The Secret Heir of Sunset Ranch

by Charlene Sands

  Odd how life sometimes turned out.

  She dipped the mascara wand into the tube and gave her eyelashes one final upward stroke. “There,” she said to the baby. “A diaper change for you and we’re all set.”

  He watched her from a standing position in the crib, his head barely peeking over the slats. Dressed in a navy-blue suit with a miniature bow tie and hat, her little man was ready to attend his first wedding.

  A light tapping on the door came five minutes early. Not a slow learner, Justin was already discovering the intricacies of fatherhood by deliberately knocking quietly in case the baby was sleeping. “That’s your daddy,” she whispered to Connor, leaving him in his crib to walk over and open the door.

  Justin stood at the threshold in a charcoal suit, brocade vest and black tie, hat in hand. He made her palms sweat when he gave her a low whistle of approval.

  “You’re a little early.”

  He didn’t wait for an invitation, but strolled in and walked right past her. “Looks to me like you’re ready. You sure couldn’t get any more gorgeous.”

  Her face flushed with heat. She closed the door and stared at it, taking a steadying breath. When she turned around, she found his eyes fastened on her. “You look nice, too.”

  “Isn’t every day I stand up for my brother.”

  “It is a special day.”

  Another flick of his eyes told her he approved of her dress. Pride swelled in her chest. She’d designed it herself, with her bust size and curves in mind. Too tight, and she looked trashy. Too loose, and it was frump city. Kat’s one-of-a-kind dress was deep violet with a high rounded sheer neckline, a lacy overlay and a scalloped hemline. The dress dipped low enough in the back to be provocative but not too dangerous. Petite rhinestone chandelier earrings and four-inch open-toed satin pumps finished off the look.

  Connor uttered his baby sounds and Justin’s gaze strayed to the crib. Thank goodness.

  “I’ll get him,” she said, scurrying past Justin to the crib set up just inside her bedroom. “He needs a diaper change.”

  “Gawd, he looks cute,” Justin said, walking over. The awe in his voice was another source of pride for Kat.

  “I know, doesn’t he?”

  “Where’d he get that outfit? He looks like—”

  “A little prince?” Kat asked.

  “I was gonna say, a little dude. He just needs a miniature Stetson.”

  Kat smiled. “I’ll be sure to remember that next time.”

  Justin eyes lifted to her. “You made that suit?”

  Kat nodded. “I did. It’s part of my line of baby clothes, but I made this one a bit more special since Connor was wearing it to his...his uncle’s wedding.”

  Justin’s expression didn’t change, only now his awe was directed at her. “Talented.”

  “Thank you.”

  She made quick work of changing the baby’s diaper while Justin looked on. Kat’s stomach began to ache when they left and took the elevator down to the lobby. They exited the building through automatic doors that led to a private outdoor garden where the wedding would take place.

  Trees and greenery draped with twinkle lights created a natural perimeter for the garden. Stone steps separated by patches of groomed green grass led to the raised altar. Sweet William adorned the archway over the altar and dozens of small candelabra twinkled alongside the adjoining wooden beams. As they approached, she noticed rows upon rows of Chiavari chairs lined up. And a lot of people milling around. Before they fully entered the garden, Kat stopped and put a hand on Justin’s arm. “How many people are invited?”

  Justin pursed his lips. “Does it matter?”

  “Two hundred?” she guessed.

  Justin shrugged.

  “More?”

  “Two hundred and fifty, give or take. Are you nervous?”

  “Only about lying. People are going to look at the three of us and assume...”

  “The truth?”

  Kat squeezed her eyes closed. “No one could ever possibly guess the full truth. It’s too bizarre.”

  “If it were up to me, and Mattie wouldn’t get hurt, I’d tell the entire world about my boy.”

  His proprietary tone didn’t help matters.

  “You promised,” she reminded him.

  “I know what I said. I won’t break that promise,” he said quietly to reassure her. “So don’t you worry. We’ll stick to our story for now. It’s believable enough.”

  It was about all she could do. And it only took two minutes before she had to put his theory to the test when a hulk of a man walked over to greet them. He took Justin’s hand and pumped hard, giving Justin a quick look before staring at Kat and Connor. She tamped down her initial panic. She used to be a better liar, but somewhere along the line, Kat had grown to hate lies and liars. Circumstances being what they were, Kat had no choice right now.

  “Katherine, this is Sheriff Robbie Dunphy. You get outta line in Douglas County and Robbie here knows all about it.”

  She smiled. “Well, then I’d better be careful.”

  “Pleased to meet you, ma’am.” He removed his hat and took her hand, giving it a surprisingly gentle shake before glancing at Connor. “And who’s this cute little tyke?”

  “This is my son, Connor,” Kat said. “It’s his first wedding.”

  “He looks like a well-behaved boy.”

  Kat grinned. “Thanks, but tell me that after the ceremony. I might have to dash out if he fusses.”

  “Aw, I’m sure he’ll do fine.”

  Awkward silence ensued and just as the sheriff was about to ask Kat a question, Justin distracted him with talk of Douglas County politics. Connor began squirming in her arms and Kat focused her attention on him, only hearing snippets of the sheriff urging Justin to enter into the fray. Justin in politics? Of course, he was viewed as a hero and would win hearts and minds, but Kat couldn’t quite put that square peg into the round hole. The man she was beginning to know wasn’t cut out for the political arena.

  A few more men approached Justin and the sheriff. There was a good deal of hand shaking and backslapping. Curious eyes drifted her way and Justin smoothly introduced her as a good friend of the Slade family.

  An older gentleman with a handlebar moustache and gentle eyes put his hand on Justin’s shoulder. “The parade is set to go as scheduled. Three weeks from today.”

  Justin looked like he wanted to jump out of his own skin, but simply smiled and nodded. As the circle around Justin grew larger, Kat felt someone touch her arm. She swiveled her head and was relieved to see Audrey beside her. Luke’s new fiancée stared straight into her eyes and spoke slowly. “There’s a little fishpond over behind the altar I think Connor would like to see.”

  Kat wasn’t slow on the uptake. She thanked heaven for astute women like Audrey Thomas. “Connor would love to see the fish.”

  Audrey’s blue eyes lit, silently saying save succeeded with her grin. “I thought so. Follow me.”

  Kat excused herself and strolled away from Justin’s entourage, arm in arm with Audrey.

  “Thank you,” Kat said a few seconds later. “I owe you. You look fabulous, by the way.”

  “You think so? Sophia asked me to be in the wedding a few days ago and we picked out this dress. I look a little lumpy in it, don’t I?”

  Kat chuckled. “I remember feeling that way when I was pregnant, too. But actually, the empire fit is perfect for a woman with a baby bump. I love the deep lavender on you.” The one-shoulder style gave Audrey a sultry look. “No reason you can’t be sexy just because you’re pregnant. Remember bump, not lump, and you’ll be fine.”

  “Okay, got it. Do you think your little man will give me a dance later?”

  “I’m sure he will. He loves music.”

 
As they approached the tropical fishpond, Kat made one mistake. She swung her head around at the last minute to find Justin still encircled by the group, his focus fastened right on her and Connor, his incredible dark eyes filled with wishful longing.

  Something squeezed tight in her heart.

  She wished Justin could join them.

  And she felt a twinge of guilt in abandoning him.

  How crazy was that?

  * * *

  In a wedding gown of ivory satin with a sweetheart neckline and subtle folds cascading to the floor, Sophia made a stunning bride standing beside Logan. His eyes beamed with adoration for his soon-to-be wife. Justin and Luke stood beside him a few feet away. Little Edward Branford, a sweet boy who lived on the ranch with his grandma Connie, Sunset Lodge’s head chef, balanced a ring bearer’s pillow on the steps of the altar. Audrey was standing at the altar next to Sophia, and Kat thought she looked great, like a budding flower ready to blossom.

  With Connor on her lap, she sat in the second row near the far aisle, just in case. It wouldn’t be hard to make a clean getaway if Connor got loud or fidgety. But luckily her son was still captivated by the fishpond from minutes ago and was on his best behavior.

  Tears filled her eyes when Logan spoke his vows. His devotion to his soon-to-be bride touched the very core of her. Kat didn’t know too many people who were so desperately in love like Logan and Sophia. Or like Luke and Audrey for that matter.

  Audrey and Luke had invited her to their courthouse wedding next month. It would be more of the same on a less grand scale. She couldn’t refuse Audrey. She’d been a friend and an understanding presence when Kat needed her.

  The Slade family stuck together. They were devoted to each other. Even some of their employees, like Ward Halliday, Sunset Ranch’s head wrangler, and Constance Branford, the lodge’s executive chef, were close-knit with the Slades.

  Kat wasn’t used to being surrounded by loved ones like this. Instead of family dinners and gatherings, she and her mother had spent their days trying to elude her father and his unholy harsh hand.

  Sometimes Kat felt phantom pain on her cheeks where her father had struck so often. Sometimes Kat would dream of standing up to him when he’d vented his rage on her mother. Sometimes Kat wished her father had died twenty years ago, instead of two, and she wondered if that made her a horrible person.

  Connor wrapped his little arms around her neck and laid his head on her shoulder. “That’s my sweet baby,” she whispered into his ear as she began to gently rock him. He tightened his grip on her and it was the best feeling in the world.

  She’d never once regretted her pregnancy. She’d never once wished anything but good things for her son. He was her glue. He kept things in perspective. There wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do for him.

  Sometimes that devotion got her into trouble.

  She lifted her lashes at that moment and found Justin’s eyes on her, the hard lines of his mouth softening just a bit.

  She tilted her head and regarded him. It wasn’t difficult to react to Justin. He swept her in with a magnetic force that she couldn’t quite explain. She sensed he was more than a military hero, a man everyone wanted a piece of, a man hell-bent on doing right by Brett Applegate. At times a haunted look took over his expression. At times, he seemed distant and wary and Kat wasn’t naive enough to think he’d had it easy overseas. On the drive up here, Justin had retreated into himself. She’d see him shake off a thought as if it tortured him. She’d wondered what he was remembering. Or what he was trying to forget.

  He was a complicated man, who could complicate her life.

  And he wanted Connor.

  She fought off a wave of panic and focused on the vows being spoken. Minutes later, with love shining in their eyes, Logan and Sophia said “I do” to each other and the marriage ceremony concluded with a flourish of applause and a few hoots and hollers. The newlyweds marched arm in arm down the steps, sweeping past her, their smiles beaming from ear to ear.

  Kat joined in the applause as tears welled in her eyes. She always got a little sappy at weddings. Images flashed in her head of when she was in the throes of despair, sleeping under a rickety roof at a women’s shelter, wearing threadbare clothes, her mother’s arms firmly around her. Kat would dream of her wedding day. She’d think of the handsomest boy at her school and pretend he was her fiancé. She’d wear a Cinderella dress of frothy lace—the design stayed in her mind even to this day—and she would be smiling. It was all pretend, a fantasy she knew, by the light of day, would never come true.

  She banked her sentimental urges, burying them away for now. She vowed to never forget the hard times, but to never dwell on them either if she could help it.

  Clasping Connor’s hands in hers, she encouraged him to clap. He took his cue and put his palms together at an angle, his chubby fingers spread wide, and began to clap along with the other guests. “That’s it, sweetheart,” she said.

  He bounced happily in her lap, eager to show off his talent and turned to her with a big four-tooth smile.

  Her heart exploded with pride. She snuggled him close, kissing the top of his head. “You’re such a good clapper, baby boy.”

  Lost in the moment, she slowly lifted her lashes to find Justin standing in front of her, watching them. Fatherly pride filled his eyes, a dead giveaway to anyone paying attention, but luckily, the guests were filing out of the garden, one row at a time behind the wedding party, and no one noticed Justin’s display. Or that Justin had taken a detour to come get them.

  She understood his adoring look, as dangerous as it might be, because her love for Connor was so intense, she couldn’t imagine anyone not loving this sweet little boy.

  Kat stared at Justin and for a second forgot all about the predicament she was in.

  “Ready to go inside?” he asked, offering his hand.

  The sun took its final bow on the horizon, casting the garden in a soft crimson glow. It was peaceful and quiet now. She could sit out here all evening and watch the candles flicker. “Sure. We’ll go in now.”

  “That’s good, because my brother will never let me live it down if I neglect my best man duties.”

  She smiled and took his hand. His touch brought immediate warmth. “I wouldn’t want you to disappoint Logan.”

  “I was talking about Luke. You know, the old favorite-brother thing.” His wide grin and the firm grasp on her hand, shot her blood pressure up. “He’d never let me live it down.”

  Joking about sibling rivalry seemed so normal to the Slades.

  Justin put his arm around her waist and they walked back into the hotel where the elaborate reception was just beginning.

  * * *

  There was no doubt in Justin’s mind that he was dancing with the most beautiful woman in the room. There was also no doubt that he was going to make love to Kat tonight.

  “He’s fine with Audrey,” he whispered for her ears only. Kat’s mothering instincts kicked in as soon as he’d taken her onto the dance floor. She kept looking over his shoulder, swiveling her head to find the little guy.

  “I know he’s fine. It’s just that, I’m...”

  “Paranoid?”

  She gathered her brows. “Cautious...with him.”

  His brothers had danced with Kat already, so he figured one turn around the dance floor with her wasn’t out of line. Hell, he’d watched her dance with a few other men and it had been hard to take. He would’ve thought the baby would be a deterrent instead of a magnet.

  Yet baby or no baby, Kat was hot. She was unique. She had a curvy body that could destroy lesser men.

  “My family wouldn’t let anything happen to him,” he assured her.

  He drew Kat an inch closer. It was hard to keep a proper distance from her, when all he wanted to do was feel every soft morsel of her
skin against his, to run his hands up and down her arms and bring her close enough to sniff her platinum hair and breathe in her female scent. But she’d set limits when he’d asked her to dance. Katherine Grady and Justin Slade were just supposed to be family friends.

  God, he hated the lies. The pretense. He hated not being able to claim Connor as his son.

  “I know your family is good with him, Justin. But it’s been just me and him...and I’m...I’m overprotective.”

  Justin let that comment go. She was a good mother. He liked that about her. But he wanted more from Kat tonight than arguments or explanations.

  “Are you having a good time?” he asked.

  A hum purred from her throat. His groin tightened from the breathy sound. “I haven’t danced in a long time.”

  “You’re a pretty good dancer, keeping up with my two left feet.”

  Her eyes went dewy soft. “You’re not so bad.”

  He wanted to tuck her in close and hold her to his chest. “This isn’t easy.”

  She snapped her head back and looked injured. “Dancing with me?”

  Gently tugging her half an inch closer, he spoke with a rasp in his voice. “Not being able to pull you into my arms and slow dance with you the way I want to.”

  Her body trembled and he was glad he wasn’t the only one feeling tense. “Oh.”

  He took a step back and then twirled her around in a smooth exchange of places in rhythm to the music, thanking high heaven he’d learned some basic dance moves from Betsy Ann Stankowski. That girl had given him lessons in more than a few things.

  When he took hold of Kat’s hands again, he brought her another inch closer. To anyone watching, it was an innocent move and that’s the way it had to be for now.

  But it was hard. Erotic perfume tickled his nose and he couldn’t hold back a quietly executed groan. “You smell so damn good.”

  “Thank you.”

  He lowered his arm to her waist and splayed his hand over her back, drawing her a little bit closer into the circle of his arms. His fingers found the exposed part of her back, her skin the softest there, the flesh supple and silky smooth. Her pretty green eyes blazed in question. He answered her with unspoken words in the way he held her, the way he returned her gaze. Everything uniquely female about her pounded into his skull. He wasn’t going to be denied tonight, but he was grateful when the music stopped.