Her Secret, His Child

Following her, Kyle pulled her little white parson's table between two lawn chairs. "We have to talk about this, Jamie," he said, sitting down only after she had. "She's not even on my insurance."

"She doesn't need to be. She's on mine."

"It's time I started providing for her."

"You've bought every single thing she's needed in the past three months, and paid for her dance lessons, too."

"And you've been providing a roof over her head, food for her to eat, clothes for her to wear and a million other things for the past four years."

Jamie enjoyed doing those things. "I had to have

TARA TAYLOR QUINN

food and a roof over my head, anyway. Besides, she's mine. I should provide for her."

"Fine," he said, nodding, his hands linked across his belly. "And so should I."

"Fine. We split this fifty-fifty."

"It's not that easy."

"Sure it is. You get the school bill, I get household stuff and clothes, we buy birthday and Christmas presents together and we'll figure out the rest somehow."

"I want to share more than her upkeep, Jamie."

Kyle was looking at her intently. He meant business. And that scared her to death.

"Okay," she said slowly. "Just what are we talking about?"

"I want custodial rights."

His words took the breath from her lungs. Back in the beginning, when she'd first met Kyle again, she'd been terrified this might happen. That he might try to take Ashley away from her. But after getting to know him, after falling in love with him all over again, she'd never even considered such a thing.

What a fool she'd been.

"Hey." He leaned forward, rubbing the back of her hand where it lay listless in her lap. "Don't look so hunted," he said. "I'm not talking about taking anything away from you. I just want to share all the responsibility. To have all the rights of any other parent."

Jamie tried to hear him, but the noise in her head was incredibly loud. She just sat there, frozen.

HER SECRET, HIS CHILD

"I couldn't get my daughter medical treatment today, Jamie."

It was the pain in his eyes that got through to her. His request was reasonable. Honorable. Responsible.

She should've thought of it.

"Okay, we'll look into it," she said, convincing herself there was no threat in doing so. That, in fact, Ashley's well-being, possibly her health, depended on it. And if Kyle had legal responsibility for Ashley, wouldn't that protect Ashley's rights, as well?

They'd certainly never have to worry about paying for dance lessons again.

"What we need first is to name me as Ashley's father."

"That's done."

His head shot around as he stared at her. ' 'It is?''

Jamie nodded.