Love Is More Than Skin Deep (A Hidden Hearts Novel Book 4) by Mary Crawford Page B

going to sequester everyone, even though Ocala is only less than an hour away from Gainesville. Ketki would probably be okay with that as long as she had Internet access. As a dad, I don't think I'm okay with that. I guess I could ask my sister to watch her."
    A giggle escapes me as I see the sour expression on his face. "Something tells me that's not your favorite option either —"
    Mark scrapes his hand down his face as he answers, “Let me put it this way. I love my sister very much, but my daughter and I don't love soap operas nearly as much as Leoti does. Whenever she watches Ketki, I always have to hear about the huge sacrifice Ketki made to stay with her. I used to brush off Ketki's complaints, but about three years ago, I got the stomach flu and I had to stay with my sister for a couple days. Let's just say that I am a lot more sympathetic about Ketki's complaints after that experience."
    "I completely understand. My foster mom was a complete soap opera addict. She even watched a television channel that was dedicated to nothing but soap operas. She had all of the characters from four or five of them completely memorized and seemed to think they were real. I had never watched television before so it was a novel and somewhat scary experience for me." A thought occurs to me as I see the stress lines on his face. "Do you need to go and deal with this? I can go to this appointment by myself. I've been on my own for a long time. You didn't need to take the whole morning off just to be with me."
    "Immokalee, I did need to do that. It's been a while since I've been in a relationship, but I'm pretty sure this is how it's done. I would feel like a colossal jerk if I was just sitting around in my office waiting for a ruling from the judge that may or may not even come down today, while you were getting critical news about your future. I've got law clerks, associates and partners to help me do that. I've only got one you, and I choose to be here with you. Is that a problem?"
    Something about that awkward statement touches my heart and I tear up before I respond, "No, I don't have a problem with it. I'm just not used to being anyone's first priority."
    "Well, get used to it because that's the way you deserve to be treated, Shelby."
    "I hope you feel the same when I offer to watch Ketki for you while you're in trial —" I counter.
    "Are you sure you're up to it? My daughter can be a handful," Mark warns.
    "I'm all about the package deal, remember?" I reply with a watery smile. "Besides, I happen to think your daughter is all kinds of cool all on her own. She's good for my outlook on life."

“LITTLESON, YOU FOUND YOURSELF A GEM of a woman at my tattoo shop,” Marcus comments as he tightens the screws on the bunk-bed that we’re putting together at Shelby’s little cottage. “Maybe I should start a little dating service.”
    I throw my head back and laugh as I reply, “Didn’t you get yourself in a little bind with a dating service? I’m surprised Rogue still talks to you at all after what you pulled. I know if you did that to my sister, she would put you on her do-not-call list forever.”
    Isaac just chuckles as he joins the conversation, “It was the recipe for a major disaster, but everyone ended up happy in the end and I found my family again, so I can’t be all that upset about this one’s harebrained scheme. Much to my surprise, he’s been a fine son-in-law. He loves my daughter Ivy.”
    I turn to Tristan who is busy building a student desk for Ketki. “I understand you track down people.”
    Tristan nods as he responds, “Yes, that’s part of what Identity Bank does.”
    “Could you track down a family that completely eschews technology?” I ask carefully formulating the question around the thoughts that have been tumbling around in my brain for weeks.
    “You looked troubled, son,” Isaac responds as he studies me. “Is your case giving you that much trouble?”
    “No, this isn’t about work at all.