The Texan's Tiny Dilemma

“Why would she need a—Wait just a minute! Are you implying she’s pregnant with my baby?” Roger demanded, his voice rising close to hysteria.

“Glad to see you got my meaning. Now, I’m not sure Teresa wants you in her life, and that’s her choice. But you owe her some financial support for your child.”

“But I’m not the father of her child.”

“Oh, really? How do you know?”

“I know because Teresa and I are friends. I never had sex with her.”

“You seemed pretty hot and heavy at the rehearsal dinner and wedding,” Jim reminded him.

“Yeah, because that’s what she wanted. When I tried to continue the relationship because—because I was falling for her, she refused. Said she appreciated my help, but she wasn’t ready for a relationship.”

“Would you say that if she were standing here in front of you?”

“Yeah, I would. And I’d also want to share in my child’s life, even if its mother still wasn’t interested in me. But unless the ways to get pregnant have changed to include hand-holding, I’m not the dad. That’s about as far as I’ve gone with Teresa.”

Jim frowned ferociously and Roger took a step backward. “Ask Teresa if you don’t believe me. I’m sure she didn’t tell you that I was the father!”

“She didn’t,” Jim said with a growl. What the hell had gone on last summer? And why did she ask this bozo to slobber all over her at the rehearsal and wedding? It was as if she was trying to prove that she hadn’t been hurt.

He turned, almost stumbling, and started out of the room. “Sorry,” he muttered over his shoulder.

“Hey! Wait! Did you figure out who the father is?”

“I think so. Sorry I bothered you.”

Jim got in his car and sat in the parking lot, trying to gather his thoughts.

Could it be?

He hadn’t thought—

But she’d avoided him after he’d told her he wouldn’t be seeing her anymore. That was for sure. Which meant he’d hurt her.

He hadn’t intended to. Drumming his fingers on the steering wheel, Jim thought about his reasons. As a teenager, he’d been embarrassed, humiliated by a girl who thought he was going to give her his senior ring. They had doubled with his brother and his girlfriend because his brother had asked him to. His senior year had been ruined because the girl had vilified him to everyone.

He’d vowed never to be caught in the same situation again.

Then Pete had come back home, met Tommie and the other two triplets. Somehow Jim had ended up dating Teresa. And he’d panicked as his mother kept talking about him marrying Teresa.

He’d felt he had to disassociate himself before any free choice was taken from him. He’d arranged to take Teresa to dinner one Friday night. Unfortunately, before he’d gotten up his nerve to tell her, she had acted out of character.

She’d seduced him.

Jim rubbed his face with his hands. That night had been wonderful…and horrible. He hadn’t been strong enough to resist her, probably because he’d secretly wanted her all along. But after they’d made love, he’d still told her he wouldn’t date her again.

Stupid of him.

There was no justification for what he’d done, except that he’d panicked. After having the most memorable sexual experience of his life, he’d rejected her.

But the most important question here was whether or not he was the father of her baby.

And that question had to be answered today!

Chapter Two

It only took one look from Teresa to change Jim’s plans. He wasn’t going to demand anything. Because he’d seen fear in her eyes.

“Jim! What are you doing here?” she’d asked.

What had he done to make her fear him? And if he demanded the truth now, when she already feared him, she’d never admit his role in her pregnancy.

“I wanted to come by and see you. Mind if I come in?”

“But why are you off work? It’s too early for you—”

“I worked a lot of overtime last week. I thought I’d take off early today. And I wanted to offer my services to you.”

“Your services? I don’t need any accounting help.”

He smiled, gently moving into her house as she backed away from him. “I know that. But I thought there might be some things I could do for you…like a brother.”

“A brother?” Her voice wavered and Jim didn’t know if she was going to laugh or cry.

“You know, lift things, move things. I’ll pretend to be your brother while you’re pregnant. You can call on me for anything.”

They were still standing in the entryway. Jim didn’t think he was going to get any farther into her home.

“Well, that’s very thoughtful, Jim, but—”

Suddenly, a strange look came over her face and she felt her slightly protruding stomach.

“What is it? What’s wrong? Come on, let’s sit you down. This way,” he said as he moved her into the living room toward the sofa.

“No, it’s—I’m fine. I think I just felt the baby move—for the first time!” She beamed at him.

Jim wrapped his arms around her. “You scared me to death! That’s good, isn’t it? To feel the baby move?”

She eased herself out of his hold. “Yes, I’m sure it is. I’ll ask the doctor Wednesday.”

“What time is your appointment?”

“Two o’clock.”

“What did it feel like?” Jim asked as he urged her to sit down.

She gave him a confused look. “What?”