Calder Pride (Calder Saga 5)

“Because of Quint—or because of all that Calder money he represents?” Her anger came out, hot and tinged with bitterness.

“Then he is my son.”

“I never said that.”

“No. But a DNA test can prove it. Or had you overlooked that detail?”

“Damn you.” Her hands were still at her sides, but they were fisted now.

There was no warning knock before the door swung open, and Chase stepped through and stopped, one hand still gripping the knob, his hard glance divided between Cat and Logan.

“What’s going on here?” He spoke with the conviction of a man accustomed to

having his questions answered and his orders obeyed. “What do you want with my daughter?”

“This is between Cat and myself.” Logan spared him a brief glance, then centered his attention back on her.

“Anything that concerns my daughter concerns me,” Chase stated.

“I can’t argue with that.” Amusement curled the corners of his mouth as he looked at her. “Do you want him to stay, Cat?”

“Yes,” she rushed, then just as quickly changed it. “No!” She caught back a sob of frustration and swung away, cursing again, “Damn you, Logan.”

Releasing the door, Chase moved to her side, an arm protectively circling her as he glared at Logan. “Just what the hell is going on here? What is this all about? Exactly what is it you think Cat has done?”

“I’m not here in any official capacity, Mr. Calder. My business with your daughter is strictly personal.”

“Personal?” He was taken aback by that. “What’s he talking about, Cat?”

She closed her eyes for a long second. “Logan is Quint’s father.”

In the thick silence that followed her announcement, Chase stared at the man before him, then slowly ran his gaze over the office. It was in this very room that he himself had first learned he had a son. Chase remembered the shock of it and the ensuing rush of emotion. Oddly it didn’t seem that long ago.

“We’ll finish this discussion at the ranch,” he stated quietly.

“Dad—” Cat began.

But he heard the beginnings of an argument in her tone. “At the ranch, Cat.”

“There is nothing to discuss,” she protested.

“You’re wrong,” Chase replied. “There is a great deal to discuss.” His gaze swung to Logan. “I’ll ride with you. Cat can follow with Jessy and Quint.”

“That’s fine with me,” Logan stated.

“Well, it’s not fine with me!” Cat blazed, now in full temper. “This is my life and my child. I am not some schoolgirl anymore to be told where to go and when. No one decides my life but me.”

“That wasn’t my intention,” Chase told her.

“Really? It sounded very much like it to me.”

“Maybe it would be best if Cat rode with me,” Logan suggested. “We do need to talk. Assuming”—he paused, a mocking arch to his eyebrow—“that’s agreeable with you.”

At the moment, nothing was agreeable with her. But she knew that they needed to talk. Riding back to the ranch with him appeared to be the only opportunity.

“I think that’s an excellent suggestion,” she said at last.

Cat lifted her chin a little, in her trademark gesture of pride, and returned Logan’s look of long appraisal. Observing them, Chase felt the raw and wild currents that surged between these two strong and proud and self-willed young people. It stirred him, and made him remember what youth was like—the fire and the flash of it—and what had been taken from him when Maggie died.