Free Back Where You Belong by Vonnie Davis

reached for her hand. “Not bad. Been hurt worse by a bull.”
    “Oh, Tyler, didn’t I tell you my coming to watch you ride wouldn’t be a good idea? I’m like a jinx where you’re concerned. Every time I’m around, something happens to you.”
    A stab of pain took his breath away for a few seconds. He pressed the button on his morphine drip—twice. “Bullshit.” A fuzzy grey haze pulled at him. He’d be asleep soon. “Stay…”
    The next time he woke, a nurse was peering under his hospital gown. “Whatever you’re looking for, it’s broken.”
    She chuckled. “Just checking your bandage. I see it needs changed. There’s some post-surgery drainage.”
    When she began tugging at the adhesive, he pressed his magic button—twice dammit.
    “Where’s everyone?” Lacy and Olivia were gone, and he fought a strange sense of abandonment.
    “Your wife and daughter went to the cafeteria for some breakfast. How about you? Think you could eat?”
    “Coffee, extra sugar.”
    The door to the room opened and Lacy walked in. She looked tired and wrinkled, having slept on a chair all night. Even so, he found her beautiful. “Mornin’ Sugar.”
    The nurse chuckled. “My husband calls me Sugar, too. I think it’s sweet.” She winked at him as she applied a fresh bandage. “Pun intended.”
    “I’m merely a friend. I’m not his wife.” A charming blush crept up Lacy’s throat and kissed her cheeks.
    Olivia was right behind her. “Not yet, but I’m working on it. Grownups can be so obtuse, don’t you think?” Her remarks were directed at the amused nurse. “I’m thinking if they were to marry around Christmas, I could have a baby brother or sister by the end of next September. Bella if it’s a girl and Tyler Junior if it’s a boy.”
    Tyler’s gaze ricocheted to Lacy’s. She was staring at the tops of her boots, her face red with embarrassment.
    “Do Lacy and I have anything to say about this?”
    His daughter tore a piece of pastry off the Danish she was holding and popped it in her mouth. “Not if I have anything to do with it. I mean, a Christmas wedding would be beautiful. Red poinsettias and pine. Lots of candles. I’d be the maid of honor, of course. A long, slinky red velvet gown.” She twirled around, obviously lost in her fantasy. “White cowgirl boots.”
    “Excuse me.” Lacy all but ran from his room.
    Well, hell.
    “Olivia Renee. What were you thinking to talk that way in front of Lacy? You’ve made her feel uncomfortable. What’s gotten into you?” Much as he wanted to, he couldn’t go after Lacy. How would he explain to her he had a daughter hell-bent on getting him married?
    “I want a normal family with a mother and siblings. Is that so wrong?” She crossed her arms and arched a brow.
    “You can’t force adults to fall in love. And marriage without love can be hell on earth.” I should know .

Chapter Ten
    Lacy sat on the bench in front of the hospital entrance waiting on her grandpa. By now, Olivia had probably told Tyler all about her teenaged infatuation and her current attraction to him. She tugged her sunglasses from her purse and slipped them on. I’ll never be able to face him again. Probably just as well with that video coming back around .
    Her cell rang, and she answered.
    “Lacy, it’s Olivia. I’m sorry I upset you. I didn’t mean to.” Every word dripped with her teenage angst.
    “It’s okay, honey. Don’t cry. It’s time I went home anyhow. Pete should be here soon to pick you up. Stay in your dad’s room until he gets there, okay?”
    “Okay.”
    “I have a ride coming to take me home. Take good care of the patient.”
    “Wait.” She sniffled into the phone. “Daddy wants to talk to you.”
    She heard low conversation and rustling as the cell phone was handed over to Tyler. Her stomach clenched.
    “You okay?”
    “Embarrassed, but okay.”
    “Olivia and I had a long talk about not forcing people to fall in love.”
    Of course he