by Joanna Wayne
He’d jump into the middle of the situation.
Subconsciously, she might even want that, but it wouldn’t be fair to Riley on any level and she might completely lose control of everything.
Dani watched as Riley helped Haggard to a standing position and then half dragged the intoxicated man to the metal bench across the street from the bakery. Haggard’s feet stretched out in front of him. He slumped forward. His eyes closed.
Riley walked back to Dani and took her hands in his. “Here’s the deal. We’re going inside and you’re going to tell me the truth. The actual truth and not some doctored version of the facts. Once I know what the hell is going on, we’ll decide what to do with your vulgar-mouthed, drunk acquaintance.”
“You’d be wiser to get in your truck and drive away.”
“Probably, but I’ve got a mighty strong hunch that you’re in a heap of trouble, Dani Boatman, and like it or not, you need my help.”
He was right, of course. Things had gone too far, become incredibly complicated. Continuing the lies wouldn’t be fair to him.
Once they were back inside, she searched for a truthful way of presenting the details that didn’t scream for his help. Riley listened to Dani’s bizarre explanation and to his credit he didn’t interrupt or comment until she’d finished.
He stared incredulously. “What kind of fool would expect you to just turn over a million dollars without any proof to back up his claims of paternity?”
“The kind of fool you just helped to the bench. Only he talked as if I already knew he was the father and deliberately cut him out of money that was rightfully his.”
“How were you supposed to have gotten that information?”
“From Constance’s original birth certificate.”
“Where is her birth certificate?”
“Upstairs in my safe. No father is listed. I told him that, but I don’t think he believed me.”
“Sounds like he’s a practiced rip-off artist to me,” Riley said. “He may not even know your sister or Constance. He might have heard or read about the insurance settlement and is trying to con you out of the cash.”
“I wouldn’t put that past him,” she agreed. “But I can’t know that for sure without seeing DNA test results.”
“If he is Constance’s biological father and thought he had a chance in hell of getting custody, he wouldn’t bother with you,” Riley said. “He’d file for custody and try to cash in on the entire settlement.”
“He admitted he doesn’t want custody. He wants cash—by Friday at noon.”
“I’m sure he does. You surely aren’t planning to give it to him.”
“I couldn’t even if I wanted to. The money is in a trust fund for Constance and can’t be touched until she’s twenty-one. The one exception is that she can draw out an allowance to pay for college and living expenses if she is a full-time student at the accredited university of her choice.”
“Did you tell Haggard that?”
“All except the college stipulation. He didn’t believe me or else he thinks there is some way around that. He wants his money within the week or he files for custody.”
“Nothing but trash talk from a con man and that’s the best I can say about him. I should have punched the drunken thug when I had the chance.”
Physical violence was the last thing she needed.
“Call the sheriff, Dani. Tell him exactly what you just told me. He won’t even have to go looking for Haggard to arrest him.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“It is the way I see it. Get a restraining order to keep the lunatic away from you and Constance. If Haggard still gives you trouble, the Lawrence brothers will pay him a visit. We can be very persuasive.”
“I’m sure you can, but I can’t take chances with Constance’s future. I have to do this my way.”
“What is your way?”
Dani explained the blood sample she’d collected and the paternity-test kit that should arrive in the morning. “With luck, I’ll have the test results back by Thursday or Friday. If they show Haggard is not Constance’s father, I’ll call the sheriff and press charges immediately.”
“And if he is?”
“I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure he never gets custody.”
“In that case I’m going with you to San Antonio in the morning.”
She threw her hands up in exasperation. “I can handle this. They need you at the ranch.”
“Tucker will be there and Pierce is heading back in the morning.”
“He’s cutting his honeymoon short so that he can spend time with you and Tucker.”
“My brothers would do the same in these circumstances. Besides, I will be spending time with them and so will you and Constance. There’s no reason your ranch vacation can’t start tomorrow night.”
“I can’t believe you’d still want me there.”
“I’ve always been a sucker for a woman who looks good in jeans and can bake croissants. I do have one question, though.”
“I was afraid you might.”
“You collected the blood last night. You must have strongly suspected then that Haggard was behind the break-in. Why didn’t you admit that to me?”
“I didn’t want to drag you into my problems.”
He walked over, caught her wrist and pulled her into his arms. “Is that the only reason?”
“No. I didn’t trust you to understand. I barely knew you, Riley. We had no basis of trust.”
He nudged her chin with his thumb until she met his gaze. “Do you trust me now?”
“I’m trying, Riley. It’s just so hard to let go. I’ve never had anyone to depend on but myself.”
“Now you do. I can’t explain what’s going on between us, Dani. I do know that if you don’t let me protect you I’ll go crazy. How’s that for my scientific analysis?”
He kissed her on the tip of her nose and then let his lips brush hers. The need swelled inside her, but he pulled away.
“Go upstairs and get some rest,” he whispered. “Just toss a sheet and a pillow on the sofa. I’ll be up later.”
“I should check on Haggard first—see if he’s sober enough to say where he’s staying. I may need that information for future reference.”
“I’ll check on the swindler.”
“Okay.” She turned and started toward the stairs. She stopped on the bottom step. “Riley.”
“What is it?”
“You really shouldn’t be here, but thanks. See you at breakfast.”
Breakfast with Dani. Crazy how much he liked the sound of that.
* * *
RILEY WAITED UNTIL Dani reached the top of the stairs and then walked into her gleaming kitchen. There wasn’t much in there he dared to touch, but he had watched her make coffee in the small French press that morning and he felt good about tackling that.
Probably easier than brewing a pot over an open campfire, though it wouldn’t give the same level of satisfaction—especially since he was making this pot for Haggard. He couldn’t care less if the jerk slept on the bench all night or curled up under it.
His concern was getting the point across to Haggard that the man’s underhanded, thieving gig was up. Keep messing with Dani and he’d answer to Riley. Riley never started a fight without good cause, but he never backed down from one that needed to be won.
He filled a tall white mug with the brew and took it outside to try to rouse Haggard. A brisk breeze carried the fragrance of honeysuckle and jasmine from a hanging pot across the street.
All was quiet. Too quiet. No guttural snoring. No ragged breathing.
The bench was empty.
Either someone had picked Haggard up, or that was the fastest damn sobering up Riley had ever seen. He flicke
d on his phone’s flashlight app and checked the space between their parked vehicles to make sure he hadn’t staggered there. No luck.
He walked back and shot beams of light around and beneath the bench to see if Haggard had dropped anything that might give a clue to where he was staying. There was nothing.
A deputy or town constable patrolling the area could have picked him up, but if so, it was odd Riley hadn’t noticed any flashing blue lights through the bakery’s large window.
Which meant there was a good chance Haggard was not in this alone. So, was it his blood Dani had collected or that of an accomplice? Would the test she was putting so much faith in prove nothing at all?
* * *
BREAKFAST IN THE small kitchen of the cozy second-floor living space was mistake one of the new day. An emotional wreck from the chaotic weekend and her unexpected infatuation with Riley, Dani needed a break from the nonstop sensual overload.
She wasn’t getting it. Riley had insisted on “fixin’ up” an authentic Texas, trail-ride breakfast even though it meant a quick trip to the local market for fresh tortillas and ingredients for fresh-made pico de gallo.
He wanted to prove he wasn’t completely without skills in the kitchen, he’d said.
She hadn’t needed that proof. She’d experienced his kitchen skills Friday night and was still recovering. Sleeping a room away from him last night hadn’t helped the recuperative process.
And now this.
The food was not the mistake. The problem was the three of them gathered around the comfy dining nook talking, laughing and passing around the pico de gallo and extra grated cheese as if they were a family.
Not the kind of family setting Dani had ever known and probably not Constance, either. She wasn’t sure about Riley’s family life, except that his parents were killed when he was fourteen and he and his brothers had come to live with Charlie and Esther Kavanaugh.
She did know he was a rambler, which made their relationship and this easy familiarity all the more confusing. He was determined to protect her, but what did he really want in return?
And the most puzzling aspect of all—why Dani? If he was looking for a fast and easy fling, why not go for a thin, sexy, fun-and-games hottie like Angela Miles instead of a plump pastry chef whose life was a boiling pot of trouble?
She took a bite of her fried egg and sausage taco. The combination of flavors exploded in her mouth.
“And the verdict?” Riley asked.
“Great, but with a kick.”
He leaned over—close—as if he was about to kiss her. At the last second, he dabbed the corner of her mouth with a napkin. “You may have overdone it with the salsa.”
Her pulse slowed to near normal, but the air was thick with sensual tension.
“I like tortillas, but not as much as I like Aunt Dani’s cinnamon rolls,” Constance said, breaking the tension without even knowing it existed.
“Yes, but could she make cinnamon rolls out on the trail over a campfire?”
“No, I can’t, cowboy, and I have no intention to try it.”
“Is this really what cowboys eat on the trail?” Constance asked.
“It is if you’re in Texas and lots of other places. The vaqueros have been a major influence in the ranching world.”
“What’s a vaquero?”
“That’s Spanish for cowboy.”
“Have you ever been on a cattle drive?”
“Yep. Many times. I don’t usually do the cooking, though.”
“What do you do?”
“Keep the cattle moving in the right direction.”
“Or they might get lost?”
“A good cowboy will never let that happen.”
“I wish I could go on a cattle drive.”
“You’d have to miss too much school for that, but maybe we should start getting in shape for that tomorrow with a sunrise trail ride out at the Double K Ranch. I hear you’re a good rider.”
“I am. Jaci’s daddy taught me. Can I go, Aunt Dani? Puh-leeeze.” She put her hands together in prayer formation.
Dani realized she’d been had. Riley had just made it practically impossible now to back out of spending at least one day at the ranch. Not that she wanted to back out, but who knew what complication James Haggard would hurl her way next?
“Please, Aunt Dani?” Constance begged again. “There’s no school and I finished my homework, even the word problems.”
“Reneging is a coward’s way out,” Riley said.
Dani gave up. Saying no to Constance’s pleadings and Riley’s insistence would amount to cruel and unusual punishment—mostly to Dani.
“A trail ride sounds fun,” she said, relenting. “As long as I can come along.”
“The more the merrier,” Riley said.
Riley reached for a second soft breakfast taco.
Constance took a second bite of her first one.
The shop’s doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it,” Riley said.
“No, let me,” Dani insisted. She dashed to the landing and then down the stairs, aware that Riley was right behind her.
Please let it be the overnight delivery of the DNA kit and not James Haggard coming back to finish what he’d started before he vanished in the night.
Chapter Twelve
A FedEx truck stopped in the middle of the street, blocking Lenny Haggard’s view of the front door of Dani’s Delights. Package in hand, the deliveryman got out, walked between a pickup truck and Dani Boatman’s car and approached the bakery’s front door.
Lenny Haggard folded the newspaper he’d been pretending to read, got up from the bench where he’d found his irresponsible, screw-up of a brother last night and crossed the street for a better view.
The printed sign on the shop’s front door read Closed until Thursday, but he knew Dani was on the premises. He’d spotted movement upstairs through the open windows. That didn’t mean she wasn’t about to take Constance and go on the run rather than hand over money that she knew wasn’t rightfully hers.
The door to the bakery opened and Dani stepped outside. She looked as if she was dressed to travel. Nice slacks, a white blouse with a bright green cardigan. A minimum of makeup, but she looked damn good.
Not a stunner like Amber had been at her peak, but then he’d met only a handful of women in his life who could measure up to Amber’s beauty and sparkle when she’d first dropped into his life.
* * *
DANI SIGNED FOR DELIVERY. The package was about the size of a shoe box, so not the right shape for legal documents that might indicate she was moving money around—for good or bad.
When the deliveryman turned to leave, Lenny rushed toward Dani. His ignorant brother had done nothing but mess things up. Lenny would handle this from here on out, the way he should have all along.
A few steps before he reached the opposite curb, a tall, muscled guy appeared at the door and joined Dani. Lenny turned away and kept walking. His plan would work much better if he caught her alone.
She was getting a reprieve this morning, but this was far from over. All he had to do was convince Dani Boatman that he wasn’t playing around. He had to have that money. He had to have it fast or all he had to look forward to was three holes in the back of his brain.
He wouldn’t go down alone.
* * *
IT WAS EXACTLY 1:16 p.m. when Dani and Riley stepped out of the Corinthian Court Lab and into bright sunshine and a cool spring breeze. She felt lighter than she had at any time since James Haggard appeared in her life like a venomous snake, spewing his poison into every corner of her existence.
“We’re just a few blocks from the River Walk,” Riley said. “How about we head there and find a restaurant along the waterway?”
“A great idea. All of a sudden I’m starved.”
“You should be, since you only ate a few bites of my mouthwatering breakfast.”
“Sorry. I promise it wasn’t your cooking. It’s just that my stomach was in knots.”
“And now it’s not?”
“Surprisingly, no. Temporarily, at least. It helps that I’ve finally done something proactive instead of just waiting for Haggard to hit with his next attack.”
“I still think we should tell Cavazos and hand the case over to him,” Riley said.
“I know, but I’d really like to know if James is Constance’s biological father first. You’ve almost convinced me of one thing, though. I’ve thought a lot about something you said last night.”
“I’m thrilled to get an honorable mention. What gem of my wisdom weighed in?”
“That if James Haggard was certain he could prove he was Constance’s father, he’d have gone directly to the courts with that information and tried to weasel his way into getting all the money.”
“That’s definitely how I see it,” Riley agreed. “Whereas if his name is on the birth certificate, all he has to do is convince you the information is accurate in hopes you’ll be so worried about losing Constance or the money you’ll play right into his hands.”
“Which means he believes his name is on the certificate, but he’s not sure she’s his child. It hurts to say this, but knowing my sister the way I do, I think there’s a good chance she didn’t even know whose sperm impregnated her.”
“So unless the paternity test comes out positive for Haggard, you still won’t know the identity of Constance’s father.”
“So an endless chain of men could show up claiming to be her father. Thank you, Riley Lawrence, for returning the knots to my stomach.”
“A good prickly pear margarita will fix that.”
“It may take two.”
Riley took her arm as they crossed the street and continued to the concrete steps that descended to the network of beautiful arched bridges and walkways that ran along both sides of the San Antonio River.
The streets were lined with shops, restaurants and colorful umbrellas and decorations that celebrated the Mexican heritage so closely connected with San Antonio. A brightly decorated barge filled with people cruised the shallow waterway.