Page 11 of Promise Me a Forever Texas Love

“No, sir. I came of my own free will.” He shrugged. “Although Dawson and Magnolia’s relationship is a good motivator to make peace, don’t you think?”

Otis studied him for a long moment before taking off his glasses and setting them down on the book he’d been reading. “I never thought in a million years that I’d be related to a Hennessy, but if the way my niece looks at your brother is any indication, that’s exactly what’s going to happen.” He sighed. “And I guess it would be foolish to hold a grudge against family.” He pointed a finger. “But know this, I’ll be keeping a close eye on you. If you mis-shelve any books, use bad language, or eat in my store, that will be the end of your privileges.”

Huck nodded. “Understood.”

Otis snorted and shook his head before he replaced his glasses and picked up the book. “Never thought it in a million years.”

After being dismissed, Huck meandered around the book and clock lined shelves on the first level before he headed upstairs to the window that looked out over the street.

It was the second week of September, but there was no sign of fall. Leaves wouldn’t drop on most trees in Texas until late January or February. The sun was hot and the humidity even hotter. When he saw Cadee’s SUV pull into a parking space on the other side of the street, his heart jumped up to his throat, and he felt like he was either going to throw up or faint.

He took deep even breaths as he watched her get out, her dark hair blowing in the stiff breeze like a swirl of melted dark chocolate. But his gaze shifted away quickly as a boy jumped out of the backseat. A boy with skinny legs and sandy hair the color of Dawson’s.

Cadee ushered him across the street with a hand on his shoulder and they both disappeared beneath the awning of the bookstore as Huck’s heart beat like a bass drum and sweat broke out on his forehead. A few minutes later, he heard the kid chattering about his day at school as they came up the stairs. If Huck remained where he was, they wouldn’t even see him.

Part of him wanted to stay hidden. The other part desperately wanted to see more of the boy he’d only caught a glimpse of.

The latter part won out, and he quickly moved on wobbly legs to the children’s section where he took a seat in one of the small plastic chairs surrounding the equally small tables just as Camden came racing around the bookshelves.

He was dressed in baggy soccer shorts that showed off his knobby knees and a matching shirt with a team logo of a roaring lion. His blond hair was shaggy on the top and cut short on the sides in the style that was popular with kids.

But one wayward piece stuck up from the rest.

Huck felt like he’d been sucker punched right between the eyes. All he could do was stare in stunned silence as Camden finally noticed him and came to a sudden stop. Huck figured he looked pretty stupid sitting in the tiny chair, but he didn’t trust his legs enough to get to his feet.

“Hey,” Camden said, but all Huck could do was stare as Cadee’s voice rang out.

“Camden Joseph Stockton! You know you’re not supposed to run in—” Cadee cut off when she came around the corner of the tall bookcase and saw Huck. She must have thought he looked stupid too because her cupid-bow lips tipped.

It had been a long time since he’d seen that smile. It sparked something inside him. Something warm and cozy that took away all the nerves and left only a hollow need.

“Hey, Huck. What are you doing here? Coloring?”

Huck rose to his feet, locking his knees so he wouldn’t land on his ass. “Hey, Cadee.” He glanced at Camden and Cadee quickly made the introductions.

“Have you met my son? Huck, this is Camden. Camden, this is Huck Hennessy . . . I went to school with him.”

“Nice to meet you.” Cam held out a hand. Huck took it and got so absorbed in the feel of his son’s much smaller hand in his that all he could do was stand there like an idiot. Which had Camden giving him a funny look before he jerked his hand away.

“I’m gonna look for that dino book I want,” he said before he moved over to a shelf. He grabbed a book and carried it to a beanbag chair in the corner and flopped down, his gangly legs sprawling in two different directions. When the kid glanced up and caught him staring, Huck finally spoke.

“You like dinosaurs?”

“Yeah.” Camden went back to looking at the book while Huck sweated like a sinner in church in his borrowed jacket.

“So do I.”

Camden didn’t look up from the book as if he’d already dismissed him as a weird sweaty dude. “Cool.”

Since he knew Cadee hadn’t been happy about them meeting, Huck figured she was thoroughly enjoying the fiasco. So he was surprised when she helped him out.

“You didn’t just like dinosaurs, Huck, you were infatuated with them. So much so that you were totally convinced that the bone we found in your backyard was a raptor’s.”

Camden’s head came up and his eyes gleamed with interest. “Was it?”

Huck struggled to find words when Camden’s eyes reminded him so much of Jaxon’s whenever his big brother was struck by something that intrigued him.

“We never found out,” Cadee said. “But I’m pretty sure it was a cow’s or deer’s.” Camden’s excitement faded and Huck wanted it back so badly he jumped back into the conversation.