The Black Sheep's Secret Child

“What time is your flight? I’ll pick you up at the airport.”

“You don’t need to do that.”

“I have a surprise for you that won’t keep.”

“That sounds like trouble.”

Savannah couldn’t imagine what he could be up to and caught herself smiling as she ended the call. However, her delight didn’t last long once her gaze fell upon the envelope containing the summons that she’d tossed onto the dashboard.

She had a tricky legal problem to deal with and if Trent learned the truth, he’d never forgive her for keeping such a huge secret from him. Which brought her thoughts back to the scene at Siggy’s house. Had she really told him she’d hired Fred? And threatened to turn Gerry over to the police?

Trent was going to be unhappy with her for stomping all over his clever plan, whatever it was. He’d been cagey when she’d quizzed him about his plot to save the label. Well, if he’d wanted her to stay on script, he should have given her more information.

It was too late to worry about that now. She had a lawsuit to fight and her future to secure. On the way back to Las Vegas she would figure out what sort of explanation she should give to Trent.

* * *

Airline passengers streamed past Trent as he scanned the arrivals display to find out which carousel would contain the baggage from Savannah’s flight. His timing was perfect. Her plane had touched down five minutes before. He positioned Dylan’s stroller where it wouldn’t be missed when Savannah came to claim their luggage.

Savannah had only been gone three days, but it felt like a lot longer. They’d spoken frequently, their exchanges revolving around Dylan and her agent while Trent’s mind formed the words that would convey how much he missed her. He hadn’t said any of them. His reaction to her absence disturbed him. When she’d married his brother, he’d resolved to be done with her. And for the last sixteen months, he’d believed that was the case. What a shock to discover he had been lying to himself the whole time.

The way his heart leaped when he spotted her demonstrated that he was in deeper than ever. All too aware his emotions were on display, he crouched beside the stroller and focused on unbuckling his nephew.

“Dylan, there’s your mommy. Let’s get you out of here so you can give her a big hug.”

“Oh, I’ve missed you,” Savannah cried, snatching Dylan into her arms and plastering noisy kisses on his cheeks. “Goodness, you’ve grown.”

“You’ve only been gone three days,” Trent pointed out. His arms ached to enfold her in a passionate embrace, but he shoved his hands into his pockets and welcomed her with a smile instead. “I’m sure it’s impossible for him to have gotten measurably bigger in such a short period of time.”

“I know.” Savannah began walking in the direction of the baggage carousels. “It’s just my guilt tricking me because I left him.”

“He did just fine.” Trent meant the words to be reassuring, but when Savannah winced, he realized he was in a no-win situation. “Even though he missed you. But Melody and I did our best to keep him entertained.”

“There’s no one I’d rather he spend time with than you two.”

Trent decided to switch to a less emotionally charged topic. “So your trip to LA was successful. Not only did you get an agent, but also an audition for a movie role. That’s great.”

“It was an eventful trip. I never expected things to go so well.”

“Tell me about the movie.”

“It’s a bigger part than I expected it to be. I skimmed through the script on the flight here. It’s a romantic comedy. If I get it, I’ll be the lead’s best friend.”

“Where is it shooting?”

The carousel began to move and the first bags appeared moments later.

“It sounds like they’ll be shooting in LA.” Savannah split her attention between her son and the luggage circling past them and missed Trent’s frown. “I’m going back next Wednesday for the audition.”

“And if you get it? Does that mean you’re going back to LA?” What he wanted to know was if she was moving back permanently. Before this trip, he’d gotten the impression she wanted to make Las Vegas her home base.

“While I’m filming.” She pointed to a red Tumi suitcase. “That one’s mine.”

Trent lifted it off the carousel while Savannah put Dylan back in his stroller. The three of them left the terminal and headed for short-term parking.

“Feels like the heat broke,” Savannah commented as Trent loaded her suitcase and Dylan’s stroller into the trunk of his car.

For the flight, she’d donned a sleeveless cream fit-a