Natural Born Daddy Read Online Free PDF

man.
    â€œShame to go through life without a daddy,” Harlan observed.
    Jordan regarded him intently. There was no mistaking that his father had a point to make. “Meaning?”
    â€œJust what I said,” he insisted, sounding a little too innocent. “A child deserves two parents. Of course, a situation like that is all wrong for a man like you.”
    â€œNow what’s your point?” Jordan’s voice contained a lethal warning note.
    â€œJust that I understand you. You’re not looking for some country gal and a ready-made family. I’ve seen your type, glossy, sophisticated, like that…what’s her name?”
    â€œRexanne,” Jordan supplied automatically, used to his father’s refusal to get the names of the women in his life straight.
    â€œRight,” he said. “Now she’s the perfect wife for a big oil tycoon.”
    Jordan was beginning to wonder exactly how much his father knew about his broken engagement. It seemed to him that the digs were a little too pointedfor him not to have heard about it. He’d always despised Rexanne, just as he had every other woman Jordan had brought to White Pines. His sudden defense of her was clearly part of some Machiavellian scheme of his. He’d probably been on the phone to Ginger during the week and gotten an earful about his son’s social life—or sudden lack thereof.
    â€œI’m afraid Rexanne is out of the picture,” Jordan said tersely.
    Harlan tried for a sympathetic look, but the effort was downright pitiful. There was a gleam of pure satisfaction in his eyes. “Sorry, son,” he said without much sincerity.
    â€œShe was the wrong choice. I’ll get over it.” Sooner than anyone imagined, if he had his way about it.
    â€œIt’s not surprising, then, that you were over to visit Kelly last night. She always has had a sympathetic ear, especially where you’re concerned.”
    â€œWe weren’t lamenting my love life last night,” Jordan said.
    Curiosity blossomed on his father’s transparent features. “Oh?”
    â€œWe were just…talking,” he finally concluded weakly, unwilling to broach the actual subject matter of their conversation. Once Harlan got that particular bit in his teeth, there’d be no controlling his efforts at manipulation.
    â€œJust don’t go letting her get the wrong idea now, son. You said yourself, she’s been through a lot. No point in getting her hopes up now that you’re on the rebound. No telling what a woman might do when a man is vulnerable. They can be downright sneaky when they’re out to get their hooks into a man.”
    â€œThere’s nothing the least bit sneaky or underhanded about Kelly,” Jordan snapped.
    â€œIf you say so, son. You certainly know the woman better than I do.”
    Jordan didn’t think he liked the direction this conversation was heading. Any minute now his father was going to say something truly offensive about Kelly and he would leap to her defense. There was no telling what would happen after that. His mother would probably find them tussling on the dining room floor.
    He tossed his napkin down on the table and stood. “I’ve got to get out of here.”
    â€œGoing for a ride?” his father inquired, his expression perfectly innocent.
    â€œYes,” he said tightly, and slammed out of the house.
    Only much, much later did he wonder what he would have seen if he’d looked back. He had the strangest feeling he would have caught a complacent smile spreading across his father’s face.
    * * *
    With Dani visiting a friend for the day, Kelly had spent the entire morning checking on her livestock and inspecting her fences. Of course, given her state of distraction an entire section of fence could have been down and it would have slipped her notice. Fortunately the ranch hand she’d been able to afford just a month ago had been