Crimes of the Heart Read Online Free PDF Page A

about you.” The unmistakable quiver in Sean’s voice pierced Devon’s heart.
    Instincts kicked in. He clasped the hand offered to him, noting how his nearly swallowed the kid’s whole. But he marveled at the strength his son possessed. My son. Reluctantly he let go of his flesh and blood.
    “Is this your cat?”
    “He sort of adopted me.”
    “Have you named him yet?”
    He chuckled. It came out rusty and strained. “I can’t seem to come up with anything he likes.” Devon turned to Jewel for help on how to converse with the child. He did a double take; she seemed as if she was going to faint dead away. “Sean, maybe you could give it a shot. And while you’re at it, do you think you could feed him some more milk?”
    Sean lifted the cat from Devon’s arms, cradled him close, and then scratched his head. “Cool. He looks like the color of charcoal or ashes. How’s Coal sound?” The feline meowed twice, giving notice of his dislike.
    “It’s one meow for yes and two for no, so I guess its back to the drawing board. Ah…the milk’s in the cooler in the kitchen.”
    “Oh, yeah.” Twisting to Jewel, he asked, “It is okay, Mom, isn’t it?”
    “Sure, honey.”
    Devon waited for Sean’s footsteps to fade before he began his line of questioning. Dawning beamed bright. So many things fell into place like the pieces of a puzzle. “He’s the reason why your old man disowned you.”
    She held up a trembling hand. “Please, can’t we do this another time? I don’t think I’m up to this right now.”
    Needing answers, he pressed her, “I’ve waited twelve years—”
    “A few more hours, or days even, won’t hurt then.”
    A needle of conscience poked his gut as she hugged herself tightly. Raking a hand through his hair, he said, “I don’t want to wait. Put yourself in my shoes, Jewel. I just found out I’m a father. Think of how I feel with all these things whirling around in my head.”
    For a brief moment, she locked gazes with him. His middle clenched at the moisture gathering on her long, dark lashes. “I’m sorry, Devon. I never meant to hurt you. Not then and not now.”
    Shockwaves rolled over him. “Then? You knew, didn’t you? You knew you were pregnant when I left and you didn’t tell me.”
    She flinched. “I suspected.”
    The betrayal she’d dealt him years ago intensified a hundred fold. “Why didn’t you say something, anything?” He didn’t wait for a reply. “You didn’t want me to know, that’s why.”
    Disgust crowded in his throat and he had all he could do not to explode. Instead, he turned abruptly, and then walked away.
    Exiting the stables, he headed toward the house. Her hurried footsteps followed him.
    A tiny hand wrapped around his bare forearm, sending delicious shivers up his spine. “Devon, wait.”
    He halted, trying to shake off the silky fingers along with the unwanted sensations coursing through his body.
    “It’s not like you think.”
    Whipping around, her clasp falling away, he asked, “No? Then tell me exactly what it was like, because, for the life of me, I can only figure I was never good enough for you.”
    Wide, violet eyes blinked in stunned wonder. “That’s not true.”
    “Then why couldn’t you tell your father about us when we first got involved?”
    “He’d have never understood. I tried later. But you wouldn’t let me.”
    “It was too late.” Devon gritted his teeth, trying to grab hold of the last vestiges of reason through the hazy fog of anger. “Even now you refuse to admit it. I didn’t have the money you loved so dearly.”
    She blanched, and then shook her head. “No,” she said as if in pain.
    “Oh, yes.” A seed of an idea sprouted in his mind. I can take care of Jewel and the son I should have been taking care of all along. And I can have everything I’ve ever wanted. Leaning close, he leveled her with a look. “But it’s all changed now. The tables have turned. I have what you want and you have what I