Kael (Texas Rascals, #6) Read online

  attention, and the clock on the wall ticked loudly as if

  counting down her fate.

  “Sit down, son.” Daisy indicated the chair with a nod.

  “Did I do something wrong?” Travis fretted.

  Unfortunately the child took after her. She wished he

  wasn’t such a worry wart.

  “No, honey, I just need to talk to you.”

  “Is it about money?”

  Daisy heaved a deep breath. “Sweetheart, you don’t

  have to be concerned about money. I’ll take care of that.”

  Travis said nothing, just eased into the chair and stared

  down at his hands.

  Clearing her throat, Daisy wondered how to begin. “I’m

  keeping you out of school tomorrow,” she said at last.

  The boy’s head came up. “How come?”

  “I’m taking you to the doctor in Corpus.”

  Travis’ face blanched pale. “What’s the matter?”

  “You need to have some blood work done.”

  “I’m not sick.”

  Panic shone in her son’s eyes, and Daisy knew she’d

  taken the wrong track. Travis was too smart to be easily

  assuaged, but he was too young to be told the whole truth.

  “No, you’re not sick.” She quickly backpedaled. “This

  is a different kind of test.”

  Travis frowned. “Do I have to?”

  Daisy swallowed. Damn you, Kael Carmody, she silently

  swore. Her only goal in life was to take care of Travis.

  Putting him through this misery in order to satisfy Kael’s

  curiosity was not right.

  “I think it would be a good idea.”

  “But why?”

  “Well,” Daisy hedged, postulating the excuse she’d de-

  vised over the past few days. “Your teacher has been a

  little worried about you.” This was true enough. On more

  than one occasion Travis’s teacher had expressed concern

  over the boy’s quiet disposition.

  His brows drew down in a frown. “Worried about me?

  How come?”

  “You’ve been so sad lately, and you hardly ever play

  with the other kids. I thought it might be a good idea to

  see the doctor to make sure something isn’t wrong with

  you.”

  Travis studied his feet. “Wanna know why I’m sad?”

  Her heart caught in her chest as his words rent a whole

  through her. “Yes, sweetie. I want to know everything

  about how you’re feeling.’’

  “I’m sad ’cause I don’t have a daddy like everyone else.

  Even kids whose parents are divorced got daddies, but not

  _ >>

  me.

  “Oh, baby, come here.” Daisy gathered him to her

  breast.

  His despair cleaved her right in two. How long had this

  issue been bothering Travis? Poor kid. The lack of a father

  had really been preying on his mind. Perhaps it wouldn’t

  be such a horrible thing if Kael turned out to be his father,

  after all.

  “Maybe you will have a daddy someday.”

  Travis face brightened. “You think so?”

  “Who knows, maybe I’ll get married someday.”

  “Really?”

  Daisy smiled. “Stranger things have happened. In the

  meantime, I still think we need to have you checked out

  by a doctor to make sure this isn’t a medical problem.

  Okay?”

  “Okay.” Travis nodded.

  “Come on,” she said, “time for bed.”

  She ushered him through the kitchen, her mind whirling

  with the implications of what Travis had just revealed to

  her. The boy deserved to know his father. But Daisy

  dreaded what Kael might do if he discovered that Travis

  was indeed his progeny. He was a wealthy man accustomed

  to getting his way. Would he try and take control of the

  boy’s upbringing? Or worse, would he attempt to wrest

  custody from her entirely? Daisy clenched her fists at the

  idea. Anxiety, dark and cloying, took hold of her and re-

  fused to let loose.

  Surely Kael wasn’t capable of such underhanded activity.

  Then again, she once would not have thought him capable

  of betraying her trust by sleeping with her sister. She’d

  been wrong about that, too. She hadn’t seen the man for

  seven years. Who knew what he might do?

  Travis slipped his small hand in hers, and Daisy clutched

  it tightly. They ascended the stairs together. Mother and

  son. Alone. As they had been for seven years. And until

  recently they’d gotten along just fine. Or perhaps she had

  just wanted to think they were doing fine. She’d had no

  idea Travis was pining so severely for a father. Daisy bit

  her lip. Had she been wrong all this time, keeping Travis

  from Kael?

  What about Kael? a voice in the back of her head asked.

  How does he fit into this picture?

  Indeed, what about him? Their relationship had ended a

  long time ago. The man couldn’t still harbor feelings for

  her. He’d never once tried to contact her.

  Why not? You still harbor feelings for him.

  I do not! Daisy denied hotly. But despite her internal

  protests to the contrary, the center of her chest grew warm

  and soft with suppressed emotions. Even if she did have

  the faintest of feelings for the man, she could never forgive

  him. His sins, against her, Rose and Travis, had been too

  great to ignore.

  So why, when Kael kissed her on Friday afternoon in

  the bee field, had Daisy been transported back in time?

  What was it about his lips that drove all common sense and

  decency from her mind? Why did the man possess the abil-

  ity to turn her mind to instant oatmeal with a mere glance?

  For that brief moment when he kissed her, she’d been

  nineteen years old again and on the verge of falling deeply

  in love.

  Her reaction to Kael’s kiss had reminded her what a fool

  she’d been to lose her head over a footloose male with a

  roving eye. It was only her prideful nature that had pre-

  vented her from declaring her love in order to keep him

  from leaving town seven years ago. Now she was so glad

  she hadn’t. This way Kael would never know for sure how

  she felt about him. And that’s exactly where she wanted

  him, squarely off balance.

  Because if Travis was his son, then the man had her over

  a barrel. She’d have to let him see the boy. Much as she

  hated to admit it, he needed a paternal influence. And once

  Kael was back in her life, would she be stupid enough to

  fall in love with him again?

  No! She could not allow herself to descend into that

  tender trap twice. Once around with that man was more

  than enough.

  Damn. She was tom, conflicted. She wanted Travis to

  know his father and yet she really didn’t want to share the

  child with anyone. Especially someone as pushy and opin-

  ionated as Kael Carmody.

  Running Travis’s bath water while he shucked off his

  T-shirt and blue jeans, Daisy tested the temperature with

  her elbow before dumping in the bubble bath. The fresh

  smell of soap teased her nose, and bubbles floated gaily

/>   above the tub.

  At this point there was only one thing left to do. Pray

  furiously that Kael Carmody was not the father of her boy.

  Chapter Five

  .For once Kael’s infamous cool failed him. He could strad-

  dle a wild bull without a second thought, but the idea of

  becoming a ready-made father had him shaking in his

  boots. In the matter of a few hours the course of his life

  might be irrevocably changed forever, altered in ways he

  couldn’t begin to imagine.

  Early-morning dew still clung to the grass blades when

  Kael pulled into Daisy’s driveway. His stomach was wad-

  ded in such knots he’d been unable to eat breakfast, and

  he felt oddly tongue-tied. How much had Daisy told the

  boy about the trip into Corpus Christi?

  Daisy and Travis waited for him on the front porch. With

  their solemn faces and formal dress, they looked as if they

  were headed for a funeral.

  Travis wore starched blue jeans and a crisp white shirt,

  and Daisy had on a knee-length, black dress that showed

  off her shapely legs. Her vibrant hair was upswept in a

  severe bun, and her feet were shod in sensible flats. Kael

  caught his breath at the sight. Even in such plain garb,

  Daisy Hightower was a beauty.

  He opened the door and climbed out at the same time

  they walked over to meet him.

  “Morning,” Kael said awkwardly.

  “Good morning,” Daisy replied primly.

  Travis mumbled something.

  They all three pretended to study their feet.

  “Thanks for taking us to the doctor’s office,” Daisy said.

  “We really appreciate you giving us a ride, Mr. Carmody,

  since the green monster is out of commission.”

  Kael angled her a look. Mr. Carmody? Was this a clue

  as to how to behave around Travis? What had she told him

  about this visit to the doctor? “No problem.”

  Travis squinted against the sun edging up the horizon

  and peered at Kael. “I gotta have a blood test,” he said.

  “I heard.” Kael nodded. He searched Daisy’s face for

  clues, but she carefully avoided his gaze.

  “It’s to make sure I’m not sick or anything.”

  “That sounds like a good idea.” Nervously Kael clasped

  his hands together, the magnitude of the situation register-

  ing in his conscience for the first time. He was about to

  discover if he had a seven-year-old son.

  “You guys ready to hit the road?” he asked.

  Without waiting for an answer, he opened the passenger

  door and ushered them inside. Lordy, the thirty-mile jaunt

  into Corpus Christi was beginning to look like a three-

  hundred-thousand-mile trek. He got in and started the

  pickup, desperately racking his brain for small talk.

  Daisy stared straight ahead. She sat pressed against the

  passenger door as if ready to use it as an escape hatch. Her

  left arm rested securely across Travis’s shoulder. Her body

  language declaring very loudly “touch me not.”

  Then again what else did he expect from her? Kael fig-

  ured she’d only agreed to this blood test out of a sense of

  fairness to Travis and because he’d threatened her with a

  lawsuit. Kael winced. This couldn’t be any easier for her

  than it was for him.

  Guilt crawled through him at a slow, tortuous pace.

  Daisy’s whole world had come crashing in around her ears,

  and it was all his fault. He’d burned her bees, and now he

  was making her face something she wanted to deny. No

  wonder she possessed an attitude.

  Travis nestled against Daisy’s side, and before they’d

  driven far, he’d fallen fast asleep.

  “Kid’s tuckered out,” Kael commented.

  “I’m glad he’s asleep. This is going to be rough enough

  on him.”

  “It’s got to be done, Daisy.”

  “Why? To satisfy your curiosity?”

  “We both have a right to know the truth,” he said.

  “What good is knowing going to do?” Daisy asked.

  “Based on your past performance, you won’t be here for

  him, anyway.”

  Kael bit back a hot retort. No point antagonizing her

  further. He paused a minute to check his temper before

  responding quietly, “I’ve changed, Daisy.”

  She turned her head and snorted indelicately. “Since

  when?”

  Kael stroked his jaw, stared out across the pickup’s hood.

  “I suppose since my accident. There’s nothing like having

  your kneecap shattered to give you a whole new perspective

  on life.”

  ‘ ‘And catching the alfalfa field on fire was the action of

  a mature man?”

  “That wasn’t intentional.”

  “Like you didn’t intentionally take Rose into the bam

  that night?’ ’

  “Daisy,” he warned, his simmering anger threatening to

  burst into a full-blown blaze. “Leave well enough alone.”

  “What do you expect from me, Kael Carmody?” she

  retorted. “I’m not rolling out the welcome mat for your

  sorry hide, and I’m not sure I’m going to let you into my

  son’s life. I don’t hear one word from you in seven years,

  now suddenly you want me to make room for daddy?”

  Ire that matched his own sparked in her eyes. How many

  times had she stood her ground and challenged him like

  that? And how many times had her spicy nature roused his

  desire for her? Kael’s groin tightened in response. Dammit,

  but Daisy Hightower didn’t even realize the power she

  wielded over him.

  “You told me you never wanted to see me again. Re-

  member?” He spoke softly as the pain of their parting

  flooded through him. Yes, seven years ago he’d been selfish

  and immature. His mind had been firmly set on riding bulls

  and proving to himself he was worthy of his father’s name.

  Plus, he’d wanted to satisfy his wanderlust before settling

  down and having a family. But he’d always known Daisy

  was the woman he wanted to marry—the girl he hoped

  would become his wife and bear his children. He’d never

  wanted Rose, not even when he had her.

  “What was I supposed to do?”

  Daisy shrugged. Her jaw trembled slightly. Was she

  about to cry? Tough-as-nails Daisy?

  “Are you okay?” He started to reach out for her, but

  she flinched and he withdrew his hand.

  “I know this has got to be hard for you.”

  “Don’t patronize me.”

  Kael sighed. He couldn’t win with her. “I promise I’m

  not going to try and take Travis away from you, if that’s

  what you’re worried about. I just want to know my son.”

  “Let’s save this discussion until we know something for

  sure.”

  He nodded. She was right. He applied the brakes and

  slowed the pickup as they entered Corpus Christi city lim-

  its. In the distance he saw the ocean shimmering blue-green

  in the sunlight.

  “Remember that time we went skinny-dipping on the

  North Beach?” Kael grinned.

  “No,” Daisy replied c
urtly.

  “Sure you do. It was after—”

  “I prefer not to recall the past,” she interrupted. “It’s

  too full of painful memories, and there’s nothing I can do

  to change that.”

  “Daisy, I’m sorry for all the ways I’ve wronged you.”

  “Apologies are easy for you, Kael. It’s the consequences

  you seem to have a hard time dealing with.” She glanced

  pointedly at her adoptive son.

  Kael studied the child. His hair was darker than his

  mother’s, rusty instead of flame colored. A dusting of freck-

  les dotted his cheeks and nose, just like Daisy’s own. And

  like hers, the sweep of his eyelashes were long and pale.

  Travis breathed quietly, his slender chest rising and falling

  as he slept. He seemed so small, so fragile, cradled in the

  curve of Daisy’s protective arm, the sight tugged at Kael.

  “I can’t believe you kept your suspicions about Travis

  from me for so long.” The bitterness Kael had been feeling

  against her since she’d told him the boy could be his,

  welled fresh.

  “Shh,” she cautioned, laying an index finger against her

  lips as Travis stirred.

  Kael clamped his mouth shut. In the back of his mind

  he’d been entertaining thoughts of rekindling his relation-

  ship with Daisy. He hadn’t wanted to admit it, not even to

  himself, but from the moment he’d returned to Rascal the

  memories had nipped at his heels.

  Then when he had seen her again and discovered her son

  might be his child, he had been fighting some pretty crazy

  notions. Visions of them as a family. He and Daisy and

  Travis. Living together, running the honey farm, loving

  each other the way it was meant to be.

  What about your rodeo career? something in the back of

  his mind prodded. Where does that fit into your cozy family

  life?

  Hell, he was twenty-eight, plenty old enough to grow up

  and surrender his childish dreams. He’d risen to the top of

  the PRC. He’d conquered the best bulls. What else was

  there left to accomplish?

  Two questions remained unanswered. The answer to the

  first question would lead him down one path, the solution

  to the other pointed in the opposite direction. Would his

  knee ever heal? And was Travis Hightower really his son?

  Two days passed. Each moment seemed like an eternity