Fortune's Secret Child

by Delacorte, Shawna

  “That’s what I represent to you?” He filled a mug with coffee and set it on the counter in front of her. “A complication?”

  The butterflies played havoc with her stomach and sent her emotions into overdrive. All it took was one look from him, a raised eyebrow and the tilt of his head. His gaze cut right through her defenses and struck directly at her vulnerability.

  She refused to answer his question. Even if she wanted to, she didn’t know how to respond to it. “I have a very busy day ahead of me, so I’d better get Bobby up and dressed.” She took the coffee mug and hurried out of the kitchen, thankful to be away from his scrutiny and unsettling questions and the devastating pull of his sexuality.

  Shane watched her go. For someone who’d spent his entire life displaying an outwardly decisive attitude, he couldn’t find any comfortable ground when talking to Cynthia—at least not comfortable as he chose to define it, where he at least had control of his emotions, if not the circumstances. She was more beautiful than ever and definitely more desirable than ever, but she had changed. There were many levels to her that he had never known before, more depth than he remembered. Had these things always been there and he had been so absorbed in his own search for identity that he hadn’t noticed? If that was true, then he’d screwed up even worse than he thought.

  He’d felt her heated response to his kiss, however brief, before she pulled away from him. In his heart and soul he knew that she still felt something for him. He tasted it in her kiss and sensed it in the very air around them. But what to do about it? How to get past that wall she’d built between them?

  He slumped back against the counter, making no effort to suppress a sigh of despair. It was a wall he’d helped her build, and no matter how much he tried to convince himself otherwise, he couldn’t escape the truth. He had supplied the mortar that held the bricks together when he’d abruptly terminated their affair and dismissed her from his life. It had been his decision, and now he was suffering the consequences of his behavior. It was up to him to find a way to fix it. The first thing he needed to do was make sure he kept the lines of communication open.

  He turned his hand to making breakfast for the three of them. He paused a moment as those exact words hit him—the three of them. A warm sensation spread through his body, something he wanted to explore. A little frown wrinkled across his forehead as another thought seeped into his mind. He still didn’t know why Cynthia had been left to raise her son alone. He wanted to know what had happened, but didn’t know how to go about asking without seeming to be prying into her private business, something she’d made very clear she would not tolerate. He turned the problem over in his mind as he poured three glasses of orange juice and set them on the table.

  A moment later Bobby came bounding into the kitchen full of enthusiasm, still dressed in his pajamas.

  “Good morning, champ. You ready for breakfast, or do you want to get dressed first?”

  Bobby climbed onto the chair. “I’m hungry.” He reached for his glass of orange juice.

  “Hold on there. Don’t you think we should wait for your mother to join us?”

  “She’ll be here in a little bit. She said she has to pull herself together first.”

  “Pull herself together?” A quick hit of panic stopped Shane in his tracks. “Is she okay?”

  “I guess so.”

  “Bobby!” Cynthia rushed through the door, flustered by what she’d heard. Her momentary eye contact with Shane sent a flush of embarrassment across her cheeks.

  She slowed her words and movements so Bobby wouldn’t think he’d done something wrong. She gave him a loving smile. “Don’t you think you’d better get dressed before you have breakfast?”

  He looked up at his mother. “But I’m hungry, and Shane already fixed breakfast, so I need to eat it right away.” He turned his attention to Shane. “Isn’t that right, Shane?”

  Cynthia shot Shane the same look she had earlier, the one that said Bobby was her son and she didn’t want any interference. He gave Bobby’s hair a friendly tousle. “I can’t help you there, champ.” He leaned down to whisper in Bobby’s ear, making sure it was loud enough for Cynthia to hear. “I’ll guard your breakfast until you get back.”

  An unhappy Bobby stomped up the stairs toward his bedroom.

  “Well, are you together yet?” Shane asked Cynthia. There was no mistaking the amusement in his voice. He blatantly looked her up and down as he walked around her. “Exactly where is it that you came apart?”

  His close scrutiny of her physical being sent a tingle of excitement dancing across her skin. She picked up the coffeepot and refilled her mug. She tried to sound nonchalant, as if the words Bobby had heard her say had no meaning and the way Shane was looking at her didn’t have any affect on her senses. “You know children. They hear something and don’t understand what you really mean.”

  “Oh? What did you really mean?”

  She took a sip of her coffee before responding. “I simply meant that I wanted to run a brush through my hair first.” Her gaze darted nervously around the room.

  “I see.” He reached out and touched her hair, then traced her jaw before breaking off the physical contact. The tactile pleasure lingered on his fingertips even after he withdrew his hand. “You look very nice. But then, you looked nice a few minutes ago when you came downstairs the first time.”

  He didn’t believe her explanation, but realized that pursuing it would not be the best course of action. “So, tell me...what’s on your agenda for today? Are you making any headway with your father’s estate?”

  Her frustration with the problem spoke as loudly as her words. “Some, but it’s going slower than I’d anticipated. I still can’t believe what a mess it is. Fortunately I’ve been able so far to avoid spending long hours standing in lines at various government offices here and at the county seat in Tucson. I think I’m going to have to take at least half a day to handle some of the details in Tucson and another day to drive up to Phoenix to deal with the state offices. Doing that in person will be quicker and easier in the long run.”

  Shane perked up at this bit of information. “When will you be going to Phoenix? I have some business to take care of in Phoenix, too.” He touched his fingertips to her cheek. Regardless of his intentions, he couldn’t stop himself from touching her. The feel of her silky skin sent a ripple of excitement through his body. He cupped her chin in his hand and lifted her face so he could look into her eyes. “I have a real busy schedule for the next couple of days, but after that...” His voice was as tentative as his question. “Perhaps we could drive up together?”

  Cynthia stepped away from the unnerving sensation of his touch and the decidedly sensual pull it exerted on her. She ran her hand across her nape to still the tremor caused by the physical contact. A shiver made its way through her body. His dark eyes seemed to be looking directly into her soul as if searching for something. She suddenly felt very tired, as if something had drained off all her energy. “I...I don’t know. I may not have to go at all.”

  Bobby ran into the kitchen and quickly secured his place at the table. A grateful Cynthia took advantage of the interruption to break the spell Shane’s presence had begun to weave around her. With each physical encounter, it became more difficult for her to turn away.

  The next couple of days were very busy for Cynthia. She had things narrowed down to the point where she could not proceed any further without going to Phoenix and also spending several hours in Tucson. But that presented her with the problem of what to do about Bobby. It was unfair to expect a five-year-old boy to spend long hours waiting in lines to deal with bureaucrats and various government agencies.

  That evening a tired Cynthia put Bobby to bed, then took a glass of iced tea out onto the patio. She allowed her mind to wander. She had barely seen Shane in the past couple of days. He’d left the house early and gotten home late. That had given her a break from trying to juggle the emotional pull he exerted on her while she dealt wi
th the stressful situation of putting her father’s estate in order.

  She took a sip from her glass, then placed it on the table. She leaned back in her chair. The fatigue spread through her entire body. Her legs and arms felt as heavy as lead. At the moment she wasn’t sure she could even move them. Her shoulder muscles had knotted into an uncomfortable tightness.

  A jolt of adrenaline shot through her body. She stiffened to a startled attention as two hands began to massage the tension out of her shoulders. She twisted around in her chair and saw Shane. Relief settled over her as a weary smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “You startled me.” She settled back into her chair. “I didn’t realize you were home. How long have you been here?”

  “I just arrived.” He continued to massage her shoulders. “I was headed toward the stairs when I saw you out here.” He glanced around the patio. “Is Bobby already in bed?”

  “Yes. It was his bedtime fifteen minutes ago.”

  “I guess I didn’t realize it was that late.” His dexterous fingers worked with tender efficiency to ease the tightness from her muscles. “You look tired. Have you had a tough day? Your shoulders are tied in knots.”

  “Mmm...that feels good.” A little moan of pleasure escaped her throat. “It’s been more frustrating and emotionally exhausting than physically tiring, but I can tell it’s beginning to take its toll on me.”

  “Are you getting close to wrapping everything up?”

  “I’m at the point where I need to go to Phoenix for the day to visit some state-government offices. I thought I could handle things by phone and fax, but it’s not working out that way. What I need to do first is make some sort of arrangement for Bobby.” She paused for a moment, then turned toward him. “Do you know of a good day-care center that could take Bobby for a day or two? Perhaps someone at the hospital who could give me a recommendation?”

  He stopped massaging her shoulders and sat down next to her at the table. “There are several good ones, but I have a better idea. My sister. Isabelle.”

  “What about her?”

  “She’s engaged to Brad Rowan and right now is in the middle of planning her wedding. She can make those plans from my house as easily as anywhere else. She can keep an eye on Bobby. That way, he won’t have to be disrupted. He can stay here where he’s comfortable and familiar with the surroundings. He’ll have his own toys and the swimming pool.”

  His suggestion caught her by surprise. “Oh, no—I couldn’t do that. There’s no way I could impose on Isabelle. If you could just give me the name of a couple of good day-care centers, I’ll call them first thing in the morning.”

  “Nonsense. You know Bobby will be more comfortable here. I’d take care of him myself, but I’m not able to clear my schedule and cancel my appointments this week. I’m going to call Isabelle right now. When do you want to go to Phoenix?”

  “I’d like to go as soon as possible. I was hoping that tomorrow I’d be able to find a place for Bobby so I could drive up to Phoenix the next day and then Tucson the day after that.”

  “I’ll be right back.”

  Shane went to the kitchen to make the phone call. He dialed Isabelle’s number, and after two rings she answered the phone.

  “Isabelle, it’s Shane. I could use your help with something.”

  “What is it?”

  “I don’t know whether you’ve heard—” An amusing thought interrupted what he was going to say. “Kate may be avoiding me, but I’m sure you’ve spoken to her in the last few days. Anyway, as I’m sure you know, Cynthia McCree has returned to Pueblo. She and her son...” Once again thoughts about the identity of Bobby’s father and where he was now popped into his mind leaving him with an uneasy feeling. He filed the thoughts away, saving the speculation for another time. “—have been staying with me until she can get her father’s estate settled and find a place of her own.”

  “Yes, Kate did mention something about it.”

  “Cynthia needs to go to Phoenix tomorrow and then to Tucson the following day on business. She was asking me about a day-care center for Bobby, but she’s only going to be gone a little while. So...”

  Isabelle’s laugh traveled across the phone line. “...so, you want to know if I’ll watch her son while she’s gone.”

  “Well...yes, that’s it. Bobby is familiar with the surroundings, his toys are here, and he loves the swimming pool. There’s no reason to disrupt his routine by sending him off to some strange place for only a couple of days. You’re working on your wedding plans. You could do that here as easily as there. So, what do you say? Can you come over tomorrow morning and spend the day with Bobby?”

  “I think so. Brad’s here right now. Let me check with him to make sure he doesn’t have something else planned for us. Hold on.”

  Shane bristled at the mention of Brad’s name. The man would soon be his brother-in-law, and as such he would have to maintain at least a civil attitude around him. He heard Brad and Isabelle talking, but he couldn’t make out what they were saying. A minute later Isabelle returned to the phone.

  “No problem. I’ll see you first thing in the morning.”

  Shane talked to Isabelle for a couple of minutes longer, then returned to the patio. Cynthia had her head back and her eyes closed. He brushed his fingertips lightly across her cheek, taking pleasure in the silky smooth texture. He felt a rush of exhilaration, just as he experienced every time he came in physical contact with her.

  His mind flooded with memories of the many nights they had spent making passionate love, of what he had come later to recognize as being as much emotional as physical. An undeniable desire to take care of her invaded his thoughts, a desire to banish the weariness he saw in her face. It was a familiar place for him, but from what he had observed of this new Cynthia, she was not one to sit back and allow someone else to take charge of her life.

  He shook away the errant thoughts and comforting possibilities and replaced them with reality. Regardless of the newly discovered similarities in their life goals, he still wasn’t sure how Cynthia McCree would fit into the demands of his lifestyle and plans.

  He once again found himself trying to straddle two worlds. This time, however, his commitment to his dual ancestry was on one side and Cynthia McCree was on the other. He brushed his fingertips across her cheek again and touched her hair. The excitement flowed through his veins and heated his desire. And his confusion and uncertainty increased in equal measure. He didn’t seem to be able to keep away from the physical contact with her, however fleeting. He needed to know she was really there and not just a figment of his imagination. And he wanted so much more.

  He smiled as he spoke, hoping it would cover his troubled thoughts. “Isabelle said she’d stay with Bobby, so you can take care of your business. She’ll be here first thing in the morning.”

  Cynthia shifted her position in the chair in an attempt to subtly move away from the warmth of his touch, even though she found it both comforting and stimulating. She was accustomed to making her own decisions and taking care of her problems without any help, but she had to admit it was nice to have someone else see to her well-being, if only for a brief time.

  “That’s very kind of Isabelle. It’ll sure be a big help to me. I hope it’s not too much of an inconvenience for her.”

  “Not at all. She’s looking forward to seeing you again.”

  Cynthia stifled a yawn as she looked at her watch. “It’s getting late.” A hint of anxiety tickled at the edges of her consciousness. Things were beginning to feel too comfortable, too much like a family relationship. It was something she could not allow to happen. There was no way she could take a chance on jeopardizing her son’s security by subjecting him to the uncertainty of Shane’s reaction to learning he was Bobby’s father. “I’d better get my paperwork organized tonight so I don’t end up wasting time in the morning.” She stood up, retrieved her empty iced-tea glass from the table and carried it into the kitchen.

  Shane followed her.
As soon as she deposited the glass on the kitchen counter, he pulled her into his arms. He felt her body stiffen, then soften. He didn’t know if it was because she was tired or if she’d managed to set aside some of her initial wariness, but whatever the reason, he detected the change. He knew he wanted her. He didn’t even try to kid himself about that. But under what circumstances? That question was not as easily answered.

  He banished the disturbing thoughts from his mind by lowering his head and capturing her mouth with his. It started as a gentle kiss. The warmth and caring that had always been a part of her instantly infused him with the earthy passion that had once been his life. He tightened his embrace and deepened the kiss. He felt her hesitation, then her arms circled his neck. He had intended for it to be a kiss and nothing more. Nothing, that was, until he felt the heat of her response. Then the fire that had been burning inside him all day exploded into reality.

  He slipped his tongue between her lips. Her intoxicating taste instantly filled his mouth. His heart pounded with a primal desire that he desperately wanted to satisfy. No woman had ever elicited such a strong and immediate response from him the way she did—the way she always had, ever since their first meeting. He twined his fingers in her hair and reaffirmed his control of her mouth. His tongue explored, his lips teased, his ardor deepened.

  The surprising depth of her response drove him wild. His body told him one thing—to sweep her up in his arms, carry her to his bedroom and spend the rest of the night making love to her. But the tenuous thread of sense and logic that still clung to his consciousness told him to be cautious.

  His ardor increased as he shoved the wayward thought from his mind. Sense and logic be damned. Nobody ignited his passions the way Cynthia McCree did, and no one ever would. He wanted her back in his life—not for just a night, not for just a couple of weeks. He wanted her—body and soul—forever.