Shattered

“I’m sure you were,” Jack said with a grin. “And I hope you will be again.”

Kate flushed. She was only thirty, with many more childbearing years, she hoped, ahead of her. She laid a palm against Jack’s cheek, which was rough from an early five o’clock shadow, and said, “I would love having a child with you.”

“Give me four months, Kate,” he said, “and we can start to work on it.”

The kiss he gave her was soft, tender, loving. And brief. His gaze was still focused on her mouth as he said, “I’m sorry I have to break our date tonight. I’ll make it up to you. I’d better get out of here before I do something I’ll be sorry for in the morning.”

Kate knew she could tempt him. Even though Jack had said he ought to leave, he was still holding her close. It wouldn’t take much to push him over the edge. He was aroused again—or still. His dark eyes were heavy-lidded, with an avid look that made her pulse leap.

“You’d better go.” But she made no move to send him on his way.

“I love you,” he said again.

“And I love you.”

Which made what he was about to do all the more insane, Kate thought. Maybe if she told him about Shaw he would stay. But that would mean telling Jack who’d really fathered the twins. He was going to learn the truth sooner or later, and surely it would be better if he heard it from her than found out some other way.

“Jack…”

“Hmm,” he said as he nuzzled her throat.

She leaned her head back to give him better access, feeling the shiver roll down her spine as he sucked on the tender skin beneath her ear.

“I have a confession, too,” she whispered.

“Hmm,” he said, trailing kisses across her cheek, headed for her mouth.

“I…”

He caught her lower lip in his teeth and nibbled gently. She returned the favor. Soon, Kate was breathless, as desire spiraled upward through her body.

“I have to go, Kate,” he said. But he sought her mouth with his, and they were caught up once more in the pleasure of kissing and touching each other.

With the sixth sense every mother has, Kate heard the front door opening. She pulled free of Jack’s embrace and pressed a quick hand to her mouth before she turned to greet her sons with a bright smile.

“Mom, we’re home!” Lucky said as he flung the door open.

“Hi, Jack. How’s Ryan?” Chance said.

The twins had met Ryan at Christmas and talked about him often. According to Jack, Ryan had been jealous of the twins spending time with “his” father and had rebuffed their attempts at friendship at first. But before the holiday was over, the three boys had become “Best Buds.”

“Ryan’s fine,” Jack said. “In fact, I’m glad I have this chance to let you boys know I’ll be living with Ryan for the next couple of months.”

“You’re going to Kansas?” Lucky asked.

“Ryan and his mom are moving back to Texas,” Jack said. “I’m going to live with them in Houston for a little while.”

Kate held her breath, hoping Jack wouldn’t mention Holly’s pregnancy.

Chance frowned and glanced from Jack to Kate. “I thought you and Mom liked each other.”

“We did,” Jack said. “We do,” he corrected. “But Holly’s—” Jack stopped and looked at Kate, seeking guidance.

“Ryan’s mother is pregnant,” Kate explained. “Jack’s going to live in Houston to help her out until she has the baby.”

Kate waited with bated breath for one of the twins to ask how Ryan’s mother had gotten pregnant, but neither did.

“You’re coming back though, right?” Chance asked.

Jack playfully ruffled his black hair. “You bet!”

“There are chocolate chip cookies in the kitchen,” Kate said, hoping to distract her sons and prevent more awkward questions.

The twins gave a yell and headed for the kitchen.

“Be sure to leave your book bags on the counter,” she called after them. She turned to Jack and barely stopped herself from walking right back into his arms. “We’ll miss you.”

“I’ll miss all of you, too.”

Kate waited for a last kiss, a final hug. But Jack was keeping his distance. She needed to tell him about Wyatt Shaw’s ultimatum and ask for his help. “There’s something I need to talk to you about.”

“Can it wait, honey? I need to check in with my captain before I leave town and I’ve got some packing to do. We’ll have three hours to talk while I’m on the road to Houston tonight. If I don’t get out of here, I’m going to want to hold you again.” He grabbed his Stetson from the table by the door and settled it low on his forehead.

Kate was torn. Her fear of Wyatt Shaw warred with her fear of what Jack would think of her when he knew the truth. “Jack, I wish—”

“Goodbye, Kate.” He kissed her hard and walked out the door.

And ran right into Wyatt Shaw.

5

“Did my father send you here?” Wyatt snarled at Jack, as the two men faced off on Kate’s covered front porch.

“Hell, no!” Jack retorted. “What are you doing here?”

“None of your damn business,” Wyatt said.

Kate’s blood ran cold as she watched Wyatt and Jack face off like vicious junkyard dogs claiming the same territory. She was shocked by their verbal exchange, which suggested the two men knew each other.

Wyatt shot Kate a veiled look, then said to Jack, “You tell D’Amato to keep his nose out of my business.”

“Tell him yourself,” Jack said as he backed his way down her front steps, never taking his eyes off Shaw.

Kate felt like she was watching a movie in a foreign tongue with no translation under the picture. She was both confused and terrified. It seemed Wyatt thought Jack, a man wearing the uniform and badge of a Texas Ranger, took orders from his father, the mob boss. And Jack was playing along.

The explanation came to her in a flash.

Jack is on some kind of undercover assignment for the Rangers. Wyatt has seen him talking in private with D’Amato and made the assumption that Jack is on his father’s payroll.