With a smile, Kelly picked up the sleepy bundle, holding him close, loving the sensation of her tiny son against her heart.

Henry had Jace’s dark lashes, even his dimples. Kelly shook her head, still in disbelief that Jace had moved here. She should have known he would come back to stir up the painful memories it had taken her months to overcome.

Forcing the negative thoughts from her mind, she kissed Henry’s little head and went to the kitchen to get some aspirin.

As she reached for the medicine, she heard her brother talking to someone in the next room. Curious, she rounded the corner just in time to see Jace Compton step inside the small living room.

Immediate and total panic set into every fiber of her being.

“You left your purse in the truck.” He held the small bag out to her.

She glared. Stepping forward she snatched the purse from his hand then turned toward the bedroom, hoping he’d go out the same way he came in.

“Kelly?”

She stopped. This was so not happening. Jace walked over to where she stood. His gaze was fixed on the baby in her arms.

“Who do we have here?”

Lone Star Baby Bombshell

Lauren Canan

www.millsandboon.co.uk

LAUREN CANAN, born and raised amid the cattle ranches of Texas, climbed a fence and jumped onto the back of her first horse at age three. She still maintains the punishment was worth the experience. She grew up listening to her dad tell stories of make-believe and was always encouraged to let her imagination soar. The multi-award-winning author and recipient of the 2014 Golden Heart® Award happily spends her days penning her favorite kind of stories: those of two people who, against all odds, meet, fall in love and live happily ever after—which is the way it should be. In her spare time she enjoys playing guitar, piano and dulcimer in acoustic club jams and getting lots of kisses and wags from her four-legged fuzzy babies. Visit Lauren’s website at www.laurencanan.com. She would love to hear from you!

Special thanks to two brilliant authors who kindly gave their time and expertise. Kathleen Gregory, I could not have done this without you. Angi Morgan, you are my forever hero! Thank you for all you do.

To Jill Marsal of the Marsal-Lyon Literary Agency. You made all the difference. Thank you for believing in me.

To my editor, Charles Griemsman, for your endless patience and encouragement. You are the best.

To Laurel Hamrick for being there when I needed to whine!

And to Terry, my real-life hero, who taught me the true meaning of love and happily-ever-afters.

Table of Contents

Cover

Introduction

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

Thirteen

Fourteen

Fifteen

Sixteen

Extract

Copyright

One

Kelly Michaels slowed the car as she neared the twelve-foot-high black wrought-iron gates banked by native stone walls on either side. A bronze plaque on the left welcomed her to the C Bar Ranch. She stretched to reach the keypad and entered the code Don Honeycutt, the Realtor, had provided.

With a resounding click, the gates swung open, separating the giant C set in the center. She followed the long winding drive flanked by centuries-old oak trees towering over lush green pastures. She pulled around to the staff entrance. The home was enormous. It was more mansion than typical ranch house. But new construction was generally a breeze to clean. Gathering the implements out of the trunk, she went inside.

Her instructions were to clean two bedrooms and adjoining baths upstairs plus the den, office, foyer and kitchen downstairs. She should be able to wrap this up in time to get ready for the annual music festival and dance that evening. The generous pay she earned occasionally cleaning new homes for the local Realtor was more than worth the effort. It had once been her only income, but even after she landed a job consistent with her field of study, she’d held on to this one and the financial bonus it offered.

She started on the second-floor master suite, working her way downstairs. Some furniture had been delivered. New bedding and pillows lay on the mattresses. Kelly quickly and efficiently put everything in order. An interior designer would probably complete the rooms in accordance with the new owner’s preferences.

She loved the smell and freshness of a new home. Holidays in this house would be amazing. A turkey roasting in the oven while pumpkin and coconut pies cooled on the dark granite counters. The aroma of spices and home-baked bread filling the air. She could imagine laughter and teasing banter filling the great space while children played hide-and-seek around a huge tree. She envied the family who would live here. At least, she hoped it was a family. The gossip around town said the old ranch had been purchased by an out-of-state corporation for employee retreats. It would be a shame if no one actually lived in this beautiful home.

A couple hours later, while rinsing the last of the soap from the kitchen sink, she heard the door in the utility room open and close. Must be Don checking on her progress. She smiled, knowing she’d completed the house, just as requested.

“Kelly?”

The breath caught in her throat and all outward motion stopped. The voice did not belong to Don Honeycutt. Her heart slammed against the walls of her chest as denial overwhelmed her mind. It couldn’t be. Bracing herself against the counter, she turned and stared incredulously at the man standing less than four feet away.

“Jace.” His name came out a whisper, a testament to the pure shock pummeling her from every direction. She blinked her eyes, willing her mind to convey it was only an illusion.

But the illusion was very real.

In the year since she’d seen him, he’d changed very little. His rugged good looks hadn’t diminished. If anything, he appeared even more handsome than before, something she wouldn’t have thought possible. The deep line of his jaw was smooth now, missing the bearded shadow he’d had before. His dark hair was cut several inches shorter. The tiny scar was still visible, the only imperfection of full lips that could widen into a devilish grin showing perfect white teeth, a smile irresistible to most everyone, male or female, young or old.

Kelly swallowed hard. She knew the touch of those lips. A man in his prime, he took extraordinary care to stay in top physical condition. It was, after all, part of his job. Part of who he was. She hadn’t known it before, but she certainly knew it now.

“What are you doing here?” His deep, graveled voice mirrored her surprise, sending goose bumps over her skin.

With a wet sponge in one hand and a can of powdered cleanser in the other, she thought the answer should be obvious.

“I might ask you the same question.” But she feared she already knew the answer. The giant C on the front gate apparently stood for Compton. Suddenly the huge mansion took on the dimensions of a shoe box as the walls came crashing in. “You bought this ranch?” She needed to hear him confirm her worst fears.

“Yeah. I did.”

Her heart dropped to her knees. “I...I’ve just finished. I’ll get out of your way.”

She grabbed the mop, broom and bucket of cleaning paraphernalia and without another glance in his direction, headed for the door, her mind spinning.

“Kelly, wait. You don’t have to—”

She ignored him and all but ran through the side door. Why would Jace Compton, a man with the world at his fingertips, move to this tiny Texas town?

The outside lamp over the side porch provided dim light against the growing darkness. She tossed the cleaning supplies inside the car, not caring where they landed. Her hands shook so severely it took three tries to insert the key into the ignition of the twenty-year-old Buick. It responded in kind, quivering equally as badly as her hands while the engine struggled to engage. After she’d made several attempts and repeated silent pleas to start, it became clear the old car wasn’t going anywhere.

This couldn’t be happening.

Her cell phone lay on the seat next to her, but even if it found a signal there was no one to call. By now her friends were at the music festival along with most of the county. It was the single largest event of the year in their small community, and she would not spoil their evening even though it was a long walk home. If only Mrs. Jenkins, her babysitter, could still drive. She had a nagging fear in the pit of her stomach that this downward spiral had not yet reached rock bottom.

Resting her forehead against the steering wheel, she closed her eyes, giving in to the memories flooding her mind, to the sharp pain once again slicing her heart into tiny pieces. The best and the worst wrapped up in one package. And the name on the label was Jace Compton.

When she’d first tried to reach him at the cell number he’d provided, she got at a voice mail message that Jace Compton—not Jack Campbell, the name he’d given her when they met—was out of the country. And the mailbox was full. Who was Jace Compton? A call out to the ranch where he’d claimed he worked provided the answer. The man to whom she’d given her heart, body and soul, the man who’d said she was so special he never wanted to let her go, was not Jack Campbell, the ranch hand. He was Jace Compton, an award-winning actor and multi-millionaire living in California, having some fun at her expense. The ranch foreman had given her another number to try, but it was disconnected.

As the memories of that day surfaced once again, shame rolled over her in a mind-numbing wave just as it had for months after she’d learned the truth. She’d been so stupid. Her initial awareness that he looked familiar had been easily dismissed with a “Yeah. I get that a lot.” No doubt he would have had a pat answer even if she’d asked more pointedly. He’d set out to seduce her and she’d fallen hard. She’d wanted to believe him, to trust him, so any suspicions that he might not be who he claimed were ignored.

Weeks after he’d left, when she finally learned his true identity, it seemed as if his picture was everywhere. Photos and headlines depicting the wild beach parties, shocking affairs with married women and his playboy lifestyle in general headlined the rag sheets at the grocery store checkout lines and the celebrity programs on television.

She’d finally managed to track down his manager, who had been clear and threatening. She meant nothing to Mr. Compton. They’d had a fling. So what? Jace had lots of flings. Unless she was prepared for a court battle over custodial rights, which Jace would assuredly win, she should take the manager’s advice and handle the situation herself. Numbly, Kelly had hung up the phone. She hadn’t slept that night. Or the next. She’d just sat in the little wooden chair in her bedroom and stared at nothing while her mind bounced between disbelief and utter devastation.

Nine months later, as she lay in the hospital bed praying for her baby to survive the complications of the birth, one of the hospital volunteers brought Kelly a magazine to read. On the front cover, the charismatic, drop-dead gorgeous Jace Compton had again been named Bachelor of the Year. The handsome face seemed to mock her as the tears spilled over and ran down her face.

Why had he come back?

After a year she thought she’d finally put it all behind her. The tears and sleepless nights, the regrets and countless waves of humiliation as time after time her mind relived how easily she’d fallen for his deception. Yet at the same time, despite the lies, the yearning for his touch refused to go away. The memories of his incredible smile fading to a look of serious intent; the knowing glint in his eyes seconds before his lips covered hers, taking her fully, deeply, until she never wanted him to let her go. His powerful arms holding her, his hard body locked to hers, his hot breath and deep voice teasing, whispering sinful things in her ear, tempting her in ways she’d never imagined, always leaving her gloriously satisfied yet wanting more.

Apparently, he hadn’t had the same sentiments. If those thoughts ever entered his head, he’d quickly pushed them away. From the minute he’d boarded the plane back to California, she’d become a distant memory. To him it had just been a vacation in the north Texas ranching community with her supplying a few fringe benefits on the side.

Two raps on the car window brought her back to the here and now. Determined to keep her anger at bay, she pushed open the door and Jace took a step back. Standing at a height of well over six feet, he was wearing well-worn jeans that hugged long, muscular legs. His left arm rested on the door frame while his right settled on the roof, effectively trapping her within the boundary of his heavy arms. Getting out of the car brought her within mere inches of the hard wall of his chest. Muscles rippled under the ash-gray T-shirt, the sleeves stretching to accommodate thick biceps.

Kelly didn’t want to be this close to him. She didn’t want to look into his eyes, but his large stature blocked everything else as if he was purposely giving her no choice. Finally, she looked up, their gazes locked, and for an instant, time stopped. It was still there. In the deep green depths a flicker of the raw passion that once bound them together with such intensity, a passion that slam-dunked any rational thought into nonexistence.

The scent of expensive cologne surrounded her. In spite of the months of heartache, some small part of her still yearned for his touch, which was nothing short of insanity. What she needed was for him to disappear. Again.

“Please step back and let me pass.” Her voice, raw with unreleased emotion, held fierce determination. He did as she asked and dropped his arms to his side. “I’ll have the car off your property as soon as possible.”

Without a backward glance, Kelly took off down the driveway on foot.

“Don’t you have a phone? Someone you can call?”

She ignored him and increased her pace.

“You want to use mine?” She heard him mutter a curse.

Her complete focus was to get off this property and away from him as fast as possible. Her mind was still reeling from the fact that he was here. He’d bought land and built a large house, usually an indication of permanency. The thought did nothing to brighten her spirits. Somehow she should have prepared for this even though logic was screaming how could you have known? But he had friends in the area. He’d been staying with them when they first met. He’d commented many times that he loved the general region. Why had she never considered the possibility that he would come back? She was an idiot. And now she was going to pay for it.

She didn’t hear the truck on the concrete driveway until Jace pulled up next to her.

“Kelly, you can’t walk all the way to town. It has to be close to six or seven miles and it’s almost dark.”

Hearing him so close once again still had the same effect. Her body came to life as irrational hunger for him ran rampant. She clenched her teeth and pulled the evening air deep into her lungs as tears of resentment burned her eyes. She refused to let them fall. He was right about it getting dark. And he’d guessed right about the distance. But she kept walking. She’d be every kind of fool to climb inside that truck.

In spite of her refusal to stop, he continued to roll along next to her.

“Kelly, get in the truck and let me take you home.”

“No. Thank you.”

The tall gates opened as she reached the end of his property. She went through them and cut to the left onto the white-rock county road. The gravel made it harder to walk, but she refused to slow her pace. The Bar H Ranch was just a couple of miles away. Shea, her husband, Alec, or one of their ranch hands would give her a ride home. In hindsight, she should have called, but her only thought was to get away from Jace. Surely everyone hadn’t gone to the festival. But if they had, she would sit on the porch and wait.

Why did Jace have to come back to Calico Springs? It was a small community where everybody knew one another. Eventually someone would tell him about Kelly Michaels and the baby who almost died when he was born four months ago. And Jace would know. He would do the math and figure out the baby was his. Another wave of panic slammed into her. What was she going to do? What could she do?

The iron gates clanged shut and she realized he was no longer following her. Apparently, he’d only driven to the end of his driveway and turned back. Good enough. The farther away he stayed the better. Taking a deep breath, she willed her heart to slow its pace.

The consequences of Jace finding out about Henry were beyond comprehension. She had to steel herself against the urge to break into a dead run to more quickly get home to her baby. Regardless of how much money he had and how well he could lie, Jace was not getting custody, no matter what she had to do or where she had to go.

The sun had set, darkening the sky to deep purple. Shadows of the trees and tall grass along the road faded into the overall darkness of the landscape. She wished for a flashlight. Even though the road was still easy to distinguish from the surroundings, the creatures that might slither out to soak up the last of the afternoon warmth were not.

The thought brought her to a heightened sense of awareness. A wrong step might land her in a world of trouble and there was no one in shouting distance if she needed help. If anything happened to her, who would care for Henry?

Right now, her baby should be enjoying his bath before going to sleep thanks to the wonderful woman who kept him while Kelly worked. Because of the festival, no one expected her home early. She swallowed back the touch of alarm. Think positive. Once she reached the Bar H Ranch she’d be home free.

As if to dispute that optimistic thought, lightning flashed across the sky followed by deep, rolling thunder. Kelly groaned, not daring to think this night could get any worse.

* * *

Jace Compton took in a deep breath of frustration, his jaw muscles working overtime. He couldn’t believe Kelly had been in his house. Cleaning it, no less. How bizarre was that? He’d hoped he could find her if he moved to Calico Springs. But he never considered she’d be in the house, and he wasn’t prepared for the immediate anger and the glaring gaze shooting beams of blue-green fire in his direction.

Apparently, she’d found out he’d lied about his identity when he was here before. He hoped she would give him a chance to explain. He’d had twenty-five precious days on a neighboring ranch to kick back, relax and be himself, just a guy who’d grown up on the south side of Chicago. The last thing he wanted was someone to discover his identity. Over the years he’d become proficient at staying well under the radar. He’d had no idea when they first met that their relationship would develop into something so much more.

Kelly had accepted that he was a cowhand from a nearby ranch, and there had never been a right time to tell her differently. In hindsight he hadn’t wanted to take a chance on putting a wedge between them and that special something they’d found in each other. It was a timeless journey where they were the only two people in the world. It was perfect. When she returned his kisses, he’d known she was kissing him, the regular guy, not the wealthy celebrity. It was a damn good feeling. When the time came to leave, he wrestled with his conscience, wanting to tell Kelly the truth. Finally he decided to wait until he returned to Calico Springs. He hadn’t expected the four-month interim period he’d planned to expand to over a year.

On the outside, the Kelly he remembered had changed, and those changes immediately had his libido sitting up and taking notice. The curves of her body were decidedly more feminine, more mature, more alluring than those of the model-thin young woman he remembered. She exuded health and considerably more sex appeal than he recalled, making him wonder how he’d ever torn himself away. The long blond locks that used to flow free and silky around the delicate features of her face were pulled to the back of her head in a ponytail, giving her face a different, intensely alluring quality, accenting the almond shape of her eyes. Jace had never seen eyes that color. They were the same brilliance and shade as the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean. Only tonight, instead of containing a welcoming sparkle, they’d reflected more than a small trace of annoyance when she stared at him as if the devil himself had come to life.

While he’d anticipated she would be a bit perturbed if she learned he’d lied about his identity, he didn’t expect the high level of animosity she’d shown today. Was she angry because he’d lied or was it because she’d missed an opportunity to gain some of the wealth? Thinking of Kelly in that light didn’t sit well. At all.

Some people thought they’d found the proverbial pot of gold when they caught his attention, a fact that galled Jace to his core. People always wanted something, whether it was money or five minutes worth of fame. Making action films was his job. Not who he was. He hated the phony facade he had to maintain, and the ridiculously implausible stories he had to validate all for the sake of keeping his name in the media, all to keep the publicity going. Finding someone who liked him for himself was a rarity. He hoped Kelly would understand. He really hoped she would.

When he’d returned to California, he’d talked nonstop about the young woman he met in Texas. He’d even mentioned buying a place to be close to her until she finished her degree. Two days later, his manager, Bret, handed him a PI report indicating Kelly was a con artist with a rap sheet a mile long, citing numerous jailed offenses. Jace hadn’t wanted to believe it then and still had a hard time believing it now.

By the time six months had passed, with the filming of his latest movie hitting one roadblock after another, it no longer mattered if she had a record or not. He probably would never see her again. He’d felt more than a small twinge of loss at the thought. He’d managed to push their time together to the back of his mind until Garret Walker, the friend who had invited him to Texas, called asking if he was still interested in buying some land in the area. Suddenly in his mind’s eye, all he saw was Kelly. The memories of holding her in his arms and the pure enjoyment he’d found being with her far outweighed any past crimes she may have committed. He kept Bret’s warning in mind. He’d be a fool not to. But Kelly Michaels just didn’t fit the mold of a crook. Perhaps she’d had a rough life? They’d never spoken in detail about her past, so all he could do was speculate. But after the way she’d almost run from his house today, it probably didn’t matter one way or the other. Apparently she’d made her decision that their relationship would not continue. While he couldn’t justify it in his mind, he once again felt a deep loss.

He rubbed the back of his neck. Kelly was out there in the dark, determined to walk all the way to town. He’d returned to the house to give her a chance to calm down and allow him time to get a grip. The instant he’d recognized her, his body had surged to readiness while a vapor of heat surrounded him. It was the same reaction he’d felt the very first time he’d ever seen her in the local feed store when he’d gone with Garret to place an order. The immediate attraction had overwhelmed him then, and today was no different. It was like a giant magnet pulling them together regardless of the circumstances. And when she’d stepped out of her car and her incredible scent of spring rain and nutmeg reached him, he hadn’t wanted to move away, his body immediately swelling with need.

But with Kelly, it went beyond physical beauty and sex appeal, although she had plenty of that to turn any man’s head. It was the look in her eyes that made him believe he could accomplish anything. Hell, when he’d held her in his arms he could fly. Her soft Southern drawl and impish nature had him bouncing off the walls and loving every second. Had it all been an act? He still didn’t know the answer and probably—sadly—never would.

Raindrops began to splatter against the windowpane. He turned toward the door, intent on giving her a ride into town. His glance fell on the thin strap of a pale pink purse hanging over the back of a kitchen chair. As he lifted it from the chair back, the sound of thunder rolled over the house, followed by flashes of lightning.

With purse in hand, he headed back to the truck, ignoring the first heavy raindrops. Whether she was angry with him or not, he wasn’t about to leave her outside in the dark and the quickly approaching storm. He’d make sure she got home safely, this time accepting no excuses.

Whether she liked it or not.

Two

Isn’t this gonna be a basket full of fun?

Kelly eyed the sky as the thunder rumbled overhead. She didn’t dare tempt fate by asking what else might go wrong. Picking up the pace, she topped the next hill just as a bolt of lightning struck a tree straight ahead. Seconds later, the sky opened up and a downpour provided the answer to her unspoken question.

Crossing her arms over her chest, she gritted her teeth and kept walking. The warm temperatures of the afternoon took a nosedive as the chilling rain continued to hammer away, stinging her face, making it hard to see. The strong wind gusts made each step forward a challenge to her determination.

Suddenly the glare of headlights from behind illuminated the road and the white blanket of rain ahead of her. She moved to the right, hoping it wasn’t a bunch of liquored-up high school kids out for an evening of fun and harassment. She got her wish, but not in a way she’d wanted.

“Kelly,” Jace’s voice barked through the darkness as he pulled up beside her. “Get in the truck.”

She continued walking.

“You’re being a complete idiot,” he insisted.

“You’re entitled to your opinion.” She had to yell to be heard over the downpour.

“You have ten seconds to get your ass inside this truck.”

“Or what?”

“Or I’m going to pick you up and put you in here myself.”

She turned to face him, her eyes narrowing in a glare.

“Get. In. Now.” The darkness concealed his expression, but his angry tone came across loud and clear. She had little doubt he’d do exactly what he threatened.

Just do it and get home to Henry.

She looked from Jace to the dark, seemingly endless road ahead. A blustery gust of rain-filled wind assisted the return of her sanity. Biting her tongue, she walked to the truck and opened the passenger door.

“I’m wet,” she unnecessarily disclosed, taking in the truck’s beautiful interior.

He muttered a curse. “Everything is wet. I don’t care. Get in the damn truck.” His demand was accented by a loud crack of lightning directly overhead. She grabbed the hold-bar above the opening and pulled herself up and inside, closing the door behind her. Jace immediately raised the passenger window.

In the warmth of the cab, her teeth began to chatter as uncontrolled shivers assailed her body. Jace quickly adjusted the heat. The new-car smell and the earthy scent of his cologne swirled in the warm air around her. She leaned back against the rich leather and buckled her seat belt. Without another word, Jace hit the gas, sending the truck speeding toward town.

Town. Home. Kelly didn’t want him to know where she lived. It took away the small sense of protection, even if it was only an illusion. In Calico Springs, population six thousand, it wasn’t hard to find anybody.

“Just take me to the ranch up ahead. The entrance is on the left. I know the owners. They’ll drive me the rest of the way home.”

No response.

As the big truck ate up the miles, she anxiously searched to the left of the headlights for the big gate to the Bar H Ranch. Finally, the reflection of the stone pillars shone just ahead.

“There,” she pointed. “Just pull in...”

The truck didn’t slow as it approached, then passed, the driveway.

“You missed it.” She looked behind them. “Turn around.”

Jace glanced at her, then returned his focus to the road. “No reason to force anyone else out in this weather.”

“Force anyone else? Like I forced you to be out here?” she challenged, still resenting the fact that he’d coerced her inside the truck to begin with. Never mind that she was grateful to be out of the storm.

“That’s not the way I meant it. Of course you didn’t.” He glanced over as she sat back in the seat, her arms crossed over her chest. “And you didn’t leave your handbag in my kitchen on purpose.” He held up the small rectangular purse. “And you didn’t know it was my house you were cleaning or that I would be arriving around six. Kelly, if you want to see me again...just say so.”

Kelly’s head snapped around, her jaw dropping. “Stop this truck.”

Instead of slowing, he asked, “Shall I take that as a no?” as a grin spread over his handsome features.

“Yes.”

“Yes?”

“Yes, I mean no.”

Jace pursed his lips as though holding back another grin. “Your sense of humor isn’t quite as good as I remember.”

“No? Try saying something remotely funny.”

He made no further comment. Kelly glared at him for another few seconds before she sat back in the seat, expelled an angry breath and accepted her fate. It was surreal. To not see him for so long, then to suddenly be in the close confines of a pickup cab as they barreled into the darkness. She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. His big hands on the wheel, his sharp jawline and those full lips caused an unwelcome need to stir deep in her belly, a need she hadn’t felt for over a year.

She remembered everything: every touch, every erotic whisper, the teasing humor and the arguments over nothing that always ended with his lips on hers. Swallowing hard, Kelly inhaled deeply and turned away, fighting to clear her mind, hoping he couldn’t detect her body’s traitorous response.

“So,” she said, clearing her throat, looking straight ahead, “I can’t imagine this tiny spot on the map holding any interest for you. Big celebrity. Small town. Why are you here?”

For a few minutes, she thought he wasn’t going to answer her question.

“I needed some downtime,” he finally said. “I have a friend who lives in the area, as you know, and this seemed to be as good a place as any.”

“You buy an entire ranch to take a break?”

He shrugged.

“And you call me an idiot.”

Obviously, he didn’t care to share his true intentions with her, which suited her just fine. She should be used to his lies and secrets by now.

“What about you?” he asked.

“What about me?”

“Still in school?”

“No.”

So much had happened over the past year his question seemed strange. Her life had changed so radically it felt as though she was answering for someone else. The massive heart attack that had taken her grandfather had been sudden and devastating. Then the bank foreclosed on his farm, leaving Kelly and her younger brother to scramble for another place to live. And just when she thought things couldn’t possibly get any worse, she’d discovered she was pregnant by a man who’d hidden his identity, then all but disappeared.

That sobering thought assisted in her return to reality.

“Why did you lie?” It came out a whisper. The question seemed to break free of her mouth, not waiting on her brain to give its permission. “Why did you think it necessary?” He’d wanted someone to share his bed while here visiting friends. She got that. But why lie about who he was? And why promise to call or come back if he’d known all along he wouldn’t?

“What does it matter now?”

“The truth always matters.”

“I gave you a name. That should have been enough. If you’d known my true identity it would have made a difference in our relationship.”

She stared at him in amazement. “Is it tough carrying around all that arrogance?” She shook her head.

“It’s not arrogance,” he shot back. “If you’d realized who I was you would have—” He inhaled deeply and blew it out.

“What? I would have what? Not thought of you as Jekyll and Hyde? Not known you would rather climb a tree and tell a lie than stand on the ground and tell the truth? Not felt like I was being played? All of the above?”

“You would have treated me differently.” Almost under his breath, he muttered, “They all do. And you were not being played. Ever.”

“They all do? Who is they?”

She saw his hand grip the steering wheel in a tight fist. “What I do for a living had nothing to do with us.” He glanced at her through the dim glow on the dash lights. “People hear my name and suddenly they can’t see me. I should have told you the truth, but I wanted you to know me, Kelly. I’m just a man. And I enjoy being seen as one instead of all the damned hype. I intended to explain when I got back here. I intended to tell you the truth.”

“Really. Why? If, as you say, a name doesn’t matter, why bother?”

She heard him expel a deep sigh. “You’re purposely twisting this around.”

“I am?”

She heard his huff of frustration.

“We were two people who met and enjoyed being together. At least I enjoyed being with you. Why did it need to be more complicated than that? Or am I missing something?”

Her eyes shot toward him. Had he really said that with a straight face? She couldn’t hold back a snort. “You do realize you’re trying to justify your deception?” The man wouldn’t recognize truth if it smacked him in the face. “Unbelievable.” She’d gotten her answer. She should have saved herself the trouble of asking. “At least I provided you and your friends with a good laugh.”

Heat rolled up her neck at the thought of his wealthy friends laughing about his affair with a stupid country bumpkin. How easily she’d bought into his deception.

“I never laughed.” His tone indicated surprise she would think that. He glanced at her, the hard masculine mouth pulled to a taut line, his eyebrows drown into a frown. “Our relationship wasn’t a joke. At least not to me. And I had every intention of coming back and talking to you. I’d hoped you would understand.”

“I’m sure you did.” The anger rolled off her tongue. “But things happen, right?”

“Yeah. I guess they do. For instance, you never told me which correctional center you were in. Apparently I’m not the only one who can be accused of keeping secrets.”

Her head snapped around toward him. What did he just say? For several seconds she couldn’t speak. Had she heard him correctly? “What?”

“I said I—”

She raised her hand, palm side toward him. “Does someone write this stuff for you or do you make it up all by yourself?” He expected her to buy the excuse he hadn’t come back because he thought she was in jail? She shook her head in amazement. “You really need to seek help.”

The man she remembered had clearly changed. She couldn’t help but ask herself which one was the real Jace Compton. “Turn left at the light.”

“Left?”

“We live in town now.” Jace was remembering her grandfather’s small farm.

“Kelly, are you saying you don’t have a criminal record?”

“Duhhh. Are you saying you honestly thought I did?”

“But—”

“You know what, Jack... Jace—whatever your name is today—just don’t say anything else.” She’d heard more than enough. “Obviously, you’re incapable of being honest. I don’t care anymore, all right? I don’t care why you lied. I don’t care why you never came back. I don’t give a rat’s behind who you are and I don’t want to sit here and listen to your wild excuses. I’m sorry I even brought it up.”

Jace didn’t speak again, but Kelly felt the anger crackling in the air between them.

The route took them south, toward the low-rent side of town where the small forty-year-old houses marred the landscape and even a fresh coat of paint did little to hide the weathered conditions along the rutted streets. Inside the houses lived people like herself, who worked too hard for too little. But she refused to be embarrassed. The house was old and small, but it was clean. It had a new roof and the amount she paid for rent couldn’t be beat. “Third street to the right and down a block. On the right. It’s the white house with green shutters.”

With her hand on the door handle, Kelly made ready her escape. But by the time they pulled up to the curb and she remembered to unfasten the seat belt, Jace held the door for her, seemingly oblivious to the rain.

Her younger brother stood on the front porch leaning on one of the support posts. The glow of the outside light fanned out over the small front yard.

Jace nodded toward the teen. “How ya doing?”

Kelly watched Matt’s body language shift as he recognized Jace. It was clear he was having a hard time believing it. He stared at the big man standing next to the truck.

“You’re... Are you? You’re Jace Compton!” Matt’s eyes were as big as dessert plates as his mouth dropped open in sheer astonishment.

“Matt, go inside,” Kelly ordered.

“You want to come in?” Her younger brother totally ignored her request. Anger tinged with fear coursed through her, quickening her steps to the house. This was so not happening. What if Matt had picked up Henry from the sitter?

“No,” she stated firmly, and turned back to Jace. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Thanks for the ride. It was very...enlightening.”

Jace made no reply, just stared at her through the soft glow from the porch light. Kelly hurried to the house. “Matt, get inside.” When he didn’t move, she snapped, “Now.”

“But Kelly—” he looked as though she’d just told him to rob a bank “—do you know who that is?”

The question was almost laughable. Almost.

“Have a good night,” Jace called from the curb.

Kelly grabbed Matt by the arm and pulled him inside. At fifteen, her brother already stood a couple of inches taller than her own five foot seven and pulling him anywhere was a challenge. This time, with the adrenaline flowing, she managed. She closed the front door and prepared for the onslaught. She didn’t have to wait long.

“I can’t believe you.” Matt glared in her direction. “The Jace Compton at our house and you wouldn’t let him come inside. What is your deal? Are you like...crazy?”

“Matt...” There was no way to explain.

“Forget all the movies. He still holds the record for completed passes in the entire NFL. The record, Kelly. The guy is a football legend.”

Matt lived and breathed football, so she understood what he was saying. But her brother didn’t know Jace Compton. Unfortunately, she did.

“Come to think of it—” Matt frowned “—what were you doing in his truck? How did you—?”

“He bought the old Miller spread and had a new house built so Don asked me to clean it. When I finished, the car wouldn’t start.”

“Jace Compton is living here? In Calico Springs? Like permanently?” With each question, Matt’s voice rose in excitement. His eyes were wide with elation. He hadn’t even taken note of the fact that they had no transportation.

“I really don’t know.” Kelly didn’t want to discuss it. Jace had chosen to keep his reasons for being here to himself, so there was really nothing to tell Matt. She just wanted the man to stay as far away from her small family as possible. “I’m gonna walk down to Mrs. Jenkins’s and pick up Henry.”

“He’s here.” Matt was clearly still annoyed, his tone full of frustration. “Mrs. J fed him and got him ready for bed. Football practice was canceled because of the rain so I brought him home.”

“Thanks, Matt.” She smiled and walked toward the small bedroom she shared with her son. Bless the elderly woman down the street who kept Henry while Kelly worked and who refused to accept one penny for her efforts.

The baby slept in his favorite position, on his tummy, his little butt in the air. Kelly pulled off her wet T-shirt and jeans and grabbed her old robe from the closet. Then, unable to resist, she approached the crib and softly caressed the little head. Sensing his mother’s touch, Henry stirred. With a smile, Kelly picked up the sleepy bundle, holding him close, loving the sensation of her tiny son against her heart.

Henry had Jace’s dark lashes, even his dimples. Kelly shook her head, still in disbelief that he’d moved here. She should have known Jace would come back to stir up the painful memories it had taken months to overcome. He was no different from her father. Love ’em and leave ’em and not give a damn who he hurt in the process. Move on to the next conquest and never look back. Only this time, the man in question had looked back.

Because of her father’s lies and cheating, her mom had taken her own life. That was when dear ole dad had disappeared for good. Kelly had made a pledge then and there that she’d never let a man get close to her. And she’d kept up her resolve. Until Jace. She shook her head at the irony. The one man she’d made the mistake of trusting made her father look like a guppy compared to a twenty-foot shark. And look where it had gotten her.

Forcing the negative thoughts from her mind, she kissed Henry’s little head and walked toward the kitchen and the aspirin bottle. Her own head was pounding. After the last hour, she might take two. The very idea that Jace actually believed she’d been in jail was...laughable.

But she wasn’t laughing. The man apparently believed his own hype. He really did live in a world of make-believe.

She reached for the aspirin bottle and heard Matt talking to someone in the next room. Curious, she rounded the corner just in time to see Jace Compton step inside the small living room.

Immediate and total panic set into every fiber of her being.

“You, ah, left your purse in the truck.” He held the small bag out to her, his eyes glinting wickedly. “Practice makes perfect?”

She glared. She stepped forward and snatched the purse from his hand, and then turned toward the bedroom, hoping he’d go out the same way he came in.

“Kelly?”

She stopped. This was so not happening. Jace walked over to where she stood. His gaze focused on the baby in her arms before those green eyes pinned her to the spot.

“Who do we have here?”

Three

It was here. The moment she’d dreaded since the day Henry was born. She looked down at the baby in her arms, hoping Jace wouldn’t see the panic that engulfed her.

“This is Henry,” she said and swallowed hard.

“Yours?”

She blinked more than once at his question. Apparently his manager hadn’t lied when he’d said he wouldn’t tell Jace about the pregnancy. He’d never even told Jace she called.

“Yes,” she finally answered. “He’s all mine.”

Jace looked at her, and then glanced back at the baby. Henry kicked his feet, blowing some of his best baby bubbles for the strange man.

“He’s cute,” Jace murmured. “How old is he?”

No surprise he would ask. She had to give him an answer. To avoid a reply might only increase his curiosity. “Four months.”

She saw the wheels turning in Jace’s head as he did the math and knew what conclusion he reached: Henry could be his son. He looked at Kelly again, as though searching for a different answer. His full lips were pulled into a straight line of contemplation.

“I’m Kelly’s brother, Matt.” Her brother grinned from ear to ear, obviously dying to talk to his hero. Kelly welcomed the interruption.

“Nice to meet you, Matt.” That killer grin spread across Jace’s face. He held out his hand and Matt shook it. Matt was so excited, it was as if he rose two feet above the ground.

“So Kelly says you’re living in Calico Springs now?”

Jace nodded, his eyes shifting toward Kelly for an instant and then back to Matt.

“Yeah. I bought an old ranch north of town. Have a friend who has been in horse racing for thirty years. I always wanted to have land and horses. He talked me into trying my hand at raising some thoroughbreds. There’s enough room to bring in some cattle later if I decide to expand.”

“Oh man, that’s cool.” Matt’s entire body vibrated in excitement. Matt pointed to a chair. “Can you stay a couple of minutes?”

“Sure.”

As they sat down, Matt asked, “Do you still throw a ball?”

“Oh, yeah. Any chance I get.” Jace’s heart-stopping grin reappeared. “I’d still be a wide receiver if the knee hadn’t gotten bent the wrong way. Do you play?”

“Yeah. Well, it’s just high school.”

“Hey, it’s where we all started. What position?”

As the football banter between the two continued, Kelly eased out of the room. She put Henry down in the crib, and then collapsed onto the small wooden chair by the door. When would this day finally end? Jace Compton, the lying, two-faced multimillionaire, was sitting in her living room talking with her brother, probably speculating if he’d just been two feet away from his own son. And from the sound of their animated conversation, the two guys shared a common interest. This was going to get worse before it got better.

She wouldn’t think it odd of the Jace she’d met last year. A regular guy. One who fit into the world she knew: a guy who loved cheeseburgers, hot rods and practical jokes. He’d been a decent, down-to-earth guy who’d talked of everyday things. No arrogance. No haughtiness. But it seemed unbelievable the suave wealthy superstar who traveled the globe would sit in an old house and enjoy conversing with a fifteen-year-old kid. It was as though Jace was two different people. In spite of everything, deep inside she still wanted to paint him as a good guy. But she knew he was anything but.

Breathe deep. She’d told no one the identity of Henry’s father, not even Matt. Infants didn’t resemble either parent enough for someone to see a resemblance. Did they? Most babies had dimples. Maybe she’d get through this.

To her brother, Jace was a true hero, a superstar both in his action films and on the football field. The chance to talk to the great Jace Compton one-on-one was beyond exciting. She got that. But she would exercise caution. Usually a fair judge of character, apparently she’d misjudged Jace once. She wouldn’t make the same mistake again.

The two voices filled the small space as Kelly grabbed dry clothes and headed for a hot shower. When she emerged some twenty minutes later, all was quiet. She saw the glow under her brother’s door and heard the faint sound of music coming from inside. She pulled the air deep into her lungs and blew it out as relief loosened the muscles of her neck and shoulders. Like a major storm that dropped down from the sky without warning, Jace had again breezed in and out, this time leaving no damage behind. But more storms would come. Jace wouldn’t let this go. She knew in her gut he hadn’t been convinced. He would think about it. Remember their time together. And he would be back.

* * *

As Jace drove through the small town square headed north toward the ranch, he couldn’t get Kelly and her baby out of his mind. His heart had dropped to his knees when he first saw the infant in her arms. The last thing he’d expected was for Kelly to have a child. Then the idea had hit him hard. Was he the father? He’d always been so careful. He didn’t want to have any kids. He knew all too well what the title of dad meant in his family.

To this day, he could still vividly remember the smell of burned grease and scorched onions that had filled every corner of the shoddy apartment above the fast-food joint where he and his parents lived when he was around ten or eleven. It was during that time that something had happened. Something had changed. He never knew what. His mother had refused to discuss any of it. But his father had begun drinking and the arguments between them had grown worse. Louder. More intense. Then the abuse had started, his dad taking his fist to the first one he saw when he walked through the door. To try to protect his mom, Jace had endured a lot of it. His mother had been the strong one, taking her son away from the horrific situation. A couple of times after the divorce, his father had found them and it got bad before the cops arrived. Even after all these years, Jace still hadn’t completely let go of his hatred of the man. And he would always admire his mom’s strength of will.

Finally, in the predawn hours of a Sunday morning, two police officers had stood outside their door. They’d explained that her ex, George Compton, had been killed in an alley behind a bar. Jace’s only thought had been that some stranger got to the bastard before he could.

Jace could still feel the sinking sensation he’d experienced when reality hit that night. In that moment, with those two cops standing at the door, he’d had an epiphany. He was George Compton’s son.

He’d never put it into perspective before. His primary focus had always been survival. He and his father shared the same face and deep jaw. They had the same green eyes. Same color hair. If they were so much alike on the outside, it had to be true for the inside. When Jace had realized that, the earth seemed to tilt and spin.

Before he turned sixteen, he’d been in and out of juvie a half dozen times for altercations with guys in the neighborhood and at school who had somehow found out about his dad and wanted to see if the son was as worthless. He’d had so many suspensions he never did figure out how they’d let him stay in school. His junior year, he’d tried out for football on a dare. He put himself up against classmates who had been active in the sport since fifth grade and wanted to see Jace Compton go down. They were merciless on the new kid, which suited Jace just fine. He’d poured out all his aggression on the field. It was his saving grace. And, as it turned out, football was something he was good at. After three games, he’d earned the respect of a lot of his teammates. His grades came up, and just before graduation he was offered a college scholarship. His love of the sport carried him almost four years. Then amazingly he’d been picked up by the pros. No one knew that every tackle he made, he was taking down George Compton. Every catch and subsequent dash for the goalpost was a screw you to his old man.

After a freak injury ended his football career, Jace began to work with young athletes. He enjoyed teaching them about his favorite sport anytime he got the chance. But any hope that he’d someday have kids and a family of his own had been stomped into the ground a long time ago, beaten out of him by his father’s fists.

Still, the idea of Kelly bearing his son was immediately, unbelievably gratifying. His body surged to readiness. Protective instincts rallied to the surface, taking him to a place he’d never been before.

He took a deep breath, pulling the humid night air into his lungs. If the child was his, why hadn’t Kelly called? He knew instinctively she wouldn’t have kept something so important from him. It wasn’t her way. And surely she would want help with the baby, child support...something. Most women would beat a path to their attorney as soon as a pregnancy was confirmed. There had been two women who had actually schemed to make Jace think they were pregnant just to get rings on their fingers or obtain a few million dollars in their bank accounts.

But Kelly wasn’t like other women. He would be wise to keep that in mind. It wasn’t only her beauty that drew him to her. She was feisty and independent to a fault. She was intelligent and decisively stubborn. Her convictions and beliefs ran deep, and her sense of right and wrong went to the core.

What phone number had he given her before he left? He couldn’t remember. The security he had to maintain made it damn near impossible to reach him by phone unless one knew the phrase or identifying password. It changed every few weeks. Had he provided his private cell number? His gut tightened. If she’d tried to call when she realized she was expecting and couldn’t get through his security, she would be...furious. Suddenly all the little pieces fell into place with the force and impact of a nuclear implosion.

Dammit to hell.

He slammed on the brakes, bringing the truck to a screeching stop. Jerking it into reverse, he backed into a side street, turned around and headed back to Kelly’s house. No wonder she’d wanted to get away from him and been so angry. Not only had he lied to her, but he’d gotten her pregnant and left the country. Then the first time he saw her in over a year he’d called her a crook.

Jace wanted to punch something other than a punching bag. Bret better be glad he was a thousand miles away. Jace had zero doubt his manager had lied to keep Jace from coming back to her. That he’d ever bought into that crap about Kelly having a criminal record caused a giant ball of rage to churn in his gut. His instincts had told him not to believe Bret at the time. Why the hell hadn’t he listened to them? Bret probably saw her as a threat to his future income. If Jace quit the films, his manager’s gravy-train run would be over.

But while it was easy enough to blame his manager, ultimately, in this, there was no one to blame but himself.

His mind returned to Kelly. A thousand questions hit him with pinpoint accuracy and he couldn’t answer even one of them. Did he have a child? A son? Despite using precautionary measures, it was more than possible. When he’d held Kelly in his arms, the passion was intense beyond anything he’d ever experienced. He’d never wanted to let her go. His desire for her was insatiable. Their nights together had turned into days, and then back into nights. It began as hot sexual need. But by the time he had to leave, that white-hot passion had expanded into the blending of two souls. Even now, just thinking about her, those blue-green eyes crazy with need for him, the scent of her shampoo, the feel of her silky skin and the soft cries as her desire crested at the pinnacle of their lovemaking, had parts of him hard and throbbing. Kelly had a way of making him crazy. Apparently some things didn’t change.

* * *

Kelly sighed with relief knowing she’d skirted one confrontation, but was equally aware there would be more to come. Jace wouldn’t give up and just go away. She knew him that well. He went at everything he did with dogged determination. Whether it was training a filly at the ranch where he’d stayed a year ago or hiding his identity from the world. From her. While it had been a shock to learn his real name and profession, it didn’t come as a surprise how easily he’d duped her. Jace Compton was proficient at anything he set out to do. It was small wonder he was highly acclaimed as an actor. And according to Matt, Jace had received the same admiration when he played pro football. It was all or nothing. Defeat wasn’t a word in his vocabulary.

But she qualified the thought: it was possible he hadn’t as yet come up against a mother protecting her child. Whatever rules governed his life would fly out the window. There were no offsides or penalties. No interceptions. No retakes. Kelly might not be a match for him on a football field or a movie set, but Jace would encounter significant resistance if he tried to push into her life with intentions of taking her child. Figuratively, he’d be lucky if he came out with only minor scratches and a limp.

She’d just turned off the kitchen light and was headed to her bedroom when a hard knock on the front door stopped her in her tracks. Surely not. Surely Jace wouldn’t come back here tonight. But intuition told her he was standing on the porch. Squaring her shoulders, she returned to the front room and opened the door.

“We need to talk.”

It was neither a demand nor a question, but somewhere in between. She wasn’t about to act as though she didn’t know what he wanted to discuss. With a glance back at Matt’s closed door, she stepped outside, closing the front door behind her. She absently noticed the rain had stopped. A cooling breeze touched her skin. Somewhere in the distance crickets chirped. But her focus was on the big man who stood in front of her, almost a silhouette in the night.

“Is the baby mine?”

Kelly wanted to be anywhere but here. She had often envisioned this moment, but at the same time kidded herself into believing it would never happen. She drew in a deep breath. She couldn’t lie to a man about his own child. Regardless of what he’d done to her, he had the right to know the truth. It was what he might try to do with that truth that had her on the brink of panic.

“Yes.”

“Kelly, why didn’t you tell me? The cell number I gave you should have worked.”

He didn’t question whether she was telling the truth, a fact that surprised her. But his voice held frustration mixed with anger. She knew only too well what those feelings felt like.

As many times and in as many ways as she’d tried and failed to reach him, his question sounded ridiculous. Part of her wanted to go back inside the house and close the door behind her, refusing to give him a second more of her time. The other part of her wanted to share the wonder of their beautiful son. The little things that made him laugh. The way he mouthed what would someday be words. The overall amazement of him.

Did Jace deserve to know such things? Did he even care? She’d wasted months of her life alternately wishing he would come back and hoping he never would. In her mind she’d practiced what she would say if she ever saw him again, all sorts of scenarios with a wide variety of outcomes. Now that the moment was here, she didn’t have a clue how to proceed or what to say. She crossed her arms over her chest and faced him.

“I did try to reach you. It was a bit of a challenge since I didn’t even know your name.”

“Kelly—” He raked his hand through his hair.

“The cell number you gave me kicked over to a voice mail box that was full. You really should learn to delete your old messages. Some new ones might be important.”

She’d swear he cringed.

“I was able to contact your friend, Garret. The son of the rancher you stayed with last year? He gave me another number and a password, but apparently he had it wrong or it had been disconnected.

“I did speak with your manager. Bret... Gold-something. Goldberg? Goldman? Is that right? It took me about a week to track him down. Another five weeks to get him on the phone. He didn’t think it was such a good idea that I talk with you.”

She ignored the obscenities that fell from Jace’s mouth.

“I tried a couple more times to reach you through your cell, but after a few months, I gave up. So. Now you know. You have a son. Belated congratulations.”

Kelly could hear the sarcasm in her own voice but made no effort to conceal it.

“Kelly... I screwed up, okay?”

She shook her head. “No, you didn’t. Screwing up is when you do something accidentally. Not when it’s done on purpose. And so, no. In this case, it isn’t okay. You lied. You lied to me from the moment we met. Then you disappeared and never looked back.”

How many nights had she lain in bed, consumed with the need to hold him, to touch him, to hear his voice again? At times the want had been almost unbearable, her mind elevating it to the level of death. Had he ever thought of her? Did he even remember any part of their time together?

She could sense his aura now, feel the warmth from his body through the darkness, and that same need ran through her like liquid fire. What was it about this man that made her want to forget the past year? Just forget everything and step into his arms and feel his touch once again? The thought made her angry, and she held on to that emotion. She couldn’t be weak. She had to think of Henry and be strong.

“I understand why you’re mad. You have every right to be.”

“Yes. I do. And before you accuse me of getting pregnant on purpose, I didn’t. I had a career plan and had envisioned a vastly different future. I have no way to prove it and I don’t intend to try. Now, did you want anything else? Or are we finished?”

“I...I don’t know. I’ve only known I had a son for two minutes.”

“Give it about nine months. Maybe it will soak in.” She hesitated, looking absently at the worn paint on the porch where they stood. “He...he almost died, you know?” Her voice broke; tears burned her eyes. “When he was born? They thought I would lose him. For six days, it was hour to hour, minute to minute. But he’s a tough little guy. He may not have been expected or wanted but... Yeah. He’s strong. And he’s smart.” She quickly swiped the tears from her cheeks. “If he gets his strength from his father, I’m grateful to you for that.”

“I want to take care of you. Both of you.”

Logic demanded she consider if it was fair to Henry to deny the financial assistance Jace was more than capable of providing. But they were doing okay. Henry wanted for nothing and she didn’t want to open Pandora’s Box. She shook her head. “We don’t need to be taken care of. I want nothing from you. And he doesn’t need anything from you. There are no shackles here. Contrary to popular belief, I’ve never tried to con anyone. Or entrap them. I’m not about to start now. So just...you know, carry on with your life. Throw your wild parties. Make your films. It’s a little late for regrets, so don’t give us a second thought. We’ll be fine.”

* * *

It took a long time before he could swallow the huge wedge of emotion caught in his throat. Jace couldn’t let it end this way. In light of this new overwhelming discovery that he had a son, he instantly thought of his own upbringing and the monster it had made of him. For now it lay dormant inside, but eventually it would awaken. He should distance himself from Kelly and the baby. But his heart throbbed with the idea they had a son. They’d created a child. He was a father. That, in itself, was enough to mess up any man’s mind. And regardless of how hard he fought to hold on, his common sense went down the tubes.

“I want to be in his life.” The words fell from his lips as though he was determined to be heard regardless of the consequences.

“Then what?” She shrugged. “Get your attorneys involved? Let them decide on a visitation schedule that meets with your own agenda? See him when you have time or when you happen to be in the country? Introduce him to all your lady friends vying to be his new mommy? Let him grow up seeing his dad’s face on TV or the big screen? I’m sure the other kids will someday envy him for that. Wow.” Her sarcasm was obvious. “Maybe have your secretary send an expensive gift on his birthday? That’s always a nice touch.”

“Dammit, Kelly. I don’t know how to answer you. I haven’t had a chance to work anything out.” He held her gaze as though it was a lifeline while experiencing a rush of emotions he didn’t want to feel and had no clue how to deal with.

“Then let me answer the questions for you. No. No to you seeing him once or twice a year. No to long-distance phone calls and the inevitable excuses when you miss his birthday. Or his first spelling bee. Or his first softball game. No to him being a media spectacle. He deserves more, and I won’t step aside and let you do that to him. Somehow I’ll stop you if you try.”

He ran a hand over his face. Dammit. He couldn’t deny that a lot of what she said was true. She’d pretty much nailed what would happen if his life continued as it had for the past twelve years. He was more than ready for some normal in his crazy life. He wanted a home, a family. But he didn’t know how to change, and if he was honest with himself, he didn’t know if he wanted to. The work, the travel, the physical aspects of it, the concentration needed...it was the only thing keeping the monster inside at bay.

It was a damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation. He should take the out she was offering, make sure Kelly had plenty of money in her bank account and leave them both alone before he caused them to be thrown into the media spotlight, which she would no doubt view as under the bus. Before he became abusive like his old man. It made Jace every kind of selfish for wanting to keep them in his life. But he did. And how convoluted was that?

Despite her show of bravado, he wanted to pull her into his arms, hold her close and promise he would make everything okay. But he couldn’t. He didn’t know how to make her believe things would work out when he had doubts about it himself. He knew he had to do something. But the answer of how to make this right seemed worlds away.

After all she’d been through Kelly had more internal fortitude than anyone he’d ever known, with the single exception of his mom. But while Kelly’s resilience and internal strength were admirable, he couldn’t leave things as they were regardless of what she said she wanted or, in fact, didn’t want.

“He is my son.”

“Yes.” She nodded. “He is.”

“And you want me to just walk away?”

She looked down, as though giving her answer serious thought. “I’m telling you that you have a choice. His life will not revolve around yours. I won’t stand by while you break his heart, then try and pick up the pieces after you again disappear.”

“Kelly—”

She raised her hand to silence him.

“That said...” She hesitated as if making up her mind about a difficult decision. “I have plans for tomorrow, but if you want to see him while you’re here, come by Monday afternoon. I get home around five thirty. He’s still too young to form any attachment or be upset when you leave.” She again brushed at a spot just below her eye. He heard a soft sniff. “I’m not doing this to be mean, Jace. You have every right to see your son. He’s beautiful. You will be so proud. I...I wish you could be in his life always. Every day. But we both know that isn’t realistic. And I have to protect Henry, even if it’s from his own father.”

“We can work this out, Kelly. I know we can.”

Her eyes found his through the darkness. “Maybe,” she whispered.

Maybe was better than no. Jace would take it for the time being. He understood what she was saying. Between the travel his career required and the fear that he might someday become as abusive as his father, he couldn’t argue—even though he wanted to.

“I have to be up early in the morning. It’s late.”

“Okay. Monday. Five thirty. I’ll see you then.”

Kelly nodded, stepped inside and closed the door.

* * *

Jace blindly turned and walked to his truck. His emotions were all over the place. Even though he didn’t like it at all, he had to give merit to Kelly’s need to protect the baby. He wanted to be angry with her, his mind playing out the possibilities of what would have happened if he hadn’t come back. Would she have waited until the child was grown to introduce them? Or simply raised the boy to believe he had no father? Either way was unacceptable. Yet on the heels of that thought was the fact that she had tried to reach him. He had no doubt she’d tried. It was a vicious circle and it all came back to him. He’d screwed up. Royally.

He climbed inside the truck, slamming the door quite a bit harder than was needed. All the regrets, all the shouldas and couldas, were tripping through his mind. But the big question was: what was he going to do now? It was so overwhelming he wished he had reason to doubt his paternity. But he knew, without any doubt, the baby was his. Kelly just wasn’t a person who would make up something like this. Some would. But not Kelly.

Inasmuch as she intended her life to continue as it had so far, Jace knew it wouldn’t happen. Her world was about to change and, from her perspective, not necessarily for the better. Sooner or later the media would find out about the ranch. It was only a matter of time. And eventually there was a very good possibility they would discover Kelly and their son. Especially if she’d listed Jace’s name on the birth certificate. It would turn her life into a media circus, one she was not equipped to handle. He’d dealt with overzealous fans many times and knew what they were capable of. It wouldn’t be safe for Kelly or the baby, and he could not stand back and let that happen.

He pulled away from the curb and headed for the ranch. He had a son. Even knowing all the obstacles in front of them, the idea of having a child was enthralling. The more the fact soaked in, the more incredible it became.

How could he go forward and not include Kelly and the baby in his life? Her vulnerability, her innocence about the world and the people in it who would use her for a stepping-stone to further their career, concerned him. The overwhelming desire to take care of her and the baby fought the knowledge that it could never happen because someday he could hurt them. A surge of intense feelings for her made him ache inside. The war that raged was the most intense pain he’d ever experienced. Broken bones had nothing on the anguish tearing his insides to shreds.

If he cared about Kelly, about his son, he needed to walk away. But where would he find the strength to do so?

Four

“Thanks so much for the ride, Gerri,” Kelly told her friend as together they walked through the outside glass doors and down the steps of Great West Insurance. “I really do appreciate it.”

“Not a problem, ever. You know that.”

Kelly still hadn’t found anyone to check out her car. With fall roundup in full swing, all the guys she knew had either signed on as ranch hands for the extra wages or had something else going on. The local garage had offered to send someone out, but wanted one hundred and fifty dollars just to make the trip to Jace’s ranch. She’d told the mechanic she’d have to get back with him, biting her tongue to keep from calling him a crook.

The car had been on her mind constantly since she’d left Jace’s home two days ago. Knowing it still sat on his property was unsettling; it was a tie to him she didn’t want.

But as they turned onto her street, Kelly had to blink twice. Her old car sat in the driveway, and parked next to the curb was Jace’s dark metallic-blue pickup.

“Hey, Kelly,” Gerri said. “Looks like someone decided to help you out after all.”

When Gerri pulled up behind the truck, Kelly saw Matt and Jace tossing a football across the expanse of three front yards.

“Yeah. Maybe. I’ll see you tomorrow. Thanks again.”

Kelly walked toward Mrs. Jenkins’s house, hoping Gerri would drive away. Thankfully, she did, sticking her hand out the open window to wave goodbye as the Toyota continued down the street.

Mrs. Jenkins’s home was only two houses down and around the corner. She was lucky to have such a kind and loving woman to keep the baby while she worked. Mrs. Jenkins’s family had moved to another state the previous year and she longed for her own children and grandchildren. She’d assured Kelly that keeping Henry was a joy. It filled a void in her life. It was a great solution for all concerned.

Returning to her house with Henry, Kelly had just set the baby bag on the sofa and still had Henry in her arms when she saw Jace walking toward the door. Her heart immediately began doing flip-flops. Even the warmth of the baby snuggled against her couldn’t make her relax. What she wouldn’t give for Jace to be a regular person with a normal job. Maybe then things would have turned out differently. But why waste her time wishing for something that wasn’t even in the realm of possibility? She didn’t want to keep Jace from his son. But at the same time, his father’s world was not a place the baby should be.

As soon as Jace spotted her standing behind the screen door with the baby in her arms, that infamous smile spread across his face. Kelly pushed open the door and bade him to enter. Gingerly, Jace reached out and touched Henry’s hand. The baby laughed and grabbed the offered finger, kicking his feet in excitement.

“Hi, buddy.” The acceptance was immediate. Apparently on both sides. “He’s amazing.”

“Would you like to hold him?”

Jace nodded, his eyes switching from Kelly to the baby, then back to Kelly. A twinge of heat surged through her body. Jace was so masculine, so totally male, every hormone she had was screaming to get closer. It was unsettling. His earthy aroma swirled around her, and she swallowed hard.

“Take a seat,” she offered, clearing her throat, then placed the little bundle in his father’s arms. Henry looked so tiny, and Jace looked so awkward, so out of place, but she couldn’t miss the look of pride in his handsome features. As she silently watched father and son interact for the first time, she couldn’t help but ask herself how Jace could look even sexier when he held the baby. His tanned arms and dark features were such a contrast to Henry’s pale skin and hair. The sheer sexuality rolled off him in waves. So male. So powerful. So compelling. She ran the fingers of one hand through her hair in an effort to regain control of her wayward thoughts.

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