Getting Lucky (A Nugget Romance Book 5) by Stacy Finz Page B

love to.
    Lucky decided it was safer to stay in the kitchen with Katie, and helped himself to some of the fundido . “Save room for the main course, kiddo.” He gave Katie a gentle noogie on the top of her head.
    When Cecilia and Tawny rejoined them, Lucky could feel the tension, thick as California’s tule fog. He wondered if Katie noticed it too. Hell, the two women didn’t have to get along. It’s not like Tawny was his wife. Just the mother of his daughter, who she’d kept from him for nine years.
    “We ready for dinner?” Lucky asked, hoping to lighten the mood in the room. “Katie and I are starved.” He winked at his daughter, who seemed to bask in his attention.
    “I was just showing Tawny Katie’s room,” Cecilia said.
    “Oh?” Lucky wasn’t aware that Katie had her own room.
    Out of the three guest rooms in the house, even he didn’t have one specifically designated for him. But now he understood why Tawny appeared riled. His mother was moving in too fast, basically pissing on Tawny’s territory. Not Cecilia’s typical style. The woman was goodness personified, but don’t ever come between her and her family. Just ask the Rossers.
    Lucky glanced over at Tawny, who flashed him a tight smile. He tried to convey commiseration, but truly, who could blame Cecilia for trying to make up for lost time? In the end, it was Katie who made the peace by launching into a story about the new boots Tawny was working on for her.
    “I designed them,” Katie said, and proceeded to describe the boots in great detail. Sage with yellow butterflies and fringe.
    “They sound beautiful, mija .”
    When they finally sat to eat in the dining room, the mood had been dialed down to a low simmer. Katie continued to jabber away and Lucky kept his head down in case the dishes started flying.
    “Ms. Rodriguez, everything is delicious,” Tawny said, and Lucky had to give it to her. Tawny had class. And the kind of manners Lucky’s mother usually liked.
    “I was thinking,” Cecilia said, passing Katie more of the potatoes while directing her words at Tawny, “that I could watch Katie after school, while you’re working in your studio.”
    Tawny coughed and Lucky said, “Now’s not a good time for this, Ma.”
    “A few days a week might be okay,” Tawny said. “It would actually be quite helpful. Thank you for offering, Ms. Rodriguez.”
    Cecilia shot Lucky a victorious look. He had to say that Tawny’s easy consent had floored him. But he knew Tawny was trying for Katie’s sake. For her part, the kid seemed ecstatic, having already made mention of the large flat-screen TV in the front room. Nugget Elementary was just walking distance away and close to a park with a public pool.
    “Jake’s daughters are coming up next month,” Cecilia said. “I thought it would be nice if we could all have dinner together.”
    “I don’t know. I’ll have to see where I’m at as far as the cowboy camp and . . .” He trailed off, not knowing whether he should talk about the transplant in front of Katie. And quite frankly, he didn’t know how tight he wanted to get with Jake and his family.
    “Detective Stryker, from the Nugget Police Department?” Tawny asked, and when Cecilia nodded, she said, “I didn’t know you were seeing Jake.”
    “I’ll come,” Katie burst in.
    “Katie loves Jake,” Tawny said in a teasing voice.
    “Well, of course you’ll come.” Cecilia smiled at Katie
    “You’ve somehow managed to evade the Nugget gossip mill, because I’ve not heard this news,” Tawny told Cecilia. “He’s such a great guy.”
    If Jake weren’t in his late fifties, Lucky would think Tawny had her eye on him.
    “We’re friends,” Cecilia said.
    Yeah, friends with benefits. Just the thought made Lucky shudder.
    “And you, Tawny? Are you seeing anyone?” Cecilia asked, and Lucky waited for her answer.
    “Not right now, no,” Tawny said, and Lucky wondered why not.
    The table got quiet while they finished