Her Unlikely Family by Missy Tippens Page A

despite the short time he’d known her, he was certain she would keep her word. Now he better understood why Lisa trusted Josie.
    Out of the blue, his sister’s face flashed though his mind, jarring him to think rationally. He’d just agreed to learn to be a guardian, a protector—a father—to his niece.
    He’d just agreed to the impossible.

Chapter Four
    J osie set a box of beads and tools on the end table, then grabbed her mug and inhaled the rich aroma of coffee. She exhaled all the stress of the day. After a tense twenty-four hours, she deserved this break, a chance to make a pair of earrings she’d recently designed.
    As she curled up on the couch in her oldest sweatpants and sweatshirt, wet hair wrapped in a towel, satisfaction washed over her like the hot shower she’d just finished.
    I’ve done what God asked me to do for Mike and Lisa. Nothing feels better.
    Of course, she had no idea what the next step would be. But for now, all was well in the Miller household. She could enjoy the rest of her afternoon off and—
    The doorbell rang. She was going to have to kill Lisa. “I’m coming,” she yelled, then groaned as she climbed out of her comfortable cocoon. So much for a peaceful afternoon.
    She opened the door. “Lisa, if you forgot your key, I’m—”
    Mike stood on the doorstep. “Looks like I interrupted.”
    She held up her coffee mug. “Only the first relaxing moment I’ve had for myself in a week.”
    â€œOh. No big deal, then.”
    â€œNo big deal?” You big selfish jerk.
    He smiled. A dangerous smile that sent her insides into a tailspin.
    â€œSeriously, I’m sorry,” he said. “I should have called first.”
    With a confused tug on her sweatshirt, she said, “Well, yeah. And remember it next time.”
    He laughed. “You shouldn’t take life so seriously all the time. There is such a thing as kidding.”
    â€œDon’t talk to me about being serious. Take a look in the mirror.”
    â€œI’m the one who dropped by spontaneously, aren’t I?”
    â€œYou know, Mike, I never know what to expect from you.” She stepped back from the door. “Come on in. I guess you’re here to see Lisa.”
    â€œI am. I thought we could start getting to know each other by having dinner out.”
    â€œGood idea. But she’s not here yet.”
    â€œShe’s still at the studio with that artist?”
    â€œI assume so.”
    His eyes narrowed. “Shouldn’t she be supervised?”
    â€œShe’s too old for me or you to be following her around.”
    â€œI guess I do need to give her some room.”
    â€œRoom to make mistakes. To live and learn.”
    After he sat on the couch, he spread his big hands over his knees. “I plan to help her avoid the mistakes her mother made.”
    â€œMaybe your sister wouldn’t have made the big mistakes if she’d been allowed to make smaller ones along the way.”
    Instead of replying, he leaned his forearms on his thighs and studied the floor as if it might hold the answer to all his problems.
    Josie left him to his thoughts and went to remove the towel from her hair and to grab the hairbrush from the bathroom counter. She returned and plopped down in her favorite chair—the one that was so well worn she had trouble getting out of it sometimes. “I have no idea how your sister was raised. It’s just something to think about.”
    â€œYou may be right. We were all overprotective.”
    As she brushed the tangles out of her matted hair, she watched the emotions play across Mike’s face. “I take it she was rebellious.”
    â€œAlways.”
    â€œDid your parents pressure her to fit their mold? Like they’re pressuring Lisa?”
    He thought for a minute. “No. But all three of us were expected to act like…well, Throckmortons.”
    â€œYep. Just