A Father's Second Chance (Contemporay Christian Romance) Read online

  We aren’t cut out to be mothers, Celeste. She always found it odd when her mother said those words. As though she were apologizing or making excuses. Still, Celeste understood what her mother was saying. Her mother wanted to give her the world. At least the world as Hillary Ward-Thompson saw it.

  Shaking off the conflicting thoughts, Celeste returned to the dining room and handed Gage the file folder. “Would it be all right if I sent cookies for Emma and Cassidy?”

  “Oh, man...they’d love that.”

  She bagged the treats for him.

  “What’s this?” He pointed to a stack of fliers she had beside the cash register.

  “Now that the high season is over and things have slowed down, I thought I’d offer some kids cooking classes.”

  The look he gave her made her think she’d sprouted horns. “In my experience, kids and cooking don’t always go together so well.”

  Considering Emma’s actions the other night, she could understand his skepticism. Though the thought of Emma’s mischievous grin made her smile.

  “Well, they’re not exactly cooking classes.” She picked up one of the orange fliers and gave it to him, along with the cookies. “Our first one is called Cupcake Mania. We’ll provide the cupcakes and icing, and then each child gets to design four custom cupcakes to take home.”

  “You’re talking Emma’s language, all right.” He studied the paper. “Both girls would be gaga over this.”

  “Good. I hope you’ll consider signing them up, then.”

  He turned for the door, grabbed hold of the handle. “I’ll be in touch.”

  She watched as he continued past the front windows. How could someone be so infuriating yet so appealing? Gage’s disposition left much to be desired. However, the way his face lit up when he talked about his daughters was enough to have women swooning all over Ouray.

  Donning her apron, she went to check things in the kitchen. “Are the potatoes on yet?”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Karla, the closest thing Celeste had to an assistant, looked up from the apples she was peeling for tonight’s dessert and pointed to the proofing cabinet along the wall. “And the rolls should be ready to go in the oven any time.”

  “Perfect.” Celeste pushed up her sleeves and headed for the pastry table to roll out the crusts. “Thanks for taking care of that for me, Karla.”

  “Not a problem.”

  Celeste’s cell vibrated against her hip. She pulled it from her pocket, hating the sense of dread that fell over her when she saw her mother’s name on the screen.

  “Hi, Mom.”

  “Celeste, darling. How are you?”

  “Wonderful.” She sprinkled flour over the table’s marble surface.

  “You don’t sound wonderful. You sound tired.” Hillary Ward-Thompson always thought Celeste sounded tired.

  “Mom, I’m very well rested.” She slept a thousand times better in Ouray than she ever even dreamed of in Fort Worth. “So where are you today?”

  “Istanbul.”

  She balanced the phone between her ear and shoulder. “Hey, if you happen to make it to the Bazaar, pick me up some spices.” Of course, her mother rarely did any sightseeing. She was all business, all the time.

  “Or you could hop a plane and join me. That way you could pick out your own spices.”

  Realizing where this conversation was headed, Celeste wiped her hands on a bar towel and wandered into her office. “You know I can’t do that, Mom. I have a business to run.”

  “Celeste, you and I both know a restaurant— especially one in a tiny little place like Ouray—is not where you belong. I didn’t bring you up to be slinging hash in some greasy spoon.”

  She paced beside her desk. Since moving here in April, her conversations with her mother were always the same. Celeste knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Ouray was part of God’s plan for her. Though it definitely was not a part of her mother’s plan. “I do not sling hash, nor is Granny’s Kitchen a greasy spoon.”

  “Oh, now you’re getting defensive. I’m sorry, darling.”

  “You’re criticizing my livelihood.”

  “I am not criticizing, Celeste. I’m merely stating facts.”

  Stay calm. Don’t let her get to you. “You haven’t even seen my restaurant.”

  “Are you forgetting that I grew up in that restaurant? I know what it’s like.” Mom’s last sentence held a hint of disdain. She paused for a moment before forging on. “By the way, I ran into Andrew Hemsworth from Golden Triangle Finance the other day. I was telling him all about you and he has a position that would be perfect for you.”

  “Mom...I’m not interested in any position. I have my own business. I’m happy where I’m at.”

  “Celeste, you might think you’re happy, but you haven’t even been through a winter in Ouray.”

  “No, but I can’t wait. I love snow.”

  “Hmmph.”

  Celeste took a deep breath and stared at the mountains outside the window. Twin Peaks, was it? She had yet to learn the names of all the summits, but just the sight of them made her frustration wane. “You’ve got to let this go, Mom. I’m not you. I have to live my own life.”

  “I know, darling. I just want you to be happy.”

  Hadn’t they just been over this? “I am. Happier than I’ve been in years.”

  “If you say so.” A moment of silence passed. “Well, I must run. It’s late, and I have meetings all day tomorrow.”

  Celeste knew better than to think her mother was complaining. Mom thrived on those meetings, mostly because she was the one in control. Not to mention good at what she did. Magnet Oil would be lost without her.

  “Good night, Mom.”

  “Good night, darling. Love you.” The sound of kisses filtered through the line, just as when she was a little girl.

  “I love you, too.” Celeste ended the call, her gaze focusing on a worn piece of paper tacked to the bulletin board over her desk.

  Follow your dreams. The word your was underlined.

  After Granny’s stroke, she couldn’t walk or talk, so when Celeste went to see her, she’d talk enough for the both of them. She’d talk about work and her dislike thereof, the promotion she was up for, but really didn’t want. And she’d talk about her dreams. How she longed to escape the big city and find a simpler way of life. A life she could enjoy and call her own.

  Apparently Granny’s mind had fared better than her body. Because, somehow, she’d managed to scrawl those three words.

  Celeste would never forget the look of urgency in her grandmother’s eyes when she tucked the note into Celeste’s hand. As though it were the most important document in the world.

  Perhaps it was.

  Since coming to Ouray, the headaches that used to be Celeste’s constant companion were history. She looked forward to getting up every morning, no matter how early, because each new day meant she got to do something that she loved.

  Yes, Ouray was where she belonged. And she was determined to make this work. Even if she had to work with a cranky Gage Purcell.

  Chapter Three

  Celeste was getting used to not seeing her condo during daylight hours. Most days she left before the sun came up and returned long after it had gone down. Still, it was home, decorated just the way she liked it. And since it was only two blocks from Granny’s Kitchen, her Mustang convertible spent most of the time tucked safely in her garage.

  She hugged herself tighter, the gravel road crunching beneath her every step. Tonight seemed particularly chilly. Perhaps it was time to start thinking about wearing something heavier than her jean jacket. Luckily, with the help of Taryn and Cash and their store, All Geared Up, she had a couple of great options hanging in her closet.

  By the time her frozen fingers managed t
o shove the key into the lock of her trilevel condo, Celeste was ready for a hot bath. Her toes were frozen inside her black wedge pumps. Maybe she’d surf the internet tonight for some cute boots. They’d have to be wedges, though. With gravel streets and so many hills, it didn’t take her long to figure out that any other type of heel was not practical in Ouray.

  She climbed the first set of stairs to the main floor, flipped on the light and tossed her jacket over the arm of the leather love seat before continuing on to the third-floor master bedroom. As water filled the jetted bathtub, she contemplated her meeting with Gage. Attitude aside, the man did seem to know what he was doing. But what if that expertise cost more than she was willing to pay? She’d set a budget. She just hoped it was enough.

  I’ll be the judge of that. It still irked her, the way he seemed to enjoy challenging her. Then again, she wasn’t used to being challenged. She was used to calling the shots. Giving people the information they needed in order to achieve the results she wanted. So if Gage had a problem with that, well...she’d be forced to resort to Granny’s method—ply ’em with food. Good food and lots of it.

  After a much-needed soak, she padded down to the kitchen in her fuzzy pajamas for a cup of chamomile tea.

  “Eww.” She set the kettle on the burner, her nose wrinkled. What was that smell? Following the trail of the offending odor, she located its source—the kitchen trash can. Next time she threw away chicken bones, she needed to discard the bag sooner.

  She tugged the trash bag out from the wastebasket and cinched it closed as she started down the stairs to the garage. Note to self—buy an air freshener.

  A sound echoed inside the garage as she opened the door. Like breathing. Heavy breathing.

  She laughed off the notion, though. This was Ouray, not Fort Worth.

  Flipping on the light, she took a step inside and froze. Two weeks’ worth of trash was strewn everywhere.

  “Oh. My.” The breathing hadn’t been her imagination.

  No doubt smelling the chicken in the bag she carried, the furry black creature turned toward her and snorted.

  Panic coursed through her veins. Her hands shook, rustling the bag.

  The monster pushed up on its hind legs. Its claws were humongous. Then it roared.

  “B-b-bear!” She dropped the bag and rushed back into the house, closing the door behind her. Leaning against it, she could hear the animal on the other side as it ravaged the bag she’d held only a second ago.

  What if it got in the house?

  She locked the door.

  Like that was going to stop him. With those claws, it could probably smash right through the door. She had to get out of here.

  Her neighbors. They’d know what to do.

  She bolted out the front, across the cold, damp grass, and banged on their door. No answer.

  Stepping back, she stared at the darkened house. Only then did she remember the Jacksons were out of town.

  She looked around. The house across the street was all lit up. She hadn’t met the people before, but this seemed like as good a time as any.

  Gravel cut into her bare feet as she crossed the road, but that was nothing compared with what that bear would do if it got ahold of her.

  She stumbled up the front steps and knocked on the storm door. Her breaths were coming quick. Too quick. Funny, she’d always been one to remain calm in a crisis. But the sight of those fangs just a few feet from her...White spots darted through her vision.

  The door jerked open and Gage Purcell gawked at her as if she was a madwoman.

  Then everything went black.

  * * *

  Celeste awakened to find three pairs of blue eyes staring down at her.

  She leaped to her feet. Eyes wide, she took in the unfamiliar surroundings—the dollhouse against the wall, the pile of unfolded laundry at one end of the dining table, the two blonde girls watching her every move. “Where am I?”

  “In our living room.” Gage folded his arms across his chest, his white T-shirt revealing rather large biceps. Couple that with the five-o’clock shadow lining his jaw and he looked like he belonged in a men’s cologne ad. “You passed out on our porch.”

  “I—I did?” She struggled to remember.

  “Yes. So I suggest you sit back down. At least until you can get your bearings.”

  She returned to the tan sofa without argument, her head swimming. “Why was I—?” Then she remembered. “The bear. He—he...how long was I out?”

  “A couple minutes.” Gage’s brow wrinkled as he took a seat in the rocker recliner opposite her. “What bear?”

  “In my garage.”

  “I wanna see the bear.” Emma plopped beside Celeste.

  Her arm instinctively went around the child’s shoulders. “Not this bear, sweetie. He was huge. And his teeth...” She shuddered.

  Gage leaned back, crossing one ankle over the other knee. “Ah, it’s not uncommon for bears to come wandering into town.” His tone was annoyingly nonchalant. “Especially this time of year. Food sources are getting scarce up in the mountains.”

  She glared at him, her teeth clenched. “It was in my house.”

  “Perhaps you left your garage door open.”

  She sent him an incredulous look. “Now, why would I do that? Besides, it hasn’t been opened in weeks.”

  “I meant the back door. As I recall, that whole row of condos—” he pointed in the direction of her house “—has doors on the back of the garage.”

  “I don’t know when I would have opened it. It’s been a while since I’ve even been in there.”

  “Maybe it wasn’t latched properly. The wind probably blew it open.”

  “That doesn’t negate the fact that there’s a bear in my garage!”

  He leaned forward, rested his forearms on his thighs. “Do you have an electric garage door opener?”

  “Yes.”

  “How do you open it?”

  “The remote’s in my car. There’s also a keypad by the garage.”

  “That’s just what I was hoping.” He pushed to his feet, wearing a satisfied smile. “All you have to do is open the garage door. The bear will leave, and we can all get a good night’s sleep.”

  She practically had to pick her jaw up off the floor. “What are you? Some kind of nut?”

  One dark brow lifted.

  “What if the bear comes after me once he leaves the garage?”

  “He won’t, because you’ll be waiting inside the house. Once the bear’s gone, you shut everything down.”

  She rubbed her arms, barely believing what she’d just heard. She couldn’t go back over there. Not with that monster on the loose.

  Gage raked his fingers through his short hair and let go a sigh. “What’s the code?”

  “Code?”

  “For the keypad.”

  “You mean you’ll—”

  “Just as soon as you give me the code.”

  She chewed her bottom lip. “Um...”

  “Great. You don’t know it, do you?”

  “I do. I just have to remember what it is.” She focused on the rustic coffee table littered with cups, papers and crayons.

  “Well, if you want that bear out of your house, I suggest you remember.”

  “I will.” She tugged Emma closer, rubbing the soft sleeve of the child’s flannel nightgown. “But, in case you haven’t noticed, I’m a little freaked out.” A feeling she definitely wasn’t used to.

  He shoved his bare feet into a pair of boots that were next to the door. “By the way, girls, this is Celeste. Celeste, Cassidy—” he motioned to the oldest girl, who sat in the second chair “—and you remember Emma.”

  The child beside her grinned.

  “I like your princess pa
jamas.” Cassidy sent her a shy smile.

  Celeste’s head dropped in dismay as she surveyed her attire. Being caught in her pajamas was bad enough, but to have Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and Snow White emblazoned on the front was downright humiliating. Not to mention the pink and blue hearts all over the fleece bottoms.

  “5-9-2-7.” She jerked her head up.

  Gage took a step closer. “Come again?”

  She repeated the numbers, slower this time.

  “Is your front door open?”

  “Yes. But...what if he doesn’t leave?”

  “He’ll leave. I guarantee you startled him every bit as much as he startled you.”

  “I doubt it,” she said under her breath.

  He reached for the door. “Girls, you need to get back in bed.”

  Only then did Celeste realize that her theatrics had probably woken them.

  Emma followed him. “But, Daddy, we wanna see the bear.”

  As much as Celeste wanted to see the bear, too, if only to reassure herself that he was indeed gone, she knew she’d upset their routine. And since tomorrow was a school day...

  “Sorry, Emma.” Celeste stood. “It’s late and you have school in the morning.” She laid a hand on the child’s shoulder. “You need to do what your Daddy says.”

  The frowns on their faces nearly ripped her heart out. How did Gage ever discipline them?

  “How about I read you a story?”

  That seemed to turn their frowns upside down.

  “Night, Daddy.” Cassidy hugged him first, quickly followed by Emma.

  As the two girls started down the hallway off the living room, Gage opened the door.

  “I’ll try to have them settled before you get back,” Celeste said.

  He nodded. “Good.” Then closed the door behind him.

  * * *

  Gage tromped across the street to the condo he hadn’t seen anybody go into or out of in recent months. Ouray was a small town. But what were the odds that Celeste would live right across the street from him?

  Roughing a hand over his face, he glimpsed the starry sky. He was never going to get the girls to sleep. They were beyond wired tonight, probably from the cookies Celeste gave them. Which meant he could forget about finishing that quote. Or the laundry. Or anything else, for that matter. And he didn’t even want to think about the challenges he’d have waking them up tomorrow morning.