LITMIR.BIZ

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      “That was never the issue, Jacob—”

      “Then what was?” A really deep breath helped him lower his voice. It kept rising without his permission. Control. He needed control. “What was the issue, KC? Because I can’t imagine one big enough that you told yourself it was okay to deceive me. To keep my son a secret from me.”

      Her arms crossed over her ribs, pushing those delectable breasts higher in the tank top. Something he shouldn’t notice right now. At all.

      “I did not deceive you. I never lied. I was going to tell you. I just hadn’t figured out how.”

      “So he’s three months old?”

      “Yes, a week ago.”

      “So at any time in the past twelve months you could have picked up the phone. Or hell, just answered the phone when I called.”

      “I was afraid to. Going away just seemed the safest thing until I was sure what to do.”

      Jacob was surprised by the low rumble of his voice. “Safe? How? What the hell would safety have to do with it? I would never hurt you.”

      “I know that, Jacob, but it wasn’t—”

      The emotional roller coaster of the night caught up with him, pushing him past reasonable thought. “Know what? It doesn’t matter. Fact is, you deprived me of three months of knowing my—son,” he choked out. “Not a note, a card or a call. Hell, not even a text. By the way, I’m pregnant. That’s all it would have taken, KC, but you didn’t even have the decency to do that.”

      He’d made himself available, chased after her like a dog with no sense, and this was what he got for it.

      He came even closer until he loomed over her petite frame. “So now, I’ll have what I want.”

      He wished her deep breath didn’t draw his gaze downward. The low-level buzz of desire beneath his anger made him want to curse. He should not be attracted to a woman who could betray him. But he couldn’t help it.

      “Jake, please let me explain.”

      He refused to look in those turbulent eyes again. “Too late. No talking. No thinking. Now I will act.”

      She straightened, bracing her spine, which was just as well.

      “Carter will come home.”

      Her jaw clenched. “He is home.”

      “My home.” Some sick part of him took pleasure in the panic creeping over her features. “He’s a Blackstone. He should be with his family.”

      She swallowed hard. “Jacob, please don’t do this.”

      “Mark my words, KC. I will make you regret what you’ve done. I promise.”

      * * *

      As soon as he’d stormed out of her house, KC began to dread the moment Jacob would act on his threat. The longer she waited, the more her stomach hurt.

      She knew she’d made a bad choice, but given the circumstances, she thought she’d done the best she could. Waiting until James Blackstone was dead to tell Jacob about Carter had seemed like the safest option for protecting her baby, along with her family. In the absence of a reliable husband or father, her mother had given her all to raising and providing for KC and her brother. KC had felt that pull of loyalties every day that she’d been away, but in the end, she’d chosen to take care of the women who had raised her. Her mother and grandmother would have no defense against James Blackstone if he’d retaliated by taking away their livelihood on a whim.

      But Jacob didn’t believe her, because he was acting on emotion, not facts.

      How did she get him to listen to those facts now? She knew James’s lawyer, Canton, could work all kinds of voodoo if he wanted. Was Jacob even now making arrangements to take her baby from her? The thought shook her deeper than any of the rest. Not just for the typical mommy reason: being away from her child for more than a day was more than she could handle right now. But Jacob was essentially an unknown as a parent.

      Would he expose their child to the same rejection and abandonment she’d been subjected to as a child? In her experience, fathers didn’t know the meaning of commitment. But she’d been luckier than her brother. Her father had hung around until she was eight. Her older brother had never really known his.

      After stewing for the rest of the morning, she decided she couldn’t wait for Jacob to make the first move. Jacob wasn’t answering his cell, which scared her all the more. When she called Blackstone Manor directly, the old butler answered. She’d spoken to Nolen a few times before when she’d called to talk to her friend Christina, who’d married Jacob’s brother. Nolen was helpful, telling her that Jacob had said something about going to Booties ʼn’ Bunting.

      Panic and anger had surged in KC’s gut. Booties ʼn’ Bunting was the only exclusive baby boutique in town. Jacob had the money to do all the things she couldn’t. She’d bought all her baby furniture and clothes at Walmart. He’d have designer diapers and the best furniture, not to mention the best lawyer when it came down to a fight.

      She’d made the mistake; now it was up to her to ensure that it didn’t turn into a brawl.

      KC’s stomach twisted into knots as she drove across Black Hills. Whipping her little Honda into Booties ʼn’ Bunting’s parking lot, she jumped out of the car and plowed down the sidewalk, not letting herself remember just how little she belonged in the boutique district, much less in a store selling fifty-dollar baby onesies. Jacob’s Tahoe parked out front confirmed that he was here. No doubt arming himself with everything he needed to take her child away.

      She let herself in with her head held high and tracked down her prey, standing next to the most gorgeous crib she’d ever seen.

      “What do you think you’re doing?”

      Jacob faced her with surprise lightening his face. For a split second, KC saw the man she’d wanted more than anything. Then a mocking grin slid across his lips.

      “Could you give us a minute, please?” Jacob asked the saleswoman. Until that moment, KC hadn’t even noticed her on the other side of the crib. The woman turned quietly and walked to the back of the store before Jacob continued, “What does it look like, KC? I’m outfitting the nursery at Blackstone Manor.”

      Oh, no, he wasn’t. “You don’t need any of this stuff, Jacob, because Carter is not coming to live with you.”

      “And what makes you say that?”

      “This isn’t just about you, Jake. You need to think about what’s best for Carter.”

      “I am. I have the means to provide my son with everything he needs. Unlike you.”

      Hurt streaked through her, but she pushed it deep down under her growing anger. “Really? Can you give him love? Can you comfort him? Can you guide him? Or are you planning on using your money to turn that job over to a nanny so you can go about your perfectly planned days?”

      His narrowed eyes should have had her shaking, but she refused to back down. Her son’s future was at stake. She didn’t want to hurt Jacob, but how else could she get through to him? “One thing I can say with certainty is that I can provide him those things. You, I’m not so sure about.”

      Not waiting to give him a chance to outthink her, she pushed forward. Crowding into Jacob’s space, she said, “You want Carter to come live with you? I understand why you would. I don’t blame you for that.” Her breath caught for a moment. “And I don’t blame you for not trusting me, but I’m not turning my son over to just anyone.”

      “Oh, you don’t have to turn him over,” Jacob said, his voice deepening as if he had gravel in his throat. “You can come, too. I’m sure I could find a...use...for you.”

      Strike number two. How many body shots did he plan to take? Because

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