Rock Chick Redemption (Rock Chick #3)(120)

And make a pot of chili or stew. Don’t get caught out. I don’t want a phone cal saying you starved to death, stuck in the house with no stew.” Her eyes moved to Daisy. “I hear the blizzards are bad here. People die.”

“That’s usual y old people, Mrs. Logan,” Daisy explained.

“And they normal y freeze to death.”

Daisy was trying to help but it was the wrong thing to say.

Mom’s eyes got big, then her back went ramrod straight and she grabbed her purse from the espresso counter.

“Right. We’re going out to buy blankets. Hank had, like, one extra blanket. He needs blankets. And logs for that fire in the back room. We’re getting blankets and logs. Come on, Herb.”

Dad dug in. “Woman, I’m enjoyin’ my lah-tay.”

“You want your daughter to freeze to death?” Mom screeched.

Dad shook his head.

Mom glared at him.

They settled into a staring contest.

I looked at the Hot Pack. “How many of you have a gun?

Anyone? Someone shoot me!”

Then I realized that Luke was standing there and what I said was a little insensitive, considering he’d been shot in the bel y a few months before.

“Um… sorry Luke,” I finished, feeling like an idiot.

Luke crossed his arms on his broad chest and smiled at me but didn’t say a word, which I decided to take as indication that he bore no il wil .

Hank disengaged from the Hot Pack and walked to me.

He walked right up between my legs, wrapped an arm around my waist and yanked me off the counter so I was standing ful frontal with him. He tipped his head down to look at me.

“Your Mom can have Christmas,” Hank said quietly.

“Thank you!” Mom shouted to Hank’s back.

I shook my head.

“You do not even know what you’re saying. Do not give her Christmas. Christmas is Crazy Land in the Logan household and I think you’ve realized by now that that’s saying a lot!”

“Roxanne Gisel e Logan, do not tel tales out of school.

So your father usual y gets drunk and burns the turkey. It’s Christmas!” Mom snapped.

“I do not get drunk! And I do not burn the turkey!” Dad yel ed. “It’s crispy. Everyone likes crispy turkey.”

“No one grills a turkey, Herb. Standing outside in thirty degree temperatures with your Budweiser like it’s the Fourth of July.”

“Roxie likes my mesquite turkey. Don’t you Roxie?” Dad cal ed.

I closed my eyes and when I opened them, Hank’s face was al I saw.

“Have you changed your mind yet?” I whispered.

Slowly, he shook his head.

“Give them time,” I finished.

“Wel ? Roxie? You like my mesquite turkey, don’t you?” Dad asked.

I put my forehead to Hank’s chest for a second then lifted it away.

“Yeah Dad, I like your turkey.”

It was true. I did. It was great turkey. The best.

The bel over the door went and I peered around Hank’s shoulder to see Al y, Malcolm and Kitty Sue walking in.

My eyes widened, my body stil ed and I stared at Hank who moved, placing an arm around my neck, holding me reassuringly tight against his side.

“Did you cal them?” I asked Hank.

“Um… that would be me,” Indy said from behind me.

Good God.

“Roxie’s movin’ to Denver,” Daisy told Al y.

Al y’s eyes got bright. “Righteous,” she said.

Malcolm’s gaze settled on me and his eyes crinkled.

“I’m so pleased,” Kitty Sue smiled.

“Holy f**kin’ shit,” Tex boomed and I looked at him and his grin was so big, it split his face.

“Don’t look so damned happy,” I snapped at him as he pounded out from behind the espresso counter.

“I heard your Dad was here,” Malcolm said to me as he came close and kissed my cheek.

My eyes lost their scowl and I nodded to him with a weak smile. “Right here,” Uncle Tex said, pushing Mom and Dad forward.

“What’s going on?” Mom asked.

“This is the rest of Hank’s family. You already met Lee.

This is his sister Al y and his mother and father, Kitty Sue and Malcolm,” Uncle Tex did the introductions.

“Sweet Jesus!” Mom cal ed. “Sweet, sweet Jesus. I’m so happy to meet you.”

Mom went forward on a rush and gave Kitty Sue a big hug. To my shock, Kitty Sue didn’t recoil and not only accepted the hug but hugged Mom tight in return.

“I’m Herb. This is my wife, Trish,” Dad said, thankful y going the shaking hands route with Malcolm.

“Good to meet you,” Malcolm said.

They dropped hands and Dad took Malcolm in. “Your boys been lookin’ after my girl,” Dad told him.

Malcolm nodded. “That’s right.”

For a few beats, Dad and Malcolm just looked at each other. Something passed between them, something I could feel. I felt the tears sting my eyes and I pressed deeper into Hank. Al y’s gaze came to me and she winked. I smiled at her and felt the tears subside.

“Means I owe you a beer,” Dad said quietly.

“I’d like that,” Malcolm replied.