Harlequin Heartwarming May 2016 Box Set (3 page)

There were no words for how much she loved and cared about Nick...and no regrets for the time she'd gotten to spend with him. She truly wanted to do right by Maria, but taking on a traumatized child had terrified her, and months of dealing with his depressed moods had left her drained. Mac did care about his nephew. She knew that, just like she knew that if something happened to her, he'd figure out a way to blend Nick into his life, whether he wanted to or not. She just wished he'd taken on some of the load from the beginning. And in his eyes, he had no more reason to take on raising Nick now than he had six months ago when he'd left him in Tessa's hands.

“Are you booked tomorrow?” she asked.

His lips hardened and he clenched his jaw. “No.”

“I guess it's all good, then. I promised Nick a holiday and I'd hate for him to be disappointed or, God forbid, bored. He's been a bit depressed, and I figured a last-minute surprise trip would be fun and good for him,” she said, getting up from the chair and brushing past Mac. He wrapped his fingers around her arm. They were calloused and worn...and warm against her skin.

“Just how long do you plan to stay?” he asked.

Did he mean her and Nick? Or just her? Bringing up the Nick situation right now with the mood she'd already put Mac in wouldn't be smart. No, Nick and Mac needed some bonding time...if that was possible with their personalities. And with Mac's history of volunteering with wildlife organizations, he was the only person who might be able to help her figure out what was going on with her husband. She knew without a doubt that Mac was on the right side of the law when it came to poaching, but then again, Katia had refused to help her. Mac might have his own agenda, too. Ultimately, she could only count on herself. So much for skipping out on computer science classes in college and not learning something useful...like navigating computers beyond the basics. Where
did
one learn how to hack?

She looked at his hand—he let go—then she let out a breath and tucked hers into her pockets to calm herself. She glanced around his cramped quarters. He wasn't kidding when he said he didn't have room for Nick. But he'd have to make room or find a new place because the way Tessa's life was unfolding, Nick living with her was no longer an option. Not with her life crumbling around her. She angled her head at Mac.

“A week tops. Then I promise I'll be out of your hair.”

For good.

CHAPTER TWO

M
AC
HAD
AVOIDED
touching his Scotch again last night. With Tessa around, he needed to keep his head on straight. But finding her in his office, bracing her—not
em
bracing, he reminded himself—against his chest... The memories the evening had stirred up were worthy of a full-bottle hangover. The way she'd fallen into his arms at Maria and Allan's funeral. How she'd sobbed against his chest and he'd buried his own tears in the crook of her neck. She'd never liked him much back in their school days, and he'd never cared for her lifestyle after marriage, but at that moment, no one else in the room—other than perhaps Nick...and Tessa's parents—had understood what she and Mac were going through. In that moment, he'd imagined a connection...an understanding between them that had never been there before.

Then she'd begun pounding his chest and screaming about how much she hated him for encouraging Allan to propose to her sister. That her sister would still be alive if they weren't related. She'd buckled to her knees after that.

Half of him had wanted to take off and the other half had wanted to wrap his arms around her and pick her up. But Brice had beaten him to it. He was the one she needed to lean on, anyway. He was her husband. Her safety net. Mac... Mac apparently wasn't even a friend. He was nothing but a coguardian. A brother-in-law she didn't like. He still remembered the crushing pressure in his chest when he'd watched Brice rush over and take her in his arms. Mac had lost his brother. Opening up and sharing his pain with Tessa hadn't been easy. He'd let himself be vulnerable. Then she'd turned on him. He'd never forget that.

Mac's trip back home to South Africa had been rife with raw emotions. There'd been a lot to take care of and the need to focus on Nick had helped him ignore the punch to his gut every time Tessa's eyes met his as the lawyers sorted their siblings' wills out. He wasn't sure why she'd always hated him so much. At the time, he wasn't sure he'd ever get over losing Allan, but thinking of Nick put his pain in perspective. The poor boy was orphaned. Allan and Maria's funeral had been hell for all of them on so many levels.

This visit was different, though. They were on Mac's turf this time.

Nonetheless, this week was going to be hell, too.

Mac washed down a couple of aspirin to dull the throbbing in his temples and turned his computer on for a quick email check. Prior to the arrival of his surprise visitors, he'd planned to lie low and work on some marketing niche ideas or a new design for the brochures he'd last updated six years ago. He needed an edge before the lodge owners let some big shot come in and take his customers. He didn't normally care what others thought of him, but Tessa was the last person he wanted knowing that he was just getting by. She'd always acted standoffish and better than him in school. After marrying Brice, she really
was
better off—socially and financially.

But what was bothering him more was that he'd bought into her holiday excuses for being here. It wasn't until she'd gone back to her room, leaving her scent behind to taunt him, that he realized she must have ulterior motives. She was up to something...or that husband of hers had put her up to something. Like trying to convince him to take over raising Nick. Or perhaps Big Business Brice had sent his trophy wife to convince him to sell out to his latest investment idea. He'd never liked Brice Henning. The guy was too polished. Too perfect and careful. As far as Mac was concerned, shiny surfaces hid things...like polished diamonds hid defects and rough pasts, or like a calm sea glistening in the moonlight hid sharks. He simply wasn't the kind of guy Mac cared to share a beer with, not that Brice would stoop to drinking beer and socializing with a small-beans pilot.

Still, Mac sincerely felt Brice and Tessa had the better setup for raising a kid: being close to Nick's school, material comforts and all. Plus, Nick had needed access to good counseling after his parents' deaths. He'd needed to stay close to the friends he had for peer support. No one wanted the tragedy to send Nick veering along a downhill path. Mac had been doing his share, sending as much money as possible to support his nephew because Walkers took care of Walkers. Regardless of wills.

The money Nick had inherited had been put in a trust for him, but after paying off the debts his parents had, he and Tessa had agreed that the majority of the amount left needed to be saved for his college education. It had been the only thing he and Tessa had
ever
agreed on.

He hovered his finger over his mouse, then gave into his lack of focus and logged out.

Mac locked his window, grabbed his AWS cap and headed out the door, this time making sure to lock his quarters behind him.

“Morning,” Mac said, taking the mug of hot coffee Sue Bekker held out. He leaned an elbow against the low counter that divided the front desk from the rest of the office. “Sweetheart, you're spoiling me.”

Sue blushed and patted his arm.

She was the mother of his old friend, Dr. Anna Bekker, who ran the Busara research and rescue camp for orphaned baby elephants. Sue was a skilled, albeit sometimes forgetful, woman who'd battled depression. But ever since she'd reconnected with her daughter and moved from America to live in the Serengeti and work for him, she seemed to embrace life. Something about the region did that to a person. Life here was simple, raw and beautiful. He loved it.

“Well, I figured you'd need it this morning,” she said. “They came in asking for you. The brunette said they were family,” she said, nodding through their glass office doors toward the pretty woman and lanky kid who stood facing one of the lodge's attractions: a floor-to-ceiling wooden wall carved with images of wildlife, including a herd of elephants the park was so famous for.

Man. Nick had shot up in six months. He had definitely inherited the Walker gene for height. Couldn't tell much about his face from where he stood. Not with all that hair hanging over it. The boy made a final crease on a flyer-turned-paper-airplane and shot it at the wall. His aunt mouthed something, but he ignored her, walked over to a stand of safari brochures and reversed the stacks in their holders. Mac couldn't claim fame as having been the world's easiest teenager. He'd been hell with wings. His gut told him karma had just caught up with him.

Tessa looked ready for action with her hair pulled back into a tight ponytail and a mini backpack slung stylishly over one shoulder. She was fidgeting impatiently with the pocket of her carpenter-style—and no doubt designer—khakis and what looked to him like the same stormy-blue shirt she'd had on last night. She picked up the plane herself, then scanned the lodge, as if worried they'd get kicked out. The kid was pushing her buttons like a pro. She glanced impatiently at her watch.

Well, a man has a right to coffee first, Princess Tess.

He took a long swig. Tessa turned and spotted him.
And the day begins.

“That's my nephew out there,” he said, breaking eye contact with Tessa. He didn't share a lot of family information with anyone, but Sue did know he'd lost his brother in a crash.

“Oh! Well, go spend time with him. I have things covered here. Go. Go.” Sue waved him off.

Mac gulped the rest of the coffee down, then set his cap on his head and his hand on the glass door, but Tessa beat him to it. She slipped inside with Nick. An unwelcome fresh scent and all-encompassing energy filled the room. The same energy he'd felt when he'd set eyes on her at Maria and Allan's wedding. The same energy that had filled his quarters last night.

He'd been stunned by her transformation when he saw her arrive at their siblings' wedding. If that wasn't enough, Maria and Allan had called out for them to join them on the floor after their first dance. The way she'd felt in his arms then was the way she'd felt in his arms at the funeral...and again last night. He didn't like reacting to her. Didn't want it. Didn't understand it. They'd never gotten along. It was probably nothing but “hard to get” vibes challenging him. Well, she wasn't single anymore. Vibes or not, she was off-limits.

“Hello again!” Sue greeted Nick and Tessa a bit too enthusiastically.

Mac held out his hand to shake Nick's and pulled him into a one-arm hug, slapping his back.

“Hey, man, good to see you.”

“Yeah.”

Guess the feeling wasn't mutual.

“Sue, this is Nick, my nephew, and Tessa, my, um...his aunt. My sister-in-law.” He scratched the back of his neck as brisk handshakes were exchanged. He needed air. He held the door wide open.

“It's nice to meet you. Would you like some coffee? It's freshly brewed,” Sue said, returning behind the front desk. He was
not
having them linger for coffee.

“We already had breakfast. Thanks, though.”

“If anyone comes asking for me specifically, catch me on the radio,” Mac said. He hesitated, then added, “And don't forget to reschedule that group tour package for later this afternoon.”

“Group tour?” Sue looked understandably perplexed. Mac set his hands on the counter and leaned close, winking for good measure. The guilt for putting the glow in her cheeks was justified by desperately needing to signal her to play along without Tessa or Nick cluing in.

“Yes, you remember...the
magazine photographers
...and confirm tomorrow's customers while you're at it. Please.”

It took a second for her to catch on.

“Oh, yes, I remember,” she lied.

“Great. What would I do without you? Oh, and Sue, if you need to leave the office for whatever reason, don't forget to lock up,” he added, ushering Tessa and Nick out the door.

“Of course. I always do,” she said, appearing even more perplexed.

Right.

Mac didn't have the heart to tell her about last night, considering he had things under control. He had much bigger issues to deal with right now. He let the office door swing shut behind him.

“How've you been?” he asked, ruffling Nick's hair in the hopes of reading his face. Nick ducked away from his touch.

Don't touch the hair. Got it.

“I'm fine. Not here by choice, but whatever,” Nick said, hanging his head as he spoke and stuffing his hands in his pockets.

Tessa watched intently with her lips pressed together. She closed her eyes briefly, in an apparent apology for Nick's rudeness, then wrinkled her face at Mac in a “would you like to deal with this every day?” expression.

“
Whatever
works for me,” Mac said. “Seeing as you two beat me out here, how about you help me run a check on my chopper and then we can head up? I'll give you a taste of piloting if you want.”

Guy stuff. Right? Didn't every kid like planes, trains and the whole array? Tessa gave him an almost imperceptible shake of her head. Mac caught on right away. He pinched the bridge of his nose. This was why he wasn't good parent material. Guy stuff...except, maybe, when the kid's parents had been killed in a plane crash. Hadn't the flight over bothered him? Or maybe it
had
and that's why Tessa was cautioning Mac. Then why'd she mention a tour last night? Unless Nick hadn't said anything about not wanting to do an air tour until this morning.

Mac rubbed the cramp in his jaw. It didn't matter. Accidents happened. The kid couldn't stay grounded for life. Flying was in his blood. But Nick needed to feel in control again and Mac, more than anyone, understood that.

“What about a quick tour of the lodge and the gardens? Maybe a short hike,” Tessa suggested.

“Sure. We don't have to go up if flying bothers you, Nick,” Mac said. “I assure you, my girl is safer than driving a car, but I can understand fear and...”

“I'm
not
afraid,” Nick said, raising his voice. “You think I'm some stupid wimp or something? I hate it when everyone treats me like a baby. I didn't say I was afraid, Aunt Tessa. I said I just didn't feel like it. I made it here on a plane, didn't I?”

“Yes, you did,” Mac said. Touchy one. “I'm just giving you options. I can get a jeep, take you on foot or take you up...anything you want, depending on what you'd like to see.”

“Then just do whatever Aunt Tessa wants and get us back home,” he said, storming away. Mac and Tessa watched as he cleared the building and made his way onto a lush terrace of grass and trees, then stopped cold when two vervet monkeys approached him, begging for food. He took several steps back. And then a few more, flattening his palms against the wall he'd backed into. Yeah, the kid was
clearly
not a wimp.

* * *

G
ET
US
BACK
HOME
.
Tessa's stomach twisted at Nick's words. The poor kid was about to hurdle another life change—because of her. If she'd simply turned a blind eye and kept her suspicions to herself, they'd both be back at home in South Africa, safe and sound. Well,
maybe
safe. That was questionable. Now she had no idea when or if she'd ever have a home again. And Nick...his home was going to be here and he didn't even know it.

“Do we rescue him?” Mac asked. The corner of his mouth twisted into a wry smile as the monkeys tried cornering the poor kid. Mac was enjoying this?

“Of course we do,” Tessa said, swatting his arm. Preying on Nick's pride was mean, although she had to admit that perhaps he understood teen boys better than she did. She certainly wasn't a model guardian. No doubt Mac would do better. “Just don't tell him we are,” she said, heading for the terrace.

Mac followed her out, tossed the pair of squealing beggars a couple of peanuts from his pocket and told Tessa and Nick to head around the corner of the building. The scent of honeyed flowers from a nearby vine wafted on the breeze as they cleared the courtyard area. The rustling shade from a cluster of fig trees welcomed them down a path that gave way to a large clearing and a chopper that had to be his. They still had to walk out to it, since it was parked a safe distance from the lodge itself. She caught Nick actually giving his head a jerk to flick his hair out of the way for a better view. The helicopter was mostly white with a dark green strip down the side and big green lettering that said AWS.