Page 70 of A Cowboy's Trust

It was fine to say they were caring for him to let the woman get things accomplished. But Melissa didn’t seem to want him around at all.

Tansy focused back on what she was in control of, which right now was offering Jake a heartfelt answer. “Then it’s a date.”

A happy whistle sounded as Jake stole his way across the floor to give her a kiss. When he bent and tussled Jeffrey’s hair affectionately, a hint of warning struck in Tansy’s gut.

It was good things were going smoothly, but there was a line she couldn’t cross. Falling in love with Jake? Well, she was most of the way there, to be honest.

Falling in love with an adorable little boy who could never be hers?

That would be a terrible idea.

16

Before four, Jake slipped out of the barn with Jeffrey on his shoulders.

“I like the kitties, but the puppy was allwoof,and the kitties run away.” Jeffrey banged enthusiastically on Jake’s hat. “Run away, run away.”

“Easy on the hat, cowpoke,” Jake warned. “Yes, kittens are good at running and hiding. But now we’re done with kittens and you need to get cleaned up. You’ve got kitten fluff and hay all over you, and we’re headed to Tansy’s sister’s house. You wash up and put on clean clothes, okay?”

“‘Kay.” Jeffrey wiggled. “Fly me.”

It was too easy to oblige. Jake flipped the little tyke off his shoulders and proceeded to twirl Jeffrey in circles all the way to the apartment. The kid squealed and laughed the entire trip.

Melissa stood waiting on the porch, a small smile dancing on her lips as they arrived. “Someone is having a good time.”

Jeffrey nodded, squirming to be put down. He vanished into the apartment.

“I hope it’s okay, but I told Jeffrey I was taking him over to play with Tansy’s nieces and nephew tonight.” Awkwardness hit hard and fast. “I should have asked first.”

“Don’t apologize,” Melissa insisted. “I just got home, and you probably had to make plans much earlier. I wasn’t answering my phone while I was busy.”

“We did.” He looked her over. “How was your day?”

“A lot of driving, but I think it was worthwhile.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Come in for a minute.”

“Oh, I should?—”

She was already marching away from him, the door left wide open.

Jake gingerly stepped into the space that was legally his, closing the door with reluctance. “I need to get changed. If you can bring Jeffrey to the house once he’s got clean stuff on, that would be great.”

“Oh, I’m sure he’ll be ready in a minute. Then he can walk over with you.” Her eyes brightened, and she reached into her purse. “This gives us a minute alone. There’s something we need to discuss. And I need to apologize.”

That would be a first. “Apologize for what?”

“For not suggesting this right away. It might have made things go smoother between us.” She laid a piece of paper on the table and pushed it toward him. “I only want what’s best for my son.”

Jake leaned forward and scanned the official looking document quickly, not quite sure what he was seeing.

The piece of paper was an application for adjusting a birth certificate. Name: Jeffrey Drea. Birthdate: September sixth.

In the place to name the father it saidJacob Anthony Skye.

For a second, Jake couldn’t breathe. His gaze snapped up to Melissa’s. “What the hell?”

“In Alberta, there’s a thing called voluntary acknowledgment of paternity, and it doesn’t require a DNA test. So it would be simple enough to say that you’re his?—”

“It’s a lie.”