Read Online Lone Star Valentine (McCabe Multiples) by CATHY GILLEN THACKER - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: CATHY GILLEN THACKER
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he hasn’t spent enough time with you recently.”
“How come?”
Lily tried not to tense. “Because he was busy playing football.” And doing a million other things.
Lucas’s lower lip shot out. He hugged his stuffed horse and blanket close. “I don’t want to go.”
Oh, sweetheart, I know
. Pretending not to notice the look of fear in his eyes, Lily smiled again. “I’m sure you’ll have fun.”
If there was one thing Bode knew, it was how to have fun. Plus, her ex was still half kid himself.
Gannon stopped at the gate surrounding Bode’s Dallas mansion. The guard checked IDs and waved them through.
By the time they reached the elegant portico of the sprawling abode, Bode was coming down the steps. A professional photographer and a videographer, obviously hired to document the occasion, both lingered nearby, ready to capture the first precious moment.
Gannon parked. Lily got her son out while he retrieved the overnight bag, from the rear seat of his luxury pickup truck.
“Hey there, sport,” Bode said jovially. Lucas turned his head away from his father and hid his face in his stuffed horse and blue security blanket.
“Lily.” Bode nodded at her stiffly.
Noticing her ex seemed to think her son’s reticence was her fault, Lily nodded back. “Bode.”
Gannon returned with the bag. He handed it over to Lucas, then extended his hand.
For a brief moment, Lily thought Bode was not going to return the gesture. But eventually—maybe because there was an audience and cameras nearby, Bode shook hands.
“Montgomery,” he growled.
“Daniels,” Gannon returned with professional cool.
Clearly, Lily thought, there was no love lost between the two men. Never had been, and judging from the looks of things now, never would be. An awkward silence fell. Lucas maintained his death grip on her hand, his little body pressed to right side. Gannon was to her left, his presence as steady—and reassuring—as ever.
Even so, it was all Lily could do not to say to hell with everything, grab her son, take Gannon’s hand in hers and run far, far away.
Away from her past.
And what scarily looked like her future.
The professional photographer and videographer continued taking in the scene.
Thus prompted, Bode hunkered down in front of Lucas, all macho charm, his voice unutterably gentle. “Want to come inside the house and say hello to your little sisters and Viviana?”
Lucas shook his head and did not look up.
Before Bode could say anything more, the front door opened. His sleek, gorgeous Venezuelan wife appeared. In a belly-baring halter top and flowing pants ensemble, she looked every inch the perennially entitled and pissed-off supermodel she was known to be. She stared at Bode, then lifted her hands as if to say,
What are we waiting for?
And with a last long withering look at Lily and a toss of her wavy golden-brown mane, she disappeared back inside. The door slammed behind her.
The photographer looked at Bode expectantly.
Straightening, he took another look at the door his wife had just gone in, then somberly turned back toward Lily. “Maybe it is a little much to just drop the little buddy off,” he said finally.
Gee. You think?
Gannon nodded, in support of Bode’s conclusion.
Paternal tenderness suddenly in his eyes, Bode looked at Gannon, man-to-man, then turned and gave Lily a beseeching glance. “How about you and Gannon come inside and stay awhile, and see if we can’t all work together to get Lucas settled?”
Chapter Five
Lily thought she knew what to expect from the luxurious interior of Bode’s multimillion-dollar home. After all, it had been featured in both
Architectural Digest
and
Personalities! Magazine.
But nothing could have prepared her for what lay inside.
The elegant white sofas in the formal living room had been pushed to the edges of the huge space. In the center were four separate stations—each sporting an elaborate little-boy birthday cake with a number on
“How come?”
Lily tried not to tense. “Because he was busy playing football.” And doing a million other things.
Lucas’s lower lip shot out. He hugged his stuffed horse and blanket close. “I don’t want to go.”
Oh, sweetheart, I know
. Pretending not to notice the look of fear in his eyes, Lily smiled again. “I’m sure you’ll have fun.”
If there was one thing Bode knew, it was how to have fun. Plus, her ex was still half kid himself.
Gannon stopped at the gate surrounding Bode’s Dallas mansion. The guard checked IDs and waved them through.
By the time they reached the elegant portico of the sprawling abode, Bode was coming down the steps. A professional photographer and a videographer, obviously hired to document the occasion, both lingered nearby, ready to capture the first precious moment.
Gannon parked. Lily got her son out while he retrieved the overnight bag, from the rear seat of his luxury pickup truck.
“Hey there, sport,” Bode said jovially. Lucas turned his head away from his father and hid his face in his stuffed horse and blue security blanket.
“Lily.” Bode nodded at her stiffly.
Noticing her ex seemed to think her son’s reticence was her fault, Lily nodded back. “Bode.”
Gannon returned with the bag. He handed it over to Lucas, then extended his hand.
For a brief moment, Lily thought Bode was not going to return the gesture. But eventually—maybe because there was an audience and cameras nearby, Bode shook hands.
“Montgomery,” he growled.
“Daniels,” Gannon returned with professional cool.
Clearly, Lily thought, there was no love lost between the two men. Never had been, and judging from the looks of things now, never would be. An awkward silence fell. Lucas maintained his death grip on her hand, his little body pressed to right side. Gannon was to her left, his presence as steady—and reassuring—as ever.
Even so, it was all Lily could do not to say to hell with everything, grab her son, take Gannon’s hand in hers and run far, far away.
Away from her past.
And what scarily looked like her future.
The professional photographer and videographer continued taking in the scene.
Thus prompted, Bode hunkered down in front of Lucas, all macho charm, his voice unutterably gentle. “Want to come inside the house and say hello to your little sisters and Viviana?”
Lucas shook his head and did not look up.
Before Bode could say anything more, the front door opened. His sleek, gorgeous Venezuelan wife appeared. In a belly-baring halter top and flowing pants ensemble, she looked every inch the perennially entitled and pissed-off supermodel she was known to be. She stared at Bode, then lifted her hands as if to say,
What are we waiting for?
And with a last long withering look at Lily and a toss of her wavy golden-brown mane, she disappeared back inside. The door slammed behind her.
The photographer looked at Bode expectantly.
Straightening, he took another look at the door his wife had just gone in, then somberly turned back toward Lily. “Maybe it is a little much to just drop the little buddy off,” he said finally.
Gee. You think?
Gannon nodded, in support of Bode’s conclusion.
Paternal tenderness suddenly in his eyes, Bode looked at Gannon, man-to-man, then turned and gave Lily a beseeching glance. “How about you and Gannon come inside and stay awhile, and see if we can’t all work together to get Lucas settled?”
Chapter Five
Lily thought she knew what to expect from the luxurious interior of Bode’s multimillion-dollar home. After all, it had been featured in both
Architectural Digest
and
Personalities! Magazine.
But nothing could have prepared her for what lay inside.
The elegant white sofas in the formal living room had been pushed to the edges of the huge space. In the center were four separate stations—each sporting an elaborate little-boy birthday cake with a number on
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