Lani's Makeshift Family Read online

  The girls giggled as if happy to see each other. Lani leaned back on the edge of the couch and watched. Her heart swelled with pride at seeing her daughters. She knew they’d always have their special bond as twins, but she’d been let into their little lives now and she couldn’t be happier. How lucky could one person be? When she thought of how things could have been much worse, her heart sank. But they had turned out fine, thanks to Nick.

  She was gaining confidence as a mother, slowly. Still, even with spending months reading about taking care of babies and scoring highest in the parenting class on her test, mothering was so different in real life. So very different.

  She remembered Annie, her best friend and an expert mother in Lani’s estimation since she had three kids, laughing at her for all her how-to books on mothering. Annie was right. You had to experience it firsthand. Thinking of being a mother reminded her of own mom. She said a silent prayer that she wasn’t worrying about Lani and the girls.

  Lani left the twins in the playpen after making another sweep of the area for any potential danger. Memories of her heart speeding when Nick brought Alexa, covered in powder, into the room the other day kept her on her toes. Of course, she couldn’t help falling asleep since she had been sick, but she’d never take a chance like that again. Everything looked fine, so she grabbed Nick’s black parka and headed outside.

  Cold mountain air chilled her face. Lani inhaled deeply. She hadn’t been out in the fresh air for days, and being here felt wonderful. She told herself she’d come outside for the air, but then why did she keep scanning the area? Across the river a rabbit, or hare, scooted by. The water rushed over rocks, splashing droplets into the air for the sun’s rays to sparkle. The river still looked quite full. Nick’s Jeep remained in the same spot. Of course, he hadn’t had any time in the past few days to try to move it.

  Through the leafless trees, a bird soared. Lani was no expert, but she’d swear it was an eagle climbing higher than the snowcapped mountaintop. She hugged the parka around her. Today was much colder than the last time she’d made it outdoors. Her hand gripped the parka tighter. Was it cold enough for the water to freeze? The thought knotted her stomach.

  She should be praying that it would freeze quickly, but being in Nick’s cabin was so peaceful.

  The babies certainly were enjoying themselves, and she’d had a few rotten days, but the atmosphere of the log cabin was like being on a much-needed vacation. She always worked too hard at her job, often taking work home. But when she learned of the adoption, she vowed that would stop when she returned to her job. While she would be at the office, the girls would stay in a wonderful day care, that she’d taken months to find, and they’d all spend the rest of the day together, no work.

  The rustle of branches took her attention upward as a squirrel hopped across the limbs. The eagle swooped downward. Lani watched until the eagle caught the squirrel and she turned quickly away. Then a noise caught her attention. A buzzing sound from the rear of the cabin. Since she arrived in the rain, she’d never seen the property in daylight.

  A path led around one side with the mountain as a backdrop. Pines dotted the hillside at the foot of the rocks, giving color to the haze of naked trees. She’d love to see a deer dart by, now that she wasn’t driving. Living in the city, she had very little opportunity to see different kinds of animals, but she planned to take the girls to the zoo often so they could enjoy nature in a controlled setting.

  Behind the cabin was a small yard with yellowed winter grass. Near a large shed, Nick sawed wood.

  Lani paused for a moment, studying the scene. Although he used a chain saw, she could see the strength of his arms as he skillfully guided it through a large tree stump. Piles of wood stacked along one wall, enough to last for months. Months. She shuddered. This was a beautiful setting, but she certainly didn’t want to be marooned here for months. She needed to get home, to start her life with the girls in their new home. She needed to grow as a mother and gain confidence. She needed to get away from Nick Hunter’s interference.

  As if her standing there caught his attention, Nick looked up.

  “Good morning, Nick.” Lani stepped forward.

  He nodded as he flung a log toward the stack. His aviator jacket hung on a tree branch and he’d pushed the sleeves of a black plaid shirt above his elbows. The breeze tugged at his hair, sending it backward to reveal a slight widow’s peak. Several buttons had come undone near his neckline. Fine tuffs of hair curled near the opening, matching the shadow of beard along his cheeks and jaw line. Lani’s mouth dried. Mountain man.

  ****

  Snow Bunny. Nick looked at Lani standing beneath the pine in his oversized parka, knowing exactly what soft curves hid beneath the bulky goose down. He cursed. If he kept gaping, he’d probably cut off an arm. He pushed a switch, silencing the buzz of the saw. Did she have to keep wearing that parka and looking as if she was at some hotshot ski resort?

  Lani pulled a twig from the nearby tree and twirled it in her hand. Methodically, she peeled the bark.

  He’d never get any work done with her around. Not that she was annoying—far from it. Lani was intelligent, considerate, and tried hard to be a good mother.

  What did annoy him was his constant staring, studying, leering—at her. He’d secluded himself for too long, and obviously, having a beautiful woman around made his brain work double-time.

  She held the stick in one hand and tucked a strand of hair into her ribbon with the other.

  No, she wasn’t annoying. He hated to admit it, but he liked having someone to look at and talk to. And she was easy to talk to, cooked decent, and even had a sense of humor. Just the type of woman he liked.

  Donna had been a giving wife and attentive, loving, mother. He’d never realized it before, but she didn’t have any real life of her own. She’d gone from school, to marriage, to motherhood soon after starting her teaching position. She had seemed to love caring for him and the children, but he wondered if she ever resented the time that it took. After Nicky was born, Donna never worked as a teacher again. She had loved teaching, but never complained about staying home. He couldn’t remember any signs of resentment. He shut his eyes for a second and, with all his heart, hoped she hadn’t resented her life.

  Although Lani was a new mother, he could see a distinction between being a mom and an independent woman. She had a career that she was taking time from, and by the way she organized things around the cabin, he guessed she had to be good at a meticulous job like accounting. Lani had also been a wife. He cursed the thread of jealousy that threatened. He guessed she was a damn good wife by the way she took over his household. Not that she was only a good housekeeper, but he could see how she cared for her kids’ welfare, and how she was striving to learn about taking care of them. The thought of her how-to book made him smile. She put a lot of effort into anything she did. Lani had to have a good head on her shoulders to get the kids through a storm and find his cabin. She wasn’t what he’d consider a weakling.

  He liked strong women. The old pain of his marriage flared in his heart. Not Lani’s fault, but she was a constant reminder of his hurt. And he wanted it gone. He couldn’t go through hell again.

  Looking at Lani and the way the sun sparkled in her eyes, he knew damned well he was attracted to her physically. Even after only two kisses. Or maybe his fool hormones, which he’d kept dormant for so long, were causing all the stirrings inside him each time that he looked at her—and he’d feel the same about any woman who marooned herself in his cabin.

  Lani leaned her head against the tree and the jacket opened.

  He could see the soft curve of her hips, remember the softness of her body, and his arousal angered him.

  She looked upward and seemed to be studying the flight of an eagle. Occasionally, a soft laugh would pass through her lips, and she’d bend and turn so as not to lose sight of the bird above the trees. She was enjoying something as simple as a bird in flight. Lani put her heart and soul into
everything she did.

  No, he wouldn’t be attracted to any woman who happened along. Watching her, his heart thudded against the wall of his chest. He didn’t fear much, but this attraction scared the hell out of him. Fate had taken away everything important to him—and it hurt. Testing fate again was too risky. He had to do something—like avoid her until the water froze, but doing that wasn’t going to be easy.

  “Nick? I asked you if all that wood is for burning in the fireplace?”

  He had to blink several times to clear his damned thoughts. “Mostly. I’ve got some nice pieces here for…” Damn, he couldn’t remember for what. Focus, Hunter. She’d pushed herself from the tree as he spoke and came near. Too near, and her scent masked the clean mountain air—and garbled his thoughts more. Geez, he could even hear her soft breaths.

  “Nice pieces for what?” She leaned down to look closer at the wood.

  The damned wood sat there, taunting him. He had no idea what the hell the nice pieces were for. Strands of Lani’s hair sneaked from beneath her blue ribbon, and he started to reach out to tuck them back under it. He cursed his hand and pulled back. What the hell was he doing? Her hair could flail in the breeze like snakes on the head of Medusa, and he wouldn’t give a damn. He had to keep his hands to himself.

  Focusing on the wood, despite her shoulder touching his, he probed his thoughts. The pieces were about two feet long and relatively flat. What the hell did he have in mind?

  “Nick?”

  He looked at her questioningly.

  “Everything okay?”

  He managed a pathetic nod, and cursed to himself.

  “I thought you were in some kind of trance,” she said, mimicking his statement from the other day.

  The smile she aimed at him nearly knocked him into the stack of wood. “Touché, Cabot.” He took a step away. It killed him to be acting like such a fool in front of her, but the closer she came, the dumber he felt. He needed to get rid of her so he could concentrate on work, and not her or his past.

  “Are the girls all right?” Sure the question was a low blow, and it’d probably insult her, but at least she’d leave, and he wouldn’t saw his arm off. He looked her square in the face and thought of their kiss. Of their warm mouths exploring each other. He wanted her sweet taste to last in his mouth forever.

  “Yes, the girls are fine.” She shook her head as if emphasizing the words.

  Knowing he angered her on purpose, a pang of guilt stabbed his gut. His fingers tightened on the chain saw. He was looking at her far too much, and he needed her to leave so he could get some work done—so his heart could rest.

  “You’re sure? One of these days they’re going to learn to climb—”

  Fear pierced her sparkling eyes. “You don’t think they’ll climb out…” She turned and ran toward the cabin, causing her words to swirl away into the mountain air.

  Nick slammed the chain saw to the ground and flopped onto the tree stump he used for splitting logs. Shutting his eyes, he tried to clear his thoughts, but a vision of Lani appeared as if in a full-featured film inside his eyelids. His eyes flew open, and his curses rang in the treetops.

  ****

  Lani shoved open the door with such force, the noise startled Ana, who started to cry. She scooped up the baby in a tight hold. Both girls had been playing without any hint of trying to climb out. She scanned the playpen for stacks of toys, after reading that stepping on a pile of toys was one way a baby could climb out of a crib. Leave it to Nick to think of something before her.

  “You ladies must be getting hungry. After lunch, I’ll take you outside for some fresh air.” Lani took Ana to the kitchen and left Alexa playing happily in her crib. After setting the baby in the highchair, Lani removed her parka. Hanging it on the hook, she paused.

  She’d been wearing Nick’s jacket since she arrived and hadn’t even asked his permission. Not that he looked as if he minded. She was sure he would have mentioned if he didn’t want her wearing it, and he always wore the brown aviator jacket anyway.

  Leaning forward, she inhaled. Nick’s musky scent clung to the material. Was that why she wore it? Had she subconsciously chosen it each time to feel as if he were near? The touch of his lips on hers almost had her admit that was true, but she refused to. She pulled her thoughts from the parka and went to fix lunch.

  As she poured canned corn into a pan, Lani thought about watching Nick earlier. She started to stir the vegetable and paused. He had been eyeing her instead of cutting his wood. Not just eyeing her, downright staring as if she’d done something wrong. The more she thought, the clearer his reason became. He’d scared her on purpose about the girls’ welfare to get rid of her!

  Or, was he avoiding discussing their kiss? Obviously he thought he was much better taking care of them. He had to know insinuating that she left her girls unsafe would hurt—and anger her. At times, he seemed so caring, but at other times, insulting—but was that really him?

  Or was he just pushing Lani away?

  The man was confusing. Although he wouldn’t admit it, he had a soft, compassionate side. She had seen glimpses of it while she was sick. And, that’s why she’d kissed him. There was a different person under the rough exterior, much like the cabin. Outside the cabin looked rugged and worn, but inside was beautiful and homey. Nick tried to hide his thoughtfulness, but Lani saw through him. The way he played with Alexa while she sat in her highchair, now drank his coffee black, the way he fixed sugar water for Ana, and made a vaporizer for her—those were all signs. And she’d never forget the cloth diapers he’d made!

  Maybe he wanted her to leave because he resented her getting sick and how he had to take care of her and the twins. But she would think he’d have been more ill-tempered for all those days. No, something else must make him want her to leave. What had she done?

  A bubbling sound brought Lani’s attention to the pot. “Oh shoot!” The corn water had nearly evaporated. She flicked off the stove and shoved the pot from the burner. Luckily, she hadn’t burned it. They couldn’t afford to waste any food. Her heart did a somersault at the thought. She had a way of forgetting their situation. They could be there for a while. The ambiance of the cabin clouded her fears.

  The kitchen door opened. Lani turned to see Nick give Ana a quick touch to her cheek. The baby gave him a smile from her heart that sent a strange feeling through Lani’s. Just because Ana recognized, and obviously liked Nick, didn’t mean Lani had to be jealous of the attention her daughter gave him. Or was she being too protective of Ana? She was confused by the way Nick had cared for the girls when he’d made the comment about how commendable it was that she’d adopted them. Could she be blowing his words out of proportion because of her ex-husband? “Hungry, Nick?”

  Eyebrows lifted, he leaned over the pot of corn. “Well, that depends.”

  “I’m making sandwiches, too. This is for the girls.”

  “Then I’m hungry.”

  She forced her concentration on spreading mayonnaise on the bread, but she could feel Nick watching her. All of her control was needed to hand him his plate without her hand shaking. Moments later, Lani looked at Nick above her ham sandwich.

  He’d finished his lunch, but he volunteered to hold Alexa so she could eat at the table. Her daughter embarrassed her each time she rubbed mayonnaise on Nick’s shirt or blew milk bubbles with her lips. She had to work on better table manners with Alexa. Not that she could use a knife and fork, but the baby could learn not to spew milk at their host! But Nick didn’t even notice. Not the milk. Not the mayonnaise. He smiled, cajoled, and teased the girls throughout the meal—and they loved it.

  Lani held the sandwich to her mouth and shut her eyes. So this is what it feels like to be a family. For just a second, she savored the feeling.

  But, she reminded herself, it was only pretend.

  Chapter Nine

  Lani bit into her sandwich. Again she thought of how the girls didn’t have a father. Even though she’d chosen to end h
er marriage, the fact still hurt. Stephen’s quick temper had flared each time she had tried to bring up the subject of adoption. Maybe she shouldn’t have pushed it. Maybe he rejected her because she tried to force her wishes on him. He’d said he’d wanted children, only his own—children she couldn’t give him.

  Watching Nick try to teach Alexa to hold a piece of sandwich, she worried if she had made the right decision. Could she be a good enough mother? Could she provide and teach them on her own? Could she love them enough? Alexa scrunched a wad of bread and giggled. A warmth, unlike any she’d ever known, surged through Lani. Yes, she could love them and would do her best to be a good mother. Her initial fears and worries that she’d taken on more than she could handle started to lessen.

  Family was so important. Since her father had died when she was young, she thought of how close she and her mother became. Mom insisted they ate dinner together each night and always had a lit candle on the table. Had she been selfish depriving these girls of a father? In her heart, she knew they were a family, even if only the three of them, just as she and her mother had been a real family.

  “Hold this, Lex. That’s a girl,” Nick coaxed.

  Alexa held a piece of sandwich and took a bite.

  Lani’d feel more sure of herself, if Nick didn’t keep interfering. Maybe he wasn’t interfering, but showing her the way. A lump formed in her throat when she glanced at him. She ran her fingers across her lips, remembering his kiss. Maybe she just missed being loved by a man. She did like sharing her life with someone. She’d gotten along fine being single, but something was always missing in her life.

  Now seeing Nick and the girls at the same table, her dreams of a large family with four kids, taunted her. She couldn’t afford to adopt any more children, nor could she manage to raise more than her two. But the dream wouldn’t fade.