His Secret Child. BEVERLY BARTON
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just say that I’m not interested, okay?” She had no intention of being one of Caleb Bishop’s pastimes while he was visiting Crooked Oak. She wasn’t going to volunteer to amuse him for the next couple of weeks, until Donna got back from England or until some other pretty girl caught his eye.
“You’re a hard-hearted woman, Sheila Vance.”
“I’m a—”
“Hey, Mom. Practice was great. Pat said I’m going to be the Bulldogs’s star pitcher this year.” Danny Vance raced into the office, a wide, warm smile, identical to his father’s, spread across his face.
Sheila’s heart missed a beat. Damn, she’d lost track of time. Why hadn’t she remembered that Pat Lawley was going to drop Danny by the garage after Little League practice today?
“Did he? That’s wonderful, Danny.” Sheila forced a smile to her lips. Well, the inevitable had happened. Caleb and Danny were in the same room together. And strangely enough, the world hadn’t come to an end. Yet.
“So, this must be your son,” Caleb said.
“Yes, this is Danny.” Sheila grasped her child’s shoulders and turned him around to meet the one man on earth she’d assumed he would never meet. “Danny, this is Caleb Bishop.”
“Wow wee, Caleb Bishop!” Danny jerked out of his mother’s grasp and rushed over to Caleb. “Man, this is great. Just wait till I tell the guys that I met Caleb Bishop. Right here in my mom and uncle Mike’s garage. And Pat. He’s a big fan of yours, too. Pat Lawley’s our coach. We’re the Bulldogs. You ought to come to a game. You’d—”
“Danny, slow down,” Sheila said. “You’re talking Mr. Bishop to death.”
“Yeah, sorry.” Danny bowed his head sheepishly. Smiling closemouth, he cut his glance in a sideways gesture she’d seen Caleb make time and again when he was being repentant. “I’d like your autograph, Mr. Bishop. I’ve got a brand-new ball. Do you think you could sign it for me?”
“Call me Caleb. And I’d be glad to drop by your house any time and sign that new ball.”
“How about tonight?” Danny lifted his head and Sashed Caleb a brilliant smile. “You could come to dinner. Tonight’s pot roast Mom put it in the Crock-Pot early this morning. She’s a great cook and—”
“Danny!” Sheila cautioned him again. “Mr. Bishop. . . Caleb may already have plans for dinner.”
The boy gazed pleadingly at the man and Sheila’s heart ached for her son. A boy who missed the only father he’d ever known. A boy who had found a role model in a star athlete.
“Sorry,” Danny said.
“As a matter of fact, I don’t have any plans.” Caleb clasped the boy’s shoulder and smiled down at him. “And I’d love to eat some of your mama’s pot roast tonight.” He glanced over Danny’s head and made eye contact with Sheila.
“We eat a little later, now that Little League season has begun,” she said. “Come by around six-thirty.”
“Thanks,” Caleb said. “I’ll go talk to Mike about finding me a car.” He focused on Danny momentarily. “See you tonight, slugger.”
The moment Caleb left the office, Danny jumped up and down, screeching the way only an eleven-year-old boy could.
“Caleb Bishop is coming to my house for dinner tonight! The Caleb Bishop. Holy cow, Mom, I’m going to be the envy of every guy at school tomorrow.”
Yes, Caleb Bishop was coming to their house for dinner tonight. And she would have to watch them together—Caleb and Danny, father and son—and pretend that everything was normal. Right or wrong, no matter what, her first obligation was to her son. She had to protect him at all costs. Caleb didn’t matter. She didn’t matter. And any feelings she still had for the man were unimportant.
She could not allow Caleb to become a part of their lives and then walk away from them, as she was sure he would do. She might be willing to risk her heart again for the pleasure of being with Caleb one more time. But she would never put Danny’s security and happiness at risk. Not even for Caleb.
Three
“You really didn’t have to agree to Danny’s request to invite Tanner and Devin over here to meet you tonight,” Sheila said, placing the iced tea glasses in the top compartment of the dishwasher.
“I know I didn’t.” Caleb handed her the stack of dirty dishes he had removed from the kitchen table. “But why shouldn’t I? I’ve got plenty of time on my hands and I think it means a lot to Danny.”
“Oh, you have no idea.” She arranged the plates neatly in a row in the bottom compartment. “My son is one of your biggest fans, and that’s saying quite a lot, considering you’re the idol of every male in Crooked Oak—boy, teenager and man.”
“Did I thank you for the delicious dinner?” he asked.
Caleb moved in behind Sheila as she leaned over the sink and filled the Crock-Pot with warm, soapy water. She felt him, although he didn’t actually touch her. The heat of his body. The power of his masculinity. The strength of his presence. When she turned to face him, he was close. Too close. She stepped back in an effort to escape his nearness. Her hips pressed into the counter edge.
“Yes, you thanked me,” she said. “Twice.”
“Just shows how much I enjoyed having dinner with you. . . and your son.”
“I imagine it’s a new experience for you, having dinner with a woman and her child.” Sheila took a deep breath and sidestepped Caleb, moving to his left.
He grabbed her arm, his hold tight but gentle. “You didn’t want me here tonight, Sheila. Why?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. You’re Tallie’s brother and Danny’s idol. Why wouldn’t you be welcome in my home?”
“That’s what I’m asking you.” Reaching out with his fingertips, he smoothed back an errant strand of hair that had fallen over her right eye.
Their gazes met and locked for a brief moment and Sheila prayed that what she felt didn’t show plainly in her eyes. Caleb was right. She hadn’t wanted him in her home tonight, or any other night for that matter.
She pulled out of his grasp, hurried out of the kitchen and into the hallway. If she didn’t give him an answer to his question, he was going to wonder what she was trying so hard to hide. And what reasonable explanation, other than the complete truth, could she give him for not wanting him in her life?
The sound of Danny’s voice jerked her quickly from her thoughts.
“Yeah, Tanner, he’s here right now and he’s going to stay until my bedtime,” Danny said. “He’s going to autograph my baseball and if I ask him to, he might sign yours and Devin’s, too.”
Sheila paused outside her son’s bedroom door. It had been a long time since she’d seen Danny so happy and excited. How could she run Caleb away without breaking Danny’s heart? But if she allowed Caleb to become Danny’s buddy, what then? The potential for disaster was too great. Sooner or later, Caleb might figure out the truth. All he had to do was ask Danny when his birthday was.
Covering her mouth with her hands, Sheila bit back a cry of despair. What was she going to do?
Caleb followed her out into the hallway, halted at her side and glanced into the bedroom where Danny lay sprawled out on the bed, the telephone glued to his ear.
“He thinks my mom is a great cook,” Danny said. “He ate second helpings of everything. And guess what? Bread pudding with sunshine sauce is his favorite dessert just like it is mine!”
“You’ve got a great kid there,” Caleb whispered as he lowered his head enough so that his lips almost touched her