Fire & Vice: In His Sights

Chapter 12

Lucy smiled and gently brushed some hair off Tanis' face. "I'm Amish and where I'm from, everyone is very similar looking. I loved moving here and seeing how many different people there are from different backgrounds. I've never known a mixed-race family before." Lucy stopped talking as her brain caught up with her mouth. Heat suffused her face. "Forgive me, was that a rude question?"

Tawny smiled and shook her head. "No, honey, you didn't ask it in a rude way. Some people would, and some people do. Those are the asses I'll kick from here to next Sunday. Dad is a good man, the best! And he's my daddy in every way that counts. But is he our birth father? No."

Lucy nodded and sat quietly, watching Abel and Mack while they sat at the table in low-voiced conversation. Mack was frowning again, but it was more a frown of concern than his usual grouchy frown.

"Abel kept us after our mom took off," Tawny continued. "She was drunk more often than not and a gambler. Beautiful though and charming as hell. That was how she kept convincing the guys to come around. She left both us and Abel at the same time. Cleaned out his savings and took off. She'd done it before, only the other guys- they didn't want the burden so me and Mack would go into the system until she came back to collect us. Like garbage she didn't want one minute and then when she blew back into town, she'd act like we were long lost treasure."

Tears filled Lucy's eyes as she thought of Tawny and Mack as children, caught up in an unfair cycle of neglect and abuse. Though her upbringing had often been tough, filled with never-ending chores, she'd always known she was loved and well-cared for.

Tawny kept talking. "Only she made a mistake in choosing Abel. He was an ex-soldier with a protective streak a mile wide. I was twelve and Mack ten when she left us with him. We were old enough to talk, to tell him our story. Not all the guys were as nice as him, so it wasn't a pretty story to tell. He worked quick after she left; managed to adopt us right out from under her, so she didn't have a legal leg to stand on when she blew back in."

Lucy made a choking sound, but managed to whisper, "Good."

"Very good. He met her on the doorstep with a shotgun and told her he was calling the police if she didn't get the f**k off our property. She didn't leave, so he had her arrested for trespassing."

Lucy nodded. "Good."

"Very good," Tawny agreed. "He kept us and raised us right. He helped me get my head on straight and helped Mack channel his demons. Mack was always more screwed up than me, less willing to accept help. His ex-wife was so much like mama that it set him back miles. But I think- I think he's finally coming around again."

Lucy couldn't tear her eyes away from Mack. He looked so strong and virile. So big. Like he could take on the world and survive anything. But he'd been a little boy once. And Tawny had been a little girl, only a few years older than Mack. They hadn't been able to protect themselves from such upheaval, such heartbreak. God only knows what happened to them before Abel came along. Thank goodness for the kind-hearted man.

Finally, Lucy turned her gaze toward Tawny who was cradling her now sleeping baby against her chest, the ghost of the past still written across her lovely face. "Why are you telling me this?" she asked quietly, unshed tears sparkling in her eyes. "I'm a stranger."

Tawny shrugged. "I've got good instincts for people. Knew Mack's ex-wife Daniella was going to be a hell-raiser right from the start. You might be young, but I can tell you have life and love in you and that's something my little brother needs." Tawny reached over and patted Lucy's knee. "No pressure, hon. I don't expect you to propose to him or anything, just give him a chance. Don't let him scare you away. Just give him a chance to show you the guy he can be."

Lucy turned to look at the other woman. "I think I know what you mean and I'm so ready to let him be the man he wants to be with me. Like you have no idea! Farm life was very boring and staid. Even when I got Matthew, my sort of ex-fiancé to himself, he refused to mess around."

Tawny pulled a face. "Ew, gross," she laughed. "Oh girl, you and I are going to get along great. You should come into the salon. I'd love to give you a trim and some layers. Maybe put in some highlights and lighten that gorgeous mane up."

"Sounds great to me!" Lucy exclaimed.

"f**k no." Lucy's head jerked up. Mack was now towering over top of them. He looked annoyed and was glowering at his sister. "You don't cut her hair, Tawn. It stays the way it is, got me?"

Tawny huffed in mock annoyance as Mack reached down to gently extract Lucy from his sleeping niece who had entwined her fingers in Lucy's long hair.

"Spoken like a true caveman," Tawny teased, standing with the two of them and placing Lucas next to Tanis on the couch. "I'm sure she's ready for a change. She's had all that hair for twenty-one years. Girl needs a haircut, Mack, and she needs to get it from the best damn hairdresser in town."

"I said no, Tawny. You got a hearing problem?"

"Enough, you two," Abel interrupted, making his way between the siblings and giving Lucy a pat on the shoulder. "You'll give our guest a bad impression."

Abel handed Lucy a package of food. "For you, my dear, to take home. Please enjoy."

"Thank you so much, I will! Perfect timing since I don't have work tomorrow and I need groceries." Lucy hugged the older man. "It was very kind of you to have me over."

Abel accepted Lucy's spontaneous affection and murmured, "You're welcome in my home any time, Lucy."

Lucy stepped to the side so Mack could say goodbye to his family.

Mack asked his father in a gruff voice, "Who's taking you to treatment tomorrow? Tawny?"

"I have to work," Tawny said in a regretful whisper. "So does Donny."

"Can drive my own damn self," Abel insisted quietly. "I don't need a babysitter."

"It's not about needing a babysitter," Mack snapped. "Treatment makes you nauseous as hell, you know that. You can't drive after. I'll see if I can move some appointments around and we'll go together."

"Absolutely not, son," Abel said sharply. "Your work is too important for you to sit at the hospital doing nothing for hours on end keeping company with an old man."

Lucy wondered what was wrong with Mack's stepdad and what he was taking treatment for. Clearly, she wasn't really meant to be part of this conversation, but since she was standing right in the middle of the small family she couldn't help herself.

"I can go," she interrupted quietly, not sure how they were going to take her offer. "I'm not working tomorrow, and I'd love to hang out with you Mr. Hudson."

Everyone looked at her for the space of a few heartbeats. Lucy could feel her cheeks heating up. She chewed on her lips to stop herself from saying something else. She'd tossed the offer out there and that was the best she could do, she couldn't force this small family to accept more from her, though she dearly wanted to.

Abel nodded his head, smiled and said, "Thank you, I'd appreciate that," at the same time as Mack glared down at her, shook his head and snapped, "Absolutely not."

Lucy glared back, set her hands on her hips and asked "Why?" at the exact same time as Tawny demanded a similar explanation.

Mack threw his hands up, rolled his eyes, thought about it for a moment and then said, "You don't drive."

She shrugged, raised an eyebrow in challenge and said, "I have a driver."

"I said no," Mack growled down at her, pushing her toward the door. "Drop it."

"And I said yes, son, I'll accept her driver and her company," Abel interrupted firmly, making it clear that his word was law in his home. "Lucy, you can get directions to the house from Mackenzie. I'll expect you and your driver at 1:00pm if that's acceptable for you."

Lucy beamed at the older man. "Absolutely! I'll see you tomorrow, Mr. Hudson."

After Mack had been unanimously outvoted, Abel and Tawny worked to lighten the atmosphere by chatting with Lucy for a few more minutes before Mack could rush her out the door. Despite his glower, Tawny gave her another hug and extracted a promise that Lucy come see her at the salon. Abel squeezed her arm affectionately and told her she was welcome back in his home any time she wanted.

"Bye, Lucy!" Tawny called as Mack shoved her out the door.

"Bye!" Lucy called back. "I loved meeting you!"

She purposely used the 'L' word to annoy Mack and stuck her tongue out at him too since his big body was blocking her view of his family. She jumped up and waved over his shoulder. He grabbed her arm, spun her around and dragged her down the walk toward the street.

"I'm in trouble, aren't I?" she giggled as he wrenched the passenger door of the truck open.

"So much f*****g trouble," he growled under his breath, picking her up by the waist and tossing her in. He latched her belt for her while she gazed at his bent head.

"What you gonna do about it, Mack?" she asked in the sultriest voice she could manage. "Spank me?"

His head snapped up, eyes meeting hers with blue fire.