Page 3 of Texas Temptation

“Wow,” Jordan thought, stunned at the size of the place. She slowed the car and stared. She thought Cullen’s bragging had been the wild tales of a college guy on the prowl out to impress. It looked as if he hadn’t exaggerated one bit.

Suddenly doubt crept in.

Was she doing the right thing? Maybe she should have left Caleb with her friend Patricia and come alone. Suddenly, a horrifying thought sprang to mind. What if Cullen wanted visiting rights?

Or even custody?

According to the article, he’d lost his wife and child in a terrible automobile accident. Maybe he’d want his son near him.

She felt a pang of sympathy for the man, even though she remained angry at his behavior toward her. How awful to lose a wife, but more especially a child. He wouldn’t want Caleb permanently, would he?

Jordan hesitated, wondering if she’d made the trip for nothing. She’d taken precious funds from their savings for this trip, but she considered it well spent if she could get Caleb’s father to pay the balance of the expense. Doubts not withstanding, she couldn’t turn back without seeing him, without trying to get him to pay a share, not when she was this close. And he deserved to meet his son. She hoped he’d like Caleb, but be content to leave their current living arrangement intact.

“Why aren’t we driving, Mommy? I see a house. The lights are on and it’s only afternoon.”

“I know, sweetie. It’s because of the rain.”

It was shortly after noon, yet it was so dark from the storm she needed her headlights. The glow through the windows in the house gave the illusion of welcome. Slowly, she headed forward. She’d come all this way. She needed to see it through. For Caleb’s sake.

Stopping near the front door, Jordan turned off the engine and reached back to unfasten Caleb’s safety belt.

“Climb over the seat and let’s go,” she said.

Coughing for a moment, she waited while he scrambled over the seat back and stood beside her. She really felt awful. She hoped this encounter would go smoothly.

“We’ll walk really fast so we don’t get soaked, okay?” she said.

If she’d had an umbrella, she’d have tried to carry him and kept them both dry, but she hadn’t thought to bring one. And she felt so tired and weak she didn’t think she could carry him the short distance to the veranda. Maybe she should have gotten a room in Tumbleweed first, taken a nap and then come. Too late now.

She thrust open her door and hurried them to the front of the house.

“Whee,” Caleb said as he splashed in puddles between the car and the covered veranda.

Great, Jordan thought, as she tried to hurry him along. They’d both show up looking like drowned rats.

She rang the doorbell and shivered slightly in the breeze. Her shoulders and hair were damp from their mad dash. The wind cooled her quickly, blowing through her wet clothes as if she wore nothing.

The door opened. An older Hispanic woman stood in the opening, her dark hair streaked with gray, bounded at the back of her head in a tidy bun. A large apron covered her full skirted dress.

“Can I help you?” she asked.

She held a dish towel in one hand. Her expression was pleasant, but curious.

“I’m looking for Cade Cullen Everett,” Jordan said.

Caleb peeked around her to look at the woman, his eyes wide.

“Señor Everett is busy. Was he expecting you?”

“No, but we’ve come a long way. I only need a few minutes of his time.”

Jordan had come too far to be turned away. She was prepared to wait for however long it took.

The older woman studied Jordan for a moment, then looked at Caleb, her expression softening into a smile.

“Step in out of the storm. I’ll tell him you are here if you give me your name.”

“Jordan Carhart.”

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