Daddy Wanted

“You are a good investigator.” He sat back in his seat and stared out at the long dusty strip of road in front of them. “She was a friend of the family and we’d dated since we were in college. It just seemed as if we were together for all the wrong reasons. There was no…”

“Passion?” Jennifer asked.

Ryan nodded. “Yeah. Passion.”

Silence spun between them as the scenery sped by. In truth, he’d seen more passion and excitement in a few hours with Jennifer Rodriguez than he’d seen the entire time he’d been with Elise. With Jennifer, life was a series of surprises. He never knew what to expect or how she’d react. And though he’d always assumed he wanted a woman who was prudent and restrained, when he was with Jennifer, he felt more alive than he’d ever felt in his life.

Perhaps it had been the upheaval, the uncertainty that had changed his perspective. His life had been so orderly, so predictable. He knew who he was and where he was going. But since he’d learned the secrets of his birth, he didn’t feel like Ryan Madison anymore.

He glanced over at the beautiful woman sitting beside him, tendrils of hair whipping around her face, her lips curled in an impish smile. She glanced his way, then laughed, pressing her foot to the floor, the car accelerating smartly.

Ryan chuckled and tipped his face up to the intense afternoon sun. For the first time in his life, he felt completely free, unencumbered by expectations—his own and his family’s. He was a man with no past and an uncertain future, but the prospect of not knowing what was around the next corner didn’t bother him in the least.

Whatever had brought about the change, whether it was Jennifer herself or the news she’d revealed, didn’t matter. He was beginning to like the new Ryan Madison.

* * *

THEY PULLED INTO El Paso right on schedule. They’d stopped at Red Bluff Lake, and a few other towns along the way. Jennifer was beginning to realize that from now on, the baby would prevent these marathon drives. She had to go to the bathroom at least once every hour and there hadn’t always been a bathroom available. Squatting on the edge of the road had been a necessity, lightened only by Ryan’s good-natured teasing. She made a note to take the interstate home.

Compared with the flat landscape around Midland-Odessa, El Paso was like an oasis. Set on the Rio Grande and split by the Franklin Mountains, it had first been a huge cattle ranch before the railroads brought people and prosperity. On the other side of the river in Mexico was El Paso’s twin city, Ciudad Juárez. She steered the car toward the west side of town, to the lovely neighborhoods built around the Rio Grande Country Club.

The anticipation of seeing her family always brought a rush of excitement. But it was different this time. For all she knew, this might be her last visit. Once her parents learned of the baby, they might kick her out of the family. She looked over at Ryan. “Are you ready for this?”

He reached across and tangled his fingers in the hair at the nape of her neck. “As ready as I’ll ever be. I’ll just follow your lead, and if I say anything wrong, just give me a sign.”

She turned into a subdivision of spacious homes set on large lots and followed the winding streets. When she finally stopped near a sprawling hacienda-style home with melon-colored stucco and a red-tile roof, she drew a deep breath. The sound of music drifted from the backyard on the still air and cars filled the driveway and the surrounding street. No doubt the celebration had begun. “I’m not sure I’m ready for this,” she murmured.

Ryan leaned over and forced her gaze to his. “You have to do this, Jen. What are they going to say five months from now when you walk in the front door with a newborn?”

“You’re right,” she said, warmed by the familiar use of her name. She couldn’t recall hearing him say her name before and she liked the sound of it on his lips.

He smiled, then pressed a quick kiss to her cheek. “Here, I have something for you.” Ryan reached in his pocket and withdrew a small velvet-covered box, then held it out to Jennifer.

“Ryan, what have you done?” she said, snatching the box from his fingers and flipping it open. Inside, a lovely solitaire diamond sparkled in a simple platinum setting. “Oh, no, what have you done?”

“Don’t worry. I had big credit at the jewelry store. After Elise threw her ring back in my face, the store wouldn’t give me my money back. So, I guess you could consider it a freebie.”

She slipped it on her finger. In another, less pregnant time, it would have fit perfectly. But as she pushed it over her swollen knuckle, she wondered if she’d get it off again. Jennifer stared down at the diamond, twinkling in the light of the late-afternoon sun. “Thank you,” she said. Then with a soft laugh, she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him hard. “This will be perfect. I’ll just wear the ring, and when they notice, we’ll tell them.”

When she finally drew back, her gaze met his. He stared down into her eyes for a long moment. As if drawn by an invisible force, their lips came together in a kiss so exquisitely soft and perfect that it took Jennifer’s breath away. She didn’t want it to end, the flood of sensation racing through her body like an addictive drug, calming her nerves yet setting them on edge at the same time.

He furrowed his hands through her hair and molded his mouth to hers, deepening the kiss. Desire warmed her blood and she melted into his arms, wishing that the kiss might go on forever. But a few moments later, he drew back and his gaze skimmed her face.

Her hands clutched at the front of his shirt. “What was that for?” she asked, her voice barely audible, her lips damp from his kiss.

“That was for luck,” Ryan said, leaning back into his seat.

“Maybe we should just turn around and drive back to Odessa,” she suggested.

Ryan gave her hand a squeeze. “We’ll get through this.”

With that, Jennifer gathered her resolve and opened her car door. Ryan did the same, then grabbed their bags from the back seat and followed her up to the house. But just as she put her hand on the doorknob, the door swung open in front of her.

Maria screamed and launched herself into Jennifer’s arms. “Mamá, Papi, Jenny is here!” She pulled her sister inside and Jennifer was swallowed up by her family’s greetings. Her brother, Joe, shouted at her from across the foyer and Teresa wriggled through the oncoming crowd of aunts and uncles and cousins to hug her legs. Linda followed close behind and picked Teresa up so that she could kiss Jennifer on the cheek.

As the crowd moved toward the kitchen, where they were sure to find Carmen and Diego, Jennifer looked over her shoulder and sent Ryan a pleading look. “Wait there,” she mouthed.

When she’d finally run the gauntlet of kisses and hugs from all the relatives, she made her way to her parents and hugged them both. Her father was a bear of a man, strong and solid, full of the same passion and spontaneity that Jennifer possessed. Her mother was the opposite, cool and controlled, a patrician woman who held her children to strict standards.

“Niña,” her father shouted, gathering her in his arms. “Your mother says you’ve brought a young man home. Where is he? He wasn’t scared off already, was he?”

“He’s waiting in the foyer, Papi,” she said, ignoring his good-natured teasing.

Her mother drew a dramatic breath and smoothed her silver-gray hair. “Well, Diego, let us go meet the boy.” She grabbed her husband’s arm and started toward the front of the house, giving Jennifer no choice but to hurry after them. Her parents stopped short when they saw Ryan standing in the spacious foyer, bags surrounding him.

Carmen nodded curtly, her gaze raking Ryan shrewdly. “Bienvenido. Welcome to our home.”

Jennifer quickly stepped around them and took her place at Ryan’s side. “Mamá, Papi, I’d like you to meet my…friend, Ryan Madison. Ryan, these are my parents, Carmen and Diego Rodriguez.”

As the three of them exchanged pleasantries, Jennifer chided herself inwardly. What a wimp she was! Why not just introduce him as her fiancé and get that out of the way? She’d have been halfway there after barely walking in the door. She twisted the ring around on her finger until the diamond was cradled in her palm.

“Mr. and Mrs. Rodriguez, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you,” Ryan said, reaching out to shake their hands. “Jennifer has told me so much about you.”

“Funny, she hasn’t told us a thing about you,” Carmen murmured, grudgingly impressed with his easy charm and impeccable manners but still reserving judgment for later.

“Carmen, haven’t you forgotten something?” Diego teased.

Jennifer’s mother looked over at her husband. “And what is that?”

“You’ve forgotten to tell Jennifer she hasn’t been eating.” He turned to Ryan and chuckled. “It’s part of their little ritual. Carmen tells Jennifer she’s too skinny and Jennifer tells Carmen that she eats plenty. Jennifer tells Carmen to mind her own business and Carmen tells Jennifer to mind her elders.”

“Well, I didn’t say anything because Jennifer looks fine. In fact, she looks as if she has gained weight.” Carmen nodded. “You look healthy, niña.”

Jennifer sent Ryan a sideways glance and he returned a reassuring smile. “Actually, Mamá, I have gained a few pounds.” She slipped her hand around Ryan’s arm. “And I’m sure you have lots of things prepared to fatten me up even more.”

“Come along, then, Ryan,” Carmen ordered. “We will introduce you to the family and get you both something to eat.”

They followed a few steps behind her parents. “Coward,” Ryan whispered.

“Don’t rush me,” she muttered. “All in good time.”

But as they were both drawn in to the whirl of the barbecue, the right time never seemed to appear. Jennifer tried to keep an eye on Ryan as she mingled with the guests. He’d found a friend in her eight-year-old sister, Teresa, who dragged him from spot to spot in the backyard, introducing him to curious relatives and showing off her special hiding places. Like Jennifer as a child, Teresa was a tomboy and preferred to spend her time up trees or crouched behind bushes, knees muddied and hair tangled.

When they finally met up near the edge of the swimming pool, Jennifer felt compelled to apologize. “I know this is a little overwhelming. There have to be at least a hundred people here.”

“It’s quite a celebration,” Ryan said, casually slipping his arm around her waist as he stared out at the boisterous crowd. “Are they all relatives?”

“Relatives and friends. Some are Maria’s padrinos—her sponsors. They help pay for the quinceañera celebration, at least in spirit, since Papi won’t let them pay for anything big. They contribute little things like the bouquet for the Virgin Mary and the souvenirs for the guests and Maria’s crown and ring. They also give her the capias and the capia doll.”