The Tycoon's Secret Child (Texas Cattleman's Club: Blackmail 1)

“Like what?” Caroline asked, eyes bright and interested.

Put on the spot, he seemed to flounder for a minute and Isabelle waited, curious to see how he’d recover. She shouldn’t have doubted him.

“Oh, we’ve got a big zoo that has a carousel and we’ve got lakes. We can go out on a boat—”

“I like boats!” Caroline grinned. “Uncle Chance has a boat and it’s fun!”

“Good to know,” Wes said wryly. “There’s an amusement park in Houston where we can go on rides, and there’s a trampoline park, too.” He reached out and gently tugged one of her pigtails. “Texas has a lot of great stuff.”

“But no snow.”

He shook his head. “Not usually.”

She thought about that for a second then shrugged. “It’s okay. Home has snow, so it’s okay you don’t.”

“Well, thanks,” Wes said, slanting a look at Isabelle. “You know, your mom used to live in Texas.”

“Really?” She looked up at her mother. “Did you have fun with Wes, too?”

Before she answered, she saw the speculative expression on Wes’s face and smiled to herself. The man was impossible. “I sure did, honey. So will you.”

At least, Isabelle really hoped so. Looking at her little girl’s excitement right now, she could only pray that nothing happened to dampen that enthusiasm. Shifting her gaze to Wes, Isabelle tried to see beyond the facade to the man beneath. What did this trip mean to him? Was it simply to get a little extra time with his daughter? Was he considering a future for all of them? Or was there another reason for this trip altogether? Impossible to know.

“Why don’t we go inside,” Wes said to Caroline. “Then you can see your room.”

“My room?” Caro asked, her mouth wide-open in pleased surprise.

“Yep, and it’s special just for you.” He took Caroline’s hand, winked at Isabelle, then walked to the front door, the little girl skipping and chattering happily alongside him.

Isabelle followed, shaking h

er head. The man never ceased to surprise her. Of course he had a room for Caroline. He’d had two days, after all. No doubt he’d made a few calls and had everything taken care of just the way he wanted it. It probably should have bothered her that he was so obviously planning on more than just a week with Caroline. You didn’t go to that kind of trouble for a child who would only be spending a few days there. But on the other hand, how could she be upset with a man who went the extra mile to make their daughter feel special?

“A dog! You gots a dog!”

Caroline’s squeal of delight reached Isabelle as she stepped up onto the porch, and she couldn’t quite hold back a sigh of defeat. Caro had been asking for a dog for months, and Isabelle had kept putting her off. Now Caroline would be even more determined than ever.

Isabelle stepped into the entryway and immediately noted the warm oak floors, the pale misty-green walls and the thick oak trim everywhere. There was a table near the stairs where a vase of flowers stood and several doors leading off a long hallway that stretched to the back of the house. Later, she’d have time to explore. But for right now, Isabelle’s gaze was fixed on her daughter and the golden retriever currently adoring each other.

“What’s his name?” Caro demanded as she buried her face in all that soft, golden fur.

“Her name is Abbey,” Wes said, signing as well as speaking.

Isabelle had to admit that his signing had really come a long way in a week. Clearly he was practicing a lot.

Abbey, reacting to her name, abandoned Caroline briefly to welcome Wes home, her nails clicking on the hardwood floor. Then the big dog shifted her attention to Isabelle, coming up to her and leaning against her, giving Isabelle the opportunity to stroke that sleek golden head. But when the hellos were done, the dog shot straight back to Caroline. She plopped to the floor in front of the little girl and rolled over to her back to allow for a good belly rub. Caro complied with a delighted laugh.

“I like dogs,” Caro shouted over her own laughter when Abbey sprang up to lick the girl’s face.

“She likes you, too,” Wes said, then as an older woman approached, said, “I’m home, Bobbi.”

“So I see.” Bobbi had long, gray-streaked black hair, currently in a thick braid that hung over one shoulder. She wore jeans, a long-sleeved blue T-shirt and dark red cowboy boots. “You brought me a little girl to spoil, too, I see.”

“Hi,” the girl announced. “I’m Caroline.”

“Nice to meet you,” Bobbi said. Then, holding out a hand, she said, “You must be Isabelle.”

“I am, it’s nice to meet you, too.” Isabelle looked around, then back to the woman who was so clearly in charge. “It’s a gorgeous house.”