LITMIR.BIZ

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father hated him, how star-crossed their relationship had been. Still, their short time together had been good—almost magical—while it lasted.

      And they’d made a baby.

      “Think it happened out at the lake, that afternoon?” he asked. “Or at the cabin in Julian?”

      “Huh?”

      His question seemed to take Kristin aback, as though she’d forgotten about the day she’d first given herself to him.

      “We only made love a couple of times,” he continued. “And I guess it really doesn’t matter when Bobby was conceived.”

      “It was at the cabin,” she said, her voice soft and gentle. “I’m not sure how I know, but—”

      “You’re probably right.” Joe had that same feeling. The day had been special. Perfect. And if God chose to bless the world with a new baby, that would have been the time.

      A sappy grin rose to the surface, and he couldn’t stop the excitement that bubbled inside. He wanted to be the kind of father he’d missed having. A father like Harry Logan, who always had time to listen, time to advise. Time to throw back his head and laugh, to enjoy an afternoon with his family, even if that family included a bunch of onetime bad boys like Joe.

      Yep, Joe wanted to be that kind of dad to Bobby. He wanted to have backyard barbecues and toss footballs around on the grass. He wanted to take his boy fishing. And teach him how to ride a bike, if Bobby didn’t know how already. They’d play catch. And—

      Kristin kept brushing the tears from her eyes.

      Sheesh. Was she unhappy about telling him? Or sorry she’d kept the secret? Joe wasn’t sure what broke the floodgates, but he felt responsible. He reached across the table and took her hand. “I’m happy about this.”

      She looked up at him, surprise splashed across her face. “You are?”

      “Yeah.” He shot her a smile that he hoped would help ease her mind, in one way or another. “I like the idea of having a kid.”

      “But you understand, we have to take this slow. Right?”

      “Yes,” Joe told her, “but I want you to understand something, too.”

      “What’s that?”

      “I might have agreed to hold off announcing my fatherhood, but that doesn’t mean I don’t expect to be involved in my son’s life.”

      She nodded. “I understand.”

      “Starting immediately.”

      “What do you mean?” She pulled her hand back, and her eyes widened. “You promised not to say anything.”

      “I won’t. I’ll keep the secret. But I didn’t say anything about staying away. I’ll start off by being his friend, you know, a fireman who took an interest in a fatherless boy.”

      She seemed to relax, to accept his compromise. “I suppose that will work.”

      “Some guys might not like a surprise like this, Kristin. But I’m not just any guy. I want to take an active part in Bobby’s life. And I plan to be the best dad in the whole world.”

      She fingered the stem of her wineglass, then looked at him. Lord, she had the prettiest green eyes he’d ever seen. He’d missed gazing at her.

      “But this is a secret for now,” she said.

      “For now.” Joe shot her a smile. “But we’re going to tell Bobby. Soon.”

      “When the time is right,” Kristin insisted. “You promised to let me decide when that would be.”

      He had, although he was having cold feet about the promise. Still, he owed her something. He’d gotten her pregnant, then told her he didn’t love her anymore, left her to fend for herself and the baby.

      Yep. He owed her something. And he’d given his word to keep quiet until she said the time was right.

      But as far as he was concerned, that day couldn’t come too soon.

      Thomas Reynolds might not think Joe was good enough for his daughter. And maybe he was right. But Bobby was a Davenport.

      Once upon a time, Joe might have backed down when it came to a relationship with Kristin. But this was different. He wouldn’t bow out of his son’s life. Not now. Not ever.

      Kristin and her father had better brace themselves, because Joe Davenport was going to be a father to his son.

      And he would fight whoever got in the way.

       Chapter Three

       K ristin knew Joe meant to be a part of Bobby’s life, but she hadn’t expected him to show up at the front door on his next off-duty day, wearing a white T-shirt, a pair of faded jeans and a smile that battered the wall she’d built around her heart.

      “I came to see Bobby,” he said.

      She fought the urge to look over her shoulder, to see who had seen him at the door. But she didn’t dare peek; she didn’t really need to. Her father’s room was on the backside of the house, and he was busy on the Internet this morning, dabbling with his online stock purchases.

      Besides, as a fireman, Joe’s interest in Bobby seemed reasonable. Her father couldn’t find any fault in that.

      “I’d like to take Bobby to the station and introduce him to some of the guys. You know, let him see the equipment. Get a private tour.”

      When he flashed her another crooked smile, she couldn’t help but relax. Somewhat.

      For some crazy reason, she wished she’d known he was coming so that she could’ve run a comb through her hair, put on some lipstick.

      But Joe had come to see Bobby, not her. And she had no business primping for her old lover. Not when she’d already been burned by him and his change of heart. And not when she had a commitment to someone else.

      Kristin called her son, and moments later Bobby came bounding downstairs.

      “Uh-oh.” The little boy slowed his steps when he laid eyes on the off-duty fireman on the stoop. “I haven’t been playing with the lighter anymore.”

      “That’s good,” Joe said. “I came by to talk to you about fire safety and doing me and the guys down at the station a favor.”

      “You want me to do a favor for you?” Bobby’s eyes grew wide. “Sure. What is it?”

      “We’d like you to represent the fire department while you’re at school. You know, by telling the kids about the dangers of playing with matches and lighters. After all, you’ve seen what happens when a fire gets out of hand.”

      Bobby broke into a full-on grin. “Cool.”

      “Of course, I’d make you a Junior Fire Marshal,” Joe said, “so the kids know you’ve been trained and certified by the department.”

      “That’s way cool.” Bobby made his way to the front door and gazed at the man he didn’t realize was his daddy with such admiration, such awe, such respect, that Kristin had to swallow a lump in her throat and blink back tears.

      Joe shot a glance at her. “If it’s all right with your mom, I’d like to take you down to the station this morning.”

      A part of her wanted to hold Bobby tight, to keep him away from his father. To keep the future from unfolding without her. But she couldn’t say no.

      The idea of those two peas in a pod taking off without her didn’t sit well, though. She’d love to witness their first father-son experience and longed to see them together, to watch their reactions. But she’d better conjure an excuse other than the truth.

      “I’ve never had an official tour of a fire station,” she said, trying to make

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