The Paternity Pact (Texas Cattleman's Club: Rags to Riches 3)

“You’re damn right you should have.”

“But I’m not lying,” she continued, hoping her gravity would convince him she spoke the truth. “You have a son.”

Grant showed the first chink in his armor as he rubbed his face. “It’s not possible.”

“That first time...” she trailed off with a shrug, letting him fill in the gap with his own memories.

He cursed. “Of course, there’ll have to be a paternity test.”

“Of course. I wouldn’t expect anything else.”

“His name is Daniel and he’s four.” As she spoke Grant’s frown faded, his features shifting into stony lines as the impact of her words sank in. “He’s an awesome kid. Smart. Funny. Too old for his years.”

In fact, he reminded her so much of his dad that it was a little scary. Up until now, Grant hadn’t supplied more than his genes, but in so many ways, her son was a carbon copy of the man who stood before her. Smart. Stubborn. Strong-willed. Adorable.

“Grant?”

“Yes?”

His gaze had been searching the room as if desperate for something he could grab on to, something that made sense. He looked disoriented and entirely capable of falling over. He wouldn’t. Grant was a strong, powerful man. But even a big hunk could be leveled by an unexpected blow. And that’s exactly what Harley had delivered.

“Are you okay?”

“As fine as a man can be whose ex-lover shows up and declares he has a son.”

Guilt twisted in her chest, making it hard for Harley to breathe. As much as she longed to offer him comfort or support, she kept her distance. What existed between them was too volatile. She couldn’t risk touching him again.

“It’s a huge shock, I know.”

He clenched his hands into fists. “If this is some twisted game...”

“It’s not.”

“As I said, I want a paternity test.”

?

??We can do it whenever you want.”

Instead of being satisfied with her easy agreement, his frown indicated that she’d annoyed him. What was wrong now? The test would prove she wasn’t lying. Daniel was his son.

“Why now?”

“Why now what?” she asked, frustrated that he was asking all these ridiculous questions when what he should really want to know about was his son.

“It’s been five years.”

“Things didn’t end well between us,” she reminded him.

“That’s a poor excuse and you know it.”

She’d imagined this encounter with Grant a thousand times. No matter how often she’d envisioned his reaction, vacillating between him throwing his arms around her in joy or shouting accusations at her, she hadn’t prepared herself for the moments after. Now that her emotional seesaw had stopped, Harley felt as if she’d stepped off a cliff and was plummeting thousands of feet through the air toward the earth below. The plunge was both terrifying and exhilarating.

“Fine,” she groused. “I can’t tell you how many times I picked up the phone to call and tell you...”

“But you didn’t.”

“At first, I was mad. And then afraid.” She had no idea if exposing her vulnerability in this moment would get through to him or not. “And then you married Paisley and I didn’t want to mess up your situation.”