The Horseman's Son by Delores Fossen Page B

Obviously someone on his staff. Or maybe Jonah. He was in the house, too. And as for why, maybe this was a little gas-lighting, an attempt to make Collena feel unwelcome.
    And unsafe.
    Oh, yes. He’d question everyone in the house, and he’d get to the bottom of this.
    “I also think Curtis Reese might try to use this article against us,” Collena added.
    Of course. Dylan should have thought of that. Even though there’d been no evidence against him and even though he was never a solid suspect, there had been questions and gossip about his innocence. Those questions had been raised in that particular story in the Greer Herald.
    “I can’t make that article go away,” Dylan explained. He took the newspaper from her and tucked it under his arm. “But I can have my lawyer negate it by pointing out that I was never charged with a crime.”
    “Still…” She groaned softly and leaned against the wall. “Curtis already has so much ammunition. That’s why I proposed.”
    “I know. And it’s a good idea.”
    She blinked.
    He blinked, too. “Did I just say that?”
    The smile that curved her mouth was born of pure irony and frustration. “It might take a decade or two before your staff believes it’s a good idea.”
    “They’ll get used to it, because they won’t have a choice. I’m not losing Adam, and if this marriage can stop that from happening, then we need to say ‘I do’ as soon as possible.”
    “How soon is that?” she asked.
    Dylan couldn’t believe he was about to say this, either. “I plan to call the county clerk tonight at his home. He’s an old friend. I want him to expedite the licensing process, and if all goes well, I think I can have everything arranged for this weekend.”
    She blinked again. “That soon?”
    He heard the doubts in her voice and knew they’d be in his voice, as well. “Curtis Reese will probably be filing his custody petition as early as tomorrow morning.”
    Collena drew in a hard breath. “You’re right. We should do this as soon as the county clerk has the license.” She paused. “You’ll tell Ruth and the others about the hasty wedding plans?”
    “Yes.” Though he knew that wouldn’t be a pleasant conversation. Nor would the other chat he’d have to have with Adam’s nanny. “I’m not going to let Ruth cut you out of Adam’s life.”
    Collena shook her head. “I wouldn’t let that happen anyway.” She touched her index finger to her mouth. “I am concerned though about Ruth being under the care of a therapist.”
    Ah, so she’d learned that. “She is. Millie, too. My sister’s death sent them both into emotional tailspins. Don’t worry though, it doesn’t affect how they interact with Adam. They both love him, and they wouldn’t do anything to hurt him. I’d stake my life on that.”
    “I can see they love him,” Collena admitted. “But I can also see that Ruth is going to make it very difficult for me. She won’t succeed. I’ve worked too hard to find Adam to allow anyone to stop me from being his mother.”
    Even though she probably hadn’t meant that as a challenge or an order, it made Dylan feel a little defensive. He had to remind himself—again—that he couldn’t have an adversarial relationship with Collena. But that did bring him to another question.
    Just what kind of relationship would this really be?
    They’d both already established that it was to be a marriage of convenience, but he certainly couldn’t deny the attraction he felt for her.
    Was it one-sided?
    Dylan studied her. They were still close, and they seemed to get a whole lot closer when her eyes came to his. He saw it then. The heat. He felt it, too. And knew this wasn’t a good thing.
    Dylan chose his words carefully. “There’s this connection between us,” he admitted.
    She nodded. “Conflict at first sight.”
    “It’s not all conflict, and that’s the problem.”
    Her stare intensified before she mumbled something under her breath and looked