The Secret Truth at Dare Ranch Read Online Free PDF Page B

nails while she waited for her reaction.
    "You
are?" A mixture of confusion and wonder blanketed her face.
    "Yeah.
How do you feel about that?"
    Dani
took a bite of her pork chop, chewed then swallowed. "I don’t know. Does
this mean you and my mommy will get married?"
    She
should have seen this question coming but it hit Lexie broadside. Of course
Dani would think this. How could she not?
    Mitch
cleared his throat and shifted in his chair. Dani’s eyes stayed glued to Mitch’s
face waiting for him to answer. "Your mom and I are just friends. Two
people usually get married when--"
    When
they're in love, Lexie thought as regret racked her insides. She wanted to
bundle Dani in cotton wool to protect her from the disappointment of not seeing
her parents get married.
    Dani
jerked up straight in her chair. "When people have children they’re ‘sposed
to be married. It’s the law," she said staring him in the eye.
    Mitch’s
mouth eased into a brief smile then faded. He looked spooked, ready to bolt like
a horse shying away from something unexpected. Uncomfortable with the idea
of marriage and family, Mitch? I’ll bet.  
    Despite
her perverse enjoyment at watching Mitch squirm, Lexie couldn't leave him
twisting in the wind. Besides, Dani's feelings were at stake and she needed to
make her understand. "Grownups like to think about things first,"
Lexie added.
    Dani’s
little brow furrowed in concentration, her lips pursed. She dropped her chin,
batted her lashes and looked up at Mitch, a hopeful glint in her gray-green
eyes. Her mouth curved in a smile. "Will you get me a baby sister?"
    # # #
    An
hour later, with the dishes cleared away and Dani settled up in her room, Mitch
sat on the back porch. Cool evening air washed clean by the afternoon rainstorm
wafted through the screens surrounding the porch.
    He
rubbed his palms over his thighs. He was a father. A chill swept through him.
His gut twisted. A cold sweat popped out on his brow. He was glad he knew about
Dani, but at the same time he knew having a family brought a major risk that he
never planned to take.
    Lexie
strolled onto the porch and sat down on a rocker beside him.
    "I
still can't believe she's mine," he said. Mitch glanced at Lexie. "I’d
like Dani to have my name."
    "I'm
sure she’ll have no objection.” Her voice was cool.
    She
stared straight ahead not looking at him. With her right foot she pushed
against the light gray floor and rocked back and forth.
    "Do you have an objection?"
    Lexie
stopped rocking, turned her head. Her eyes were full of uncertainty. "You’re
thinking only about yourself, Mitch. What about Dani? One day her name is Dare
and the next it’s Quinn. How will she explain that to her friends and the kids
at school? Children can be very cruel. It’s obvious you know nothing about them."
She bolted from her chair.
    He
gritted his teeth and clenched his jaw. When she'd allowed him to tell Dani he
was her father, Lexie's acquiescence had been unexpected. He was grateful to
her for that but if she'd told him about her pregnancy in the beginning, he
wouldn't have had to introduce himself to his own daughter. "I know
nothing about kids because you didn’t bother to tell me about Dani."
    Lexie
whirled and glared at him. "I couldn't tell you. My father threatened to
ruin you and Judson and disown me," she shouted. "I cared about you,
Mitch.” The harsh tone in her voice softened. "I still do."
    Mitch
pushed out of his chair and walked over to her. He didn't believe her for a
minute. "Is that why I found you in Jake Ellis's arms less than two days
after we made love? Because you cared so much?"
    Even
as her face blanched, Lexie threw her hands up in the air then let them fall to
her sides. "Fine, believe whatever you want. You don’t deserve to know the
truth.” Her words grated through the air.
    "I
know what I saw.”
    "You
know nothing," Lexie snapped. She crossed her arms over her chest. "But
let’s put that aside for the moment. How do