Claiming His Brother's Baby (3 page)

“He would have changed things,” Tanner said, lying through his teeth as he looked down at the baby. “If he’d had the opportunity and the time. But he was in a war zone and on a covert mission, Cassie...and probably not thinking clearly.”

She sighed heavily. “I know that. He was...surprised... I mean, when I told him about the baby.”

Surprised? Tanner knew that wasn’t the half of it. Doug had called him at three in the morning in a rage, ranting about how Cassie had deliberately gotten pregnant and probably planned to trap him into a marriage he didn’t want. He played devil’s advocate as best he could, insisting that Cassie wouldn’t be so manipulative. But Doug was unswayed. He didn’t want marriage. Or children. And Tanner knew his brother intended telling Cassie as much, had he lived. He had the proof via several emails Doug had sent before he was killed.

The baby gurgled and he grabbed on to the distraction. He couldn’t tell her the truth. He wouldn’t. It was better she believed Doug wanted to do the right thing by her and his son.

“This little guy is my nephew and I promised Doug I’d look out for him,” he said softly and touched Oliver’s head. “And you.”

She visibly stiffened. “I don’t need looking out for, Tanner. I can take care of myself and Oliver.”

The air crackled and Tanner didn’t miss the edge of resentment in her voice. Not that he really blamed her. Cassie Duncan had no real reason to trust him. But he didn’t want to be at war with her, either.

“Can you at least meet me halfway, Cassie?” he asked. “I know you’ve been through a lot these past few months, but I’m not your enemy.”

“Then what exactly are you, Tanner? My knight in shining armor?”

“How about your friend?” he suggested and the moment the words came out, he felt like a complete fraud. He could never be friends with Cassie. He’d do what he’d returned to Crystal Point to do and then hightail it back home.

She stared at him. “Friends? Sure...”

But she looked as unconvinced about the idea as he was.

He placed Oliver back in the rocker. “I’ve got a few errands to run. But I’ll come back a little later to see this little guy again and get my bags, if that’s okay?”

She nodded. “Okay.”

Then he left her alone.

His leg ached, and Tanner pressed down heavily on his heel to help ease the pain as he walked from the house and headed for his rental car. He needed to clear his thoughts for a while. And knew just where to do that.

Five minutes later he turned the car into a familiar driveway. The old farmhouse looked much the same, as did the seventy-five-year-old woman who stood on the porch, waving at him to come inside. Tanner waved back and got out of the rental car.

Ruthie Nevelson had lived just out of Crystal Point for over sixty years. A widow for more than a quarter century, she’d been a friend and neighbor when his folks were alive and a much needed friend to him once they were gone. From her front gate, in the distance Tanner could see the rooftop of the home he’d lived in as a young boy. It was still a working sugarcane farm and he breathed in a heavy, nostalgic breath. If his parents had lived he would have taken over the farm and been the fourth generation McCord to do so. Instead, the place had been sold to another neighboring farmer three months after their deaths and Tanner was shipped off to boarding school a couple of weeks later. After that, he spent the holidays with Ruthie. Doug was in the army by then and returned whenever he could. But there were times when Tanner didn’t see his brother for six or more months.

It was Ruthie who showed him kindness and offered comfort and understanding while he grieved the loss of his parents. Not really a grandmother, but as close to one as Tanner had known. It was she who’d pushed him to pursue his talent with horses and arranged the opportunity for him to work with her brother-in-law, a horse breaker and rancher, in South Dakota. After traveling through Europe for a couple of years, Tanner settled in Cedar Creek ten years ago and finally found a place he could call his own.

He locked the car and headed up the path.

“’Bout time you got here,” Ruthie said with a wide grin as he took the narrow steps in two strides and landed on the porch. “I’ve had the coffee ready for half an hour.”

Tanner hugged her close. He hadn’t seen Ruthie for two years and she still looked as vibrant and healthy as she did back then. Her hair was still dyed an impossibly bright red, and she still wore moleskins, her favorite cowboy boots, and moved with that straight-backed confidence he’d recognize anywhere. Ruthie Nevelson was the best person he’d ever known, and he’d missed her like crazy.

“Hello, Ruthie,” he said, smiling broadly. “It’s good to see you, too.”

She set herself back to get a better look at him. “That leg still ailing you?”

He nodded. “A little. The long flight didn’t help. It’ll ease up in a couple of days.”

“Good,” she said and grabbed his arm. “Now, come inside and eat the cake I made for you.”

There had always been something about Ruthie’s cooking that could cheer him up, and she knew it well. He followed her inside the house and down the narrow hall. Two small dogs came scurrying to greet them and bounced around his feet for attention.

“Ignore them,” she said as she dropped her hat on the cluttered counter and pointed to a seat at the table. “They’ll lose interest soon enough.”

“They’re new,” he said and pulled out a chair. “What happened to Bluey?” he asked about her old sheepdog.

“Got sick and died last spring,” she replied. “Inherited these two when Stan Jarvis passed away a few months ago.”

Stan had been Ruthie’s on-again, off-again suitor for over twenty years. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

She shrugged and grabbed two mugs. “Everybody dies,” she said and gave him a wide smile. “Even this old girl will one day.”

“Impossible,” Tanner said with a grin, then more seriously. “It’s so good to see you.”

“You, too.” Ruthie poured coffee and brought the mugs to the table. “I was expecting you yesterday. Where’d you stay last night?”

“Cassie’s,” Tanner said as he sat down and spotted a large frosted cake in the center of the table. He reached out to steal a fingerful of frosting, giving an approving “Mmm” at the delicious flavor.

Ruthie stared at him. “I see.”

“It was late when I got there,” he explained. “And since I wanted to see the baby anyway, she offered—”

“You told her about the house?” Ruthie asked in her usual straight-to-the-point way.

Tanner shrugged. “We discussed things.”

She shook her head. “Messy situation. Typical of that no-good brother of yours.”

Ruthie had never pulled punches when it came to Doug. But Tanner respected her too much to disagree. “I’ll have to sell the place.”

“I thought as much.” Ruthie’s expression narrowed. “It’s not your fault. Some things even
you
can’t fix.”

Tanner took the mug she offered. “I can try.”

She tutted. “And get your heart broke all over again? I dunno if that makes you a fool or a saint.”

“I’m no saint,” he said with a half grin. “You know that better than anyone.”

“What I know is that you can’t keep cleaning up his chaos,” Ruthie said, her voice harder than usual. “That girl should be told the truth about him.”

The truth about Doug? To the outside world he was charming and likable and there was no doubt he’d been a fine soldier. But he’d had troubles, too. In civilian life he’d been unreliable. The army had sorted him out eventually. But it wasn’t a truth that Cassie needed to know.

“I’ll tell her enough,” he said quietly.

Ruthie looked unconvinced. “And will you tell her that Doug McCord got your eighteen-year-old girlfriend pregnant and then dumped her right before he stole your inheritance?”

Chapter Three

N
o. Tanner had decided. He wouldn’t be telling Cassie anything about the girl who’d cheated on him with his brother and when she’d gotten pregnant how Doug had bailed on his responsibility. Or that his brother had taken the money put in trust for Tanner when he reached twenty-one, and used it to fund his partying and gambling. It had ended badly. For him. For Doug. For everyone. But telling tales wasn’t his style. And it had been twelve years ago. There was no point in rehashing old betrayals.

“Still protecting him?”

Ruthie’s voice got his attention again. “I just don’t want anyone to get hurt unnecessarily.”

“Anyone?” Her silvery brows came up. “You mean Cassie Duncan?”

“I mean
anyone
,” he emphasized.

“She should be told,” Ruthie said, relentless. “Putting him on a pedestal won’t change the truth. You were too quick to forgive and forget.”

I haven’t forgiven.

Not yet. It was why he’d come back. Why he had to make things right for his nephew.

Losing Leah had hurt. Even though their relationship was new and filled with the usual teenage angst, he’d fallen for her quickly. Four months later she’d announced she was pregnant and in love with his brother. But Doug made it clear he didn’t want her or the baby and skipped town, taking Tanner’s inheritance with him. Unable to get past such a betrayal, it was all the motivation Tanner needed to pack his bags and leave Crystal Point. He spent close to two years backpacking in Europe before Doug finally tracked him down and by then Leah and the baby she’d tragically miscarried were a distant memory to his brother. Doug returned some of the money, said he was sorry, and Tanner did his best to believe him. But the experience had forever changed their relationship. He came home, stayed with Ruthie for a month and then moved to South Dakota.

And he’d never really looked back.

Until now.

Until Cassie.

But he’d already loved one woman who’d preferred his brother. He wasn’t about to do that again. No matter how much her blue eyes haunted his dreams.

Still, he was tired of being angry. Tired of resenting Doug and wishing things were different. Tired of living in the past. For years Tanner had battled the anger he’d felt toward his brother. It had kept him shut off and restrained in relationships with almost everyone he knew. Except for Ruthie and his closest friend, Grady Parker, who knew some of what happened between him and his brother.

Almost losing his life in the accident had shifted his perspective. Tanner didn’t want to be angry anymore. He wanted to live the rest of his life without blame and bitterness. And to do that he had to truly forgive Doug. Only then would he find the peace of mind he craved.

“I know what I’m doing,” he assured the old woman sitting opposite.

But he was pretty sure she didn’t believe it.

She nodded anyway. “So, you gonna stay there tonight?”

“No,” he replied. “I’ll check into a hotel in Bellandale.”

“Nonsense,” she huffed. “You’ll stay here.”

Tanner grinned. “You know, you’re getting bossy in your old age.”

“Hah...I’ve always been bossy.” Ruthie’s throaty laugh made him smile. “Besides, I’ve got a new colt that needs breaking.”

Tanner tapped his leg. “I’m not quite back in the saddle yet.”

“No problem. I just need help mouthing and long reining.” Ruthie’s brows came up and she grinned. “You still look fit enough for that. As long as you can do it without whining like a girl.”

Tanner laughed loudly. Ruthie always cheered him up. He left a short time later and headed back to Cassie’s. She was in the front yard when he pulled into the driveway. Oliver’s stroller was parked nearby in the shade and Mouse sat by the front wheels. She wore cutoff jeans, a gray T-shirt, trainers and thick gardening gloves. A bougainvillea twisted up and across the paling fence and she was cutting off some of the biting vines as he approached.

He patted the dog and flipped his sunglasses off. “Gardening?” He stood by the stroller. “Looks like fun.”

Cassie stepped back and turned. “Well, maybe not fun, but necessary at least. I’ve neglected the yard since Oliver arrived. My grandfather always took such pride in his garden.”

Tanner looked around, hands on hips. “It’s a big yard. Perhaps getting someone in would be a better—”

She stiffened. “I can do it.”

“I’m sure you can do anything you set your mind to.” He smiled at the defiance in her expression. “Would you like some help?”

Cassie nodded and bent to collect the gloves. “If you have time. I could make lunch.” She stilled and met his gaze. “Unless you’ve already eaten?”

“No, I haven’t.”

She held out the gloves. “Great. I’ll take Oliver inside and you see if you have any more luck cutting back that vine. See you back in the house in half an hour.”

Tanner grabbed the gloves and clippers and got to work on the overgrown vine. He made short work of it and once the branches were hacked he hauled them into a respectable pile. But the spikes, he discovered, were unforgiving and the razor-sharp thorns bit through his T-shirt. He pulled the shirt off, removed the spikes from the fabric and re-dressed before he headed up the path and toward the house.

He cleaned up in the laundry and Cassie was in the kitchen making sandwiches when he rounded the corner and stalled by the threshold. She looked up instantly and brought plates to the table.

Tanner spotted the stroller by the table. “Is he asleep?”

“Yes. I gave him a small bottle and he went out like a light.”

Tanner walked into the room and peered into the stroller. Oliver’s little face looked peaceful. It occurred to him that he might be able to help out with the baby. “You don’t...you know...feed him yourself?”

Her brows came up slowly. “Do I breast-feed, you mean?”

Tanner tried to ignore the ridiculous heat that crawled up his neck. “Yeah.”

She shook her head. “I did for a few weeks. But after that I couldn’t.” She shrugged and walked back to the countertop. “Sometimes it happens that way. I was unwell and after Doug—”

“It’s okay, Cassie,” Tanner said quickly. “You don’t have to explain.” No, because he understood. The man she loved was dead, she had a new baby and she was faced with the knowledge that the home she’d lived in most of her life was about to be pulled from under her feet. It wasn’t difficult to figure out why she’d struggle to nurse her son.

She shrugged again and he was sure he saw moisture in her eyes before she blinked and turned toward the refrigerator. Half a minute later she returned to the table and sat down.

“Where’d you go this morning?” she asked and pushed a plate toward him.

“Ruthie’s,” he explained.

She nodded. “Ruthie Nevelson? She sent me a card when Oliver was born. Doug never visited her much. I guess you’re closer to her than he was.”

“I guess,” he said. “I always spent my summers with Ruthie once school was out. Doug was in the army by then.”

Cassie looked up and smiled. “My friend Lauren and I used to swipe oranges from her tree when we were kids. Funny,” she said and toyed with her sandwich. “We never saw you there. I mean, Crystal Point is a small town—you’d think we would have crossed paths at some point.”

We did.

But Tanner didn’t say it. Even though the memory was etched into his mind. At thirteen they’d met briefly. It was fourteen years later that he met her again. And by then she was Doug’s girlfriend and hadn’t remembered those few moments on the beach so many years earlier.

“I was usually hanging out with my friends,” he said, taking a sandwich and smiling. “No time for girls back then.”

“And now?” she asked, grinning slightly. “Is there someone in the picture?”

He shrugged one shoulder. “No one at the moment.”

“But there was?”

Another shrug. “For a while. It wasn’t all that serious.”

In truth, Tanner hadn’t ever been completely committed in a relationship. For a time, with Ash, he’d thought they might have a future. But it had faded quickly once they realized they were better as friends than lovers. It had ended over a year ago and he hadn’t been inclined to pursue anyone since.

“But you want to settle down eventually?”

“Eventually,” he replied and took a bite of the sandwich.

“In South Dakota? I mean, you’re settled there?”

He nodded. “Cedar Creek is a good town, with good people.”

“Like Crystal Point?” she asked.

“There are similarities,” he said. “Small towns tend to breed a certain kind of people.”

“I suppose they do.” She stared into her plate, and then spoke a little wistfully. “Doug didn’t share the same beliefs about small-town life. He never seemed happy here.”

“It just wasn’t his...
fit
,” Tanner said. “The military was his home.”

She nodded. “Maybe that’s why he found it so hard to come back. Even when he did he was always...” She stopped, paused, clearly thinking and not wanting to say too much. “He was always a little unsettled.”

Tanner knew that. And knew why. “He wasn’t the settle-down type, I guess.”

He quickly picked up the way her eyes shadowed. “That’s what he used to say about you.”

“I mean, he wasn’t the type to settle down to a life as a cane farmer.”

“I know what you meant,” she said, bristling, and pushed the plate forward. “I’m not completely blind to who he was.”

There was pain in her words and he gave himself a mental jab. “He did love you,” Tanner said and immediately wished he hadn’t.

Her eyes lost their luster, as if she was thinking, remembering. “Not enough to come home.” She stood and pushed the chair back. “I shouldn’t have said that. Doug’s gone. Wishing for him to be different is unfair.”

“Cassie, I didn’t mean to—”

“I need to run a few errands myself this afternoon,” she said through a deep breath. “I shouldn’t be too long.”

Tanner stood and looked at her half-eaten lunch. “I’ll finish in the garden while you’re gone if you like. And head off when you get back.”

“Fine,” she said and within seconds had wheeled the stroller from the room.

*

“What’s he like?”

Cassie raised her gaze toward her best friend Lauren and rocked Oliver in her arms.

He’s a gorgeous, sexy cowboy who makes my pulse race.

“He seems nice.”

Lauren’s brows shot up. “
Seems
nice?”

She shrugged again. “What do you want me to say? I hardly know Tanner.”

“Apart from what Doug told you?”

True. Only, everything Doug had said about his brother didn’t seem to match the man she’d come to know over the past twenty-four hours.

“Okay, maybe he’s not the brooding loner Doug made him out to be. Although I’m not going to make too many judgments after one day.”

Lauren nodded. “But he wants to be a part of Oliver’s life?”

“That’s what he said.”

“And he’s selling the house?”

Cassie drew in a breath. “That’s also what he said. There’s a large mortgage.”

“I’m sorry,” Lauren said after a long pause. “I know it isn’t what you’d hoped.”

“I knew it might come to this,” she said, hurting all over at the thought of losing her home, but determined to put on a brave face. “And it’s only a house. I’ll make a home for Oliver somewhere else.”

“You can stay with us,” Lauren offered. “You’ll always be welcome.”

Cassie blinked back the heat in her eyes. “Thanks, but I’ll be fine.”

“You don’t look fine,” Lauren said, clearly concerned. “You look pale and tired.”

“It’s just a headache,” she said and managed a smile.

She
did
have a headache. And a scratchy throat and a quickly growing lethargy. But she didn’t admit she was feeling increasingly unwell as the day progressed. Lauren’s fiancé was a doctor and her friend would have had her under the stethoscope in a heartbeat if Cassie said she was feeling ill.

“If you’re sure,” Lauren said, still looking concerned. “Just be careful. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

Cassie tapped her own chest. “I’m impervious to hurt,” she said with a wry grin. “Tough as nails, you know that.”

But she knew her friend didn’t believe it.

By the time Cassie bundled Oliver into the car and pulled into the driveway it was well past four o’clock. She noticed immediately how the once out-of-control bougainvillea vine was now three piles of tightly bound cuttings and what remained of the hedge had also been carefully clipped back. Plus, the lawn was mowed and the scent of fresh cut grass lingered in the air.

Tanner had been busy. In a matter of hours the front yard was transformed into a neat and tidy copy of what it had once been—before Doug’s death, before the bills had piled up and she’d taken leave from her job and had to watch every penny she spent.

Inside, Cassie headed straight for the kitchen and made up formula for Oliver.

She could hear the shower running and once the baby was fed she carried him to the nursery, laid him on the changing table and stripped off his clothes.

“Hey there.”

She stilled and turned. Tanner stood in the doorway—hair damp, wearing washed-out jeans and a black collared T-shirt that looked way too good on his broad-shouldered frame. “Hi.”

“Did you have a good afternoon?”

Cassie nodded, trying to ignore the throb at her temple. “I went to see my friend Lauren.”

“Ah, the orange thief?” he said with a grin.

Cassie laughed softly. “Yes. Were your ears burning?”

He grinned. “Talking about me, eh?”

“Maybe a little,” she replied. “I’m going to give Oliver a bath now.”

“Sure.”

She took the baby into her arms. “Thanks for doing the yard.”

“No problem.”

Cassie felt the warmth of his stare through to her bones and tried to disregard the heat coiling up her legs. He really did have the sexy thing down pat. She willed some good sense into her limbs and headed from the room, conscious of how he moved aside to let her pass. She lingered in the nursery with Oliver after his bath and by the time she’d dressed him in a navy romper suit and settled him down to sleep it was dusk outside.