A Hero for Her Heart (Truly Yours Digital Editions Book 885) (6 page)

Allie planted her hands on her hips. “Soldier, that horn is for camping with the boys’ group, not for use at home.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He snickered.

She bit back a smile. “Now skedaddle so I can get ready.”

“Ma’am, yes, ma’am.” Danny saluted again and hurried from the room, closing the bedroom door.

Allie sank to the edge of the bed and put her face in her hands. She hadn’t rested well, tossing and turning, between worry about finances and the memory of Derrick. Playing Scrabble with him had been fun, with his bright smile and quick wit. Definitely a charmer and clearly a confident man. Michael had been that way to a degree.

While engaged to him she’d thought how nice it would be to marry and give Danny a family again—a mom and dad. Her heart ached for the losses Danny had suffered. He deserved better than he’d had in his life. She often wondered about his biological mother, but knew nothing except the little her sister-in-law Cindy had told her. His mother had been young and living on the street. She couldn’t give him what he needed.

That was ironic. Allie was beginning to think she wouldn’t be able to provide for him either. She stood and stretched. With so much debt left by Luke, she was on the verge of declaring bankruptcy. She wanted to give Danny a secure life. In her heart of hearts, she knew her mother was right.

“I’ve been proud and stubborn, Lord.” But she had her reasons. She’d do anything to hide the extent of their family problems from outsiders. She wanted to protect Luke and hide what he’d done. Lying, keeping a second set of books. . .her own brother. But why had he done it? What could have driven a man who was otherwise so honest in his dealings to lead a double life? Worse, she had to admit she felt betrayed by the Lord. Why had He allowed so many bad things to happen?

She clasped her hands and closed her eyes. “Lord, we need answers. If You’re really there, if You really do watch over us, please give me answers.”

Forty minutes later Allie forced down bites of toast in the kitchen while she tried not to think about Derrick.
Stop it!
she told herself. Why was she dwelling on a virtual stranger? The phone rang and put a stop to her ridiculous train of thought. She snatched it off its cradle and barked, “Hello!”

“Allie, it’s me. I forgot to tell you last night that I invited. . .so I. . .and he. . .then I. . .”

“Shannon?” Allie pressed the phone closer to her ear. “I can barely hear you.”

“Oh. . .won’t hold the cell to my ear. . .” Shannon said something else that Allie didn’t catch. “Just read. . .same as sticking your head. . .microwave. Brain cancer.”

Allie huffed out a sigh. “Well why can’t you wait until we get to church?”

“No! This is important!” Shannon’s voice came through loud and clear. “Did you hear the part about Derrick coming to church?”

“What?” Heat burned her cheeks. Just when she’d been dreaming about him.

“I invited him last night, but I forgot to tell you.”

Allie ignored the footsteps coming into the kitchen and focused on the phone conversation.

Shannon giggled. “I think he likes you, Allie. All that time we played Scrabble, he kept trying not to look at you. You know how I’m good at reading body language—”

“Shannon! Why did you invite him to church? I’m not interested in a man right now, no matter what his body language says. You remember what I went through nine months ago with—” She turned to see her mother standing in the doorway.

“Michael? Forget about him!” Shannon said. “You need to leave that in the past and move on.” The timbre of her voice had changed to the one she used for animals and small children, making Allie feel stupid. “Besides, Derrick coming to church is really not that big a deal. If anything, we’re being kind to someone who’s temporarily in town. What harm can come from it?”

Ma cleared her throat, and Allie faced her, pointing at the phone.

“Shannon, I’m not—”

Ma pointed at Danny then at her watch.

“I have to go,” Allie said.

“Okay. I’ll talk to you at church.” Shannon’s voice was too cheerful.

As she hung up, Allie could have sworn she heard her friend laugh, and a bolt of irritation raced up her spine. She switched her attention to her mom. “Let me brush my teeth real fast.”

“Okay. I take it the hero will be at church today?”

“I guess.” Allie shrugged. “Thanks to Shannon.”

“He will?” Danny smiled widely. “Yay!”

“Hurry, then. We’ll be waiting for you in the car.” Ma and Danny walked out of the kitchen into the utility room and then outside.

As Allie hurried to the bathroom, she mentally scolded her friend. Shannon had arranged this on purpose. Now there were three people set on matchmaking. Her mother, Danny,
and
Shannon, and she wanted no part of it.

❧

As Allie walked down the church aisle, her eyes burned and she glanced up at the wooden ceiling beams to hide her tears. Hard as she tried to please the Lord, to love Him, she was at odds with Him lately. Her anger caused her lack of faith in His goodness, and she couldn’t find a cure for it.

I’m sorry, Lord.

Trailing Ma and Danny, Allie shuffled into the pew four rows from the front and sat at the end next to Danny. Her gaze automatically roamed to the second row. Shannon. They locked gazes, and Shannon winked, then she smiled at Ma and Danny.

Allie turned at the tap on her shoulder. She found herself staring up into Derrick’s dark eyes, unable to utter a solitary word.

Derrick smiled. “Good morning.”

His crisp shirt dazzled white in contrast to his tanned skin and black hair. She grew as breathless as yesterday when he yanked her from Chester’s back and into his arms.

“Mr. Derrick!” Danny grabbed Derrick’s attention, saving her the mortification of revealing her inability to form a coherent sentence, a rare occurrence.

Derrick greeted Danny with a warm smile. “How are you, Spiderman?”

“Great. This is my granny.” Danny pulled on Ma’s hand.

Allie’s face heated. She should’ve made the introduction, but Derrick had her so tongue-tied, she’d forgotten her manners.

“Derrick,” Ma said, “it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Betsy Vahn. Please call me Betsy. Thank you so much for rescuing my daughter yesterday.”

“I told Granny you’re a hero,” Danny added.

“And he told me all about hero school.” Ma’s grin was wide. “If we’d known you were coming, we would have saved you a seat.” She leaned forward, indicating with her eyes that the pew was filled, and shrugged.

“Quite all right.” Derrick pointed to the front. “Shannon saved me a seat.”

A spot near Shannon? Allie felt a spurt of jealousy, then told herself to get over it. She wasn’t interested in any man. Not now. Not for a long time. But despite her mental self-chastisement, she watched as he walked over to sit beside her best friend.

Allie’s cell phone vibrated in her purse. She fished it out, peered at the text message on the screen, and saw Michael’s name. A
LLIE, WE NEED TO TALK.
The man wasn’t listening to her. She didn’t want to talk. She wanted nothing to do with him.

The music commenced, and Allie stuffed the phone back into her purse and rose with the congregation, but her gaze kept returning to Derrick’s broad shoulders. He seemed to know the songs by heart—not once looking at the lyrics on the overhead projector. She caught a glimpse of the side of his face. Eyes closed and hands lifted, he appeared to be sincerely worshipping God. Allie leaned forward, caught her mother looking at her, and swung her gaze to the screen. Great. Ma was grinning.

What was there to grin about? Who knew anything about Derrick Owens? Charming, friendly, and more than likely a professing Christian, but experience had proven even people she’d known a long time couldn’t be trusted.

❧

As the pastor wound up his sermon and asked the boys’ group to come forward for the special ceremony, deep sadness washed over Derrick. Sandy should be here. She should see this boy who was her blood. He had to find an opportunity to snap a picture of Danny to show his sister. Though Allie and her mother obviously loved the boy, he had to get close enough to check if he was being raised in a good environment. Just to ease Sandy’s mind and, if he was truthful, his own.

He couldn’t resist turning his head to observe Allie and her mother. Betsy was tall and blond with brown eyes, so different in looks than petite Allie with her auburn hair and green eyes.

Allie met his gaze, and Derrick turned toward the front and looked at Danny. So many details pointed toward Danny being his nephew, like his age, birth date, last name, and the mention of a Paige Maynard that Derrick had heard yesterday. But Danny’s eyes cinched it for Derrick. Black like his own and Sandy’s, a trait they’d inherited from their father.

Derrick tugged at his tie. A part of him wanted to talk to Paige—the woman who had taken advantage of Sandy when she was only nineteen. But as much as he resented the lawyer and wanted to give her a piece of his mind, he reminded himself he had to keep his promise. Talking to Paige might lead to Allie discovering who he was and his relationship to Danny.

The pastor asked for the parents of the boys to come up.

Derrick’s heart felt like it was cracking. Danny’s parents were gone. His biological mother was slipping away, too. He fisted his hands and forced himself not to stand and take part in the ceremony.

But Allie ran up to stand beside Danny. Her face shone with love. Derrick couldn’t pull his gaze from her. Something he’d never felt before put his senses on high alert. This feeling. . .it wasn’t familiar to him. He’d dated many women, beautiful women. But Allie. Perhaps he was looking at her heart, far past the physical, warm and inviting.

She caught him staring, but he made no attempt to hide that he was watching her. Their gazes entwined, just for a moment, and his heart thundered in his chest. He had to get out of town. Fast. Before anyone discovered the truth. And before he lost his heart to a woman he could never have.

Danny left his friends to hug Shannon, then high-fived Derrick before running from the church.

“That kid’s like lightning,” Derrick said, glancing over at Shannon. “Thanks for inviting me to the service.”

“I’m so glad you were able to make it. Danny is something else.” Shannon’s eyes searched his face and lingered. “Isn’t he?”

Had she seen a resemblance between himself and Danny? “Yes, he’s a great kid.”

“I’ve often wondered about his real family. They have to be awesome.” Shannon half smiled and patted his arm. “I’ve got to run. Will we see you again?”

“I don’t know,” Derrick said. At least that was the total truth.

“Okay.” Shannon turned abruptly and ran smack into Allie. “Hey, Al. You know what the Bible says, right? ‘In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.’ ”

Allie fidgeted with her purse strap. “What are you talking about?”

Shannon glanced from Allie to Derrick. “Just keep it in mind.”

Danny bounded back into the church whooping and made a beeline for them.

“Shh,” Allie motioned with her index finger on her lips. “This is a church.”

Smiling, Danny bounced on the balls of his feet. “When are we leaving?”

“Shortly.” Allie combed her fingers through Danny’s dark hair. “I was so proud of you today.”

“Thanks, Aunt Allie, but I’m really hungry. Can we go—”

“Allie, I’ll see you in a little while.” Shannon pointed her thumb over her shoulder. “You should invite Derrick to the picnic today.”

Allie opened her mouth to speak, but her mother spoke first.

“What a great idea, Shannon.” Betsy’s eyes were warm. “The boys’ club is coming over for a barbecue and potluck. You come, too. It’ll be my thank-you for rescuing Allie.”

Allie’s head snapped toward her mother, and her brows lifted.

“Cool! Please come.” Danny nodded enthusiastically and tugged on Derrick’s arm.

How could he refuse the boy? “All right, then. I’ll see you there,” he said, which earned him an unreadable glance from Allie.

Seven

Derrick pulled his gray Silverado into the Vahns’ driveway and sat behind the steering wheel, strumming his fingers on the dashboard. He shouldn’t be here. He was getting too emotionally involved—and not just with Danny.

Even if an argument could be made for coercion when it came to Danny’s adoption, that point was moot now. Sandy only wanted to know her son was safe and happy. She didn’t want his life interrupted. Yet here Derrick sat in front of the Vahns’ house, wanting to spend time not only with his nephew, but also with Danny’s aunt, both of whom he’d be better off never seeing again. No way could he have a relationship with Allie. Wishing that things could be different only made the situation more difficult. He hardened his resolve to get a picture of Danny. That done, he’d walk out of his life—and Allie’s—forever.

As Derrick strode up the gravel path to the house, he couldn’t help but view the property with a real estate agent’s eye. It was habit after years in the business. Despite the obvious efforts of the two women to keep things up, the property had a run-down air. The gardens were neat and tidy, but all the buildings needed a coat of paint, including the house. The land around the house was pretty. Flat fields with clumps of trees here and there. Some of the outbuildings in the back were falling down, but the barn remained in good shape.

He scanned the old, single-pane glass windows. From his periphery, he thought he saw Allie staring out one of the upstairs windows, but when he looked again, she’d gone.

No more stalling. Derrick rang the bell, and Danny was at the screen in two seconds flat. “Mr. Derrick!” He swung open the door with a warm, welcoming smile.

“Danny.” Derrick gave the boy a quick hug and was rewarded with the feel of his nephew’s arms around his neck, a bittersweet experience that he tucked away to cherish as a memory.

They stood in a tile foyer, and a long hallway spread out in front of them with a wide staircase on the right. To his left through an arched opening was a formal living room. Derrick surreptitiously studied the old farmhouse, which he judged to have been built in the early 1900s. Everything was neat and tidy and so clean. He would find no dust balls in the corners. But the furniture was dated and the sofa threadbare. Old water stains marred the ceilings. Signs of decay would be evident, even to someone without a practiced eye.