The Secret Heir

He was slowly coming around to the idea of owning his own business. Jack had hit an emotional bull’s-eye when he had mentioned that Jackson could leave the company to his son someday, something he’d always hoped to be able to do. He could do a few other things with the money, too, like helping Beverly go to nursing school, as a way of thanking her for practically saving his son’s life. But he still didn’t think of himself as a multimillionaire. That was going to take a little more time.

“Are you okay?” Laurel asked, giving his arm a slight squeeze.

He turned to face her. She was so beautiful tonight, her dark-blond hair swept into a sophisticated twist, her slender body showcased to perfection in a little black dress that she’d obsessed over before finally deciding it would do. She’d bought it on sale—a habit she wouldn’t break any time soon. She hadn’t gotten used to the idea of wealth, either.

It pleased him to know that she would still be by his side regardless of whether he had accepted the money or given it to the first charity that had popped into his mind. As she had pointed out when they’d discussed it, he hadn’t had any money when she’d married him. He hadn’t had much more when they had renewed their confessions of love only a few weeks ago. Now that he did have money, nothing had changed between them.

They had come a long way in a very short time, he was pleased to note. The love had been there all along. It had just taken a couple of crises to make them see how foolish they had both been to risk letting it slip away from them.

“I’m fine,” he said. “I love you, Laurel Reiss.”

She smiled in surprise and pleasure. “I love you, too, Jackson Reiss.”

He leaned down to brush his lips across hers, taking care not to smudge the lipstick she had applied so painstakingly.

“Daddy?” Tyler tugged at his coat. “Are we going in to meet the new people?”

Giving Laurel one last, quick peck, Jackson leaned down to scoop his son into his arms. “Yeah, sport. We’re going in. As a team,” he added for Laurel’s benefit.

And then he reached out to press the doorbell.

Epilogue

Everett Baker crumpled the newspaper he’d been reading between his hands, which shook with emotions he couldn’t have described had he tried. The society section today had been filled with news of Jack Crosby’s acknowledgment of his long-lost son.

Apparently, Jackson Reiss had been welcomed into the Crosby family with open arms—and a substantial monetary endowment. Even one of the Logans had been in attendance at the reception in Jackson’s honor—Peter. The one who had been adopted after Terrence and Leslie Logan’s son was kidnapped and who was now married to Katie Crosby.

Everett wondered how everyone would react if they were to discover that the Crosbys weren’t the only ones with a long-lost son in their midst. Would he be welcomed so warmly? He was hardly the fine, upstanding citizen Jackson Reiss was reported to be, but, then, he hadn’t had the advantage of being raised by loving, supportive parents, had he?

He wondered if anyone would understand what the kind of upbringing he’d suffered could do to a boy who had been wrenched from his adoring parents. If they could accept him for what he had become…

He spent a few minutes fantasizing about a reception in his honor given by the Logan family. And then he shook his head in impatience at his foolish and highly unlikely daydreaming. Not every man was as lucky as Jackson Reiss, he reminded himself. Not everyone had every wrong made right with a nice dinner and a hefty check.

Some people had to find their own way in the world. And Everett Baker—born Robbie Logan—was one of those determined souls.