“So you admit that the baby is mine?” Jacob demanded.

“Of course,” KC said, as if it made perfect sense under the circumstances.

Jacob stalked closer. “Why would you do this, KC? Was I really so horrible that you refused to let me be a part of—this?”

“That was never the issue, Jacob—”

“Then what was? Because I can’t imagine one big enough that you told yourself it was okay to deceive me. To keep my son a secret from me.”

Her arms crossed over her ribs, pushing those delectable breasts higher in the tank top. Something he shouldn’t notice right now. At all.

“I was afraid,” she said. “Going away just seemed the safest thing until I was sure what to do.”

“Safe? How? What the hell would safety have to do with it? I would never hurt you.”

“I know that, Jacob, but it wasn’t—”

“Fact is, you deprived me of three months of knowing my son,” he choked out. “Not a note, a card or a call. Hell, not even a text. By the way, I’m pregnant.”

He’d made himself available, chased after her like a dog with no sense, and this was what he got for it.

This time, he didn’t stop moving until he loomed over her petite frame. “So now, I’ll have what I want.”

* * *

The Blackstone Heir is part of the No. 1 bestselling series from Mills & Boon® Desire™, Billionaires and Babies—Powerful men … wrapped around their babies’ little fingers.

The Blackstone Heir

Dani Wade

www.millsandboon.co.uk

DANI WADE astonished her local librarians as a teenager when she carried home ten books every week—and actually read them all. Now she writes her own characters, who clamor for attention in the midst of the chaos that is her life. Residing in the southern United States with a husband, two kids, two dogs and one grumpy cat, she stays busy until she can closet herself away with her characters once more.

To Ms Bobbie Tate—many years ago, you became my grandmother through marriage. You became my friend through your sweet spirit and my Maw Maw through your love. I can’t thank you enough for being such a treasured part of my life.

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

Seventeen

Extract

Copyright

One

“Hello, beautiful.”

KC Gatlin heard the bell of a store door as she walked past on the sidewalk, but it simply registered as background noise. That voice, on the other hand, landed like a grenade on her senses. She could still hear the same words, the same deep sigh as she opened her door to him for the first time. Only this time he sounded not just sexy, but surprised.

Turning slowly, she found herself face-to-face with a man she had hoped not to see for many long, long months. The expectation was unrealistic, she knew, considering she once again lived in the same town as his family. The town he came home to visit often. His appearance now marked the approach of sure disaster, even as it brought into sharp focus how much she’d craved a glimpse of his tall runner’s build and the unique blend of blonds in his close-cropped hair.

“Jacob Blackstone,” she said, stalling while her brain struggled to come up with the flirty, easy responses for which she was known. They made her great tips as a waitress and bartender. But now, when she needed flippancy the most, it remained scarce. “What’re you doing here?”

Stupid. There was a very logical reason why he would be here: to check on his invalid mother, Lily Blackstone, now that his grandfather was dead and his brother Aiden had moved home. KC had just hoped to catch a few months’ breather before facing her past.

Facing her mistakes.

“I mean, what are you doing on this end of town?” At least that question made sense. After all, Blackstone Manor was on the other side of Black Hills. But her fears, along with the steady, sober gaze of her former lover, had her brains whisked around like scrambled eggs. She had to get a handle on the panic jangling along her nerves.

He held up a small shopping bag. “Bandages. I needed to pick some up on my way home from work.”

“Are you hurt—wait, home from work?” She tilted her head back for a better view of Jacob’s face. She’d loved his height when they were together; how it sheltered her, protected her. Too bad that feeling of security had been nothing but an illusion.

“Yes, from the mill.” He didn’t look away, his gorgeous amber eyes with their unusual swirl of dark chocolate boring into her. She wanted a break from his unrelenting stare...and paradoxically wished she could bask in his attention. While her reactions ricocheted inside her, he went on, “I guess you haven’t been home long enough to hear the news?” His voice rose at the end in a question, along with his brow.

“I guess not. I just moved back this week.” Her stomach slowly turned over. Once. Then again. Why had her family not told her before she came home? The answer was obvious: they wanted her here, with them. She might never have returned if she’d known Jacob was now a permanent resident of Black Hills again.

She and Jacob had met on a plane to Black Hills—she’d been coming home from visiting her aunt in Seattle and had made a connecting flight in Philadelphia, where Jacob had been flying from to check on his mother. They’d seen each other every time he’d come to town since. Then reality had caught up with her in the threats of Jacob’s grandfather and she’d gone to live with her aunt. A world away from this fascinating man and what they’d shared together.

She’d thought returning to her family would be safe now that James Blackstone was dead and gone. His threats to take away the livelihood of three single women unable to defend themselves—and a lifetime of proof that he’d do it—would finally be over. She’d known she would have to handle Jacob eventually, but had hoped to have more time. Much more.

She had a feeling he was about to burst her bubble.

“I’ve moved back to Black Hills to help Aiden run the mill. He has to split his time between here and New York, and with all the problems at the mill, we wanted a full-time presence.”

“Yes, I heard that there were some odd things happening over there,” she murmured. Full-time? The Lord must be punishing her for the secrets she kept.

Speaking of secrets... She tilted her head to the side as unobtrusively as possible to get a glimpse of the sidewalk behind Jacob. Her mother and grandmother were due to come out of the general store any minute. While she knew she had to talk to Jacob soon, she would prefer not to do it on the sidewalk in front of Parson’s Pharmacy with the whole town looking on.

At least she had one thing going for her: Main Street was lined with miniature Bradford pear trees that would keep any busybodies from getting a clear view from the surrounding stores. In late spring, they were packed with white blooms that afforded even more privacy. Maybe no one would see more than just two neighbors greeting each other.

If she caused a scene on the sidewalk, Jacob would probably have a conniption. Months of him not taking her anywhere in public in Black Hills had taught her that much.

In the year they’d dated, Jacob had never introduced her to his family, never taken her out on a date. They’d spent evenings at her house, cooking, watching movies and making love before he went home to Philadelphia. She’d gone to visit his apartment there once, hoping to learn more about the city he loved enough to leave his family behind. Maybe a little about his work as the head of a large manufacturing company. But they’d never made it out of the apartment. KC had craved a real love all her life, after being abandoned over and over again as a child. Jacob wasn’t looking for love... Still, she’d wanted him, so she’d forced herself not to need more from him.

His actions had made it obvious he wasn’t interested in a long-term relationship, so she’d ignored her secret yearning for more. She’d been too afraid of losing him to insist. Responsible, steady guys usually didn’t look at her twice—after all, she worked in a bar. But it wasn’t just his incredible looks, smart, confident attitude or how good he’d been at rocking her world. Until she’d disappeared, Jacob had been attentive, caring and sexy—everything she’d ever wanted. But never committed—which was the one thing she’d needed him to be.

“Waiting for someone?” Jacob asked, folding his arms across his chest.

Oh, how she remembered that stance. He mostly resorted to it when he was disapproving or uncertain and didn’t want anyone to know it. She’d jokingly called it his Dom stance, though Jacob didn’t need power games to keep the bedroom interesting. His tightened muscles and locked legs exuded a commanding aura that sent shivers down her spine. Jake had strength in spades, but she hadn’t trusted him to use it for her, to keep her. Her childhood had taught her it wouldn’t happen.

She must have gotten lost in her thoughts, because Jacob bent closer, looming over her. “A new man, perhaps?”

A man? She’d thought she could be happily done with the whole species for quite a while, until today. Jacob Blackstone had jump-started her tingling all over again. That intense gaze sent her heart racing and mouth watering. “Um, actually, my mom is on her way. Just checking for her, that’s all.”

Wow, this was so far from her usual easy conversations that she felt as if her secret was screaming from her guilty heart. Still, she could use his assumptions to her advantage.

“But yes, I do have a new man in my life.” Jacob didn’t need to know in what capacity after all. Anything to keep him at arm’s length as long as possible.

“Is that why you changed your number...after refusing to answer your phone for weeks?”

Whoa. Not the direction she’d anticipated. But then, Jacob Blackstone had never failed to surprise her. There were whole areas of his life she knew absolutely nothing about.

“Look, Jacob, I’m really sorry. That was very bad of me.” But she’d been carrying a heavy load with no idea what direction to go. A reason, not an excuse. She’d finally run far away, only returning once James Blackstone was dead. If she’d known Jacob would return, too—but no. Keeping secrets from him forever wasn’t fair. She simply needed time. Time that was now draining away with the speed of sand in an hourglass.

“I just want to know why,” he said, toned shoulder muscles flexing beneath his dress shirt. How did a CEO maintain such incredible physique...and stamina? She had to remind herself that it hadn’t been enough, that she needed a man who would fight for her, no matter what anyone else thought.

“Did you think I couldn’t handle the news that you wanted to break it off?” he asked.

“I...” Across the street, KC noticed a group of familiar women strolling down the sidewalk. Black Hills was a relatively small town. Everyone knew most everyone else. Standing on Main Street talking with Jacob was the equivalent of standing on a stage. She needed to escape before someone started paying attention—

Or her mother and grandmother made an appearance.

“I just... Well, I didn’t know how to tell you I wasn’t interested anymore, actually.” Clunky, but the truth. Knowing she’d chosen the cowardly way out, she still forced herself to sidestep him, then back away. “And you never seemed to want to deal with any deeper stuff, so...really, Jake, I’m just, well, sorry.”

Then she turned and walked away, praying she could sidetrack her mother and grandmother before they proceeded to parade her baby down Main Street. She couldn’t let Jacob learn about his son that way. Because he’d take one look and realize the main reason why she’d disappeared, if not the whole truth. As much as his arm’s-length attitude had confused her, he didn’t deserve that.

Which meant instead of the months she’d convinced herself she had to introduce Jacob to his son, she only had a matter of days. And she probably needed to figure out how to do that sooner rather than later.

* * *

Jacob Blackstone was too good at reading people not to realize when someone was lying. KC Gatlin showed all the signs.

This afternoon she’d shifted from side to side, avoided answering directly and refused to look him in the eye. Much to his deep disappointment.

He’d anticipated that moment when their eyes would meet more than anything. He was still thinking about it as he sat with his brothers in a booth directly opposite the bar at Lola’s, sharing a platter of man food—wings and cheesy bacon-covered French fries—and alcohol. Jacob’s drink of choice had always been wine. His brothers ragged him about his caviar tastes, but Jacob refused to apologize for having the most refined sensibilities of the family.

KC was far from refined. She’d been the burn of whiskey his body had been waiting for. That was why he’d ached for her to look at him this morning. He remembered well the sparks that would explode inside him just from sharing her gaze. His long-dormant body craved another taste, like a kid craved Pop Rocks.

He’d never forget their first meeting. From the moment she’d taken the plane seat next to him, he’d been enamored. That first conversation had revealed intelligence and humor in a beguiling mix. When they’d landed at the airport an hour away from Black Hills, he’d offered to share a ride. From that moment on, whenever he’d been in town, he’d spent as much time at her place as Blackstone Manor, until she’d stopped answering his phone calls months later. When he’d come home for his grandfather’s funeral, she’d been nowhere to be found. The little house they’d spent so many enjoyable hours in had been sealed up tight.

He didn’t want to, was shocked that he couldn’t stop, but he’d hungered for her since that very first plane ride together. Time and distance hadn’t changed that, much to his disgust. Nothing about his obsession made sense. They lived in two different worlds. They had two very different personalities and approaches to life. Still, he wasn’t ready to let her go.

She’d been as wild as he’d expected, but she’d also led him to more genuine fun than he’d had his entire adult life. Quiet nights at home with a movie, cooking for two and sleeping in—oddities in his workaholic routine. No woman had interested him in any way beyond the physical. KC had interested him in every way.

She still did.

“Excuse me, guys.”

Leaving his brothers staring after him, he made his way around tables to cross the room. They’d been in their corner for an hour while KC tended bar, and she hadn’t looked directly at him a single time. Every second without that connection had itched below his skin until he couldn’t even concentrate on the conversation. He’d deliberately kept their relationship out of the local headlines, but Jacob was desperate enough to risk a little limelight right now.

Oh, boy. His attitude made him very afraid he might step into stalker mode now that the possibility of seeing her around was very, very real. Some days, thoughts of KC had made him feel as if he was losing his mind.

He braced himself for her special brand of sarcasm. Something that had been noticeably lacking this morning.

“Jake. What brings you in tonight?”

You. Jacob ground his teeth together. Not because the shortening of his name bothered him, but because hearing it said in KC Gatlin’s husky voice reminded him of evenings being soothed by her presence after an upsetting day with his mom. Reminded him of long nights between the sheets.

Far too distant memories.

“Do I need a reason? Can’t I just enjoy the opportunity to watch a beautiful woman work the crowd?”

For the better part of a year, such a simple comment would have had her eyes sparkling, those full, naturally red lips tilting into a luscious smile, her mouth ready and willing to talk back. But not tonight.

“You never came to watch me before,” she said, then dropped her gaze to the bar and started scrubbing, leaving him bereft once more. So she wasn’t gonna make this easy.

He settled on a bar stool, watching that compact body displayed to advantage in a tight T-shirt and jeans. She acknowledged the move with a quick flick of her lashes, then studiously avoided looking at him again.

Just the way she’d ignored his phone calls. For seven months. He should have moved on by now, but his obsession had only grown. Now this successful, accomplished businessman found himself hunting the woman he craved in the local honky-tonk, because, well...because the cravings had become unbearable.

It no longer mattered that he couldn’t figure out how she would fit into his life plan without wreaking havoc on it. She was the woman he shouldn’t want, but the one woman he couldn’t forget.

So he sucked up the little pride he had left and leaned closer. “You never did say where you’d been, KC.”

She paused, then dropped the towel and met his gaze head-on. One of the things that had long enticed him was the very moment those turbulent hazel eyes turned his way, letting him see the woman inside and her mood, based on the dominant color of the day. Blue for calm and sunny. Green for sultry and sexy. Brown for angry or sad.

On tonight’s menu: swirling milk chocolate. Wonder what he’d done to piss her off.

He’d never had a clue. They’d hooked up every time he’d come home to see his mother or take care of some business for his grandfather, until he’d found himself making up excuses just to return to Black Hills so he could see her. Watch her face while he talked with her. Sleep wrapped around her sweet-scented body. Hell, he’d even flown her out to Philadelphia once when he’d had to cancel his trip to Black Hills because of business.

Man, that had been a weekend to remember.

But the blank look on her face told him she wasn’t into reminiscing. How much of a glutton for punishment was he willing to be?

“Come on, KC. Even as a friend, don’t I deserve an answer?”

“I thought silence was my answer.”

Burn. “Right.”

For just a moment, the blankness slipped, revealing a flash of emotion that he couldn’t interpret before it disappeared. But it revealed one important clue: indifference wasn’t the problem.

So what was she hiding?

The KC he’d known had been all on the outside, open with her emotions and actions. This closed-off version made him curious...and angry.

What had stripped away her joy, her spontaneity? Whatever it was, her attitude seemed to be reserved solely for him. He’d been watching her flirt and smile with other customers for an hour. The minute he’d appeared in front of her—shutdown.

Funny thing was, her spontaneity was one of the main things that drew him—and the one thing that had always kept him distant. Just thinking about living with uncertainty brought the barriers up. Other people found that kind of living by the seat of your pants exciting. He had enough of the unexpected in his life dealing with his twin; he didn’t need more on a permanent basis. Luke’s need for speed was as far from Jacob’s scheduled existence as one could be from the other. Not to mention that his high-risk career as a race-car driver worried Jacob a lot.

So again he had to ask: Why was he sitting here instead of celebrating his freedom from his own version of risk?

“Was it because of this mystery man? Did you move to be with him?” Though the thought of her finding someone else hurt, maybe it was for the best. He needed something to break this incredible, horrible addiction.

She leaned closer, bracing against the bar. With her petite frame, the edge hit her higher than her waist, which gave him a really good view of her breasts in her tight Lola’s T-shirt.

He was only human. Of course he looked.

Wait, was he seeing things? Because she seemed curvier than he remembered.

“Jacob,” she said, drawing his gaze upward to her expectant face. Luckily she didn’t call him on where he’d been looking. “Look, let’s not do this here, okay? Another time, maybe.”

“Why?” And why was he continuing to push this? “Is he here?”

“No, Jacob, that’s not it.”

The sudden sound of a phone ringing didn’t register at first. After all, the bar was full of music, laughter and talking from the Friday-evening crowd. But the ringtone was persistent, and gained volume until he couldn’t miss it. KC pulled out her phone and took one look at the display before answering.

She turned away, taking a few steps down the bar while she talked. He would have thought she’d completely dismissed him, except for the quick glances she kept shooting his way. After a few words he couldn’t hear, she disconnected. Then she simply walked away.

His body mourned. His sensibilities raged. What did he have to do to get a simple explanation? Something more than “I’m sorry.” Was that really too much to ask?

Determined to get answers, he stood up and strode after her. He came around the far side of the bar to catch a quick glimpse of her slipping out the back door. He knew her mother and grandmother lived in a small house behind the bar, so that must be where she was heading. If he intercepted her on her way back in, he could confront her without an audience.

All the better.

He could just make out her figure in the darkness as he made his way outside. Her body was silhouetted in the porch light from her family’s house. He slowed his long stride. As she mounted the steps, the door opened and a woman who looked enough like her to be her mother stepped out.

That was when he heard another noise. But what caught his attention in that moment was what the older woman was holding.

A crying baby.

Jacob’s world narrowed to the child.

“Goodness, girl.” The voice of KC’s mother drifted to where he stood in the darkness. “I can’t get Carter to stop crying for nothing. He wants his mama and no one else.”

Jacob’s legs carried him closer, his brain on hold as he tried to comprehend what he was seeing.

KC reached for the baby with the ease of a woman familiar with the move. The crying stopped almost immediately as she snuggled the child close into the crook of her neck. So natural. So beautiful.

So his.

The knowledge exploded over him in a wave of heat. As she swayed in the porch light, Jacob couldn’t look away from the unusual dark golden curls that covered the baby’s head.

“My brother and I had those same kind of curls,” he murmured inanely.

In the newfound silence, they must have heard. KC jerked around to face him. But it was her mother Jacob found himself watching as the older woman’s rounded eyes confirmed the suspicions in Jacob’s whirling brain.

“KC,” she said sharply, then stepped back through the door into the house.

KC didn’t look in his direction again. She disappeared through the yellow rectangle of light in the entrance before slamming the door behind her, leaving Jacob alone in the dark.

It took a moment to get his feet to obey. As if by remote control, they carried him back to his brothers. He sank into the seat without really feeling it, seeing any of it. The numbness kept him from thinking, from dealing with the reality of what he’d just seen.

The bubble burst as he looked across the booth at his twin brother. Instantly, images of photographs from their childhood flooded his brain. Two boys, both with that thick dark blond hair. Curls all over until they’d gotten old enough to tame them.

“Jacob?” Luke said, hunching forward into his line of vision. “Jacob, are you okay? Where’d you go?”

Reaching out, Jacob picked up his half-full glass of wine and lifted it to his lips to perform the ultimate wine drinker’s depravity. He chugged until every single drop was gone.

Then he set the glass down carefully and lay his palm flat beside it, praying the solidity of the table would ground him in the spinning room.

Luke lay his own palm on the table, mirroring Jacob’s. “You cool?” Their version of letting each other know they were there.

And just like that, the words came to him, along with the anger. “I think I’m a daddy.”

Two

Twenty-four hours later, Jacob finally stopped seething enough to confront KC. When he’d imagined what it would be like to find out he was going to be a parent, he’d pictured being across the table from his wife at an intimate dinner or seated next to each other in a doctor’s office. Instead, the most gorgeous woman in the world had made him a father—and failed to mention it for twelve months.

The numbness had melted into rage, keeping Jacob awake long into the night. He went over the figures time and again. They hadn’t spoken for seven months—he was ashamed that he could remember it to the day. He didn’t have a lot of experience, but he’d guess the baby to be three to four months old. So how long had she known she was pregnant before she left? Two months? Three? Either way, they’d definitely been together when she found out. And those curls proved the baby to be a Blackstone heir.

He knew better than to see her before he calmed down. He couldn’t be responsible for his actions while struggling with the deepest emotions he’d ever known. Control was his drug of choice—being out of control was something he preferred to keep well hidden. So he waited until he had his reactions under lock and key, and then he got in the car and drove.

KC lived a little outside town in a tiny house. Though there were other houses around, it wasn’t really a subdivision. More of a series of dwellings that had sprung up over time as family members and friends and even acquaintances bought land and started building. The result was individual, with plenty of space and large trees. Ideal starter homes. Just imagining the possibilities ignited his anger once more.

He knew she’d be there—familiarity with her schedule gave him an advantage.

Sure enough, the door opened before he even knocked. She didn’t speak, but simply turned back into the house, leaving him to follow. His gaze tracked her, cataloging every inch as she walked to the far end of the living room. Yeah, that body had changed, all right.

If he’d known what he was looking for, he’d have noticed right away. He’d been too busy searching for a connection in her eyes. But drinking in the whole package in jeans and a tank top, he saw the more dramatic curve from her waist to her hips, the added fullness in her breasts and a touch of softness in her jawline.

He’d thought nothing could make her more beautiful, but somehow having his baby had. And he hadn’t been allowed to be a part of it.

Irritation with his attraction only ramped up his intensity. Carefully shuttering every window to his soul, he faced off with her in true Blackstone fashion.

He jerked his head in the direction of the driveway. “Someone else here?” he asked, referring to the car parked behind hers. So help him, if there was a man living here, he just might explode. Had she moved on that quickly? Had she let another man care for Jacob’s child?

“Mom,” she said quietly, slightly dampening his fuse. “She’s in the nursery with Carter.”

His throat almost closed. “Carter, huh?”

“Yes. Jake Carter.”

Jake. Her nickname for Jacob—spoken with laughter, with intensity, with passion. It seemed more personal to name the baby that than to give him Jacob’s last name.

“So you admit that he’s mine?”

“Of course,” she said, as if it made perfect sense under the circumstances. How could anything she’d done make perfect sense?

He stalked closer. “Why would you do this, KC? Was I really so horrible to you that you refused to let me be a part of—this?”

“That was never the issue, Jacob—”

“Then what was?” A really deep breath helped him lower his voice. It kept rising without his permission. Control. He needed control. “What was the issue, KC? Because I can’t imagine one big enough that you told yourself it was okay to deceive me. To keep my son a secret from me.”

Her arms crossed over her ribs, pushing those delectable breasts higher in the tank top. Something he shouldn’t notice right now. At all.

“I did not deceive you. I never lied. I was going to tell you. I just hadn’t figured out how.”

“So he’s three months old?”

“Yes, a week ago.”

“So at any time in the past twelve months you could have picked up the phone. Or hell, just answered the phone when I called.”

“I was afraid to. Going away just seemed the safest thing until I was sure what to do.”

Jacob was surprised by the low rumble of his voice. “Safe? How? What the hell would safety have to do with it? I would never hurt you.”

“I know that, Jacob, but it wasn’t—”

The emotional roller coaster of the night caught up with him, pushing him past reasonable thought. “Know what? It doesn’t matter. Fact is, you deprived me of three months of knowing my—son,” he choked out. “Not a note, a card or a call. Hell, not even a text. By the way, I’m pregnant. That’s all it would have taken, KC, but you didn’t even have the decency to do that.”

He’d made himself available, chased after her like a dog with no sense, and this was what he got for it.

He came even closer until he loomed over her petite frame. “So now, I’ll have what I want.”

He wished her deep breath didn’t draw his gaze downward. The low-level buzz of desire beneath his anger made him want to curse. He should not be attracted to a woman who could betray him. But he couldn’t help it.

“Jake, please let me explain.”

He refused to look in those turbulent eyes again. “Too late. No talking. No thinking. Now I will act.”

She straightened, bracing her spine, which was just as well.

“Carter will come home.”

Her jaw clenched. “He is home.”

“My home.” Some sick part of him took pleasure in the panic creeping over her features. “He’s a Blackstone. He should be with his family.”

She swallowed hard. “Jacob, please don’t do this.”

“Mark my words, KC. I will make you regret what you’ve done. I promise.”

* * *

As soon as he’d stormed out of her house, KC began to dread the moment Jacob would act on his threat. The longer she waited, the more her stomach hurt.

She knew she’d made a bad choice, but given the circumstances, she thought she’d done the best she could. Waiting until James Blackstone was dead to tell Jacob about Carter had seemed like the safest option for protecting her baby, along with her family. In the absence of a reliable husband or father, her mother had given her all to raising and providing for KC and her brother. KC had felt that pull of loyalties every day that she’d been away, but in the end, she’d chosen to take care of the women who had raised her. Her mother and grandmother would have no defense against James Blackstone if he’d retaliated by taking away their livelihood on a whim.

But Jacob didn’t believe her, because he was acting on emotion, not facts.

How did she get him to listen to those facts now? She knew James’s lawyer, Canton, could work all kinds of voodoo if he wanted. Was Jacob even now making arrangements to take her baby from her? The thought shook her deeper than any of the rest. Not just for the typical mommy reason: being away from her child for more than a day was more than she could handle right now. But Jacob was essentially an unknown as a parent.

Would he expose their child to the same rejection and abandonment she’d been subjected to as a child? In her experience, fathers didn’t know the meaning of commitment. But she’d been luckier than her brother. Her father had hung around until she was eight. Her older brother had never really known his.

After stewing for the rest of the morning, she decided she couldn’t wait for Jacob to make the first move. Jacob wasn’t answering his cell, which scared her all the more. When she called Blackstone Manor directly, the old butler answered. She’d spoken to Nolen a few times before when she’d called to talk to her friend Christina, who’d married Jacob’s brother. Nolen was helpful, telling her that Jacob had said something about going to Booties ʼn’ Bunting.

Panic and anger had surged in KC’s gut. Booties ʼn’ Bunting was the only exclusive baby boutique in town. Jacob had the money to do all the things she couldn’t. She’d bought all her baby furniture and clothes at Walmart. He’d have designer diapers and the best furniture, not to mention the best lawyer when it came down to a fight.

She’d made the mistake; now it was up to her to ensure that it didn’t turn into a brawl.

KC’s stomach twisted into knots as she drove across Black Hills. Whipping her little Honda into Booties ʼn’ Bunting’s parking lot, she jumped out of the car and plowed down the sidewalk, not letting herself remember just how little she belonged in the boutique district, much less in a store selling fifty-dollar baby onesies. Jacob’s Tahoe parked out front confirmed that he was here. No doubt arming himself with everything he needed to take her child away.

She let herself in with her head held high and tracked down her prey, standing next to the most gorgeous crib she’d ever seen.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

Jacob faced her with surprise lightening his face. For a split second, KC saw the man she’d wanted more than anything. Then a mocking grin slid across his lips.

“Could you give us a minute, please?” Jacob asked the saleswoman. Until that moment, KC hadn’t even noticed her on the other side of the crib. The woman turned quietly and walked to the back of the store before Jacob continued, “What does it look like, KC? I’m outfitting the nursery at Blackstone Manor.”

Oh, no, he wasn’t. “You don’t need any of this stuff, Jacob, because Carter is not coming to live with you.”

“And what makes you say that?”

“This isn’t just about you, Jake. You need to think about what’s best for Carter.”

“I am. I have the means to provide my son with everything he needs. Unlike you.”

Hurt streaked through her, but she pushed it deep down under her growing anger. “Really? Can you give him love? Can you comfort him? Can you guide him? Or are you planning on using your money to turn that job over to a nanny so you can go about your perfectly planned days?”

His narrowed eyes should have had her shaking, but she refused to back down. Her son’s future was at stake. She didn’t want to hurt Jacob, but how else could she get through to him? “One thing I can say with certainty is that I can provide him those things. You, I’m not so sure about.”

Not waiting to give him a chance to outthink her, she pushed forward. Crowding into Jacob’s space, she said, “You want Carter to come live with you? I understand why you would. I don’t blame you for that.” Her breath caught for a moment. “And I don’t blame you for not trusting me, but I’m not turning my son over to just anyone.”

“Oh, you don’t have to turn him over,” Jacob said, his voice deepening as if he had gravel in his throat. “You can come, too. I’m sure I could find a...use...for you.”

Strike number two. How many body shots did he plan to take? Because she sure didn’t need the reminder that Jacob had wanted her for sex and only sex.

She wasn’t sure how long she stood there with wide eyes before he looked away. But he wasn’t backing down. “The fact is, you’ve had Carter to yourself for three months. Your time just ran out.”

She’d guessed Jacob was a formidable businessman. But when he turned that laser-sharp stare on her, it sliced through what little armor she had and put every inner doubt on display.

“Jacob, I understand your anger,” she said, trying to slow her panic with a deep breath. “I made a horrible miscalculation. So I want to do my part to make this work. But no lawyers. No fighting. You want Carter to be a part of your life? Prove it to me.” Please, please, let this work.

“What do I need to prove? We knew each other for over a year. You know everything you need to know about me.”

“I know everything about certain parts of you.” If he wanted the truth, she could comply. “I know you’re halfway decent in bed.” That whopper of an understatement almost choked her. “How good you are at picking up girls on planes. That you enjoy being with me at home but don’t want to be seen in public with me. That I’m good enough for sex but not allowed into any other part of your life. None of that tells me a damn thing about what kind of father you are.”

“So you want me to prove I can change diapers?” His shocked expression would be a thing to savor later when she stopped being so afraid of him that she might wet her pants.

“I want to know that you’re more than a sexual being, Jacob. Show me what kind of man you truly are. Can I trust your word? Can I believe you when you say you aren’t bad-mouthing me to my child behind my back? Can I trust you to teach him morals and work ethic and decency? Because I won’t let my child become a chip off James Blackstone’s block.”

Jacob stepped closer, literally towering over her. “What the hell are you talking about?”

Arching her neck to stare at him wasn’t comfortable, but she wasn’t going to concede with even a single step backward. “Since you didn’t know about Carter, I’m going to guess and say you didn’t know your grandfather came to see me right before he died.”

“Aiden would have told me.”

“Did Aiden know? He wasn’t there.”

“Who was?”

“That lawyer guy.”

“Canton?”

“That’s the one. They came to the house one morning. I’d only known I was pregnant for a week.”

“How could he possibly know about that?”

KC shook her head. “I’m not sure. But he did know how long we’d been seeing each other. I wouldn’t put it past either of them to spy on me somehow.”

Jacob’s Adam’s apple shifted in his throat. KC was sorry to have to deliver her news.

“James knew you were pregnant with my child.” The deadness in his voice reverberated through her. She’d often wondered how a man like his grandfather could have had a child. What kind of family did you create with manipulation and fear? No wonder Aiden Blackstone had run far, far away when he was younger.

Though Jacob had always seemed quite normal, she’d sensed a dark sadness underneath that excellent control of his. What games had James Blackstone played with his grandsons? What terror had he wreaked in their family before he died? Jacob had never even come close to sharing something that personal.

“That’s the only reason I could think of that he would demand I leave town. And never come back.”

Jacob seemed frozen; not a muscle moved. He gripped the crib rail with one hand. The knuckles turned white...and stayed white.

“But you didn’t stay away.”

“No. Once I found out he was dead, I thought the coast would be clear to come home.” That might have been a mistake, too. “But he threatened my family’s business—”

“How?” he asked, his eyes narrowing as if he suspected a lie.

“Jacob,” she said, shaking her head at him, “your grandfather owned half the town. He’d rented us the land Lola’s is on for my entire life but never would allow my mother or grandmother to buy it. I suspect it was so he could use it to his advantage if the opportunity arose.”

She tried to breathe around the anger that rose at the memory. “He threatened to shut down the business. Everything my mother and grandmother own is tied up in Lola’s. Not to mention that their house is on that land, too. So I agreed, and the men left. Then I cashed out some savings and used it to move away.”

Jacob smirked. “Serves him right.”

“When I heard about his death, I thought—well, we all thought—he couldn’t hurt us anymore. I just hadn’t figured out what to do about you yet.”

“And you think this is the answer?”

“It’s the only one I’ve got.” Might as well be honest about that. “Let’s face it, Jacob. You have money and a damn good lawyer. But James didn’t own me, and neither do you. If you want to be part of Carter’s life, stop throwing your weight around and work with me.”

“Who put you in charge? You haven’t exactly proved yourself trustworthy.”

Unease rippled through her body. She knew she’d had good reasons for her choices, but when she looked at it from his point of view... “I’m not denying you access to Carter out of anger or revenge, Jacob. I simply want to know that he’s in good hands. That you’re willing to make a place for a baby in your life. Not hand him over to a well-paid nanny.”

His eyes searched hers. “How can I be sure he’s in good hands with you?”

“I— Well—” Words failed her for a moment.

“Face it, KC. You ran halfway across the country to hide my child from me. I’m not the only one with something to prove. The question is, how?”

Three

Jacob hadn’t felt so out of control since the last time he’d had KC in a bed. Only, anger wasn’t nearly as pleasurable. Still, he used the impetus to propel himself through the door to his brother Aiden’s study at Blackstone Manor, knowing John Canton was there for a meeting.

This morning, Aiden had mentioned an appointment for the lawyer to drop off some paperwork for their grandfather’s will. Canton still had control of the Blackstone inheritance, for now. There were some final hoops to jump through, then Jacob and his brothers would be free of James Blackstone and his minion.

“You bastard,” Jacob growled, absorbing his brother’s shocked look as he passed. But his focus was trained wholly on the lawyer.

The same lawyer who had assisted their grandfather in blackmailing Aiden into marrying Christina, their mother’s nurse, terrorizing them with threats of compromising their mother’s health and care if they didn’t comply.

“I knew you would force two people to get married to suit James’s purposes. Threaten, and bully, and even ruin an entire town on the whim of a dead man. But I seriously thought any decent human being would draw the line at cutting a child completely out of a man’s life.” He let his momentum carry him until he loomed over the smaller man. “Guess I thought wrong.”

From behind the desk, Aiden asked, “Jacob, care to fill me in?”

Canton didn’t even blink...or pretend not to understand what Jacob referred to. “I did as your grandfather ordered.”

“Didn’t you think I should have a say?”

Canton shrugged. “That was not for me to decide.”

With a growl, Jacob reached forward, but arms made of steel were there to stop him. Slowly, Aiden inched him back until there was enough room for him to stand between Jacob and the man he felt like killing.

“I’ve obviously missed something,” Aiden said. “Tell me now.”

From the other side of the barrier Aiden provided, Canton spoke. Brave man. “I believe Jacob is referring to a conversation his grandfather had with Ms. Gatlin.”

“What?” Aiden looked surprised.

Jacob turned away, relieving his brother of guard duty. At least not looking at his grandfather’s lawyer would help him regain control. In thirty-three years, he’d never experienced this many emotional twists. He didn’t like it. He needed stability. All the more reason to stay away from KC—but that wasn’t an option anymore.

He turned back, focusing on his brother. “I went to see KC Gatlin.”

Aiden gave a short nod. “So it’s true? The baby is yours?”

“He’s three months old.” Jacob felt the need to clarify, now that he had more facts. “I met KC on one of my flights home and...” How did he put this without making it sound as if KC was simply a booty call? “Okay, I was sleeping at her place whenever I came to town.” Why sugarcoat his selfishness?

Aiden’s thick brows went up. “Wow, Jacob. I didn’t know you had it in you.”

“Not the time, Aiden.”

“Really? You brought it up.”

Jacob ignored the brotherly razzing and moved on. “The baby is definitely mine.” That shut down his brother’s grin. Real quick. “Dear ol’ Grandpa threatened her until she skipped town, never telling me about it—my son.”

Aiden narrowed his gaze on the lawyer. “How would Grandfather even find out KC was pregnant? Medical records are confidential. Was he rummaging through her trash for a pregnancy test?”

Jacob barely held his control as he waited for the answer.

Canton smirked. “Anything can be had for the right price. Turns out, one of the little nurses at KC’s doctor has a serious cash-flow problem.”

Jacob was rushing forward before he even thought. Only the barricade created by Aiden’s body stopped his attack. His own heavy breathing sounded loud in Jacob’s ears; his heart thudded as he realized the full magnitude of his grandfather’s invasion of privacy. Jacob wanted to do bodily harm all over again.

“Easy,” Aiden murmured against his ear. “Let’s get our questions answered, and then he’ll be gone. Forever this time.”

Silence reigned as Jacob tried to gather the remnants of his self-control. His thoughts whirled, reminding him if he hadn’t come home for good, he might never have found out he was a father. Pulling back, he announced, “It was only by accident I found out that KC had my child.”

Canton spoke again from a safe distance across the room. “Then I don’t understand the issue.”

Jacob rounded on him but didn’t move closer. He didn’t trust himself. “The issue? You tried to separate me from my child.”

“But by your own admission, we didn’t succeed.”

The guy simply didn’t get it. “Would you ever have told me?”

“Your grandfather demanded complete loyalty. And discretion. Of course I wouldn’t have.” His weasel-like face didn’t change expression. “And since Ms. Gatlin moved without contacting you and didn’t come home during the remainder of your grandfather’s lifetime, she’d fulfilled our terms. In which case, there was nothing to tell.”

“I’m glad you think so. I guess that clears your conscience.”

The man didn’t bother to defend himself. “I don’t have a conscience. I have a job.”

“That’s enough,” Aiden interjected. “Canton, we’re done for now. I’ll reschedule with you at your office later and we will finish up the last of the paperwork for Grandfather’s affairs.”

The lawyer was smart enough to take an out when it was given to him. He scurried through the door without so much as a by-your-leave. But his departure ratcheted down Jacob’s anger by a few notches.

“Man, I’ll be glad to see the last of that guy,” Aiden said as he straightened the papers on his desk.

“How much longer?”

Aiden had spent the year dealing with his grandfather’s lawyer after James had blackmailed him into marrying Christina. Luckily, it had all worked out for the best, but the lawyer’s presence was an annoying reminder of their grandfather’s manipulations.

Aiden waved the papers at him. “This is the end of it. The year is almost up and we will be free from it all. Including Canton. I just wish there was a way to punish him for what he’s done rather than be rewarded with the money Grandfather left him.” Aiden settled back into his chair, looking every inch the sophisticated Manhattan art dealer, though he now lived in South Carolina instead of New York. “KC Gatlin, huh? Beautiful, but definitely different from your standard of socialites and fellow businesswomen.”

“Tell me about it.” Jacob started to pace, hoping to expend the energy thrumming beneath his skin. Hell, he just might have to go for another jog, even though he’d done five miles this morning. Especially as he thought about KC’s earlier accusations.

“Where do you want to go from here?” Aiden asked after several moments.

More of that loaded silence.

Finally, Jacob said, “I would be lying if I said I didn’t want to see her again. Didn’t wish we could pick up where we left off when she disappeared. But—no.” He glanced over at his brother. “She’s not right for me long-term.”

“Why not?”

Good question. “Let’s see. She doesn’t fit in with what I want in life, who I am. She’s more like Luke—unpredictable, headstrong.” And makes me feel just as unpredictable. Out of control.

“She’s gorgeous.”

“She works in a bar.”

“Ah, a hard worker.”

Jacob stared hard at the bookshelves, cataloging the shapes and colors of the books but not the titles. “She kept my son a secret.”

“So she panicked and made a mistake. You enjoyed being with her before. What’s the real problem?”

Could he let his guard down? Even a little? Jacob was used to his brothers confiding in him, not the other way around. “I just— Before, it was easy. But she’s right. I kept her compartmentalized so I wouldn’t have any interference in my life.” He ran his hand across his close-cropped hair. “It had nothing to do with only wanting her for sex and everything to do with making our relationship convenient for me.”

“Relationships are anything but convenient. I’m learning to roll with it because the good far outweighs everything else.”

Jacob felt a moment of envy. Inflexibility seemed to have been bred into him. Strict adherence to standards and procedures served him well in business, not so much in relationships. At least, the few he’d had. He rarely saw a woman more than a handful of times, since he wasn’t ready for the long-term thing yet. Maybe not for several more years.

KC had taken him off guard. He could admit to himself that he’d kept her compartmentalized in his life because he’d been afraid—afraid of her taking over, afraid of losing control, afraid of being ruled by emotions instead of his brain.

I want another chance at that woman. No. “She’s my son’s mother. Better to stay close and know your enemy, right?”

Aiden’s smirk took him by surprise. “Jacob, the last time I fell for that line, I ended up married to the woman who changed my life, my way of thinking, forever. For the better, but still...”

“Not me.”

Aiden’s expression screamed famous last words, but Jacob ignored it. Aiden had vowed at eighteen never to return to Blackstone Manor—now he was happily married and living here full-time, with frequent business trips to New York to manage his art import/export business.

Would Jacob end up the same? Moving home was definitely the right choice, especially since his son was now here. But married? Not to KC. As exciting as being with her was, he wanted peace, not unpredictability.

“Jacob.”

The serious tone in Aiden’s voice cut through Jacob’s confusion. “Yeah?”

“What are you going to do about KC? About the baby?”

“Carter,” he said, clearing his throat when it tried to close. “Forcing her to give him to me would probably lead to a legal battle—and prove me to be a jackass. She might not have a lot of money, but she won’t give him up without a fight.” He frowned. “The bigger question is, what is she gonna do about me?”

Aiden thought for a moment. “Do you want her?”

“I do, but I told you, she’s not right—”

“Sometimes things don’t come the way we plan.”

And Jacob had been planning his entire life. He didn’t know if he could give that up.

“I can’t walk away. He’s my son.” Deep down he cringed at the hypocrisy of speaking as if memories of those incredible nights together had no influence on Jacob’s desire to see KC again.

“Then you need to be very careful...for you and for them.”

Jacob glanced over. “What do you mean?”

“I mean what’s going on at the mill. We still haven’t figured out who’s trying to sabotage our business, and until we do, nobody associated with us is safe. Delaying shipments and messing with customers’ orders is annoying, but what happened to Christina last year could have killed her. She wasn’t the target, but that doesn’t change the result.”

Jacob remembered all too well the night a group of thugs had set Aiden’s studio on fire...with Christina inside. The incident was one of many suspicious events at the Blackstones’ cotton mill, but it had escalated the game to a whole new level. “You think they might target my son?”

“Not on purpose, but then again...” Aiden leveled a look at him, sending unease running over Jacob’s nerve endings. “It would be for the best to keep the connection quiet. For now.”

“Right.” For now. Jacob had a lot of experience keeping things quiet in this town.

“So get control, before someone else does.”

Like KC. Jacob had been irritated and fascinated at the baby store. Until she’d burst in and started making demands, he hadn’t known what it would be like to have all that feistiness turned on him as a weapon. His whole body had lit up inside. At this rate, she’d have the upper hand in no time. Leading him about by the nose, or rather, another appendage he’d just as soon keep under control.

Jacob was grateful when Aiden moved on, pulling him back out of his convoluted thoughts.

“Back to business,” Aiden said. “I had a call from Bateman at the mill right before Canton arrived.”

Jacob had had a call, too, but he’d let it go to voice mail. He’d been too keyed up from his clash with KC to make sense of business.

A problem he never had.

Deflating like a balloon, Jacob dropped into one of the chairs facing the desk, grateful Aiden had replaced the old leather-and-wood chairs with cozy wing backs. His brother and sister-in-law were slowly updating things in Blackstone Manor—especially the study—inch by inch scraping away the depressive stench of their grandfather’s manipulation to reveal the true beauty of a home that had stood for generations in the face of natural and man-made tribulations.

“I just don’t know how to get a handle on the problems at the mill,” Jacob said, reminding them both of the year they’d spent dealing with the saboteur. “We need to find another way of catching this guy. I mean, I’m there every day, but I’m in management. And no one’s talking to me. We need someone on the floor, someone relatable. I think that’s where the problem is.”

“Definitely can’t be either of us. See if Bateman can put you in touch with someone over there to help. He’ll know who’s trustworthy.”

“Right.” His foreman had already been very helpful. Because Jacob wasn’t capable of judging anyone at the moment. Business would give him something to focus on besides KC, just as soon as they settled on some ground rules.

Start as you mean to go on, his mother had always said. For everyone involved, that was exactly what they needed to do.

* * *

As she faced off with Jake on her front porch, KC knew she was simply delaying the inevitable, but she couldn’t stop herself from arguing just for the sake of it. “What if my mom wasn’t here to watch Carter?”

KC spoke with no real hope of making a dent in Jacob’s thinking but couldn’t resist pointing out the inconvenience he was putting everyone through. Everyone but him. She hated the push-pull of her emotions. Wanting to keep him at arm’s length, yet greedy for even a little bit of his attention. When he’d finally called after two days of silence, her heart had sped up, but she couldn’t help being contrary about his sudden demand for her to take a Sunday drive with him.

“If we’re going to do this, there will be ground rules,” he said now as he waited impatiently on her doorstep. “That means we need to talk. Alone.”

That take-charge tone shouldn’t send shivers down her arms but it did. “Yes, we should,” she conceded. “But you still could’ve given me a heads-up sooner.”

She took her time walking back to the nursery. Not that she had anything important to do on Sunday mornings. Her mother usually came over before lunch for some downtime with Carter since Lola’s wasn’t open. Sometimes KC ran a few errands. Then they had family dinner with Grandma. Asking her mother to stay with Carter for a little while was really a formality, but it also wouldn’t hurt Jacob to wait on her porch a few minutes, just for giggles and grins.

Her pokiness had her changing into jeans and pulling her hair into a ponytail, but she simply refused to hurry. He didn’t comment when she finally came outside, just held the door for her to climb into his Tahoe and closed it with a firm hand.

The contained atmosphere of Jacob’s SUV didn’t settle her nerves. The interior smelled like him—spicy and dark. If she closed her eyes and breathed deep, she could almost remember what it felt like to have that scent all over her and wish she didn’t ever have to wash it away. After all, she never knew when she might smell it again.

After she’d left, been away from him for a while, she realized how sad it was to need someone so badly and yet be relegated mostly to a physical relationship. They said men did it all the time—obviously Jake had—but KC had never felt more alone than when she was lying in his arms, wishing she was good enough for him to make her a true part of his life.

The door opened and Jacob slid into his seat with his phone pressed to his ear. “I’m on my way,” he said as he reached for his seat belt. Without explanation he stowed the phone in the center console. Then he put the Tahoe in gear and pulled out of KC’s driveway, all without telling her where they were going or what this was about.

“You said something about ground rules?” she prompted.

Jacob maintained a still silence for several minutes more, at odds with the hum of the tires on asphalt. “I’ve made it clear what I want—”

“Actually, you haven’t.”

He shot a glance at her.

“Well, you haven’t,” she insisted. “Are you trying to get Carter full-time? Not that I’d let you have custody, but still...do you want him part-time? Have you thought about how that will work, how it will affect him? Do you—?”

“Enough, KC.”

His deep frown had her second-guessing her pushiness, but she wouldn’t apologize for trying to protect her son.

“I started making demands because I was angry. Unlike you, I didn’t get to think about this, plan for this, nothing. So I reacted out of emotion.” The heavy sound of his breath was her clue to how much self-control he was exerting.

A part of her, the wounded part, wanted to push him. Make him acknowledge that she and Carter would have a big place in his life—something he hadn’t found important enough to offer her before. Another part of her wanted to see that legendary control smashed to teeny-tiny pieces.

Just the way it had when they were in bed together. But as soon as the sex had been done, he’d been back in form—charming and attentive but perfectly capable of walking away.

“We have to do what’s best for Carter,” he said, staring straight out the windshield. “So how do we do that?”

“Let me get to know you.”

“To what end? What are we striving for here, KC?” He ran a rough hand over his smooth chin. In the time she’d known him, she’d never once seen him with stubble. “Because if you think you can disappear with him if you don’t like what you learn, that’s not an option. I will always find you.”

But for all the wrong reasons. “My family is here, Jacob,” she countered. “It didn’t take me long to realize that running is not a safe, long-term option. I made a mistake—one I won’t repeat. But I’d better like what I see, because unlimited access to your son is on the line.” She shifted against the leather seat, wondering if she could back up her big words with action.

“Look,” she said. “I don’t want us to spend our time trying to guard against each other. If this is truly about Carter—” she ignored Jake’s look “—then we need to work together. I tried to do things your way before and got nowhere. So this really is all on you. Show me what you’re like out of bed so I can see where Carter and—” I. Carter and I. She cleared her throat, grateful she hadn’t finished that sentence out loud. “Where Carter fits. Prove to me that he’s in good hands with you.”

“So what is it I’m supposed to do to show you I’m a good man? Hell, even I don’t know if I’m a good father. I’ve never been one before. Is this a written exam? A field test?”

“Oh, it’s a field test, all right. No more secrets, Jacob.”

He shot her a quick glance. “Are you seriously saying you didn’t learn anything about me in the months we were together? Why don’t you tell me what you do know and I’ll fill in the blanks.”

All the memories of their time together flooded her mind—long nights, laughter and loving... No. Not loving. The thought created an urge to get under his skin in the only way she knew how.

She shifted as close to him as her seat belt would allow. “Well,” she said, reaching out a fingertip. “I know you’re sensitive here.” She brushed gently back and forth along the outer edge of his ear, then down along his jawline. “I know you shave early and often because you don’t like looking scruffy.” The back of her hand rubbed down along his throat, then up along his collarbone. “I know your favorite sexual position is missionary because it gives you the most control—”

“What do you want to know?” Jacob interrupted, his voice deep and rough.

She leaned back in her seat, trying to cover her smile of satisfaction. Torturing him had always been fun. “What do you do—I mean, really do? What do you care about? Enjoy? Do you plan on staying here for longer than just the time it takes to get the mill on track?”

“What about you?” he asked, countering a question with a question.

“What do you mean?”

“The same questions apply to you,” he said, turning the Tahoe into a nearby parking lot so he could face her. “This won’t be a one-way street, KC.”

Yes, her sins would haunt her forever. She should never have kept Carter from Jake.

His gaze held her immobile as he spoke. “I’m not the only one paying for my mistakes,” he said, leaning closer, crowding her until her heart fluttered in panic. “We’re gonna be seeing a lot of each other.”

“I’m sure,” she said with a nod, trying to get a handle on her nerves.

His gaze dropped to her lips as she licked them, reminding her of things she was better off forgetting. The space around them closed in before he spoke. “The thing is, with your history, I’m now questioning every word from these pretty lips.”

She had no warning when his thumb came up to rub back and forth across her mouth. It affected her more than she wanted to admit, and left her dreaming of more.

“Consequences, KC. Those are my terms.”

Her lips firmed, and she had a feeling she’d adopted the stubborn look she was known to turn on disruptive customers. Jacob simply smiled, then pulled back and got them on the road again.

“Well,” she said, a little stumped, “my life is pretty simple, as you saw before. My job, my time revolves around my family.”

“They’re supportive? Of you and Carter?”

Her heart jumped at the softening of his voice as he said their son’s name. “Definitely. Our family is very close. And my grandmother, mother and brother love Carter unconditionally.”

Even if their new connection to the Blackstone family scared her mother no end. KC rubbed her palms against her jean-covered thighs, searching for more words. “What about your family?” She swallowed hard, distracted by thoughts of her friend Christina, a true Blackstone now. She would be so mad when she realized KC had kept the truth about Carter from her. “Did you tell them?”

“I guess you’ll see,” Jacob said, then turned the truck abruptly into a construction area.

With a start, KC realized they were at the site of the new playground Aiden Blackstone had raised money to build on the south end of town. The large field had been cleared and leveled, with concrete slabs laid in various areas to anchor the equipment. Current construction seemed to center around a two-story fort at the far end.

There, a group of people stood to one side while a handful of construction workers drilled to secure the platforms. “Do they know we’re coming?” she asked.

“They knew I was coming,” Jacob said. “You’ll just be the bonus.”

Yeah, right.

Jacob settled his palm on the door’s handle, then spoke while staring straight ahead. “And for the record, my favorite position isn’t missionary. It’s you on top.”

KC swallowed hard. That revelation held her in place for longer than she liked. Her mind wandered back to all the times—no. No time for that now.

She’d be better off remembering all the times he’d left her to go back to Philadelphia with rarely a call between trips. KC scrambled out of the car, ignoring Jacob’s frown. He’d always liked to open the door for her, and she’d trained herself to wait for him. It had been hard for a girl who’d always taken care of herself, but she’d done it because it made him happy. And deep down, because it made her feel special. Letting him do it now would be too big of a reminder of those precious moments.

As she followed at a slight distance behind him across the open lot, KC wished there was at least one happy face in the crowd. She recognized the newlywed couple as they approached, and neither looked very welcoming.

Yep, the news of Carter’s parentage had spread.

Jacob introduced her to his brother, but Christina stepped in before he could go further. “We know each other,” she said quietly. “Hey, KC.”

KC couldn’t read her friend’s tone or expression. They’d been very close before KC left, often hanging out in the same group of women. But she, Christina and their friend Avery Prescott had formed a tight bond through community work that hadn’t been weakened by their different social statuses. KC had told them she was moving away for a job, and other than some chance encounters, she hadn’t tried to renew her bond with the women since she’d returned.

All it would have taken was one of them to figure out who Carter’s father was, and they all would have known. Living and working in Blackstone Manor—and now married to the Blackstone heir—Christina posed a danger to KC. She hadn’t wanted to risk anything until she had all her ducks in a row.

Seeing Christina now reminded KC how much she’d given up in the past year, but keeping Carter safe had been worth it.

“KC, I’m sorry we’ve never met formally,” Aiden said.

How should she respond? Me, too? Since she’d determined to stay as far away from the Blackstones as possible, that would be a complete lie.

He went on, apparently not expecting a response. “There’s no point in beating around the bush,” he said, earning an eye roll from his wife. “Jacob told us what happened, or rather, why you left town.”

He glanced at his wife, and they shared a look of momentary communion. “If Christina and I understand anything, it’s how manipulative my grandfather was, how he set out to twist the world into his own version of perfect. But for the record, we look forward to you and Carter joining our family.”

KC shot a glance at Jacob, wondering how he felt about all this. His stoic look gave nothing away. “I’m not sure how this will work out yet...”

Aiden shook his head. “Doesn’t matter. If you need us, we’re here.”

Then he turned to talk to Jacob as if he hadn’t just dropped a bomb in the middle of the park.

“How’s everything comin’?” Jacob asked, seeming unfazed by his brother’s words.

“Hartwell’s doing a great job...”

KC watched as Aiden’s hand cupped Christina’s shoulder. He stroked up and down hypnotically, giving his wife his attention even while he talked to Jacob. The ache that bloomed deep in her gut didn’t mean KC was jealous of the other couple. Not really.

Knowing that bridging this gap was up to her, KC wasn’t willing to simply stand there while the men talked.

“Hey, Christina,” she said, feeling awkwardly formal. If she was going to be around Jacob’s family and regain her friendships, she would have to jump this hurdle. “How are you?”

“Good,” her friend said. “Things are really good.”

Drawing in a deep breath, Christina lifted dark, somber eyes. “Do you have any pictures of him? I haven’t gotten to see Carter up close since you’ve been back.”

KC tried not to wince. The implication hung in the air. It meant a lot to Christina that KC had cut her out of her life for the past year. Pulling her phone out of her back pocket, KC scrolled until she found the folder of Carter’s pictures.

Then she held the phone out for Christina, hoping her willingness to share would start to repair the breach in their relationship.

“Oh, how sweet,” the other woman breathed.

KC felt the motherly glow of pride she still wasn’t quite used to spread over her. Then Jacob reached out and took the phone from Christina’s hand. Turning the screen toward him, he started to scroll through the pictures. KC couldn’t stand to look at him, the sadness in his eyes was so profound.

The guilt that had been growing over her decision to keep Carter from Jacob burrowed so deep inside she doubted she’d ever be rid of it. Yes, she’d been afraid. She’d been angry. She’d been pressured. But in the end, her choice to cave under James Blackstone’s demands had deeply hurt Jacob. Now she got to live with the proof of that.

Finally he came to a single picture and stopped, simply staring at it. He didn’t say anything, and the ache was made worse by his silence.

In an effort to escape, KC shifted her eyes, but found herself caught by Aiden Blackstone’s hard stare. She’d heard he was a tough nut to crack, but the echo of his brother’s pain she saw in Aiden’s eyes told her she’d hurt not just Jacob but his family, too. A hard knot of self-disgust formed in her stomach.

“Let me show you what the construction crew is up to,” Christina said, taking her arm to guide KC away.

Probably for the best. She might ruin her boundaries with Jacob by bursting into tears right there.

Not that being with Christina was much easier. She knew the minute her friend threw the first glance her way, then threw several more as they walked slowly away from the men toward the half-standing fort. The sound of electric nail drivers peppered the air. To the right, three men were securing a set of monkey bars into the ground.

“I really don’t understand, KC,” Christina finally said. “And I want to understand. I do.”

“James threatened my family. I didn’t know how to get out of that without hurting them.”

“That part I get,” Christina said “Trust me, I really do. My own experiences with James are numerous and traumatic.”

KC could only imagine, living in Blackstone Manor with James while caring for his daughter, Lily, meant Christina had no way to avoid him. Lily required full-time care after a car accident had eventually led to a long-term coma. Christina’s dedication to her patient and friend had put her at James’s mercy. Then he’d forced Aiden and Christina to marry. Last year had been just as traumatic for her as for KC.

“What I don’t understand,” Christina said, “is why you wouldn’t come to me as your friend, ask for help, let me offer some kind of emotional support for you and Carter. Didn’t you think I’d want to do that for you?”

KC stopped, afraid if she tried to walk and talk at the same time she might fall flat on her face. She wasn’t prepared for this conversation, and sparring with Jacob took a lot out of her. “I am sorry, Christina. But I couldn’t risk you putting two and two together.”

“Putting two and two together? Honey, I had no idea you’d even met Jacob. How you managed to actually get pregnant by him is a mystery of biblical proportions.”

KC had always appreciated that Christina got her point across in a ladylike but effective manner.

“Keeping our—” she swallowed hard “—affair a secret wasn’t my choice. Only...afterward.”

“Well, y’all did a damn fine job of it. I mean, I saw Jacob some when he was home all those times. I never had an inkling.”

KC finally gathered the courage to meet Christina’s questioning gaze head-on. “Which is not what I wanted. I never chose for our relationship to be this hidden thing. That was how Jacob wanted it, though I didn’t realize it until after that first week. Somehow I knew, deep down, that Jacob wouldn’t continue seeing me if we went public.” So she’d bit her tongue and grasped at whatever crumb he’d thrown her, even though every secret encounter hurt more than the last.

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