â€œTalking to Zach took longer than I thought, and the grocery store was busy today.” As they walked along