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

“How about I pick you up at seven?”

She agreed and gave him Jaymes’s address, then spent the rest of the afternoon figuring out what to wear.

Five hours later, Grant’s navy blue Mercedes came to a halt in her friend’s driveway. Harley had been waiting for him and slipped out the front door before he’d extricated himself from the driver’s seat.

Harley wasn’t expecting any drama tonight. Grant hadn’t given her any indication that he intended to be anything but civilized and logical, but her anxiety levels had still been sky high all day.

Instead of waiting for her by his car, he met her halfway up the walk. Her knees quivered as his ocean blue eyes took in her appearance. The man’s imposing masculinity was attributed as much to the force of his keen intelligence and innate charisma as his daunting height and impressive physique. He positively oozed confidence.

Yet, she’d once glimpsed his wariness and knew the pain that had caused him to wall off his emotions. The weekend Daniel had been conceived, she’d been offered some insight into Grant’s innermost thoughts. In the wee hours of the night, as they lay tangled together, he’d dropped his guard and given her a glimpse of his pain. He’d shared how going against his parents’ wishes and becoming a doctor instead of taking the reins of the family’s businesses had put him at odds with his mom and dad. Their inability to support his decisions had compelled him to take refuge behind indifference.

She’d been surprised to find they were kindred spirits in this regard and shared with him how she’d known nothing but criticism from her mother and exasperation from her siblings. Growing up, they’d often made her feel as if nothing she said or did was right. And when they’d learned she’d become pregnant, they’d chosen to scold her rather than offer their support, leaving her no choice but to distance herself from the Wingates and eventually put Royal in her rearview mirror.

In the months that followed, she’d been swallowed by bitterness and ignored all their attempts to reach out to her. Daniel had saved her from her worst instincts. Could he save Grant, as well?

“Thank you for agreeing to have dinner with me tonight,” Grant said as he settled behind the wheel of the Mercedes.

“Of course,” she replied, keeping her voice light. “You know I enjoy your company.”

He shot her a curious look before starting the car. Harley’s senses came fully alive as she inhaled his clean masculine scent and absorbed the way his proximity made her skin tingle. Fighting the impulse to lean into his space, she gripped her purse until her fingers ached and focused on calming her skyrocketing pulse. Good thing they were going out in public because Harley wasn’t sure she could keep her hands to herself if left alone with him for more than the time it would take to drive to the restaurant.

As he drove, she wondered where he intended to take her. Their appearance together at one of Royal’s better restaurants would be sure to spark gossip. When the town limits came and went, Harley relaxed. Obviously, neither one of them was ready to flaunt their connection in public.

Their destination turned out to be Violets, an upscale restaurant in Joplin, a good-sized town in neighboring Colonial County. As Grant escorted her to the front door, his palm grazed her back as she slipped past him and entered the cozy interior. Reeling from the heady rush of his touch, Harley filled her lungs with the delicious aromas wafting from the kitchen.

The hostess escorted them to a table set with elegant crystal goblets, flickering candles and a pot of delicate violets on white linens. Despite the elegant decor and soft lighting, the atmosphere was less romantic and more geared toward fine dining.

“I haven’t been here before,” Harley said. “It’s very nice.”

“One of my staff is the cousin of the owner and recommended it.”

Harley glanced at the menu and surveyed the selections. Her mouth watered in appreciation of the cuisine. “This all looks amazing,” she murmured. “I have no idea what to have.”

“June recommended the beef tenderloin Oscar and the lamb loin.”

“The saffron mussel soup caught my eye, as well.”

The waiter appeared and went over that evening’s specials and took their drink order. Harley shot surreptitious glances in Grant’s direction as she continued to hem and haw over her entrée selection. With his typical decisiveness, Grant made his choice and set his menu aside. While they waited for the waiter to return, they chatted about the changes to Royal during her absence and the dramas surrounding several of the Texas Cattlemen’s Club members that had occurred in the last few years. Since he wasn’t one for small talk, Harley figured he hadn’t yet figured out how to divulge how he was feeling. She waited until they’d received their entrées before tackling the reason they’d agreed to meet for dinner.

“Now that you’ve had some time to adjust,” she began, savoring the butter-poached king crab that topped the beef tenderloin medallions. “How are you feeling about being a father?”

Grant frowned. “I’m getting used to the idea.”

“Finding out your whole life will never be the same is a bit of a shock.” Harley thought back to the moment when she’d glimpsed the positive pregnancy test. “It takes a while to get used to the idea of being a parent,” she continued. “I had eight months to adjust. You’ve had a few days.”

“Do you want me there when you tell him?”

“I don’t know,” she admitted. “I haven’t figured out how to do that. I’m hoping it’ll just become obvious one day that he’s ready to hear the truth.”

“One day?” Grant echoed. “That’s a little vague.”

Harley needed to tread carefully. She didn’t want to hurt Grant, but wasn’t sure how he would cope with being a father. She knew her son. Knew Daniel would throw himself heart and soul into the relationship. She wasn’t sure Grant would meet him halfway.

“Harley?” Grant prompted when she didn’t immediately respond.

“I think Daniel should get to know you a little before we break the news that you’re his dad.” Harley paid careful attention to his expression as she spoke, unsurprised that his features were carved granite.

“You do plan to tell him I’m his father.”