His Secret Child Read Online Free PDF Page B

be grateful to him for marrying me and giving your son a father. "But, no, I'm not in love with him."
    "Mmm. So, if Mike can find me a car, would you be interested in helping me fix it up?"
    "Me? I don't think so. But I'm sure, if the price is right, Mike will help you."
    "Why not you?"
    Caleb studied Sheila Vance closely. A slight pink flush stained her cheeks. He grinned. His blatant survey obviously embarrassed her.
    She was as different from Donna Fields as an oak tree from a red maple. Donna was breathtaking, colorful and delicately feminine. Sheila was strength and simplicity and looked like the type of woman who could plow a field, fight off a band of renegade natives and give birth—all in the same day.
    "Let's just say that I'm not interested, okay?" She had no intention of being one of Caleb Bishop's pastimes while he was visiting Crooked Oak. She wasn't going to volunteer to amuse him for the next couple of weeks, until Donna got back from England or until some other pretty girl caught his eye.
    "You're a hard-hearted woman, Sheila Vance."
    "I'm a—"
    "Hey, Mom. Practice was great. Pat said I'm going to be the Bulldogs's star pitcher this year." Danny Vance raced into the office, a wide, warm smile, identical to his father's, spread across his face.
    Sheila's heart missed a beat. Damn, she'd lost track of time. Why hadn't she remembered that Pat Lawley was going to drop Danny by the garage after Little League practice today?
    "Did he? That's wonderful, Danny." Sheila forced a smile to her lips. Well, the inevitable had happened. Caleb and Danny were in the same room together. And strangely enough, the world hadn't come to an end. Yet.
    "So, this must be your son," Caleb said.
    "Yes, this is Danny." Sheila grasped her child's shoulders and turned him around to meet the one man on earth she'd assumed he would never meet. "Danny, this is Caleb Bishop."
    "Wow wee, Caleb Bishop!" Danny jerked out of his mother's grasp and rushed over to Caleb. "Man, this is great. Just wait till I tell the guys that I met Caleb Bishop. Right here in my mom and uncle Mike's garage. And Pat. He's a big fan of yours, too. Pat Lawley's our coach. We're the Bulldogs. You ought to come to a game. You'd—"
    "Danny, slow down," Sheila said. "You're talking Mr. Bishop to death."
    "Yeah, sorry." Danny bowed his head sheepishly. Smiling closemouth, he cut his glance in a sideways gesture she'd seen Caleb make time and again when he was being repentant. "I'd like your autograph, Mr. Bishop. I've got a brand-new ball. Do you think you could sign it for me?"
    "Call me Caleb. And I'd be glad to drop by your house any time and sign that new ball."
    "How about tonight?" Danny lifted his head and flashed Caleb a brilliant smile. "You could come to dinner. Tonight's pot roast. Mom put it in the Crock-Pot early this morning. She's a great cook and—"
    "Danny!" Sheila cautioned him again. "Mr. Bishop … Caleb may already have plans for dinner."
    The boy gazed pleadingly at the man and Sheila's heart ached for her son. A boy who missed the only father he'd ever known. A boy who had found a role model in a star athlete.
    "Sorry," Danny said.
    "As a matter of fact, I don't have any plans." Caleb clasped the boy's shoulder and smiled down at him. "And I'd love to eat some of your mama's pot roast tonight." He glanced over Danny's head and made eye contact with Sheila.
    "We eat a little later, now that Little League season has begun," she said. "Come by around six-thirty."
    "Thanks," Caleb said. "I'll go talk to Mike about finding me a car." He focused on Danny momentarily. "See you tonight, slugger."
    The moment Caleb left the office, Danny jumped up and down, screeching the way only an eleven-year-old boy could.
    "Caleb Bishop is coming to my house for dinner tonight! The Caleb Bishop. Holy cow, Mom, I'm going to be the envy of every guy at school tomorrow."
    Yes, Caleb Bishop was coming to their house for dinner tonight. And she would have to watch them