“I know, Ryan, but that’s not what we want to talk to you about.” Feeling the emotions clogging his throat, Chase looked at Mallory for courage. “Remember when I told you that I knew your mom a long time ago?”
Ryan nodded. “Yeah.”
“Well, we dated back then…and we fell in love.”
The child looked back and forth between them. “Really?”
“And there’s something else, too,” Mallory joined in. “Alan wasn’t your father,” she told him, then took a breath. “Chase is….”
Ryan sat there a long time. His expression told her he was trying to take it all in. “I guess that’s why he didn’t like me so much, huh?”
Mallory’s heart sank as tears filled her eyes. “I’m sorry, honey. I wish I could have made it better.”
Ryan didn’t seem to hear her as his attention was drawn to Chase. “You’re really my dad?” he asked, his eyes rounded in hope and questions.
“Yes, I’m really your dad.”
“Did you know about me before now? When I was little?”
Mallory could see that Chase didn’t look happy having to answer that question. She sat on the other side of the bed. “No, Ryan. Chase didn’t know about you. He went off to be a ranger, and I married Alan…because I didn’t know how to find Chase.”
He nodded and turned back to Chase. “Do you want to be my dad now? I mean do you want a kid?”
“Yes, and yes,” he told him. “But I don’t want just any kid, I want you, Ryan…Landon.”
Ryan grinned. “Wow, I get your name, too.”
“I’d like you to have it,” Chase said.
“Sure.”
“Do I get to call you Dad, too?”
Chase nodded and drew the boy into his arms. “I love you, son.”
“I love you, too, Dad,” the boy whispered.
Mallory looked on at the two men in her life. At least for them, all seemed right with the world. For now.
CHAPTER NINE
IT WAS AFTER TEN O’CLOCK when Mallory peered into the bedroom to see Ryan asleep. Finally. It had been a busy day and evening, especially for an eight-year-old.
She smiled, thinking about father and son together. They’d spent most of the evening in the guest room, talking. Only after Chase promised they would work on the tree house in the morning, had Mallory managed to get Ryan off to bed.
She walked down the hall toward her own bedroom, but seeing the light on in the guest room, she stopped to see if Chase needed anything.
Tapping on the door, she waited to hear his voice before she walked in. She paused when she saw he was propped up in the bed, shirtless, that glorious chest of his exposed to her. A hundred delicious thoughts came to mind and her pulse immediately shot off.
He smiled at her. “Well, this is a pleasant surprise.”
She gripped the doorknob, trying to keep a safe distance from the man. “I just wanted to know if you needed anything before I turned in.”
His dark eyes locked on hers. “Could you stay a minute?”
She hesitated, then walked in and closed the door. “Not too long, I have some work I want to finish up tonight.”
“You seem to work a lot.”
“Not all of us are on vacation.”
He sighed. “And that’s going to end soon. I’ll have to go back to Midland. I don’t want to leave Ryan….” His gaze searched hers. “Or you.”
She wasn’t ready to discuss anything between them. “Maybe you should just concentrate on Ryan.”
“Is that what you want me do? Just forget the other night…us being together?”
She knew this would happen. “We aren’t the main focus here, Chase. Ryan is. I don’t want our son to get the wrong impression. We can’t give him false hope that his parents might get together.”
“Come here, Mal.” He patted the spot beside him on the bed.
She shook her head. “Why? So you can prove that you can complicate things even more?” she said bravely. “I don’t think so.”
Chase knew he should leave her alone, but the hell with it, he couldn’t. He jerked the sheet away and started to climb out of bed.
“Stop.” She rushed to his side and pushed him back against the pillow. “You need to stay in bed.”
With her leaning over him, he reached out and touched her cheek. He was encouraged when she didn’t pull away. “God. You’re beautiful.”
She sucked in a breath. “Chase, we can’t—”
Chase played dirty. Even knowing Mallory could complicate everything, he still wanted her. “Believe me, I’m controlling myself. If you knew what I really want to do with you…”
Those beautiful green eyes widened. “We can’t let anything happen.”
“We already have, Mallory. And we both enjoyed it very…very much.” He leaned forward and brushed a kiss against her tempting mouth.
She sucked in a breath. “Chase…”
“I love it when you whisper my name….” He craved her like no other woman. Tempted, he nibbled her lips, then when her breathing grew rapid, he deepened the kiss and drew her closer. She tumbled into his arms, and he reveled in her softness against his chest. He feasted on her mouth, tasting her sweetness…her own hunger. Finally he pulled away and looked into those mesmerizing eyes.
“I’ve never wanted anyone as much as I want you. And if you want me to keep my hands off you, you better leave now.”
“It would be the wise thing to do.” Her hands moved to his chest, drawing an imaginary pattern with her fingers. “I mean, this can’t lead to anything good.”
“Oh, I disagree. The way we feel right now is a very good thing. Makes me happy.” He placed a kiss on her nose. “And I’m planning on making you happy, too. Very happy.”
“What about Ryan?”
“Sssh,” he breathed. “Ryan has nothing to do with this. This is you and me, Mallory.”
She glanced down at his leg. “What about your injury?”
He pulled her closer. “I’m a Texas Ranger, I’m tough. I can handle it.” He grinned. “And you, too.” He closed his mouth over hers and proceeded to show her.
The next morning, Chase woke with a jerk and sat up in bed. The sun was already up. He rubbed his hand over his face. His thoughts turned to Mallory and their night together. He glanced to the other side of the bed. Of course it was empty. She’d left him hours ago.
He remembered the soft kiss, then she’d slipped from his arms. He’d hated letting her go. It felt so right, her being there, curled up next to him. His body stirred in memory of their lovemaking. But it wasn’t the physical response that bothered him, it was what he felt in the middle of his chest.
Mallory had gotten into his heart…again.
Thing was, had he gotten to her? Did she feel the same about him? Was she willing to work on a relationship with him? There were so many things they needed to talk about, and soon.
He grabbed the pair of neglected pajama bottoms off the floor. He slipped them on and stood. His thigh felt better today. Walking around the room, he found most of the soreness was gone, too.
And in a few days, he would be, too. He only had a little vacation time left. And a promised tree house to finish for Ryan. But first, a shower and some coffee. Before he could gather clean clothes and head for the bathroom, there was a knock on the door.
“Come in,” he called.
It wasn’t Mallory as he expected, but Jesse Raines. He was juggling two mugs. “Hey, Chase. Sleeping in, I see.”
“Hey, Jesse.” He went to him and took one of the mugs. “What brings you here?”
“I heard you tangled with a snake.”
“Yeah, but he didn’t get as much as he wanted.” He shook his friend’s hand. “Please, don’t tell me Robertson sent you here to bring me back.”
“No, the captain isn’t asking for you. I just thought you’d want to hear what’s been going on with Reyes.”
Chase motioned for Jesse to sit in the chair. His partner wouldn�
�t make the trip if it wasn’t important.
“So what did Reyes have to say?”
“I went to Sweetwater with a ranger from UCIT to make it official.”
Chase nodded, knowing protocol was to call in the Unsolved Crimes Investigation Team on this. “So what happened?”
Jesse leaned forward resting his arms on his knees. “Reyes’s story is that he knows the man who shot Ranger Wade Landon.”
“So who is it?”
“He says he’ll only talk if the D.A. will make a deal.”
Chase didn’t like the sound of this. “Let’s see, Reyes is a known drug dealer. He’s in for armed robbery, then add on a kidnapping charge, attempted murder and…he’s a horse thief.”
“It was Jacobs who shot Buck Kendrick,” Jesse clarified. “Also Reyes swears he’s the one who kept Ryan safe.”
Chase hated to think what could have happened to his son. Ryan was safe now, and he was going to make sure of that. Men like Jacobs and Reyes needed to stay off the streets.
“Reyes says the drug dealer who shot Wade is big time,” Jesse explained. “He also hinted that the man likes to collect trophies of his kills.” Jesse’s gaze never wavered. “Like guns…and a Texas Ranger’s badge.”
Chase froze. No one had that information but law enforcement. “What’s your gut tell you about this guy?”
“Reyes is scum,” Jesse said. “But…he’s small-time scum. Reyes knows he’s not getting out anytime soon. But he wants a deal where he can be moved to a facility closer to his mother so she can visit him…and take off the life sentence. He wants a straight twenty years, with the possibility of parole.”
Chase shut his eyes for a moment. “What’s the prosecutor say?”
“Nothing, yet. He needs a name and enough proof that he can bring in the killer and get a conviction.”
Chase knew he couldn’t ignore this. Over the years he’d followed too many leads that never went anywhere. He had to talk to Reyes. “I’ll be back in Midland this afternoon. Tell UCIT I’ll be ready to go first thing in the morning.”
Jesse nodded. “We’ll be ready.”
Just then there was another knock on the door. “Come in.”
A smiling Ryan stepped into the room and went right to Chase. “Mom and Liz want to know if you both want breakfast.”
The men exchanged glances and nodded. “Sounds good.”
Ryan looked at Jesse. “Did you know that Chase is my dad?”
“Really?” Jesse exchanged a knowing glance with Chase. “How great is that?”
“And we’re building a tree house, too. It’s almost finished.” He looked at Chase. “Dad, are we still going to work on it after breakfast?”
Jesse motioned for the door. “I’ll head on downstairs to wash up.”
“Tell Mallory I’ll be down in ten minutes.” After Jesse left, he looked at Ryan. “Sit down, son. I have a favor to ask you.”
“Sure.” The boy sat on the mattress next to his dad. “What’s the matter?”
“Remember the guys who kidnapped you?”
He nodded. “Are they still in jail?”
“Yes, but the man named Reyes has some information about the guy who shot another Texas Ranger. Remember when I told you my uncle Wade took the place of a father who wasn’t around?”
The boy nodded.
“Well, he was also a Texas Ranger. He was shot and killed about ten years ago.” Chase felt a strange surge of emotion. He also felt Ryan’s hand in his. “When I buried him, I promised that I’d find out who killed him. This man Reyes might know something. He wants to talk to me tomorrow morning.”
“So you have to leave today.”
“It’s my duty, Ryan. I’m a Texas Ranger. If it wasn’t important, I wouldn’t leave you.”
“I know.” There were tears in the boy’s eyes, and his lower lip trembled. “Are you coming back…to see me?”
Something tightened around Chase’s heart. “So many times that you’ll probably get tired of me.”
Finally Ryan smiled. “I never will. You’re my dad. I love you.” He hugged him tightly.
“And you’re my son. I love you, too.”
He looked up. Mallory was standing in the doorway, and a mountain of emotions bombarded him. And they weren’t just for Ryan. He wanted to enclose her in the same hold he had on his son, and keep them both close forever. The thought surprised him, but even more, it scared the hell out of him.
The realization suddenly hit him; he wanted it all. His son, Mallory…a complete family. Just how could he convince her to take a chance on him again?
Mallory fought to find her voice. “Ryan, why don’t you go downstairs and help Liz so your dad can shower?”
“Sure.” He turned back to Chase. “Don’t take too long, we’re fixing pancakes.”
He smiled. “I’ll make it fast.” He mussed the boy’s hair, before he took off, leaving them alone.
Mallory wasn’t sure what to say to him this morning. Then Chase took it out of her hands as he walked to her, pulled her into his arms and kissed the daylights out of her.
By the time he released her, she had trouble catching her breath. “Good morning,” he whispered.
“Morning,” she labored to answer.
“I could have greeted you a little more up close and personal, but you disappeared from bed before I got the chance.”
“I thought it was better if Ryan didn’t catch us…his imagination would run wild.”
His lazy grin appeared and her heart began to pound hard once again. “I know the feeling. My own imagination is going a little crazy. Damn.” He sighed deeply. “Last night was incredible.”
Mallory could feel the blush rise to her cheeks as she thought about their wonderful night together. She’d done the unthinkable. She’d fallen hopelessly in love with Chase Landon. Again. Not a smart thing.
“Yes, it was, but…we have to think of Ryan, too.” She pulled back. “It might be better—”
He placed a finger against her lips. “Don’t create problems, Mallory. We can work this out.”
She stiffened, then stepped back. “Working this out means exactly what? That you come on weekends to spend time with your son, and I’m a bonus.”
She saw the anger flash in his eyes. “That’s what you think of me…and what we shared last night?”
Mallory knew she had come on too strong. She was frightened, too. “I’m sorry. It’s just that we’ve all spent an idyllic two weeks here…no outside problems to interfere with it. Real life isn’t like that. It’ll be a huge struggle, Chase, just for you to be able to spend time with Ryan. We don’t even live in the same town.”
He raked his fingers through his hair and walked to the other side of the room. The muscles worked across his broad back and shoulders. Her gaze moved to his pajama bottoms hung low on his slim hips. More memories flooded her and she wanted to run to him. Beg him not to leave. But she’d done just that nearly ten years ago…and he’d left her anyway. Tears pricked her eyes. She couldn’t do it again. This time their son would be hurt.
The following morning, Chase and Hank Whiting from UCIT, along with a D.A., were ushered inside the prison visiting room to talk with Reyes. Chase knew that if this panned out, he could finally close the door on this chapter of his life.
His thoughts turned to Mallory. She’d tried to act indifferent when he’d driven away yesterday, but he saw something else in her eyes. Yet, he knew she’d been right. He couldn’t give her any promises, not until his past was settled. And she still had ghosts that followed her, too. Her marriage to Alan had made her leery of giving herself to him…or any man.
Today would change that one way or the other. Whether there was evidence or not on who shot his uncle, he had to let it go. Wade wouldn’t want it to take over his life. And yet, it had. Even years ago, when he couldn’t commit to Mallory. He wanted so badly for today to change that….
For so many years Chase hadn’t wanted any connections. To let people
in. For a second time Mallory changed that, but was he too late? Too late for a family. All he knew was he wanted his son and Mallory and somehow he was going to find a way to get them all together.
Chase turned as the metal doors opened and a guard entered with Reyes. The prisoner didn’t look happy. He nodded to Chase. “I only wanted to talk to the ranger.”
“Cut the crap, Reyes, and get down to business,” Sergeant Whiting said. “Ranger Landon is here to hear your big news.”
In the end, Chase sat down at the table with the prisoner while the other men went to stand with the guard. “Okay, Reyes,” he began, “Talk to me. Tell me who killed Wade Landon.”
He pointed to the D.A.. “Is he willing to make the deal I asked for?”
“He’s willing if you come up with a name and some proof.”
Reyes leaned forward and lowered his voice. “Give me a piece of paper.”
Chase removed a small pad and pen from his shirt pocket and slid it to the man.
Reyes wrote down something. “My cousin has all the information on this man.” He pushed the folded paper over.
Chase opened it and saw a name, Sancho Vasquez. Chase tried not to react, but it was difficult not to. This man was a well-known drug dealer along both sides of the border.
“So why are you giving him up now?”
“He betrayed me,” he said, his voice low. “I was a loyal amigo, then he hooked my brother on the hard stuff. He was supposed to look out for mi familia with me in here. I kept my mouth shut too long.
“Talk to my cousin, Cesar Reyes.” He wrote down the information. “He’ll tell you about the man’s trophies. You’ll find what you’re looking for.”
“You better not be jerking my chain, Reyes, or you’ll be sorry.”
The prisoner raised his cuffed hands in surrender. “You’ll be happy. Just get me out of here so I’ll be safe.”
Chase stood. “As soon as we get our man.”
“Then you’ll come back and thank me.” Reyes grinned. “Is the niño okay?”
Chase thought about his son. “Yes, the boy is fine.”
It had been a long day by the time Chase turned in to the drive at his town house. After they’d left Reyes, he and Whiting had gone to find the cousin. Late last night, Cesar had met them in a secret location and handed over the information on Vasquez.
Texas Ranger Takes a Bride Page 11
