The Paternity Pact (Texas Cattleman's Club: Rags to Riches 3)
“Of course.” Harley set her fork down, her appetite departing. “It’s just that I’m worried that he’ll expect so much from you and it will be more than you’re willing to give.”
The whole time she’d been speaking, Grant had regarded her in stony silence. Now, as her insinuation hung between them, he frowned. “More than I’m willing to give? What does that mean?”
“I’ve created a very safe world for Daniel. A place where he’s surrounded by friends who love him.”
Grant’s eyes widened at her frank words. “And you don’t think I will love him?”
“That’s not what I meant.” This was going as badly as she’d imagined. “Look, the way things ended between us... I was devastated.”
She regretted the confession even as she offered it. During all the conversations she’d imagined, never once did she think to blurt out that his rejection had broken her heart. What good would it do to share her emotional upheaval when he preferred to address every situation with logic? She was only going to end up frustrated and feeling that he hadn’t heard her.
“We spent a weekend together,” he reminded her with his typical pragmatism. “The fact that you’re still bothered after all this time demonstrates that you were too young for me to have gotten involved with at all.”
The ease with which he dismissed what had been a hurtful rejection after an otherwise magical weekend just reinforced that she needed to protect her son.
“You aren’t wrong,” she agreed. “It’s just that at the time I thought you had feelings for me and the way you shut me down really stung. It makes me afraid you’ll do the same thing to Daniel without realizing it. He’s a sensitive kid with an enormous heart and he might not understand if you approach parenting by applying logic.”
“So, you’re worried that I’m not in touch with my emotions and Daniel will get hurt because of it?”
She turned her palms up. “I’m not sure yet. Which is why I’m erring on the side of caution.”
“I never expected I would be a father,” Grant admitted. “But I intend to be a good one.”
Harley’s chest ached as she acknowledged Grant’s vow. “That’s all I ask.”
Five
Following his dinner with Harley, Grant realized if he intended to spend any extended time with his son, he’d better outfit his home with what a young boy might need.
He’d started by choosing the bedroom next to the master suite so Daniel would be close in case the tyke needed him in the middle of the night. Then he hired a painter, went shopping for furniture and
purchased all the toys a four-year-old boy might desire. Normally, when it came to decorating his house, he would hire an interior designer and let the woman work her magic. But this was for his son. He wanted to be the one who personalized the space, and if Harley was impressed that he’d gone out of his way to make sure Daniel felt at home, then all the better.
Harley had mentioned that Daniel was obsessed with horses since coming to Texas, so he decided the boy would enjoy a cowboy-themed room. Imagining Daniel’s reaction to each item he selected brought him a rush of pleasure.
Unfortunately, these packages were delivered after his housekeeper, Franny, had left for the day and Grant had arrived home to find an enormous pile of boxes on his porch. He’d barely finished dragging in the last of the packages when Rose paid him an impromptu visit. As she entered his home, her eyes went wide as she surveyed the massive delivery.
“Looks like you bought out the store.” His sister noted the names adorning the various packages and added, “Or should I say stores.”
Grant shrugged. “It’s just a few things.”
“What sort of things? Forgive my curiosity,” she said, sounding not the least bit apologetic, “but it isn’t like you to...shop. And especially not in this sort of volume. What is all this?”
Grant recognized the glint in Rose’s eyes and knew that the time had come to tell her about Daniel. “They’re toys and things.”
“I see.” Only from her frown, she obviously didn’t. “Are you opening a day care?” The question was ridiculous and both of them knew it, but such was his sister’s dry sense of humor. “Okay, stop scowling at me. I was just kidding but you have to admit this is odd... Even for you.”
He ignored her fond mockery and expelled his breath in a gusty sigh. “The truth is, I recently found out that I have a son.”
Rose regarded him blankly for several seconds as if he’d delivered the punch line of a joke and she was feverishly trying to sort out if it was funny.
“I’m sorry.” She gave her head a vigorous shake as if that might put her scattered thoughts back into place. “Did you say you have a son?”
“Yes. His name is Daniel.” Grant paused, allowing her to catch up. “He’s four years old.”
“You have a son? Who’s four?” His sister furrowed her brow and Grant could see her trying to calculate the timing. “Who’s his mother?”
Rose prided herself on being on top of all the gossip in Royal. Being presented with a massive bolt out of the blue like this was guaranteed to drive her crazy and Grant appreciated being one step ahead of her for a change. Several heartbeats passed while Grant watched his sister stew. Then, just as Rose was revving up to pummel him with more questions, Grant dropped his second bombshell.