Donât miss this fan-favorite tale of long-lost love and second chances from New York Times bestselling author Sherryl Woods

Rugged rancher Harlan Patrick Adams has never forgotten his childhood sweetheart, Laurie Jensen. After all, she admitted she loved himâ¦and then left him with no explanation. But then he discovers a photograph of her, clutching a tiny babyâ¦a little girl who has his eyes.

Harlan Patrick is going to go to the mother of his child. Heâll knock down her door, if that's what it takes. Demand some answers. Claim what is rightly his. Even if it means getting down on one knee and begging her to marry him.

The Cowboy and His Wayward Bride

Sherryl Woods

www.millsandboon.co.uk

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Cover

Back Cover Text

Title Page

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Copyright

Chapter One

Pure, gut-deep exhaustion had settled over country-music superstar Laurie Jensen weeks earlier, and now it seemed she was walking around in a haze from dawn to dusk. A new baby who didnât know the meaning of a full nightâs sleep, a concert tour, publicity demands and the burden of keeping a secret from the one person in the world with whom she had always been totally, brutally honestâall of it had combined to take a terrible emotional toll.

She sat in her fancy dressing room long after her concert had ended and the fans had drifted away. With the sleeping baby nestled in her arms, her own eyes drifting shut, she relished the momentary silence, welcoming it just as she had the applause earlier.

Bliss, she thought. The quiet was absolute bliss.

Of course, it didnât last.

âLaurie, you ready?â her assistant called out in a hushed tone with an accompanying rap on the door. âThe limoâs outside to take us back to the hotel.â

Even the soft tap and whispered reminder were enough noise to wake the always restless baby, who began to fuss, then settled into a full-throated yowling that gave Laurie a splitting headache.

âShh, sweetheart. Everythingâs okay. Mamaâs here,â she soothed, gathering up her purse and easing toward the door.

As the baby quieted and finally began to gurgle contentedly, Laurie did a quick survey of the room to be sure sheâd left nothing behind, thankful once again for Valâs efficiency. Her assistant handled everything from toting diaper bags to making complex travel arrangements with total aplomb. Sheâd even been known to tuck Amy Lynn into the crook of her arm and feed her while answering Laurieâs fan mail with her free hand.

Often, observing her whirlwind assistant at work, Laurie wished she were half so competent, even a quarter so adept with the multiple demands facing her. There were timesâand tonight was one of themâwhen she felt thoroughly overwhelmed, when she wanted nothing more than to run straight back to Texas and into Harlan Patrickâs waiting arms. Assuming he was still waiting for her after all this time and after sheâd made it clear that her singing career was what she wanted most in this world.

What was wrong with her? Was she completely out of her mind trying to tackle the demands of motherhood and a singing career all on her own? Especially when she knew with absolute certainty that the babyâs father would have flown to her side in a heartbeat if only sheâd told him about Amy Lynn?

But that was the trouble, of course. Harlan Patrick Adams would have taken the news that he was a daddy as reason enough to demand that she marry him at once, return to Los PiÃ±os, Texas, and be a rancherâs wife. There would have been no ifs, ands or buts about it.

Sheâd known the man since she was in kindergarten. She knew how he operated. A bulldozer did gentle nudging by comparison. Oh, she knew Harlan Patrick, all right. Theyâd exchanged birthday presents at five, their first awkward dance at thirteen, their first real kiss at fifteen.

Harlan Patrick had flirted with typical Adams abandon with every girl in town, but thereâd never been a doubt in anyoneâs mind that Laurie was the one he loved. With single-minded determination, heâd been asking her to marry him for years now. And sheâd been saying no, while practically everyone in the universe told her sheâd lost her mind.

Unlike the music business, Harlan Patrick Adams and his love were a sure thing, her mother had told her repeatedly. His family was the richest and most powerful in Los PiÃ±os, practically in all of Texas. He could give her stability, the kind of rock-solid future most women dreamed of, the kind her mother had always craved.

Unfortunately, Laurieâs dreams tended toward a world that no one, not even an Adams, could guarantee. From the time sheâd learned the words to an old Patsy Cline hit, sheâd wanted to be a country-music sensation. God had blessed her with the voice for it. Whether it was the church choir or the school chorus, Laurie had always been the star soloist. The applause had been wonderful, but she would have sung for the sheer joy of it. And maybe, at one time, she would have been content with that.

But over the years Harlan Patrick had unwittingly fed her obsession by seeing to it that she saw concerts by every country superstar who appeared anywhere in Texas. Heâd even wrangled a backstage meeting with a few. Laurie had discovered her destiny.

Somehow, though, heâd never taken seriously her desire to be up there on the stage, earning her own applause. For him, the gestures had been an indulgence. For her, they had been an inspiration. Heâd thought time, a little coaxing and a few breath-stealing kisses would change her mind. Sheâd found his inability to recognize and accept her dream more annoying than her momâs.

After all, Mary Jensen had had a tough life. She was practical to the very core. Harlan Patrick, however, was supposed to be Laurieâs soul mate, the man in whom sheâd confided her hopes and dreams all her life. The discovery that heâd merely been indulging what he called âher little fantasiesâ had brought on one of the most heated fights theyâd ever had.

Why hadnât he been able to understand that singing was simply something she had to do with the gift God had given her? Heâd let herâlet her, she thought indignantlyâsing in the neighboring towns if thatâs what she wanted, but Nashville had been out of the question. His ultimatum had been phrased in a generous, condescending tone that had set her teeth on edge. As if the decision were his to make, sheâd thought as she turned on her heel and walked out of his life for good.

In one way she was grateful. It had made it easier to say goodbye, to head for Nashville without looking back. Sheâd dug in her heels, too, even when the going had been tough and sheâd been waiting tables to make ends meet. Knowing that heâd welcome her back with an I-told-you-so smile had driven her to stay the course.

It had been two long, lonely years before sheâd been discovered by her agent, but then things had happened so quickly it had left her reeling. Sheâd captured the Horizon Award for up-and-coming stars with her first album, a Grammy and a CMA Award with her second. Sheâd gone from a show-starter for the superstars to a concert tour of her own that had broken box-office records. In no time, it seemed, every single debuted at the top of the charts and every album went gold.

Only then, with rave reviews and money in her pocket, had she gone back to Los PiÃ±os. It was the only time sheâd seen Harlan Patrick in the five years since sheâd left. She was home just long enough to discover that the chemistry between them was as explosive as ever and that he was every bit as bullheaded as heâd been the day she walked out. Heâd actually thought that sheâd be ready to walk away from it all now that sheâd proved to herself she could do it, as if it had been some cute little game sheâd been playing. The man could infuriate her faster than anyone else on earth.

Then, just a few weeks after their reunion, sheâd discovered she was pregnant. From that moment on, all sheâd been able to think about was keeping the baby a secret from Harlan Patrick. Sheâd been able to walk away from him not just once, but twice. Could she do it again, especially with a baby in the picture? She wasnât sure sheâd have the strength or even the will.

For the first few months of her pregnancy, it had been simple enough to avoid his calls and keep the secret. She was either in Nashville or on the road and she was extremely careful that no oneânot even the very discreet Valâhad any idea she was going to have a child. Val knew only that she had no desire to speak to one Harlan Patrick Adams, which pretty much assured that there wasnât a chance in hell heâd get through to her. Eventually heâd gotten the message and given up. Not even Harlan Patrick was stubborn beyond all reason. Nor was he a masochist. It hadnât taken all that long for the Adams pride to kick in and assure her of a reprieve from his pestering.

When Laurie could no longer disguise her expanding waistline, she had scheduled five months in seclusion at her home on the outskirts of Nashville. Sheâd let Val and no one else in on the secret and let her assistant run interference.

âSheâs working on songs for her next album,â Val had told any and all callers, including Laurieâs agent. That had kept him, if not the media, satisfied.

Now she had Amy Lynn to remember her childhood sweetheart by, and it was both the most miraculous blessing on earth and a painful reminder of what might have been. When she thought of how Harlan Patrick would have adored their precious child, she hated herself for keeping silent. And yet, what choice had she had?

None, she assured herself. Handsome as sin, but stubborn as a mule, Harlan Patrick had given her none. The man didnât know the meaning of compromise. Heâd made it impossible for her to do anything other than exactly what she had done.

After Amy Lynnâs birth, she had scheduled recording sessions for the next two months. Thereâd been a short break, barely long enough for her to catch her breath while the album had been rushed to market, followed by the grueling pace of a concert tour set to coincide with the albumâs release.

By then, those closest to her knew about the baby, but theyâd all been sworn to secrecy and they had united to protect both Laurie and the baby from the glare of the spotlight. It couldnât last forever, but it had to last long enough that Harlan Patrick wouldnât connect her child with that last visit to Los PiÃ±os.

It meant sneaking in and out of concert halls and clubs, using hotel back doors and heavily tinted limo windows, but the worst of it was over. One more month, mostly in small towns and out-of-the-way clubs to which she owed a debt, and theyâd be home again. She could drop out of sight completely there, live in seclusion with her daughter. Just thinking of it was enough to have her sighing with relief.

They were halfway down the hall when Val muttered a curse. âI left that package of autographed pictures in the office. Wait for me at the back door, and Iâll check the alley before you go out.â

It was an established routine. When Laurie had the baby with her, Val always preceded her to make sure the coast was clear, that there were no paparazzi or overly zealous fans lurking in the shadows. Sometimes it was Val who carried Amy Lynn tucked in her arms as if the baby were her own.

Tonight, though, Laurie was thinking only of crawling into the back of the limo, resting her aching head against the smooth-as-butter leather and catching a ten-minute nap on the way back to the hotel. That was how bad it had gotten. Even ten minutes of uninterrupted sleep sounded heavenly.

She was so anxious to reach the car and settle in that she opened the door of the auditorium without waiting for Val. The instant she did, a photographerâs flashbulb exploded in her face. Panic had her whirling to shield the baby, but she knew in her heart it was too late. The man had had a clear shot in that instant before sheâd been aware of his presence and time to click off a few more shots while sheâd been temporarily blinded by the first brilliant flash of light.

âOh, God, no,â she murmured, imagining the picture splashed across the front of every tabloid in the country. Tears slid down her cheeks even as Val exited the building, saw what was happening and took off after the photographer with fire in her eyes.

To Laurieâs relief, Val caught him at the end of the alley, but all of her pleading and cajoling could not make him relinquish the prized roll of film. Nor could the swift kick she aimed at his shin or the knee she tried to place deftly in his groin, but Laurie had to admire her courage in trying. She vowed to give the woman a raise for going way above the call of duty, even if her efforts had failed.

Defeated, Val returned to the limo. âIâm sorry,â she whispered. âI should have checked the alley.â

âItâs not your fault,â Laurie reassured her wearily. âI should have waited. I was just so tired.â

âMaybe he was just some local guy and the picture wonât make it beyond here,â Val suggested hopefully.

âEver heard of wire services?â Laurie inquired, wishing she could believe Val, but knowing that she was doomed. Harlan Patrick was going to see the picture. Sooner or later someone would bring it to his attention, and then, no matter what conclusion he reached when he saw it, it was going to rip his heart in two.

Then, she thought with a sinking sensation in the pit of her stomach, all hell was going to break loose. It was just a matter of time.

* * *

âI say we buy up all the copies in town and burn them,â Sharon Lynn said vehemently, tossing the offending tabloid onto her parentsâ kitchen table. âIf Harlan Patrick sees this, heâs going to freak out.â

This was a half-page picture of country-music superstar Laurie Jensen with âHer Secret Love Child.â

âHeâs finally over her,â Sharon Lynn said of her brother. âHeâs not even playing her songs on the new jukebox down at Dolanâs anymore.â

âNo, now he plays them on that boom box he carries with him everywhere he goes,â her mother said. âWe have to show it to him. Maybe this will finally close that chapter in his life. Heâll have to move on once he sees she has a child.â

Harlan Patrick stood outside the kitchen door and listened to the whole conversation. His stomach had clenched and his hand had stilled on the screen door the instant heâd realized the topic. The merest mention of Laurie was all it took to get his heart to thudding dully and his forehead to break out in a cold sweat.

How the hell was he supposed to get over Laurie when she was a part of him, as vital to him as breathing? Losing her had made him question everything, every choice heâd made, even his commitment to the family ranch. There were times when the weight of the familyâs expectations and his sense of his own destiny almost combined to crush him.

With his grandfather in his eighties and his father, Cody, getting older, the fate of White Pines was all but his. Ranching was in his blood; it defined who he was, but that didnât make it any less of a burden at times. Day in, day out, 365 days a year, the demands were unceasing. The damned ranch was what stood between him and Laurie, and yet, when the chips had been down, the ranch was what heâd chosen, just as surely as sheâd chosen her music over him.

His heritage over his heart. It was pitiful enough to be the heartbreaking theme of a country-music megahit. He was surprised Laurie hadnât written it herself. Sheâd turned everything else theyâd shared into top-ten hits. There was something downright eerie and irritating about hearing his life played out on the radio.

Thinking back, he realized that maybe heâd made the decisions he had because he hadnât believed for a minute that sheâd really leave. Despite repeated warnings from his sister, his cousin Justin, his grandfather, just about everyone, heâd trusted that their love was stronger than anything else on earth. By the time heâd recognized his mistake, it was too late. Laurie had been gone and with her, his soul.

Ironically heâd gotten another chance a little over a year ago, but his pride had kicked in with a vengeance and heâd watched her run out on him all over again. Pride, as his granddaddy had told him more than once, made a mighty cold bedmate. Even knowing the truth of that, he still hadnât been able to make himself go after her. Heâd called for a while, but when those calls hadnât been returned, heâd cursed her every which way and given up.

Okay, so he was a damned fool. He admitted it. Sheâd made things clear enough the last time heâd seen her. Sheâd told him flat out that she still loved him, just not enough to come home and be his wife. Heâd accepted her decision. What choice did he have? He couldnât go chasing halfway around the world to be by her side, could he? What was he supposed to do? Run White Pines long-distance?

But he hadnât forgotten about her, not for a single second. Now she had a child? He didnât believe it, couldnât believe that some other man had shared her bed, not when sheâd so fiercely declared that she was still in love with him. Theirs simply wasnât the kind of love that died overnight, no matter how badly theyâd mistreated each other. No one had replaced her in his heart or even in his bed. Heâd managed to convince himself that sheâd do the same. Apparently that was just one on a whole long list of delusions heâd held about Laurie.

He yanked open the screen door, then let it slam behind him as he stared into two shocked, guilty faces. âLet me see it,â he demanded, his voice deadly calm.

Sharon Lynn moved between him and the table, blocking his view of the paper. âForget about it,â she said. âForget about her.â

He watched as her sense of indignation and family loyalty kicked in and loved her for it. His big sister had a mile-wide protective streak. All of the Adamses did.

âLaurie Jensen isnât worth one more second of your time,â Sharon Lynn declared. âSheâs never been any good for you, and this proves it.â

âI know what youâre trying to do, sis, but you and I both know that Laurie is the only woman for me.â

Sharon Lynn blushed. âOkay, Iâm sorry. It just makes me so mad the way she keeps walking out on you.â

He decided not to remind her that that was only half of the story. The first time Laurie had gone, Sharon Lynn had actually taken her side, accused him of being a short-sighted jerk for not going after her, for not trying harder to become a part of her new life, maybe using his business degree to become her manager or something. When Laurie had gone this last time, Sharon Lynn had positioned herself staunchly behind him. Rarely did a kind word about Laurie cross her lips. The rest of his family tried never to mention her at all.

He scowled at Sharon Lynn. âJust hand over the paper, okay?â

His sister wasnât quite finished. Once she got wound up, it was impossible to slow her down. She gave him defiant look. âYou have to forget about her, Harlan Patrick. Move on. There are a zillion women in Texas whoâd love to be with you. Pick one of them, one whoâll treat you right instead of running out on everything you have to offer.â

âEasier said than done,â he said.

He ought to know. Heâd cut a wide swath through the available women in three or four counties after Laurie had left the first time. He hadnât had more than a date or two with any of them then and he hadnât bothered to call even one of them after Laurie had left this last time. Heâd accepted the possibility that no one would ever measure up.

âSis, I appreciate your loyalty. I really do,â he assured her, then glared. âNow let me see the blasted paper, unless youâd prefer to have me drive all the way into town to pick one up. Do you want me to be standing in the supermarket with half the town gawking at me when I read it? That ought to keep the gossips busy for a while.â

His mother, whoâd been letting the two of them battle it out up until now, sighed. âLet him see it, Sharon Lynn. The horse is out of the barn anyway.â

His sister handed him the paper with obvious reluctance. The front page was folded in two. He opened it slowly, regretting that he had even his mother and sister as his audience.

The sight of Laurie, all done up in her fancy, rhinestone-studded cowgirl stage costume, brought his pulse skidding to a halt. No matter how many times he saw her picture, he never got over the wonder of her beautyâthe thick chestnut-colored hair, the dare-you curve of her smile, the sparkle in her eyes. Despite the fancy getup, there was no artifice about her. She didnât need a lot of makeup to enhance what nature had given her.

Heâd pretty much stopped looking at these rags, because the sight of her always had the same effect and he figured sooner or later it was going to turn deadly. How many times could a manâs heart grind to a halt before it stopped pumping altogether?

This time, though, the photographer hadnât done her justice. There was no glint in her eyes, no smile on her lips. Heâd caught her in an instant of stunned disbelief, one hand held up, futilely trying to block the lens, while she turned to try to shield the baby in her arms.

Sheâd been too slow. The baby was in perfect focus, round faced, smiling, with a halo of soft brown curls and blue, blue eyes sparkling with pure devilment. Adams eyes, Harlan Patrick thought at once, unmistakably Adams eyes. There was a whole mantle full of baby pictures just like this up at Grandpa Harlanâs. He was surprised his mother and Sharon Lynn hadnât guessed the truthâbut then they hadnât known about that last meetingâthe one where he lost his head and made love to her one last time.

This time it wasnât love or even lust that kicked his pulse into overdrive. It was fury. The suspicion that had been nagging at him from the moment heâd heard his mother and Sharon Lynn talking was all but confirmed. Laurie Jensen had had his baby and kept it from him. Betrayal cut through him like a lance. He was surprised he wasnât bleeding from the wound.

In less than an instant, fury was replaced by icy resolve. He whirled around and without a word went out the way heâd come in, slamming the door behind him, the tabloid crushed in his hand.

âOh, my God,â Sharon Lynn murmured. âDid you see his face?â

âI saw,â his mother said, racing out the door after him. âHarlan Patrick, get back here!â

He ignored the command and headed straight for his pickup. A half hour later he was at the airstrip with Uncle Jordanâs corporate jet fired up and waiting for him.

He was going after Laurie Jensen and his baby and when he found them, there was going to be hell to pay.

Chapter Two

Laurie had been heartsick ever since her manager had shown her the tabloid a week after that fateful night outside a Kansas concert hall. From that moment on she had prayed over and over that Harlan Patrick would never see it. Whether he recognized the baby as his or not, the picture was going to break his heart. Sheâd vowed the last time sheâd seen him not to ever do anything to hurt him again. As it was, sheâd broken his heart more times than she could count.

Sheâd tried to prepare for the possibility that her prayers wouldnât be heard. Sheâd warned everyone in her agentâs office that her schedule was not to be given to anyone, no matter what name they gave, no matter what ruse they used. She had described Harlan Patrick to Nickâs secretary from his thick, sun-streaked hair, to his laser blue eyes and angled cheekbones.

âAnd you donât want this man to find you?â the woman had said incredulously. âAre you nuts?â

âThere are those whoâd say I am,â she agreed. âAnd, Ruby, let me know the instant he shows up, okay? I need to know what kind of mood heâs in.â

âFit to be tied would be my guess,â Ruby said bluntly. âCanât say I blame him, either. Itâs a hell of a way to find out youâre a daddy.â

âRuby,â Laurie protested.

âOkay, okay, Iâm just the hired help around here. You donât want the man to find you, Iâll make sure the man doesnât find you, at least not with any help from me. Just donât forget, honey, youâre the kind of woman who tends to make news, especially in this business. Entertainment Tonightâs scheduled to shoot that club date in Montana. Itâs way too late to back out. Nick would have a cow. He worked like crazy to get it set up.â

âIt wonât matter. By the time it airs, Iâll be on the road again. With any sort of luck at all, Harlan Patrick will be one step behind me.â

âMaybe you ought to slow down and let him catch up,â Ruby suggested one more time. âHave it out and get it over with. Hidingâs no good, not in your profession. This was bound to happen sooner or later. And, forgive me for saying it, but that little girl of yours has a right to know her daddy. This plan of yours to keep âem apart seems a tad selfish to me.â

Laurie winced. Ruby was young, but she had terrific common sense and a mile-wide streak of decency. A part of Laurie wanted to follow her advice, but another part wasnât at all sure she could cope with one more battle with Harlan Patrick, not with the stakes as high as they were.

âI know,â Laurie conceded. âBut I canât deal with him yet. I just canât. Youâll see what I mean if he shows up there. Itâs like trying to talk sense with a bulldozer thatâs rattling toward you in first gear.â

Of course, she consoled herself, there was always the outside chance that Harlan Patrick had never even seen the tabloid. Maybe he hadnât been anywhere near a supermarket checkout stand. Maybe the entire shipment to Los PiÃ±os had been lost in transit. Maybe the delivery truck had caught fire. Maybeâ¦

Dammit, she had to know. She had to find out if heâd seen it and what his reaction had been. She had to be prepared, in case he was coming after her. For all of her attempts to cover her tracks, she knew Ruby was right. If Harlan Patrick wanted to find her badly enough, he could. Ruby and Nick could only stall him for so long. Any private eye worth his license could pinpoint her location quicker than that photographer had snapped her picture. The only real question was whether Harlan Patrick was furious enough to come chasing after her or so hurt heâd written her off once and for all. If heâd recognized that baby as his, she was pretty sure which it would be. Heâd be mowing down any obstacle in his path to get to her.

She could call her mother, but her mom almost never crossed paths with Harlan Patrickâs family. She could call Sharon Lynn, but after this last visit, Harlan Patrickâs protective older sister had all but written her off. Sharon Lynn had told her more than once that she was a selfish fool for running off and leaving the best man in the whole state of Texas pining after her. His parents had never echoed the same sentiments in so many words, but they clearly hadnât been her biggest fans. When sheâd come back this last time, theyâd regarded her with suspicion at worst, caution at best. The attitude had hurt, because once theyâd considered her another daughter.

That left his grandfather. Harlan Adams was a wise man, a fair man. Heâd protect his family with his dying breath, but he also had the ability to see that there was more than one side to most stories. Heâd always treated Laurie with kindness, and thereâd been no judgment in his eyes when sheâd left yet again, only sorrow. He would tell her what she needed to know and he wouldnât pull any punches.

It took her most of the day to work up the courage to call White Pines. She told herself it was because she wasnât likely to find Harlan Adams at home much before nightfall. Despite his age, he still worked the ranch as best he could. And when his aches kept him off a horse, he was busy meddling in everyoneâs lives.

The truth, though, was that she was scared to hear whatever he had to say, even more afraid that this time he wouldnât be so kind at all if he thought she had betrayed his grandson.

She shouldnât have worried. Either he didnât know about the baby or heâd taken it in stride. At any rate, he greeted her with his usual exuberance.

âLaurie, darlinâ girl, how are you? Pretty as ever, I know, because I see your picture in the paper and on TV all the time. You still singing up a storm?â

âIâm busier than ever,â she told him. âIâm right in the middle of a concert tour now. I wonât be back in Nashville for another month.â She figured it wouldnât hurt to reiterate that, in case the conversation was repeated to Harlan Patrick. Maybe heâd stay away from Nashville if he knew she wouldnât be there.

âAnd you enjoy all this wandering around, instead of taking the time to sit a spell in one place?â Harlan Adams asked.

âMost of the time,â she admitted. âItâs part of the job.â

âTell me about the next album. You finished it yet?â

âNo. I havenât even started. This oneâs only been out a couple of months now. I probably wonât get back into the studio until a few months after I get back to Nashville. Itâs a good thing, too. Iâve been scribbling down a few things, but I still havenât settled on the last two songs.â

âYou still writing them all yourself?â

âMost of them.â

âYou always had a way with words. I still remember that song you wrote and sang for me when I turned eighty. Not a dry eye in the place when you were done singing. I knew then you were going to be a superstar.â

âThatâs more than I knew then.â

Silence fell, and it was Harlan who finally broke it when Laurie couldnât find the words she needed.

âSo, darlinâ girl, you just calling to say hi, or is something on your mind?â There was a sly, knowing tone to his voice.

Just say it, she instructed herself firmly, then swallowed hard. âActually, well, I was wondering about Harlan Patrick. Heâs been on my mind a lot lately.â

âI see.â

Clearly he didnât intend to give away a thing without her asking a direct question. âHowâs he doing?â she asked finally.

âStill misses you, if thatâs what youâre asking. I suspect he always will. Never seen a man as lovesick as he was from the minute you left town.â

That wasnât what sheâd been asking, but in some tiny corner of her heart, she was glad to hear that he hadnât forgotten her. Talk about conflicting emotions. Her life was riddled with them.

âYouâve seen him in the last couple of days?â she asked, broaching the subject of his whereabouts cautiously.

Harlan hesitated. âNow that you mention it, his daddy did say that the boy had taken off unexpectedly. Never did mention what it was all about, though. Business, I suppose. You want me to have him call you when he gets back?â

Laurie sighed heavily. She had a feeling there would be no need for that. The timing of his unexplained departure had to be more than coincidence. If she knew Harlan Patrick, sheâd be seeing him any day now, as soon as he could get someone to give him her concert itinerary.

âThatâs okay,â she said, then added quietly, âthank you.â

âThanks for what?â

âFor not hating me.â

âOh, darlinâ girl, I could never hate you,â he said, his tone sympathetic. âThere was a time when you were practically family. As far as Iâm concerned, youâre as good as that now.â

âBut I brought so much pain into Harlan Patrickâs life.â

âAnd so much joy, too,â he reminded her. âDonât forget that. Sometimes the best you can hope for in life is that it all evens out in the end. You take good care of yourself and come see me next time youâre home. Iâll get the piano tuned, and weâll have an old-fashioned sing-along. I canât carry a tune worth a hoot, but itâll be fun all the same.â

âI will,â she promised. âGive Janet my love, too, will you?â

âOf course I will. You take good care of yourself, Laurie. Donât forget all the folks back here who love you.â

As if I could, she thought, but didnât say. âGoodbye, Grandpa Harlan. I miss you.â

Only after sheâd hung up did she realize there were tears streaming down her cheeks. For the first time in more than six years, she realized just how much she missed home. And when she thought of it, she didnât remember the little house in which sheâd grown up, didnât even think of her mother, though she loved her dearly. No, she remembered White Pines and the close-knit Adamses, who back then had been more than willing to accept her as one of their own.

And she remembered Amy Lynnâs daddy and the way sheâd always loved him.

* * *

He might as well have been traveling in a foreign country, Harlan Patrick thought on his first day in Nashville. Heâd taken off without thinking, without the slightest clue of how to go about tracing a woman who didnât want to be found.

On the flight, which heâd piloted himself, heâd had plenty of time to try to formulate a plan, but images of Laurie and that baby had pretty much wiped out logic. All heâd been able to feel was some sort of blind rage. Aside from a friendly tussle or two with his cousins growing up, he wasnât prone to violence, but for the first time in his life he felt himself capable of it. Not that heâd have laid a hand on Laurie, but he couldnât swear that her furniture would be safe. Smashing a few vases and chairs might improve his mood considerably.

Then again, it probably wouldnât. Satisfaction probably couldnât be had that easily.

After landing, he rented a car and drove into downtown. He found a hotel smack in the center of things and dragged out a phone book. It was then that he realized just how little he really knew about Laurieâs life in the past few years. An awful lot of it had been played out in public, of course, but that wasnât the part that would help him now.

âWell, damn,â he muttered staring at the Yellow Pages and trying to figure out which talent representative or which recording studio to call. He couldnât even remember which record label produced her albums, even though he had CDs of every single one of them. It was hard enough listening to her songs without learning every little detail of the life that had stolen her from him.

He plucked a scrap of paper out of his pocket and glanced at the number, then dialed her house first, though he recognized it was a long shot. She was on the road and sheâd told him that sheâd never gotten around to hiring a housekeeper because she wasnât comfortable with somebody else doing cleaning and cooking she was perfectly capable of doing for herself.

When no one answered at the house, he searched his memory for some offhand reference sheâd made to the new people in her life. Unfortunately, though, the few days theyâd had together just over a year ago hadnât been spent doing a lot of talking, at least not about the things that hadnât mattered. That baby was living evidence that theyâd spent most of the time in bed, remembering just how good it felt to be in each otherâs arms.

âOkay, Harlan Patrick, think,â he muttered under his breath.

For all of its skyscrapers and new construction, Nashville was still a small Southern town in some ways. Surely the music industry was tight-knit enough that everyone would know everybody elseâs business. He picked a talent agency at random and dialed.

âHi, sweetheart,â he said to the drawling woman who answered. There was enough sugary sweetness in her voice to make him feel right at home with a little flirting. He had her laughing in a matter of seconds.

âYou are sooo bad,â she said in response to his teasing. âNow, tell me what I can do for you.â

âActually Iâve got some business to do with Laurie Jensen. Any idea how I can get in touch with her?â

âLaurie Jensen?â she repeated, her voice a degree or two cooler. âIâm sorry. We donât represent Miss Jensen.â

âCould you tell me who does?â

âWhat kind of business did you say you were in?â she asked. This time her tone was downright chilly.

âI didnât, darlinâ, but itâs an ad campaign. We were hoping to get her to do the spots for us.â

âI see,â she said. âWell, maybe you ought to have your ad agency contact her people. Thatâs the way it works.â

Harlan Patrick tried to hold on to his patience. âDonât you see, sugar, thatâs the problem. I donât know her people.â

âAny reputable ad agency will,â she said, and hung up in his ear.

Harlan Patrick stared at the phone, stunned. Then he sighed ruefully. Obviously he wasnât the first person to try a ruse to get to a Nashville superstar. He resigned himself to an afternoon spent working his way through the phone listings.

He didnât waste time trying to wrangle information from unwilling receptionists. The minute he discovered the agency didnât represent Laurie, he moved on to the next. It was after six when he finally struck paydirtâor thought he had.

âNick Sanducciâs office.â

âYes. Iâm trying to arrange a booking for Laurie Jensen. Can you help me?â

âWho are you with, sir?â

âDoes Mr. Sanducci represent Ms. Jensen?â

âHe does, butââ

âThank you.â He hung up and grabbed his hat. Clutching the page from the phone book and scribbled directions from the hotel desk clerk, he drove to a quiet street that looked more residential than commercial. A block or so from the address for Sanducciâs office, he noted the discreet signs on the lawns of modest-sized homes that appeared to have been built around the turn of the century. Law offices, talent agencies, even a recording studio had been tucked away here before skyscrapers had lured most of the business into downtown.

Harlan Patrick pulled into a circular driveway just as a fancy sports car shot out the other side. One car remained in front of the house, a minivan with a childâs seat in the back and toys scattered on the floor. He doubted it belonged to Mr. Nick Sanducci.

He strolled through the front door and wandered into a reception room that had obviously once been the houseâs living room. The walls were decorated with gold records and photos of a half dozen of the hottest names in country music, including a blowup of Laurie that could make a manâs knees weak. That wall of photos and records was the only testament to the nature of Mr. Sanducciâs business, however.

Harlan Patrick had to admit the man had excellent taste. The place was crammed with exquisite, expensive antiques. There were some just as valuable up in Grandpa Harlanâs attic, where theyâd been stored after Janet had gone through and turned White Pines from a hands-off showplace into a home.

The reception desk was neat as a pin and, with no one seated at the chair behind it, more temptation than he could resist. He edged a little closer, noting that the desk belonged to one Ruby Steel, according to the nameplate that was half-buried in a stack of papers.

He surveyed the rest of the desk with interest. That big old Rolodex probably had phone numbers on it that could do him a whole lot of good. And that bulging desk calendar probably contained all sorts of concert dates, including Laurieâs.

He was about to make a grab for it when a lazy, sultry voice inquired with just a touch of frost, âCan I help you?â

He turned slowly and offered the sort of grin that had gotten him out of many a scrape over the years, at least if there was a female involved. Ruby was young enough to look susceptible, but her frown never wavered. Obviously a woman who took her last nameâSteelâto heart.

âHey, darlinâ, I was just wondering where youâd gone off to.â

âAnd you thought youâd find me under the desk?â She gave him a thorough once-over that could have served her well at a police lineup. âLet me guess. Youâre the one who called wanting to book Laurie Jensen.â

He could have lied, probably should have, but something told him the truth would get him what he needed a whole lot faster.

âYouâve got a good ear for voices, sugar.â

âAnd Iâve got the good sense not to go giving out information to strangers,â she said in a tone that warned him not to waste his time trying to wheedle anything out of her.

Harlan Patrick was undaunted. He pretended he hadnât been close enough to discover the nameplate and asked, âWhatâs your name, sugar?â

âMy nameâs Ruby, cowboy, and thereâs no need telling me yours, because it doesnât matter. I canât help you.â

His gaze narrowed at that. Something told him that Laurie had given this woman very clear and specific instructions where he was concerned.

âNow, why is that? Arenât you in the business of getting work for your clients?â

âNick is. My job is protecting them.â

âThen maybe I ought to talk to Nick.â

âYou canât. Heâs gone.â

The fancy sports car, Harlan Patrick concluded. âWhen will he be back?â

âHard to say. Nickâs unpredictable.â

âTonight?â

âI doubt it.â

âTomorrow morning?â

âPossibly. Then again, he could get a call from one of his clients and have to take off in the middle of the night.â

Harlan Patrick hid a grin. Ruby was tough, all right. âHow often does that happen?â

âYouâd be surprised.â

âI donât suppose youâd like to go out for a drink?â

She waved her left hand under his nose. A wedding ring and diamond flashed past. âI donât think so, cowboy. And you could get me drunk as a skunk and I still wouldnât tell you how to find Laurie.â

âBecause she told you not to,â he guessed aloud.

Ruby hesitated for just an instant, then nodded. âBecause she told me not to and because I protect the privacy of all our clients. I value their trust.â

âWhat if I told you I was her old childhood sweetheart?â

âIâd ask how come she left you behind if you were all that special.â

The barb hit its mark. âNow, darlinâ, that is the sixty-four-thousand-dollar question.â He regarded her thoughtfully. âYou know, donât you?â

For the first time, little Miss Ruby squirmed. âKnow what?â

âThat Iâm the daddy of that baby of hers.â

âI donât know any such thing,â she retorted, but there was a telltale flush in her cheeks.

He kept right on. âAnd you donât believe that a daddy should be separated from his child, do you, Ruby?â He recalled the baby seat in the van outside. âYouâre a mama yourself. You disapprove of what Laurieâs done to me. I could see it in the way the corners of your mouth turned down when I mentioned that baby.â

She ducked her head. âIt doesnât matter what I think.â

âBecause your dutyâs to Laurie.â

Her chin came up, and she shot a defiant look straight at him. âExactly.â

They stood there, facing each other, neither of them saying a word, until finally Harlan Patrick sighed.

âWould it matter if I told you I love her?â

Her expression softened. âIt might to me, but Iâm not the one who needs convincing, am I?â

He grinned. âNo, but you are the one who stands between me and her.â

She grinned back. âYou are a sneaky, persistent devilâIâll give you that.â

Harlan Patrick felt a faint stirring of hope. âWill you help me, Ruby?â

Still smiling, she looked him straight in the eye and said, âNo. Now, scoot along out of here, cowboy. Iâm closing for the day.â

âIâll be back in the morning,â he promised, taking the defeat with good grace. Ranting and raving wouldnât work with a woman like Ruby, but he had a hunch that he could wear her down with charm and a few more reminiscences about the old days heâd shared with Laurie.

âSuit yourself, but the answer wonât be one bit different tomorrow.â

âWeâll see,â he said, and tipped his hat. âItâs been my pleasure, darlinâ.â

She gave him a stern, no-nonsense look. âI canât imagine why. You look like a man whoâs all too used to getting his own way.â

He winked. âI am. Thatâs why itâs fascinating to run into a worthy challenge every now and again.â

He slipped out the door before she could respond to that. He drove down the block and parked around the corner. He didnât doubt for an instant that Ruby would be on the phone to Laurie the moment he was out of sight.

And the moment Ruby was gone for the night, he intended to sneak back into the office, punch Redial and discover for himself exactly where Laurie Jensen was holed up with his baby girl.

Chapter Three

Going back into Nick Sanducciâs office and checking the phone had been a good idea. Maybe even a great idea, Harlan Patrick thought ruefully. Unfortunately Ruby was either on to him and hadnât used the office phone to call Laurie or had simply made another call after that. Heâd managed to slip back into the building easily enoughâthe locks were downright pitifulâbut when heâd pressed the Redial button, a very cranky man had growled hello, then slammed the phone down when Harlan Patrick had been too stunned and disappointed to speak.

His reaction proved what a lousy detective heâd make. Only afterward had he considered all the possible explanations for who that man might have been. It could have been someone answering for Laurie herself. Or it could have been her agent, Nick Sanducci, he concluded belatedly, regretting his silence. But even if it was the illustrious, high-powered agent, he was clearly in no mood to indulge Harlan Patrickâs request for information about Laurie. He resigned himself to waiting for morning and another round with Ruby.

Back in his hotel room after a steak dinner that had tasted like sawdust, he was able to think rationally. He recognized that he ought to be grateful for the delay. In her own way Laurie was every bit as stubborn as he wasâto say nothing of unpredictable. She had the financial wherewithal nowadays to simply disappear, taking his daughter with her. Obviously, confronting her when he was ready to commit mayhem was no way to get what he wanted.

Whatever that was, he amended with a sigh. It occurred to him that he ought to figure that much out at least before coming face-to-face with the woman who generally rendered him tongue-tied and weak-kneed.

Did he just want to see his child? Did he want to exact revenge on Laurie for deceiving him? Or did he want what heâd always wanted, to take both of them home with him, to have a family with Laurie Jensen?

One thing for certainâhe needed to figure all that out before he blasted his way back into her life. He needed to be seeing things clearly and thinking straight, or sheâd waltz right out of his life one more time. Something told him this was their very last chance to get it right.

He spent two frustrating days thinking about Laurie, the baby and their future, while trying to convince Ruby to divulge Laurieâs itinerary to him. Nick proved as elusive as a stray calf loose on ten thousand acres of pastureland, but Ruby was mellowing. Harlan Patrick had been plying her with chocolate-covered doughnuts and compliments and he was pretty sure she was weakening. Sheâd actually tossed a handful of newspaper clippings at him that morning and told him to figure out Laurieâs whereabouts for himself.

âYouâre a clever man. See what you can make of these,â sheâd challenged.

There was plenty of information to be had in those clippings, bits of rave reviews, comments on her new albumâs fast rise in the music charts. It was plain that Laurie Jensen was hot news in Nashville. The only trouble was that that news was a day too late to help him find her. By the time Ruby handed over the clippings, even the most recent ones, Laurie was already moving on.

He was back at the agentâs office for the third straight day, when a teenager who was working part-time finally took pity on him and slipped him a copy of the concert schedule. He had a feeling Ruby had looked the other wayâor maybe even instigated it, but he was careful not to let on what he thought. Ruby plainly felt her integrity was on the line, but just as plainly she felt that Laurieâs baby deserved to have a daddy in her life. Sheâd all but admitted that to him on several occasions.

Clutching the itinerary in his hand, he grabbed his bag from the hotel and headed for the airport, where once again Jordanâs jet was fueled up and waiting. Laurie was scheduled for a stop in Montana, then a hop over to Wyoming, a jog back to Montana, then after a two-day break, the Ohio State Fairgrounds. Columbus was closest, but he didnât want to wait another minute, much less several days. Too much time had been wasted already. He calculated the flying time and figured he could make that first Montana stop in time for her closing set.

An icy calm settled over him as he flew, but as he drove to the country-western bar where she was singing, an old, familiar sense of anticipation began to build. It was doggone irritating that she could still have that effect on him, especially under these circumstances when he very much wanted to wring her neck. His pulse was zipping with lust, not adrenaline.

He found the bar after a few wrong turns. It was bigger than some heâd seen, but smaller than heâd expected a star on the rise to be playing. In fact, the End of the Road back in Garden City had been a step above this place. He found that irksome, too. She could have stayed in Texas and done this well for herself.

Then he recalled what heâd read in one of the clippings, that part of this tour had been arranged to settle old debts to club owners whoâd given her a break. Typical of Laurie. She was loyal and generous. If it hadnât been for him, sheâd probably have played the End of the Road on this tour as well. If heâd had a lick of sense or any foresight, heâd have had the owner ask and then Laurie could have come to him, instead of the other way around. Of course, because of the baby, she probably wouldnât have set foot near the place. But that was water under the bridge anyway. He was here now, and Laurie was only a hundred yards away or less.

With the barâs front door ajar on the warm night, the sound of her voice washed over him as he walked from the parking lot toward the neon-lit building. She had the kind of voice that made a man think of sin, no matter how innocent the words. It was low and sultry and filled with magic.

How many nights had he lain awake remembering the whisper of that voice in his ear? How many days had he played her albums as he worked around the ranch? Enough that he and most of the hands knew the lyrics of her songs by heart. One daring newcomer, who didnât know their history, had made a suggestive remark about Laurie, only to have Harlan Patrick yank him out of his saddle and scare him half to death before reason kicked in.

Heaven knew, the woman could sing. He grabbed hold of the door and braced himself to enter, reminding himself to stay calm no matter what. Only after he walked inside the bar did he realize that what heâd heard had come from a jukebox, while the impatient audience waited for the second set to begin. Harlan Patrick slipped into the shadows in the back, ordered a beer and waited.

A few minutes later Laurie emerged amid a flash of red, white and blue strobe lights, the beat of the song fast and hard and upbeat. The wall-to-wall crowd was on its feet at once, and the whole place began to rock with the sound of her music and wild applause. She kept up the fever pitch through one song, then two, then a third. Just when Harlan Patrick was sure half the room was going to pass out from the frenzy, she turned the tempo down and had them swaying quietly to a tune so sad and soul weary, he almost shed a tear or two himself.

A cynic might have said she was manipulative. A critic would have said she had the crowd in the palm of her hand. Harlan Patrick simply wondered at the mixed emotions he felt listening to the woman he loved captivate a whole roomful of strangers. Heâd had her to himself for so many years. Was that the real problem, that he didnât want to share her with the world? Was it selfishness, as much as cussedness, that had made him refuse to search harder for a compromise?

The thought that possessiveness might be the root of their troubles made him too uncomfortable to stay in the room a moment longer. While the show went on, he slipped out the door and made his way to the clubâs back entrance, which was also standing open to permit the nightâs breeze to drift inside the overheated club.

Harlan Patrick had no trouble slipping past the bulky, fiftyish guard. The man was too busy gazing at the woman on stage, his foot tapping to the beat of her song, a smile on his lips and a yearning in his eyes. That was when Harlan Patrick realized that part of Laurieâs success was her ability to touch hearts and inspire dreams, even the impossible ones.

The backstage area was cramped, with barely enough room for an office, a storeroom and one remaining room that had to be Laurieâs dressing room. He opened the door, saw the tumble of clothes and cosmetics and smiled for the first time in ages. Laurie never had been much for picking up after herself.

It was a no-frills dressing room, with a metal rod for a clothes rack and bare bulbs around a square mirror. The chair in front of the dressing table was molded plastic, but the bouquet of flowers beside the scattered makeup was lavish enough for the biggest superstar.

While he waited, he tidied up, folding this, hanging that on the bare metal rod stuck in an alcove. He lingered over a scrap of lace and prayed to heaven no man had ever seen her wearing it. Heâd have to rip his eyes out. Finally he tucked the panties into the suitcase sitting on the floor in the corner and pulled out the roomâs only other chairâa straight-backed monstrosity with a seat covered in tattered red plastic. He turned it around until he could straddle it and face the door.

He heard the last refrain of the encore die down, then the thunder of applause, then the sound of laughter in the corridor and boots on the hardwood floor outside the door. His pulse thundered as loudly as a summer storm.

The door swung open and there she was, pretty as ever, with her color high and her long, chestnut brown hair mussed and glistening with glints of gold and damp with perspiration. Heâd seen her looking just like that after sex, only without so many clothes on.

Her mouth formed a soft âohâ of stunned dismay. The color washed out of her cheeks, and for just an instant he thought she might faint, but Laurie was made of tougher stuff than that. She squared her shoulders and met his gaze evenly.

âHey, darlinâ!â Harlan Patrick said in his friendliest tone. âSurprised to see me?â

* * *

Laurieâs pulse was racing so fast, she was certain she was only a beat or two shy of a medical emergency. Sheâd guessed Harlan Patrick would hunt her downâknown he was coming, thanks to Rubyâs warning callâbut seeing him here, so at home in her dressing room, had caught her off guard.

How many times had she found him waiting for her just like this in the old days? How many times had she come offstage, giddy with excitement, and rushed into his waiting arms to be twirled around until her head spun? Of course, there was no crooked grin tonight and his arms were crossed along the back of that pitiful chair, not waiting to catch her up in an exuberant hug.

Lordy, he was gorgeous. Under other circumstances her pulse would have been scrambling from pure desire, rather than panic. The Adams genes were the best in Texas, maybe the best on earth. Even travel weary, Harlan Patrick was pure male, from that angled jaw to his broad shoulders and right on down to the tips of his dusty boots. The sensual curve of his mouth was a reminder of deep, hot kisses that could rock her to her soul.

But the look on his face, so cool and neutral and composed, was worrisome. Harlan Patrickâs emotions were usually right out there for anyone to see. Only when she looked into his eyes did she detect the fire of complete and total fury. Thatâs when she knew that not only had he seen the tabloid, but heâd also realized that Amy Lynn was his.

That left her with a quandary. She could fold right now and throw herself on his mercy or she could stand up to him the way sheâd been doing since their first playground scuffle so many years ago. Her first rule in dealing with him had always been to get the upper hand and hang on for dear life. It was the only way she knew to deal with a steamroller.

âHow did you get in here?â she demanded, every bit the haughty superstar.

âUnfortunately for you, the security guardâs a fan. He never even noticed me. Be glad I wasnât a stalker, sugar, or youâd be in a heap of trouble.â

She had a feeling in his own way, Harlan Patrick was every bit as dangerous as any stranger about now. âI could have the guard in here in a flash if you start stirring up trouble,â she threatened. âNobody gets backstage without a pass, and Chester has a very jittery trigger finger.â

âNow, darlinâ, why would I want to stir up trouble for you?â he asked in a patient tone belied by that hard glint in his eyes.

She refused to be taken in by the deceptively mild question. Skepticism lacing her voice, she asked, âThen this is purely a social call? You just happened to be in Montana and thought youâd drop by to catch the show? Weâre just a couple of old friends getting together to catch up?â

âCould be.â

âWhy donât I believe that for a minute?â

âGuilt, maybe?â

He looked her over so thoroughly, so knowingly, that it took everything in her not to bolt or spill her guts, pouring out the whole story behind her decision to keep Amy Lynn a secret from him. She forced herself to wait him out.

âSo, tell me, Laurie,â he began eventually, âanything new in your life?â

Oh, he knew, all right, she thought, listening to this cat-and-mouse game of his. She could have strung him along for another minute or two, maybe more, but why bother? Now that heâd found her, they were going to hash this out sooner or later. Hopefully they could get it over with right here in her dressing room. It was a hell of a lot better than having it out at the hotel, where Amy Lynn was already fast asleep with Val watching over her.

She looked him straight in the eye and forced his hand. âCome on, Harlan Patrick, spit it out. You saw the tabloid, didnât you?â

His gaze locked with hers. âI did.â

There was that neutral tone again. It was maddening. âAnd?â she prodded.

âAnd I want to know why the hell you kept my daughter a secret from me?â

There was the blast of temper sheâd been expecting, the confirmation that heâd guessed it all. Laurie didnât bother trying to deny the truth. In fact, she was glad it was finally out in the open. The secret had been weighing her down for months now, ever since the home pregnancy test sheâd taken had turned out positive. She hadnât been able to go near Los PiÃ±os so her mama could see the baby for fear of Harlan Patrick finding out that sheâd deceived him. At last she could put all of that behind her. She told herself she should be grateful, but all she felt was a gut-wrenching sense of fear.

âI made a choice,â she told him quietly. âYou and I had said our goodbyes. We had finally admitted once and for all that it wouldnât work with me being on the road all the time and you chained to that ranch you love so much. How could I tell you that there was a baby on the way?â

âHow could you not tell me?â he countered in that same patient, lethal tone. âDid you think for one second I wouldnât want to know, that I didnât deserve to know?â

âNo, of course not, butââ

He was on his feet now, pacing, agitation replacing patience and calm.

âBut nothing,â he said, whirling on her.

He grabbed her arms, clearly fighting the urge to shake her. With any other man she might have been afraid of the look in his eyes, but she knew Harlan Patrick as well as she knew any human on earth. There wasnât a violent bone in his body. Even now, he had a tight rein on his temper.

Then again, as far as she knew, heâd never been tested like this before.

She looked into his eyes and saw beyond the outrage, saw the genuine hurt and anguish, and that was her undoing. Tears spilled down her cheeks.

âIâm sorry,â she whispered. âIâm sorry. I didnât know what else to do.â

He regarded her incredulously. âCouldnât you have called me, talked to me? There was a time when we brought all our problems to each other. We could have worked something out.â

âWeâd said our goodbyes,â she repeated. âI couldnât go stirring things up again, not when there were no easy answers. It wouldnât have been fair.â

âFair?â he all but shouted. âWhat was fair about not telling me I had a baby on the way? What was fair about you going through a pregnancy all alone? What was fair about letting our little girl start her life without a daddy?â

âI did what I thought was best for all of us,â she insisted.

âWhat you thought was best,â he mocked. âYou didnât even give me a chance to come up with a solution.â

âWhy should it have been your problem, your solution? I was the one who was pregnant.â

âWith my baby, dammit!â He closed his eyes, drew in a deep breath, then said more calmly, âWe could have figured it out together.â

âAnd done what? Youâd be miserable away from White Pines. And I canât live there. It was as simple as that.â

âWe could have worked it out,â he insisted with the stubborn conviction that was pure Adams. It didnât matter that theyâd run into the same brick wall a thousand times before.

âAnd theyâre always telling me Iâm the romantic,â she said with a rueful sigh. âThis time there wasnât a happy ending, Harlan Patrick. Trust me.â

âTrust you,â he hooted. âThatâs a laugh.â

He regarded her evenly and took a step closer. He was near enough that she could feel the heat radiating from his body, smell the pure masculine scent of him. He reached out and ran his knuckle along the curve of her cheek, setting off goose bumps. She hated that he could make her react like that with just the skim of his fingers.

âDarlinâ, weâve got a whole passel of passion, no question about that,â he said. âWe might even have a little love left. But Iâm afraid trust is the one thing weâll never have between us again. Youâve pretty much seen to that, havenât you?â

Something died inside her at the cold, hard flatness of his words, but she knew it was the truth, had known it way back when sheâd made the decision to keep the secret. Staying silent was going to cost her eventually. Now it had and it hurt more than sheâd ever imagined.

âIâm sorry,â she said again.

âSorry wonât cut it this time. Now how about getting this stuff together and taking me to see my daughter?â

It was a command, not a request, and it sent a jolt of pure fear shooting through her. âTonight?â

âI think itâs time, donât you? Way past time, in fact.â

âSheâll be asleep,â she protested, trying to buy time. An hour from now she could bundle Amy Lynn up, wake the band and be on the bus heading for the next stop. No one would question the abrupt, middle-of-the-night departure, not aloud at any rate, and definitely not once theyâd heard about Harlan Patrickâs untimely arrival.

He gave her a look that suggested he saw straight through her. âIâll be quiet as a church mouse,â he countered. âAnd if she happens to wake up, well, Iâd say a momentous occasion like this is worth losing a little sleep over, wouldnât you?â

Laurie couldnât think of a single argument that could possibly counter the bitter logic of that. âGive me five minutes,â she said tightly, then waited for him to leave the room.

He didnât budge. Regarding her evenly, he said with wry humor, âYou surely werenât thinking Iâd wait outside, were you? With that big old window right over your dressing table? I donât think so. As I recall, climbing out windows in the middle of the night used to be one of your specialties. Thatâs how we got around your curfew way back when we couldnât keep our hands off each other.â

âI was a kid back then,â she protested, then gave up. He was sticking to her like glue, and that was that. âOkay, then, at least turn your back.â

âLaurie, thereâs not an inch of bare skin on your body I havenât seen with my own eyes. Itâs a little late to turn all prim and proper on me.â

She thought she detected a faint hint of laughter in his voice, and that alone was enough to give her hope that they could get through this mess tonight and go on with their lives. This was Harlan Patrick, after all. Heâd always been quick to anger, but just as quick to forgive. Heâd see Amy Lynn, satisfy himself that she was okay and go back to Texas. That would be that, she thought optimistically.

One glance at his expression told her she was delusional. Harlan Patrick wasnât going anywhere. And once heâd seen Amy Lynn, what then? Would he really be able to walk away, or would that just be the beginning of her worst nightmare? Mad as he was, she couldnât envision him demanding marriage at the moment. Would he try to take her baby? It was a distinct possibility.

Already gearing up for the fight, she scowled at him. âOh, for heavenâs sakes,â she said, âif youâre so hard up you have to sneak a peek at my bare breasts, then have yourself a ball.â

She stripped out of her damp stage clothes and reached for fresh underwear. Only then did she notice that it wasnât strewed all over the room the way sheâd left it.

Without bothering to cover herself, she turned to him, laughter bubbling up. âYou straightened up in here, didnât you?â

He shot her a defiant look. âSo what if I did?â

âHarlan Patrick Adams, Iâm surprised at you. I thought you were long past tidying up my messes.â

âOld habits die hard, darlinâ,â he said in a tone rich with hidden meanings. âMaybe you should remember that.â

Chapter Four

Seeing Laurie again stirred up all the old feelings for Harlan Patrick. From love to hate, from bitterness to joy, his emotions went on a sixty-second roller-coaster ride, leaving his palms sweaty and his belly in knots. After that things only got worse.

Pure lust slammed through him the instant she walked in that dressing-room door. No woman had ever been her equal for making his temper hot and his body hotter. Having her stare him down with hardly a stitch of clothes on had just about broken his resolve to keep his hands to himself until they had this whole sorry situation straightened out. He was just itching to kiss her senseless, to lose himself in her warmth and her scent, to prove to himself that at least one thing hadnât changed between them.

Thereâd been a time when heâd have gone for it, taken the immediate satisfaction, reveled in the sensory explosion without a thought to the consequences. A few years of loneliness and loss had made him more cautious, maybe even more mature. In one tiny corner of his brain, it registered that sex wasnât the answer.

For once he jammed his hands in his pockets and stayed as far away from her as it was possible to get in that itty-bitty dressing room. It wasnât quite as far as good sense called for, but it was as far as he dared given the likelihood that sheâd run out on him at the first opportunity. It had taken too long finding her for him to risk losing track of her again. He wasnât going anywhere until heâd seen his daughter and he and Laurie had made some decisions about the future.

Not that she was in much of a decision-making mood. In fact, he suspected she was going to be thoroughly unreasonable, just the way sheâd always been when sheâd been cornered. Normally heâd spend a lot of time trying to coax her into a better frame of mind, but there wasnât time for that, either. She and his baby girl were likely to slip right through his fingers before he could blink if he didnât stay right on top of Laurie every second, if he didnât make it perfectly clear what his own expectations were.

âIâm ready,â she announced, drawing his attention.

Sheâd wiped away the last traces of stage makeup, leaving only a touch of lipstick. The glittery outfit sheâd worn had been replaced by worn jeans and a T-shirt. Sheâd scooped her hair up into a careless ponytail, just as she had as a girl when the heat of a Texas summer afternoon got to be too much. His fingers itched to pull away the band holding it, allowing it to fall free again, the way he liked it.

Finally, though, he thought, she looked like his Laurie, approachable and unassuming, the girl next door. In some ways that was more dangerous than the sexy woman whoâd walked into the dressing room a half hour before. Heâd fallen in love with the girl from his old hometown, not the superstar image. Heâd convinced himself that that Laurie, wide-eyed with wonder, had gotten lost.

Of course, the change was superficial, all about appearances. Try as he might, he couldnât tell yet how deep the changes ran, if there was anything of the old Laurie in her heart.

He stood up and took her small suitcase. It weighed a ton. He grinned. âStill donât have a clue how to pack light, do you? Whatâs in here? Rocks?â

âIf youâre going to complain all the way back to the hotel, Iâll carry it,â she said, reaching for it. âIâve been on my own a long time, Harlan Patrick. I donât need you.â

He grinned at the quick flare of temper. âYou must be out of sorts if you canât take a joke.â

âI lost my sense of humor when I found you in my dressing room.â

He laughed at her disgruntled expression. âCareful, darlinâ, or youâll hurt my feelings.â

âNot with your thick hide,â she muttered under her breath as she sashayed past him.

âI heard that.â

She ignored him and gave the guard a quick hug. âThanks for everything, Chester.â

The red-faced guard gave her a smile and Harlan Patrick a suspicious look, clearly wondering how heâd turned up in her dressing room. âIs everything okay, Laurie?â

âEverythingâs fine, Chester. This is an oldâ¦â She hesitated as if she couldnât quite decide how to describe Harlan Patrick. âFriend,â she said finally. âMr. Adams is an old friend from Texas.â

The guard accepted the explanation readily enough and beamed at him. âWell, then, itâs a pleasure to meet you, sir. Iâll bet youâre proud of our Miss Laurie.â

âI am indeed,â Harlan Patrick said.

After theyâd left the building, Laurie glanced up at him. âYou almost sounded as if you meant that.â

âI did,â he said simply, then sighed. âEven though your career came between us, Iâm glad you made it because itâs all that ever mattered to you. Iâd hate to think you gave up all we had and had found nothing to replace it.â

âIt didnât replace it,â she countered. âYou mattered to me, Harlan Patrick. You still do.â

âJust not enough,â he said bitterly.

âPlease, it wasnât like that. If thereâd been another wayâ¦â

âYou mean like me giving up White Pines.â

âNo,â she retorted, then she was the one who sighed. âYes, I suppose that was the only other alternative, at least at the beginning. Can you see now why I said it would have been impossible for us to find a solution when I got pregnant? We live in two different worlds, Harlan Patrick, literally.â

âTwo different cities,â he corrected as if the distinction made a difference, knowing it didnât.

âWhatever. You have to admit it was an impossible situation.â

âNo. What I see is that our baby wasnât important enough for you to even try.â

Her hand connected with his cheek before he even realized what she intended. âDonât you ever say something like that, Harlan Patrick Adams. Not ever. Our baby is the most important thing in my life.â

Harlan Patrick rubbed his cheek, but he didnât back down. âWhat would happen if it came to a choice between her and your music, Laurie? What then? What happens when itâs time for her to go to school? Will she lose then the same way I did? Will you shuffle her off to some boarding school?â

He let those words hang in the air as he opened the rental-car trunk and tossed her suitcase inside. He noticed that she was very subdued as she joined him. She got into the car without a word and, aside from giving him directions, she remained silent all the way to the hotel.

It was an old hotel, three stories high with a creaky elevator and a half-asleep clerk behind the desk. In the lobby Laurie paused. âPlease wait until morning to see the baby,â she pleaded for the second time that night.

Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

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