Page 59 of Texas Temptation

What of their own relationship? How would he feel knowing she’d once loved his cousin?

Jordan knew Amelia had already told Cade by the way he stared at Caleb during dinner. And by the curt responses to any overtures on her part.

Even Amelia seemed subdued.

Rosita eyed them curiously as she served the meal. But nothing was said in front of Caleb.

Jordan felt as if they had already set a pattern for evenings. She’d put Caleb to bed, then wander down to Cade’s study where they’d spend time together. Amelia usually left right before Caleb went to bed, so the rest of the evening belonged to her and Cade.

They could discuss the situation, decide what they’d do. Her heart beating fast, she headed for the study.

Tonight, she heard him talking as she approached the door. It was almost closed, but hadn’t latched. Did he have a visitor?

“…then let me hypothesize. You died your hair blond, took off for Florida on spring break when your mother and I thought you were studying to complete your course work with a passing grade. You usedmy nameso no one would find out. What did you do, hock something to come up with the money?”

There was a silence. Jordan could almost feel the waves of frustration and anger. She pressed closer, knowing she shouldn’t be eavesdropping, but unable to resist. Cade was talking to his cousin.

“Water under the bridge, huh? Did you never think there would be consequences for your actions?”

Another moment of silence. She wished she could hear the other person. Did he have regrets? Had it only been a careless fling for him? Would he want to know his son?

“Blast it, Sammy. I’ve bailed you out of trouble a dozen times since your father died. You drove your mother to distraction with your antics, always expecting someone else to pull your irons from the fire. I thought you’d turned around that last time. What of the promises you made to her? To me?”

Another silence. Jordan’s heart pounded. She closed her eyes, wishing with all her heart that she’d never seen the picture, that she’d never said the fateful words aloud, or that Amelia hadn’t returned at that very moment.

“Yeah, well old son, one of those wild oats is in my house right now. Along with his mother. Remember her? Jordan Carhart? Pretty blond with a figure that makes a man drool?”

Jordan hardly heard the compliment. Why had Cade called his cousin?

Shouldn’t he have discussed things with her first? They could have decided together how to handle the situation.

Though she supposed a short-term solution wasn’t possible. There were years of family events ahead of them. They needed to decide how to handle them all.

“While you were graduating from the university through the strings your mother and I pulled, Jordan was giving up hope of college and scrambling around to take care of your son. That counts for nothing. Her aunt died. So it was just Jordan and Caleb—and all the problems of being a single parent with no education to speak of.”

Jordan’s heart raced. She shouldn’t be listening. But she couldn’t tear herself away.

“I don’t know what I want you to do, but I’m so mad I could spit nails. When are you going to take responsibility for your life, for your choices, and for your mistakes? I’m tired of bailing you out of scrapes.”

Cade's hard voice sent shivers up Jordan’s back. She hoped he never got that angry with her.

She caught her breath as the pain hit her. Was that what he was doing? Bailing her out? Providing a place for her because…because why? For Caleb? In memory of Vicki?

Not because he loved her. He hadn’t once told her so.

And now, he had yet to mention to his cousin their upcoming wedding. Instead, he was demanding his cousin take responsibility—to relieve him of the need?

Was she living a lie?

No wonder she couldn’t believe Cade loved her. He didn’t, and she’d known it deep inside.

Jordan turned and almost stumbled. She froze, afraid Cade had heard her. He mustn’t know she overheard his conversation. He must never suspect.

Quietly she made her way back upstairs, to her room. Closing the door softly behind her, she leaned against it, feeling old and tired and so dispirited she couldn’t even begin to imagine her future.

Maybe there’d been a reason the ring hadn’t been ready today. It was never to be hers.

Maybe there’d been a reason Cade had told no one. Had he hoped something would turn up so his impetuous proposal would become moot?

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