Sara Orwig - The Wedding Wager - Dakota Daddy

“We’ll work this out to everyone’s satisfaction. You’ll see.”

“It would be miraculous if it happened. I just don’t see how.”

He moved away and got his cell phone out of his pocket to make calls. She left him to get ready for the trip home, carrying her bag to the front door and sitting on the veranda to wait.

“Tell me about Ethan, and remember, I want a picture. I’d like to see your scrapbooks about him,” Jared said as they flew home.

“Of course,” she said, “although most of the scrapbooks and that sort of thing are in Santa Fe, not South Dakota.”

“When I come to Santa Fe, I’ll see what you keep there.”

“Jared, you may find you don’t want the responsibility of a child,” she said, receiving a stormy glance and feeling their clash of wills that had returned full force.

“If you’re counting on that, you might as well forget it. I’m going to try my damnedest to get along with my son and be a father to him.”

“That’s different than being a chum.”

“I know that much. How soon will you get him home from your uncle’s house?”

“I’ll drive to Sioux Falls when we get back. I called while I was waiting for you,” she said. “I told them I would pick him up today and take him to the ranch. You can come tomorrow.”

“Did he mind the change in plans?”

“No. You said it yourself—kids adapt. He’s looking forward to seeing me, and I’ll be glad to see him. This has made me miss him twice as much.”

Jared nodded and reached over to take her hand. “Thanks for what you’re doing. I know you don’t want to, but it’s inevitable and much better this way, when you smooth the introduction. Anything we can do to make this transition easier will be better for Ethan, and I appreciate it.”

“I might as well try to do things the best way for him,” she responded, aware of her hand in Jared’s, his dark eyes resting on her.

“I still want you,” he said, sliding his hand behind her head and leaning forward to kiss her long and slowly.

She kept reminding herself to resist him, but she kissed him back instead. And each kiss forged a tighter bond, would be a bigger heartbreak and more of a struggle for her.

He raised his head. “Stop fighting me, Meg. You want this, too.”

“No, I don’t. I will contend with you as long as you kiss and flirt.” She withdrew her hand from his. He stretched out his long legs and crossed them at the ankles.

“Tell me about Ethan,” he said.

They talked about Ethan over a light lunch, and then Jared tried to charm and entertain her the rest of the way home with stories from his life.

Finally, she told him good-bye and headed to the ranch, anxious to see Ethan. And she wished with all her heart she didn’t have to face her son and tell him that his real father wasn’t who he’d thought all these years, but another man—one he had met only recently and briefly.

That evening, she pulled her son onto her lap. He was big enough that his legs dangled almost to the floor, but not quite. “Ethan, I want to talk to you about something important.”

Thursday morning Megan opened the door and stepped back to let Jared enter. For the first time since he was in his early twenties, he was nervous. He held a package in his hand wrapped in plain gray paper. He also had a junior-size football and a paper sack. Even with all his thoughts on the event ahead, he noticed Megan. He wished they’d stayed at his Yucatán home another day or more, because he wanted more nights with her, and he’d already missed her badly. It was a surprise that he would want her with him so much because he had thought he was over her and she would no longer be so important to him. She had her hair in a braid today and she wore tight jeans, a green T-shirt and boots.

“I left my things in the car. I can get them later,” Jared said and she nodded. “He’s okay with all this?” Jared asked.

“Yes,” she answered. Her eyes were wide, a clear turquoise, and she looked pale and somber. “He’s curious and I think he likes the idea of having a dad, but he’s shy.”

“Where is he?”

“He’s waiting in the family room. Jared, after I introduce you, I’m going to leave the two of you to get acquainted. I may go riding. It’s a pretty June day and he likes to play outside, so that’s good. You can take him out or you can stay in the family room. If you want to call, I’ll have my cell phone. I’ll stay out of the way for the next two hours.”

He nodded. “That’s great, Megan. I want to take both of you to dinner tonight.”

“Thanks, but I already have steaks. We’ll eat here and it’ll be easier.”

They entered the family room and he saw Ethan dressed in jeans and a T-shirt. He sat on the sofa playing with toy cars. As soon as they walked into the room, Ethan assessed him with a mixture of shyness and curiosity. He stood and waited.

“Ethan, this is Jared Dalton. You met in town last week. He’s your real father. I told you about him.”

Jared held out his hand to shake Ethan’s. “I brought you a present.”

“Before you open it, Ethan,” Megan said, “I told you earlier, I’m going to leave so you and Jared can get to know each other. I have my cell phone and you know how to call me. I’ll be back after a while.” She leaned down and he ran to her, holding up his arms and she swung him up to hug and kiss him. He held her tightly until she leaned away to set him on his feet. “Be a good boy.”

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