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He slid from the sheets to get his phone, and the frown on his face as he read the caller ID made Tasha’s heart turn over.
“Is it your family?” she asked.
“No.” He put the cell to his ear, answered, listened. Then he hit the mute button, holding the phone a long moment, looking at her. There was something in that gaze, his sweet, gentle eyes. “It’s yours.” He said it so softly she couldn’t quite process what he meant until he added, “It’s your brother. My investigator found him and gave him my number.”
Tasha sat bolt upright, pulling the sheets around her, as though they could provide some sort of shield around her heart.
“Do you want to talk to him?”
Her chest squeezed tight, her stomach twisting as she said, “Yes.”
Daniel’s frown etched deeper. He sat on the bed right beside her, his warmth surrounding her. “I’m right here. I won’t leave you.” Then he handed over his phone.
“Hello.” Her greeting didn’t sound quite right, too scratchy and hoarse, too pained.
“Tash, it’s Drew.”
She knew his voice like it was her own. “I’ve missed you.” Regardless of what her brother had done, she’d missed him like she would have missed a limb.
“I’ve missed you too.” Drew gulped air. “It’s Dad. He’s had a heart attack.”
“A heart attack?” Even after the anger and pain and betrayal, her heart plunged to her stomach, slamming so hard she doubled over. “Is he dead?” Her heart was screaming, No, no, no.
Before her brother could answer, Daniel’s arms wrapped around her, like a cocoon protecting her as she cried soundless tears that felt like petals on her face. She collapsed into his embrace, his comfort as immense as the moon and stars.
“He’s in the hospital. We’re in LA. I need you to come, Tash. The old man wouldn’t say it, but I know he wants you here.”
She didn’t have to think about it, especially with Daniel’s arms around her, his body rocking hers. “I’ll be there as soon as I can book a flight.” There was no question but that she would go to her father, despite everything he’d done. Drew needed her too. “Text which hospital and the room number and any other information to this phone. I’ll call you as soon as I know when I’ll be there.”
“Okay. Love you, Tash.”
“Love you too.” The automatic words came unbidden, as natural as they had been once upon a time.
“I have to go to Los Angeles,” she told Daniel as soon as the phone went dark. “I have to book a flight.”
“We’ll fly down on my jet.” He cupped her face in his powerful, gentle hands and tenderly wiped her tear-streaked cheek. “My pilot can get us out within an hour.”
She was too grateful to be intimidated by the fact that he owned a jet. And so glad she didn’t have to go alone. Her back-and-forth emails hadn’t found her family, but Daniel, with all his resources—and most especially his love—had accomplished the impossible for her.
But then she realized, “The puppies. We can’t leave them. You should stay here with them.”
“No,” he replied, the one short word fierce. “I want to be there for you. And I’ve got an easy solution—we’ll take the puppies to Matt in Morgan Hill. It will be faster to drive there and have my pilot meet us in San Martin. There’s a small airport he can fly into.”
Suddenly overwhelmed by everything that had happened in the last few days, by everything this gorgeous, wonderful man had done for her, she could only nod, unable to speak. Unable to adequately express her emotions, her gratitude.
Daniel held her still. “Look at me,” he whispered. “Everything will be okay.” He kissed her with a sweet, wondrous brush of his lips across hers. “I’m here.”
With a muffled cry, she threw her arms around his neck.
How could she possibly deserve this man?
* * *
Despite everything her family had done, it was obvious Tasha would have crossed mountain ranges through deep snow to get to her father’s side.
She had a purity of love and spirit. She was loyal. Her caring had no limits.
Daniel had never had a doubt that she was Maverick material, and her reactions today only solidified that knowledge. This was what she needed—to find her family. After his phone call with his mom, he’d been more determined than ever to help Tasha forgive herself, even if in his own heart, he didn’t believe she’d done anything wrong.
