Peggy Moreland - Baby, You're Mine

Scowling, he snatched the wallet from her hand. “It’s a couple of years old. I’ve changed.”

She cocked her head, amused by his embarrassment. “Actually, I was thinking the picture was quite flattering. You look…friendlier.”

He shot her a dark scowl, then jerked a chair from the table and sat down. “Are you going to make coffee, or what?”

“Of course.” She headed for the coffeemaker, but stole a glance at him over her shoulder, fearing she’d insulted him with her comment. “I’m sorry if what I said about your photo offended you.”

“You had questions,” he said tersely.

Reminded of them, she pulled a canister from the cupboard and measured grounds. “Yes. Quite a few, in fact.”

“So let’s hear ’em.”

She switched on the coffeemaker, then crossed to sit opposite him at the table. “Where did Renee live?”

“You don’t know?”

“No. I haven’t had any contact with my sister in over five years.”

Though she sensed that he wanted to quiz her about that, he said instead, “Killeen.”

“Killeen,” she repeated, amazed to discover that Renee had lived a mere three-hour drive from Dallas. “You said that you didn’t know her.”

“No. Never even heard of her until Maggie showed up with the kid.”

“Which is your father’s?”

“Yeah,” he muttered, his expression turning sour.

“And he and Renee never married?”

He snorted. “That wasn’t his style.”

“You sound as if your father was involved in…paternity situations before.”

He arched a brow. “More than I was obviously aware of.”

She frowned thoughtfully, wondering what Renee would have seen in a man old enough to be her father, then rose to pour them both a cup of coffee. When she returned to the table, she pushed a cup toward him, then closed her hands around hers, needing the warmth.

“How did she die?”

He took a sip. “Something to do with the birth. I don’t know the details. Maggie could probably tell you, though.”

“Maggie,” she repeated. “The friend. You said she’s your brother’s wife?”

“Yeah. Though that’s recent. A couple of days ago, in fact. Ace hired her to take care of the baby, then they up and married.”

“They fell in love?” she asked in surprise.

He grimaced at the question. “I guess. If there is such a thing. They seem suited. They’re both nuts about the kid. Hell,” he said, tossing up a hand. “Come and see for yourself.”

Her eyes rounded. “What?”

“Come to Tanner’s Crossing with me. See the kid. Meet Ace and Maggie and my other brothers.”

The thought of going to Tanner’s Crossing and coming face to face with her sister’s past terrified her. What kind of person had Renee become? Would the baby look like Renee? Would Elizabeth be able to let her niece go once she saw her, held her in her arms?

She swallowed hard. “I’ll need to pack a bag.”

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