Dakota Daddy

by Sara Orwig

  She must have known some of what her father had done. He couldn’t imagine Megan would condone her father harming his neighbor, but she had to have been aware of his acts throughout the years. Too many times, Sorenson had tried to take their water by damming up the river.

  Both men always shot the other man’s animals when they roamed on either of their properties after fences had gone down—his own father in retaliation. Occasionally hands from the Dalton ranch had had tires slashed in town, and they’d always blamed Sorenson’s hands.

  Also, Jared had known there was no use going to the police and telling them about the threats. Edlund Sorenson was respected in the community and it would be his word against Jared’s.

  His dad had been ready to fight, and wanted Jared to stay, but Jared was afraid for his dad, who was getting older and wasn’t as strong as he’d once been. He didn’t want his family hurt, so he’d left.

  Waiting, Jared thought about the future. When she finished the book, Ethan had fallen asleep.

  She picked him up and Jared stepped up to turn back the covers. She tucked Ethan into bed, gently moving his plane beside him on the bed before kissing him good night.

  “My turn,” Jared said. He kissed him, still marveling that he had a son and how easy it had been today to get to know him. He turned to walk out with Megan.

  “He’s great, Meg, and today was the best. He accepted me.”

  “I figured you’d charm him. He’s happy to discover he has a dad. Part of it is simply envy, but so far, you’re winning him over. Don’t get too chummy, because it could hurt him later.”

  “That’s in your hands,” he said, as they returned to the family room and she crossed the floor to sit in a wingback chair. He sat nearby, facing her.

  “I might as well tell you, Jared, I’m hiring a legal firm in Chicago. You’ll get to see Ethan sometimes, but not half. I’ll fight for that until the court takes him away from me.”

  “Megan, damn it, don’t do this! It’ll tear all three of us up. Ethan will be torn between us. I don’t want to fight you over him. We can work things out if you give it half a try.”

  She shook her head. “No. Pack and go if you want to avoid a fight.”

  “I promised him I would never leave him. And I told him I didn’t leave him the first time, that I didn’t know about his birth.”

  “He told me what you said. Why don’t you simply tell the truth? Admit that you got cold feet about marriage and walked out. He can take that as easily. It didn’t involve him.”

  “I didn’t get cold feet, Megan,” Jared said with force.

  She tilted her head to study him. “I don’t even want to hear about it,” she said, getting up and walking away. “I told you to come spend a few days to get to know Ethan, but I don’t know that my nerves can take this, Jared. Tomorrow, take him home with you for a couple of days overnight and then bring him back. By then you two should know each other better.”

  Jared fought the urge to take her into his arms and kiss away her protests. Instead, he crossed the room to put his hands on her shoulders and turn her to face him. “I want to take him home with me, but, Megan, drop this going to court. Rethink it…give us a chance to develop a workable relationship. Stop hanging on to anger from seven years ago,” he said.

  “That’s easy for you, Jared. You’re the one who wants all the changes.”

  “Yield an inch or two here! Try to cooperate,” he said. He could feel the clash of wills, but desire was just as strong. Standing this close to her, looking into her thickly lashed turquoise eyes and at her full red lips that he knew were so soft, he was on fire with want. He pulled her to him, winding his hand in her hair and claiming her soft mouth. Fleetingly, he wondered if he was going to fall in love again with Megan, head for heartbreak twice himself.

  Angered by her stubbornness, desiring her with all his being, he poured his raging emotions into his kiss.

  Her hands shoved against his chest, but the push was brief and feeble, stopping as she slid her hands up and around his neck. And then she was in his embrace, pressed against him as he shook with eagerness.

  He wrapped his arm tightly around her, leaning over her as he kissed her, thrusting his tongue deep into her mouth.

  She kissed him in return, setting him on fire.

  He wanted to pick her up and carry her to a bedroom, but he was afraid to break the tenuous moment; and holding and kissing her was better than having her tell him good night and send him on his way.

  To his gratification, she responded, setting him ablaze. Finally she pushed forcefully against him and turned her head, ending their kiss. “Jared, you stop.”

  “You like me kissing you, Megan. Heaven knows, I like to kiss you more than any other woman I’ve ever known.”

  “Oh, Jared, please stop the shallow comments.”

  He wound his fingers in her hair as the other arm banded her waist, and he pulled her head back so she looked up at him. “There’s nothing shallow about what I feel for you, and I meant exactly what I said. There’s never been a woman in my life like you,” he said solemnly, realizing that it was the truth.

  “Jared, we’re not going to sol—”

  “A visit to Dallas is all I’m asking,” he said, cutting her off and releasing her hair, then caressing her nape. “Bring Ethan with you. Will you come right away?”

  “I’m going to regret it.”

  “That’s a yes,” he said with a jump in his pulse, because he saw a glimmer of hope of Megan cooperating with him. If she would come look at the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, with all the diverse lifestyles there, he thought he could win her over. Little by little, maybe she would work with him. “I can fly you there.”

  “I don’t know about that,” she replied cautiously.

  “Nonsense. I’ll fly us there. Plan to spend three days.”

  “Jared, I haven’t said yes. I’ll think about it.”

  “Bring Ethan with you and you’ll see the possibilities.”

  “You’re always a charmer, talking people into doing things the way you want them.”

  “And you’re a seductress, setting me on fire.” He framed her face with his hands. “I want you, Megan. I want you and I want to work out things between us.”

  “I don’t think we can,” she answered.

  “I know we can if we both try. Megan, are you scared I’ll hurt him?”

  “Heavens, no! Not physically, anyway.”

  “Then what are you afraid of?”

  “I’m frightened you’ll find him a fascinating diversion in your life for a while and then tire of the responsibility and care of a child and disappear out of his life. Children can’t cope with that like adults can.”

  “No, I’ll never do that,” he said solemnly. “I love him too much to hurt either of you. I don’t want a court fight over him.”

  “Words are easy,” she said.

  “I won’t tire of him, either.” Jared took her hand. “Come sit out on the porch and let’s talk,” he said, taking her hand.

  She went out with him, sitting, watching him in the semidarkness as he pulled his chair close to hers. Light spilled through windows and the open door, dimly illuminating the porch.

  “I’ll show you Fort Worth. I can drive across Dallas if I have to and if you don’t want to live close. Of course, close would be more convenient for both of us and make it easier.”

  “Easier for you,” she said.

  “Megan, I’m trying to find something workable,” he reminded her.

  “If I’d move to Dallas, would you back off having custody of him?”

  Jared gazed at her. His first inclination was an immediate no, but he waited, considering what she was asking, but knowing that unless he was given legal custody, Megan could easily keep him from seeing his son.

  “No, because I don’t think you’ll always let me see him otherwise. Let’s not argue ‘what ifs’. Just visit Dallas.”

  “I’ll think about it,” she said, standing
. He stood at once.

  “Jared, be honest with Ethan. Don’t tell him we’re thinking about moving to Dallas, because at the moment, I’m not seriously entertaining the thought. Santa Fe is home, and I have roots there now. Don’t tell him you want to marry me unless you think you can make it clear to him that it’s a business arrangement. You’ll get along better if you’re up front and truthful.”

  “When haven’t I been truthful with you?”

  She shrugged. “When you declared you loved me.”

  “I did love you, Megan,” he said, grinding out the words, knowing his patience was stretching thin. He caught her arms and pulled her closer and her eyes widened as she placed her hands on his forearms reflexively.

  “Megan, I left because your father threatened my dad if I didn’t go!”

  She closed her eyes and rocked back on her heels.

  Nine

  “Jared, don’t! Don’t lie to me,” she said, hurting and angry at Jared.

  “I’m not lying to you,” he said in a tight voice, scowling at her. “Your dad warned me that he’d cut off water to our ranch and hurt my dad. He said he’d disown you and you’d be harmed in other ways, too. I may have made the wrong choice, but I still believe he would have injured my family terribly and you worse.”

  “If that’s true, why didn’t you contact me later and try to let me know?”

  “We were threatened, Megan. I was a kid, and I left. I’ve paid for it a thousand times over.”

  “I don’t want to hear this pack of lies, Jared!” she cried, jerking away from him. With every word he said, her fury intensified until she was shaking. “If he’d done that, you would have come to me,” she said, certain Jared was lying and doing a poor job of it. “My father was in such a rage about your disappearance—there’s no way he could have been the reason you left. Not possible. I won’t listen to such garbage!”

  “Megan, I swear I’m telling you the truth,” he said quietly.

  “I know my father better than that. You were headstrong. Dad was a control freak and he interfered with my life, but he wouldn’t be that cruel. I know our dads did dreadful things to each other, but neither ever did bodily harm to the other. If he’d threatened you, you wouldn’t have listened,” she said, disgusted with him. “There’s no common ground for us. This is hopeless. I told you that you could take Ethan to your ranch and I’ll stick by my promise. Ethan can go home with you tomorrow night. You leave with him early in the morning and bring him back the day after tomorrow, on Saturday, by dinner. Is that clear?”

  “Megan, he threatened you. I don’t know what else to say,” Jared said, clenching his fists. “I loved you and it hurt to leave—”

  “I will never believe you,” she declared. “I don’t want to hear about it. Not anything. I’m going inside, Jared. I’ll see you in the morning.” She walked past him and into the house without looking back. She hated the lies he’d told her. There was a dark side to him she knew nothing about. She was surprised he would come up with such a lame excuse. Yet she did know he could be ruthless when he wanted something.

  She prayed the legal firm she was hiring would get what she wanted in a court battle. If they didn’t, then she would try to bargain with Jared. If she lost badly in court, she’d look into moving to Dallas, but only as a last resort.

  If only her pulse didn’t still race with Jared’s every look and her heart skip beats with his slightest touch. Right now, her nerves were raw and desire was a tormenting flame.

  Ethan would be with him for two days. He had been good with Ethan, and they bonded instantly, which hadn’t surprised her. When Jared was his charming best, he could easily win someone’s affections. And Ethan wanted a daddy. Tears stung her.

  She wasn’t going into any marriage of convenience—one convenient only for Jared. She was already in love with him again. A marriage of convenience would devastate her emotionally. And he’d get the sex he wanted because she just couldn’t resist.

  He was in Ethan’s life now, so she couldn’t try to cut him out. Nor would she be able to legally, but hopefully, she could limit how much Jared would get Ethan.

  She closed the door to her room and changed for bed, pulling on a robe, knowing sleep wouldn’t come.

  She left her room, stepping through the connecting door to Ethan’s to look at him sleeping, serene and quiet. How she loved him! She could never regret knowing Jared, because he had brought her Ethan, the joy of her life. She smoothed locks of his black hair from his forehead, assured he would sleep through her light touches. Her love for Ethan had no measure, and she had to admit that Jared would make Ethan happy. As he got ready for bed, he’d talked constantly about his daddy and what they had done today. His toy plane was still nestled beside him as he slept.

  Was she being a fool to believe Jared again, when he had broken her trust completely once before. He had promised her that he wouldn’t take Ethan from her, and he’d promised Ethan he’d never leave him. Would he really honor those promises? Tears stung her eyes once again and she knelt and kissed Ethan.

  “I love you so,” she whispered, and then she turned.

  Jared leaned against the doorjamb, watching her.

  Glaring at him as he crossed the room to her, she scrubbed her eyes furiously. Her emotions were in an upheaval.

  “Don’t cry, Meg,” he murmured. He picked her up and carried her into her bedroom, shoving the door shut behind him before setting her on her feet. He brushed her tears with his fingers. “Don’t cry. I don’t want to hurt you. He was happy today and you didn’t lose a lot of time with him. You let your aunt and uncle have him for weeks.”

  Nodding, she firmed her lips, gazing up at him. He had unbuttoned the first few buttons of his shirt and she was aware of his bare chest, conscious of his hands on her, memories of their lovemaking tormenting her.

  Jared framed her face with his hands and gazed at her intently. She couldn’t keep from looking at his mouth and wanting to kiss him.

  His gaze lowered to her lips and she inhaled, her lips parting and tingling. “Stop fighting me at each turn,” he ordered. “You’re making this damned difficult, and it doesn’t have to be.” Jared’s mouth covered hers and he kissed her. His arm slid around her waist and pulled her tightly against him as he kissed her, passion heating between them.

  She ran her hand over his chest, feeling his groan.

  He shook as he kissed her as he had before, and she was astounded by his need for her. She wanted him with an urgency that shocked her.

  Reason prevailed and she pushed against him, finally leaning back. “Jared, we’re not going to make love. I’m going to sleep alone tonight.”

  He raised his head and his eyes opened slowly. “I want you, Meg. I want you more than you can imagine.”

  “I’m not the woman for you. There’s too much unhappiness between us. I can’t tell you to get out of my life, but I’m not going to bed with you again.”

  When she pulled out of his embrace, he let her go. She walked away, going to the window. “Good night,” she said.

  In a moment she heard the door close and she turned to see that he had gone.

  She put her head in her hands in frustration and anger. His story about her father had been appalling. She had never expected Jared to come up with such a lie.

  She sat in a chair and gazed outside. Moonlight splashed over the yard, lighting broad areas, while beneath the trees was darkness. Near dawn, she dozed. And when she went into the kitchen for breakfast she found a note from Jared saying that he and Ethan had left for his ranch.

  She wasn’t hungry and went to her office to take care of details regarding the new law firm, making arrangements to fly to Chicago overnight while Ethan was with Jared.

  Saturday, early in the evening, she waited on the front porch with mounting excitement. She had missed Ethan more each day. Worrying about him in a way she never did when he was with her aunt and uncle, she had tried to reassure herself often that Jared loved Ethan and
would take good care of him.

  All the time they had been gone, she had promised herself that as soon as Ethan was through with his visit to Jared’s, she would pack and return to Santa Fe. She wanted to get back to the home that was a haven, and far from Jared Dalton.

  She saw the car approaching before she heard it. Her eagerness mounted as she watch his black car wind along the drive and finally stop. Ethan unbuckled and climbed out, running to her and waving his arms, his hands filled with toys.

  She swung him up and kissed him while he hugged and kissed her.

  “Look what Daddy got me! I have another plane and a car that will really run and I have a bigger car at his house that I can ride around in on the patio. I have a new game.”

  “Good heavens! It’s not even your birthday or Christmas,” she said, laughing at his exuberance as Jared strolled up the steps. Looking too appealing, he wore boots beneath tight jeans that rode low on his hips. His navy Western shirt was partially unbuttoned, revealing the thick mat of his chest hair. As his gaze drifted over her, she became aware of her cutoffs, her red T-shirt and her hair in a braid. His unhurried gaze was as warm as a caress, and she tingled from head to toe.

  “Thanks, Megan. We’ve had a great visit.”

  “I can tell.”

  “Want to go to dinner tonight? Or I can take you both to my place,” he asked, as Ethan sat on the porch playing with his car.

  “Thanks anyway, Jared, but we have plans.”

  He nodded. “I’ll call you in the morning.”

  He looked at Ethan. “Ethan, tell me good-bye,” Jared said, and the child jumped up to hug Jared, who scooped him up. He hugged and kissed him and she turned away to go inside the house. Tears threatened, and she hated that she got emotional so easily, where Jared and Ethan were involved.

  In minutes, Ethan came running inside and she heard Jared driving away.

  “Why couldn’t we go eat dinner with Daddy?” Ethan asked, his brown eyes as intense as Jared’s.