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my safety won’t be an issue once I prove that William is my son. Both he and I will be safe then.”
    Nick wouldn’t bet on that.
    Since this visit was getting more uncomfortable in just about every way possible, he held up the test kit with William’s DNA sample. It was clearly labeled to prevent a mix-up with the other kits.
    She stared at it a moment before she tossed her paint rag on the lamp table and took it from him. “Is that what I think it is?”
    “Yes.” Nick didn’t add more. He let her take the lead.
    “Wow.” She flexed her eyebrows. “I would have liked to have been a fly on the wall when you finally made the decision to go through with this.”
    “It would have been a very boring event to witness.” The battle had all been within. He could say the same about the particular battle he was fighting now. All within. Well, except for that blink.
    “No gnashing of teeth?” she asked.
    He shrugged. “Maybe some. But I figured this was the fastest way to disprove your allegation.”
    “Ah, so you’re back to thinking I’m a liar. Of course, ‘disprove your allegation’ sounds so much more civil, doesn’t it?”
    “I thought so,” Nick said, playing along with her sarcasm. He extracted the blank, sterile kits, as well. “One is for you. The other is for Joseph.”
    She eyed the vials much as she’d eyed him at the ranch. As if they were deadly. In so many ways, they could be.
    Kelly didn’t waste any time. She opened one kit and wiped the swab on the inside of her cheek. She placed it back in the vial and used a pen from the drawer to label it. “I’ll take a sample from Joseph as soon as he wakes up from his nap.”
    So, the baby was there at the house. Nick didn’t know if that was good or bad. He’d prepared himself for either and knew no amount of mental preparation would help him for what he might face.
    She carefully placed the test kits on the table. “I’m trying really hard not to be terrified of you, but I’m failing. You scare the heck out of me.”
    Her honesty had a way of breaking down his defenses. Not good. He couldn’t allow that. “Terror isn’t always a bad thing. My reputation—”
    “I didn’t mean your reputation as a ruthless, cutthroat businessman. I’m talking about Joseph.” Kelly moistened her lips and took in a quick breath. “Despite my need to learn the truth about the swap, I’m sick with fear over the possibility of losing Joseph.”
    But that was all she said about what she was feeling. As far as she allowed the emotion to go. Another breath. Another moistening of her lips. Another flex of her eyebrows. And the display of emotions was over. She tucked them neatly away much as she did the stray blond lock of hair that she lifted off her cheek and slid behind her ear.
    “So, what juicy things did the bald guy find out about me?” she asked.
    Nick chose his answer carefully. “Cooper was thorough, as he always is.”
    “You did it again. You evaded the question.”
    She smiled. It was laced with nerves, but it still lit up her whole face. He felt another quick punch of lust. Fortunately for him, the smile faded as quickly as it’d come. Obviously, she too remembered there was little about their situation that warranted a smile.
    “Let’s see. If he was thorough, as he always is, then you know I was raised by my aunt because my parents died when I was a kid,” she went on. “That wouldn’t have necessarily reinforced the concerns you have about my potential criminal tendencies. But the two-day stay in the psych ward would have given you a few troubled moments.”
    Surprised by her stark honesty, Nick nodded. “A few.”
    She leaned forward a little. “I don’t owe you this, but I’ll tell you, anyway. It happened. I could provide you with a lengthy recount of why, when and where, but I’m sure you already know the when and where parts.”
    “And I guessed the why. ”
    “Yes, I’ll bet you did.” She paused and glanced at the