One Foot in the Grave - Denise Grover Swank Page 0,134
I cuddled and baby-talked to the kittens, both of which purred.
“You gonna let me see one of them furballs?” Hank asked.
Grinning, I climbed up the steps. “Which one do you want?”
“Do they have names?”
“No,” I said, “but they’re both girls.”
“Which one is your favorite?” he asked.
“Seems wrong to choose,” I said, but I held the gray one a little closer.
He grinned and reached out his hands. “Give me that black and white one.”
I handed him the kitten, and he held her up so they were face-to-face. “Seems like you just found your new home, little one.” He settled her on his lap and began to stroke her head and back. “They need names,” he said gruffly.
I took a seat on the top step of the porch and put the kitten on my lap. “We could give them matchy names. Like Sugar and Spice.” I made a face. “That’s terrible.”
He snorted but didn’t otherwise comment. Instead, he seemed to forget about naming the kittens for the moment, sighing loud enough to have me looking back at him, arching a brow in question.
“Tell me about what happened last night.”
So I told him, and by the time I stopped, his kitten had fallen asleep.
“You sure you ain’t in any trouble?” he asked.
“Marco assures me I’m fine.”
“That boy cares about you.”
“I know,” I said, keeping my gaze on the kitten in my lap.
“No, girl. He cares about you.”
I lifted my gaze to his. “I know that too, but I can’t be anything but a friend right now. He understands that.”
He nodded, then said, “I’m gonna tell Wyatt I don’t need him payin’ for Ginger to come out here anymore.”
“Hank,” I said, jerking upright. “Don’t do that.” I liked knowing that Ginger was keeping an eye on him when I couldn’t.
“She’s working at the tavern now, and I can afford to pay her for a day or two a week. We don’t need Wyatt.” I heard the gravity in his voice, and I realized this was Hank’s way of taking sides and making a stand.
“Hank, please don’t do that on my account. You and Wyatt have been friends for years.”
He nodded, his eyes glassy. “We’ve been friends, but we ain’t family.”
My throat burned and my chin quivered.
“I’ve declared you as kin,” he said, his voice tight, “but now I’m declarin’ you as mine. You may not bear my name, but you’re like my daughter all the same.”
“Hank.” I reached over and put my hand on his knee.
He smiled down at me. “You’ve filled my life with love and happiness, girl. I never thought that would happen again.” He nodded. “Thank you.”
A tear fell down my cheek. “You have to know you’re like a father to me. I love you, Hank.”
He nodded, glancing down at the kitten. “I love you too.” He sniffed and his tone turned gruff. “What’s a man gotta do to get breakfast around here?”
Releasing a laugh, I got to my feet and placed my kitten on his lap next to her sister. “Coming right up.”
I headed into the house, stopping in the doorway to stare down at the gruff man who had more love for me in his pinky finger than my father ever had, and I vowed I’d do everything in my power to protect him.
No matter the price.
Buried in Secrets
Carly Moore #4
October 27, 2020
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Also by Denise Grover Swank
Rose And Neely Kate reading order:
Family Jewels
Trailer Trash
For the Birds
Hell in a Handbasket
In High Cotton
Up Shute Creek
Come Rain or Shine
Dirty Money
When the Bough Breaks
It All Falls Down (January 12, 2021)
Rose Gardner Investigations
Family Jewels
For the Birds
Hell in a Handbasket
Up Shute Creek
Come Rain or Shine
When the Bough Breaks
It All Falls Down (January 12, 2021)
Neely Kate Mystery
Trailer Trash
In High Cotton
Dirty Money
Carly Moore
A Cry in the Dark
Her Scream in the Silence
One Foot in the Grave
Buried in Secrets (October 27, 2020)
Magnolia Steele Mystery
Center Stage
Act Two
Call Back
Curtain Call
Darling Investigations
(Humorous mystery romance)
Deadly Summer
Blazing Summer
Rose Gardner Mysteries
Novellas are bonus material
TWENTY-EIGHT AND A HALF WISHES
TWENTY-NINE AND A HALF REASONS
THIRTY AND A HALF EXCUSES
FALLING TO PIECES (novella)
THIRTY-ONE AND A HALF REGRETS
THIRTY-TWO AND A HALF COMPLICATIONS
PICKING UP THE PIECES (novella)
THIRTY-THREE AND A HALF SHENANIGANS
ROSE AND HELENA SAVE CHRISTMAS (novella)
RIPPLE OF SECRETS (novella)
THIRTY-FOUR AND A HALF PREDICAMENTS
THIRTY-FIVE AND A HALF CONSPIRACIES
THIRTY-SIX AND A HALF MOTIVES
SINS OF THE FATHER (novella)
Asheville Brewing
Rom com series
Cowritten with A.R. Casella
Any Luck at All (September 22, 2020)
The Wedding Pact
(Humorous contemporary romance)
THE SUBSTITUTE
THE PLAYER
THE GAMBLER
THE VALENTINE (short story)
Bachelor Brotherhood
Spinoff of The Wedding Pact series
ONLY YOU
UNTIL YOU
ALWAYS YOU
From the Ashes
Paranormal Women’s Fiction
Let it All Burn
Bluebird Bay
Women’s fiction
Cowritten with Christine Gael
Finding Tomorrow
Finding Home
Finding Peace
Young adult contemporary romance
ONE PARIS SUMMER
Off the Subject Series
(New adult contemporary romance)
AFTER MATH
REDESIGNED
BUSINESS AS USUAL
Also by Denise Grover Swank writing as D.G. Swank
CURSE KEEPERS WORLD
(Urban fantasy)
Curse Keepers Trilogy
The Curse Keepers
The Curse Breakers
The Curse Defiers
Curse Keepers Collection (box set)
Piper Lancaster Series
Of Ash and Spirit
Of Fire and Storm
Of Blood and Monsters
The Chosen Series
(Adult urban fantasy)
Chosen
Hunted
Sacrifice
Redemption
Book of Sindal
Descended from Shadows
Reign of Mist
Crown of Blood
On the Otherside Series
(Young adult sci fi romance)
Here
There
About the Author
Denise Grover Swank was born in Kansas City, Missouri and lived in the area until she was nineteen. Then she became a nomad, living in five cities, four states and ten houses over the course of ten years before she moved back to her roots. She speaks English and smattering of Spanish and Chinese which she learned through an intensive Nick Jr. immersion period. Her hobbies include witty Facebook comments (in own her mind) and dancing in her kitchen with her children. (Quite badly if you believe her offspring.) Hidden talents include the gift of justification and the ability to drink massive amounts of caffeine and still fall asleep within two minutes. Her lack of the sense of smell allows her to perform many unspeakable tasks. She has six children and hasn’t lost her sanity. Or so she leads you to believe.