Missing in Texas, page 23
Aware he needed to choose his words with care, he could only speak from the heart. “No matter whose genes she carries, I’ll love her just the same. And if the DNA test shows she’s mine, I’ll continue to respect your decision when and how to tell her who I am.”
So far, they’d agreed not to say anything to Laney. Little by little, Edie had allowed Jake to become a part of both her life and Edie’s. He’d made no secret of his growing feelings for her, and while Edie never said anything definitive, he felt quite sure she felt the same way.
Edie swallowed, her color high. “I take it you’re planning on sticking around, then?”
He smiled, love for her making his heart swell. “I am. As a matter of fact, I have news. Rayna has offered me a job with the sheriff’s department. You might be looking at the next deputy in Getaway.”
“Might?” she asked, having picked up on his choice of words. “You haven’t accepted yet?”
“I couldn’t until I discussed this with you,” he said, watching her closely. “I need to make sure you’re okay with having me around all the time.”
This made her smile, her bright blue eyes sparkling. “You know I am. My parents, however...”
Pretending to be wounded, he frowned. “Are you saying they don’t like me?”
“I think the only reason they haven’t hopped back into their RV and gone back on the road is because they want to keep an eye on you,” she said. “They’re still worried you might try and take their granddaughter away.”
“How about we take them out to dinner tonight and tell them my news? Once they learn I’m taking a job here in town, maybe they’ll understand that I’m not going anywhere.”
“That’s a great idea,” she said. Then she leaned over the counter and pulled him close for a long, passionate kiss. By the time they broke apart, they were both breathing heavily.
Expression dazed, she shook her head. “If you only knew what your kiss does to me...”
“Believe me, I do. Since yours does the same to me.”
She rewarded him with a dazzling smile. “I kind of like having you around, Jake Cassin. I’m glad you decided to stay.”
As if there’d ever been any doubt, at least on his part. He kissed her again and went to tell Rayna he accepted her job offer. After he’d left the sheriff’s office, he stopped by the post office in town, where he’d rented a box to pick up his mail.
When he saw the envelope from the DNA testing company, his heart stuttered. Though he wanted to rip into the envelope immediately, he knew this was something he wanted to share with Edie. Since they were having dinner with her parents that evening, he figured they’d open it together beforehand. He decided to surprise her and tucked the envelope into his back pocket.
That afternoon, Edie called him to let him know Laney had gotten into her car after school crying. Some of her classmates had apparently heard their parents talking and were teasing her about not knowing who her daddy might be.
“It’s time,” Edie told him, sending his heart into overdrive. “We need to talk to her. I’ve rescheduled dinner with my parents to Friday night. Can you come over? I’ll cook.”
“Of course,” he managed. “Truthfully, I’m a little bit nervous. This is so huge, so important, and I don’t want to mess it up.”
“You won’t,” she reassured him, her warm voice allaying his fears. “And you won’t be alone. We’ll be doing it together. She’s only five, so there’s no need for complicated explanations. She’ll likely ask for those later, once she’s older. For now, we’ll just stick to the simple truth. She already knows she’s adopted. I’ve always told her that Mommy chose her. We’ll just build on that.”
Throat tight, he agreed. His worries almost made him regret not opening the DNA test results, but once again, he told himself this was something he wanted to share with Edie.
For the rest of the afternoon, he was a mess as he hashed out various scenarios in his mind. Since he hadn’t yet started work, he settled on perusing real estate listings, looking for a place to rent. Once he started his job with the sheriff’s department, he’d have a steady income and would need something better than staying at the Landshark Motel.
There weren’t a lot of apartments in Getaway, but he located a unit in a fourplex for rent and made an appointment to take a look at it. Though small, it had been renovated, it looked clean, and best of all, it wasn’t too far from Edie’s house. He went ahead and filled out an application, paid the deposit, and after the landlord verified his upcoming employment with Rayna, he was given the okay to move in on the first of the month, which was in two days.
Back at the motel, he realized he needed to be at Edie’s in an hour. He took a shower and shaved, put on his newest pair of jeans and boots, and a button-down western shirt instead of his usual tee. Then, judging himself presentable, he stopped by a store called Serenity’s on Main Street to pick up some flowers.
Inside, the owner herself greeted him. With a brightly colored scarf over her long and wild hair and her flowing floral skirt, she reminded him of a cheerful aging hippy.
“I’m Serenity,” she said, her multiple bracelets jingling as she shook his hand. “Have a look around and let me know if you need anything. Though you have the aura of a man in the market for flowers, so I’ll get started on making up a special arrangement just for you.”
She drifted away without waiting for an answer, leaving him staring after her.
Lucky guess, he thought, but then he noticed the sign stating she was a psychic and advertising readings for a small fee. He shook his head and began wandering around the shop. It was an eclectic mix of rocks and crystals, paranormal books and, of course, flowers.
“Here you are.” Serenity reappeared carrying a bright and cheerful arrangement of tulips. “These are her favorites,” she said. He started to ask who she meant but decided not to.
“How much do I owe you?” he asked instead.
“Wait. I almost forgot something,” she replied, hurrying off to another room. A moment later, she emerged carrying a smaller arrangement, this one made up of carnations and baby’s breath. “This is for Laney. This small gesture will cheer her up, I promise.”
He started. “How did you know?”
His question made her laugh. “Folks around these parts are used to me,” she told him. “You’ll understand once you’ve been here awhile.”
Again, he asked for her price, getting out his wallet. She named a completely reasonable sum, and he paid her, adding an extra ten dollars because he knew it wasn’t enough.
Smiling, she accepted his cash. “Good luck tonight,” she said. “Not that you need it.”
Back at his truck, he loaded the flowers carefully into the passenger seat, using the seat belt to keep them in place. Then he drove to Edie’s and parked in front.
Heart pounding, he stared at the flowers before making himself get them out. Heading for the front door, he rang the bell, holding both arrangements carefully.
A moment later, Edie opened the door. Her eyes widened as she took in the bouquet. “Thank you,” she exclaimed, taking it from him and smiling. “Tulips are my favorite. How did you know?”
Then before he could answer, she shook her head. “Serenity told you, didn’t she?”
“She did,” he replied, holding up the smaller arrangement for her to see. “I also brought this for Laney.”
“Oh, she’ll be thrilled. Come on in.” Ushering him inside, she led the way to the kitchen.
Laney sat at the table coloring something. She looked up when they entered, taking in the colorful tulips before glancing at Jake.
“Hi, Mr. Jake.” Her usual bubbly countenance had been replaced with a glum quietness that broke his heart.
He smiled and walked over to her, placing her flowers in front of her. “I brought these for you,” he said. “I thought they might cheer you up.”
“For me?” she said, her incredulous voice matching her surprised expression. “Mommy, look!”
“I saw,” Edie replied. “Jake brought us both flowers. Now what do you say, honey?”
“Thank you,” Laney said dutifully. Then she jumped up and wrapped her little arms around Jake in a quick hug. “You’re right,” she said, once she released him. “Pretty flowers do cheer me up.” She sat back down, picked up a crayon and resumed coloring.
“Dinner’s almost ready,” Edie said, happiness radiating from her.
He offered to help, but she shooed him away. He stood for a moment just watching her, his heart full. She moved with a sensual grace, her long blonde hair swaying.
“Come see what I’m coloring,” Laney ordered, flashing him a tentative smile.
“Okay.” Since this was one of the first times she’d initiated conversation with him, Jake pulled out the chair next to her and lowered himself into it. He leaned over, noticing she’d started working on a unicorn, though instead of the usual pinks and purples, she’d chosen black and gray. “Why no bright colors?” he asked, though he suspected he knew.
“The other unicorns made fun of this one,” she told him, picking up a dark brown crayon and adding that to the mix. “They took away his happiness and he changed to this.”
Jake met Edie’s gaze. Immediately, she joined them, taking a seat on her daughter’s other side.
“Tell Jake what happened in school today.” Voice gentle, Edie smoothed Laney’s hair away from her face.
Laney shook her head, her lips pursed tightly together. “They said mean stuff, and they were wrong.”
“What did they say?” Jake asked.
“That I have two daddies. I don’t have any daddy, right, Mom?” Without waiting for confirmation, Edie grabbed the black crayon and began adding great slashes of darkness to her already grim picture.
“Everyone has a father,” Edie began. “You remember how I told you Mommy went and got you after your first mother died?”
Laney nodded vigorously. “And then you adopted me.”
“Exactly. Well, you also have a first father.”
“I do?” Laney frowned. “Who?”
Watching, Jake wondered if they could see his heart pounding, since it felt about to burst from his chest. “I’m hoping it’s me,” he said.
Laney eyed him, considering, and then nodded. “That would be nice,” she said, and went back to coloring.
Unsure what to do now, Jake watched her.
“I could use some help with this salad,” Edie said.
He got up and walked over to her.
“Well done.” She kissed him on the cheek, her voice low, almost a whisper. “I’m sure she’ll have more questions, but we’ll answer them as they come up.”
“This came today,” he said, taking the envelope from his back pocket and smoothing it out on the kitchen counter. “I waited to open it so we could do it together.”
Blue eyes wide, she nodded. Fumbling around in one of her junk drawers, she pulled out a silver letter opener and handed it to him.
They stood hip to hip while he opened the envelope. Hands shaking, he extracted the single slip of paper and unfolded it.
The words typed on the paper made his throat tighten. “It’s me,” he whispered, blinking away tears. “I’m her father.”
“I knew it,” Edie said, her voice fierce. She pulled him close and kissed him, right there in her kitchen in front of Laney. “It always had to be you.”
Blinking hard so he wouldn’t break down, he kissed her back. “Should we tell her?”
“Of course.” Hand in hand, they turned.
Laney, who’d been watching them with interest, frowned.
“Why did you kiss him, Mommy?” she asked.
“Because we’ve got good news,” Edie answered. “Remember when we had to swab the inside of your cheek and mail it away?”
Laney nodded.
“Well, that test was to say who is your birth father,” Edie said. “We got it back today.”
“You did?” Laney looked from one to the other. “What did it say?”
Edie squeezed Jake’s hand, clearly wanting him to be the one to speak the truth out loud. Still holding on tight to her, he cleared his throat, hoping his voice didn’t fail him. “It says it’s me,” he managed, wiping at his eyes.
“You’re crying,” Laney said, clearly concerned. She jumped up and went to him, wrapping her little arms around his leg and giving him a quick hug. “Why are you crying? Aren’t you happy?”
Her hug nearly undid him. That simple gesture of trust from his daughter made him want to weep in earnest. Somehow, he managed to control himself. Crouching down to Laney’s level, he wiped at his eyes again and held out his arms. “They’re happy tears,” he told her. “Though if it’s okay, I’d like another hug.”
She gave him one as if it was the most natural thing in the world and then returned to her chair to resume coloring.
“Come here,” Edie told him.
Awkwardly, Jake got to his feet, still wiping at his streaming eyes. Edie held him, wordless, giving him time to process his emotions. He thanked his lucky stars that he’d found this woman, their daughter, this family. Truly, he had been blessed.
When he finally had his unruly emotions under control, he stepped away, embarrassed. Edie smiled at him, her gentle face full of love.
“Are y’all ready to eat?” she asked, her voice as bright as her eyes. “We don’t want dinner to get cold, now do we?”
“I’m ready,” Laney chimed in, though she didn’t look up from her coloring book.
“I’m ready, too,” Jake replied.
Edie handed him the salad bowl, and he carried it to the table. When he got there, he saw Laney had started coloring a different picture, and this time, she’d used all the colors of the rainbow.
* * *
Don’t miss out on other exciting suspenseful
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A Firefighter’s Hidden Truth
by Tara Taylor Quinn
Chapter 1
It had been almost five years since he’d had sex with her, paid her off and walked out of her life. Like she’d been nothing more than a prostitute instead of the partner in a whirlwind, weeklong romance she’d dreamed up in her head. An overactive imagination—while professionally lucrative—had its downfalls.
There was nothing imaginary about the man’s face. Even with an oxygen tube, hair that needed a wash, a blank gaze in those unforgettable vivid blue eyes and his head on the pillow of his bed, she knew him.
“His name is Luke Dennison.” Shelby turned to walk out of the hospital room, leaving the police to deal with their problem.
“You know me?” The voice—the timbre of it sending an unwanted wash of desire over her—stopped her in her tracks. As angry as she still was nearly five years later, there was something else going on inside her, something she wouldn’t allow herself to explore. Something to do with the fact that the man’s four-year-old son was currently at home with his babysitter.
And the hotshot firefighter sounded so...needy. As though he’d start begging if she didn’t turn around.
She’d heard her father beg after breaking her mother’s heart. Too many times to count.
“Yes, unfortunately, I know you,” she said, turning back around but stepping no closer. The door was her immediate destination.
The man in the bed frowned as though he was in pain. And maybe he was. He’d been found out in the desert, would have died in the fire he’d seemingly been attempting to contain on his own when he’d slid, falling backward. The police had surmised—based on the crime scene and the location of the rock that had slammed into the back of his head, rendering him unconscious—that he was only alive because the wind had shifted, changing the course of the blaze. “I’m sorry, have I done something to upset you?” He looked truly perplexed.
Which pissed her off.
And she’d learned long ago that it was more to her advantage not to let that show.
“Come on, Luke, why would I be upset with you?” The question was pure sarcasm. Her smile and tone of voice made that obvious.
“I’m guessing if you weren’t before, you’re going to be now,” he said then, shaking his head. “Because I have to ask, who are you?”
If he’d been in his right mind, the irony would have been too much to bear. Shelby took a deep breath, giving herself time to determine her next course of action. Did she walk out the door and thankfully bid good riddance to the man once and for all?
Or did she listen to the softer part of herself, the one who looked for the human-interest stories a lot of reporters didn’t bother to find, and give the man another chance?
Why don’t I have a daddy like Jason does? A replay of Carter’s tear-filled, heartbreaking question flashed through her mind. From when Carter’s little friend Jason got to go fishing for the weekend.
And immediate answers became clear. She had to buy herself time. “I’m a reporter,” she told the man, the only part of their truth she was willing to let him know. The police had said his memory loss was complete. Meaning he wouldn’t remember that she’d gone to his home to tell him that she was pregnant.
