Who was Mona? Took a second for the name to register. Ah, right. The cocktail waitress he’d knocked up; the mother of his son, Lex. “What did she want?”
“Mostly to complain about how hard it is to be a single mother. But the point is, seems Lex has been in trouble, and he’s been suspended from school. Mona is at her wit’s end. She asked if Lex could live with me for a while.”
Silence lingered for what seemed like an eternity before I asked, “What did you say?”
“I said I had to talk it over with you first, since I am living in your house.”
“What did he do to get suspended?”
Dawson started that soothing stroking motion on my back again. “He brought a switchblade to school. For protection, he claims, because some older kids had been threatening him. Unfortunately, this school has a zero-tolerance policy for weapon violation. First strike and you’re out.”
“When did this happen?”
“Two weeks ago. But Mona was too deeply involved with her own shit to let me know, which is about par for the course with her. Apparently, Lex has been parked on the couch playing video games for the last two weeks, since he hasn’t been in school.”
“So you’ve talked to Lex about moving here?”
He nodded. “Today. Lex actually seems excited about it. I don’t know if he’s playing me or what, since it’s only in the last six months he’s been interested in spending time with me. Anyway, this is something you and I haven’t talked about, besides me asking if you’d mind him being here over Thanksgiving or Christmas break. But it’s a big difference-”
I rolled to face him and placed my hand on his chest. His heart pounded beneath my palm. “Mason. It’s all right. I know how much you’ve wanted-how hard you’ve tried-to have a relationship with your son. I’d never stand in the way of that. Lex is welcome here.”
He pressed his forehead to mine. “Thank you. You have no idea what this means to me. To be honest, as much as I’ve always said I wanted Lex around, this whole thing scares the living shit outta me, Mercy.”
“I know.”
“I mean, we’ll get the logistics of how he’s getting to and from school figured out, but I don’t know if I have… hell, I’ve never been around kids that much. Sometimes-most times-Lex doesn’t feel like mine. He just seems like a kid I know that I see once in a while. What if I’m a shitty father?”
That confession made me ache. “I think the fact you’re worried about being a good father indicates you’ve already won half the battle. Once he is around you, day in and day out, he’ll see what an awesome guy you are.”
“I like this flattering side of you, Sergeant Major.” He brushed his lips across mine. “So since you admitted that I’m an awesome guy, does that mean you’re ready to marry me?”
I tried to keep it light. “I’m still weighing my options.”
“What options?”
“I hear that Dick and Alice Anderson might be headed for divorce court. And you know I have a thing for former rodeo cowboys. So I might wait to see what happens there.”
“Dick Anderson is seventy. Been a long time since he’s been on the back of a bull. Plus, rumor is… the reason Alice wants to call it quits after forty-five years? Dick ain’t performing his husbandly duties anymore.”
“Who’d you hear that from?”
“Lila, at the diner. And apparently, Dick ain’t the type who believes in Viagra.” He pinned me to the mattress, rubbing his third erection of the night against my belly. “So maybe you oughta put this on the plus side of staying with me for the long haul.”
“Cocky man.”
“And I’ll prove it.”
• • •
Sophie lured us out of bed early the next morning with the scent of bacon, eggs, and fried potatoes.
I noticed she’d folded up my robe and set it on the kitchen table, but she didn’t tease-a rarity for her.
“You’re here early,” I said.
“Couldn’t sleep. Pain in my hip kept me awake.”
Wasn’t like Sophie to complain. “Maybe you should have the doctor check you out the next time you take Penny in.”
She gave me a considering look. “You worried, hey?”
“Yes, because you haven’t been your bossy self lately. I wondered if it’s too much, splitting time between here and Hope’s place.”
“You askin’ if I’m getting a little long in the tooth to be doin’ my job?” she asked sharply.
“No. And you don’t need to snap at me for caring about you, Sophie.”
She made that sound between a sigh and a harrumph. “Sorry, takoja. I’ve got a lot on my mind, with Penny’s cancer and all.”
Penny was Sophie’s last living daughter. All of her Red Leaf kids had passed on, and her son Devlin Pretty Horses was the only remaining male child. “Anything I can do?”
“Nothin’ no one can do.” She offered a tremulous smile through the sheen of tears. “Workin’ takes my mind off it.”
“We’ll be able to oblige you on that, because Mason’s son Lex is coming to stay with us for a while.”
“Really? When?”
“Soon, I think.”
“Oh, the sheriff’s gotta be happy about that.” Her sharp brown gaze locked onto mine. “But are you happy?”
I don’t know. “Yeah, I am.”
“That don’t sound convincing, Mercy.”
“I just… don’t want him to get hurt. He has wanted a chance to really be Lex’s father for longer than he’s willing to admit. I hope this kid isn’t the type to take advantage of him.”
Sophie patted my arm. “Me, too. Now how about if we get you fed, eh?”
Dawson’s arms came around my waist, and he squeezed me. When he left a sweet, lingering kiss on my temple, I knew he’d heard the entire exchange.
“Mornin’, Miz Red Leaf,” he said. “That smells awesome.”
“It is. Sit down, both of you, and I’ll dish up.”
“Why don’t you sit down, Sophie. Get some of your questions about Lex living here out of the way while I dish up.”
Sophie grinned. “Seems someone’s in a very good mood this morning. I wonder why? Any theories, Sheriff?”
Dawson smirked. “I ain’t touching that one.” He poured three mugs of coffee and sat across from Sophie.
“When will your son be here?”
“Sunday night. Mercy ’n’ me are goin’ huntin’ Saturday. After I bag a bigger buck than her, I’m driving to Denver. We’ll be back Sunday so I can get him enrolled in school Monday.”
I snorted. “In your dreams about bagging the bigger buck, marine.” I slid the plates on the table and took my seat next to Dawson.
“I love a challenge.” He snatched a slice of bacon off my plate and shoved it in his mouth.
I whapped his knuckle with my fork.
“You two behave,” Sophie warned. “What room were you thinkin’ of putting Lex in upstairs?”
“Not my old room, since Joy’s crib is in there. Probably Hope’s old room. It’s empty, right?”
“Yeah, but it’s got a floral bedspread and curtains,” Sophie pointed out.
“That’ll be fine,” Dawson said. “I don’t think Lex will care.”
Sophie and I exchanged a look. “Uh, yeah, he’s gonna care. I’ll stop at Walmart on my way home tonight and pick out bedding that’s plain and… manly.”
“Fine, but I don’t see the big deal. You’ve got girly sheets on our bed, and I haven’t complained.”
Not the same. He’d sleep on burlap if he was getting laid regularly, but I didn’t want to argue with him. We tucked into the food, and no one spoke until our plates were empty.
As we finished our coffee, Sophie said, “Such a pity about that Shooting Star girl. So young. I know not everyone likes that family, but it’s hard not to feel sorry for them, hey.”