Love All Out - Part 4 (A Stepbrother Romance) by Alice Ward

window. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d gone a full week without seeing my father. I was relieved to finally have him home where I could watch out for him. But I was also nervous. Daddy had always been strong and boisterous. I wasn’t sure if he’d be the same man after the heart attack.
    “Willow, there’s nothing to be nervous about,” James said, as if he was reading my mind. “Let’s go outside and greet them.” He took my hand and I quickly jerked it away.
    “You have to watch that,” I said. “The parents are back.” It was too complicated to keep saying “my dad and your mom” and vice versa, so James and I had evolved into calling them “the parents” for the sake of brevity.
    “Sorry,” he whispered under his breath. “I guess I got used to touching you whenever I want. But I won’t do it in front of them,” he assured me as we walked to the door.
    After having some time to think, I’d decided not to react to the Katelyn situation until James’s paternity test came back. He was right, I knew who he was when I got involved with him. And it wasn’t like he’d cheated on me; Katelyn got pregnant before James and I ever met. I still didn’t know if I could stay with him if the test was positive and I knew that the “what if” would haunt me until the results came in. But the “what if” wasn’t enough to scare me a way. I still loved James and I was still willing to risk almost anything to be with him.
    The one thing I wasn’t willing to risk was Daddy’s health. James and I had a long talk when he came home from New Mexico and we agreed to leave things as they were, at least until Daddy was stronger and the paternity results were in. We were still together, but Matt and Lucas were the only ones who knew.
    Nerves fluttered through my chest like butterflies as Renee pulled James’s truck beside mine.
    What the hell is wrong with me? Even if he’s a little weak, he’s still my father. He had a heart attack, not a personality transplant.
    I smoothed my pico top over my leggings and rushed out of the house to greet Daddy. To my surprise, he opened the passenger door and slid out of the truck with no assistance.
    “Hey there, pumpkin,” he said with his old familiar grin. “Give your ol’ dad a hug.”
    “Daddy!” I rushed up to him, but stopped short of a hug. He’d lost a little bit of weight, but he didn’t really look frail. “I don’t want to hurt you,” I explained. “I know you’re still healing.”
    “You can hug me… just don’t squeeze me,” he said, wrapping his arms around my shoulders. I laid my face against his chest and breathed in his scent. I expected the lingering aromas of the hospital, but I was pleasantly surprised. Daddy smelled of Old Spice, red clay, and Big Red gum, just like I’d always remembered. My emotions got the better of me, and tears started rolling down my cheeks.
    “I’m so glad you’re home,” I said, trying to keep my voice even.
    “Same here,” James said as he kissed Renee hello. “This place isn’t the same without you, Cole,” he added.
    Daddy looked around the ranch for a few moments before replying. “I’m glad to be home. Though, it’s obvious you two had no trouble holding down the fort without me. The place looks great… muddy, but great.”
    I laughed, finally releasing him. “It’s rained almost nonstop for the last week,” I explained as I gave Renee a tense hug. “I’m starting to wonder when Noah’s going to show up with his ark.”
    Daddy and Renee chuckled as we walked to the house. James followed behind us, his arms laden with duffle bags and pillows.
    “We just heard a report on the radio,” Daddy said as we stepped into the house. “We’re supposed to have clear skies until Friday.”
    I turned towards the couch, but Daddy walked straight past it and into the kitchen. He sat down in his usual seat at the head of the table while Renee sat her purse on the counter and poured two glasses