Page 26 of Texas Temptation

Jordan simply smiled as she nodded, tears filling her eyes.

“It’s terrific. I can’t thank you enough.”

He frowned and started the car, pulling out into traffic before speaking again.

“No thanks needed. You’re the first one who didn’t dash out of the office the minute I complained about something, or yelled about a missing file. At least I have help until Penny returns.”

Jordan nodded, blinking away the tears. To her, it was a wonderful gift. To Cade, it was merely an exchange for someone to help in his office at home.

But couldn’t he have had one woman from the Dallas office drive out every day?

Chapter Five

Cade glanced again at the glow in Jordan’s eyes and felt as if she’d touched him. For the first time in years, he forgot the past and remained in the present. Beginning to enjoy her wonder and delight, he frowned, not wanting to get caught up in that illusion of happiness. Life had a way of slapping one down just when things were looking up.

“I can’t believe after all this time it’s really going to happen,” she said again. “He’ll have to be calm and not do any leaning over for a month after the surgery. Which is going to be hard for a little boy. But then, everything should be healed and he’ll be as normal as you or I.”

“As every child should.”

As Vicki had been, with her bright eyes and ready laughter. Vicki would have enjoyed showing her pony and the dogs to Caleb. She’d been such an outgoing child.

“I can’t express how much I appreciate your paying for this. I’ll pay you back, every cent.”

“You’re earning it working for me. There’ll be no debt.” Cade said, concentrating on the traffic.

He glanced in the rear view mirror—the little boy was asleep, tilted sideways in the car seat.

Caleb. How could any man father such an adorable child and not want to acknowledge him? Maybe he’d see what he could do to locate the man. See the happiness in Jordan’s eyes again.

Of course, Caleb’s father didn’t know of his existence.

Once again, Cade tried to picture someone using his name. It sounded like someone that knew him and the ranch, from what Jordan had said. Yet he couldn’t come up with anyone he knew with blond hair and blue eyes who was the right age to be Caleb’s father.

Jordan was resting her head on the back of the seat. Had she fallen asleep, too?

When she stirred, he took the chance she was awake.

“Tell me more about Caleb’s father. I’m still trying to figure out who would have used my name.”

“I’ve told you all I remember. He was so much fun, swept me off my feet. He was tall and athletic. He could swim like a fish and loved to body surf. He wore sunglasses a lot, maybe to hide his eyes, but I didn’t think so at the time. They were as blue as Caleb’s.”

“He was blond, you said.”

“Yes. About six feet two. He had a high opinion of himself—which I shared until he left.”

“What did you do after that?”

It wasn’t like him to ask so many questions of strangers. She’d work for him until Penny came back, then return to Florida. They would not remain in contact once she left. Yet he wanted to know more about her, know everything that happened to her. Try to get a handle on the woman who had overcome such hardships and come out with such an optimistic view of life.

“I finished high school before I realized I was pregnant. College was out of the question once I decided to keep Caleb. Aunt Maggie helped, and I went full time at Joe’s Taco Shack.”

“What did you want to study in college?”

She looked at him a moment, as if weighing his reaction to her reply.

“Architecture.”

That startled him.

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