The Texas Billionaire's Baby by Karen Rose Smith Page A

that old saying, Fake it until you make it . So I did, for my sake and Daniel’s. About six months ago, I stepped outside one morning, took a deep breath of fresh Texas air, stared up at that blue, blue sky, and realized I was glad I was still here.”
    “And how do you feel about Daniel?”
    He withdrew his hand, wondering why she could possibly be questioning his feelings for his son. “I love Daniel.”
    “I don’t doubt that, Logan, but after Daniel was born, how did you feel then?”
    “I told you, I faked it. I put one foot in front of the other and got through each day. I spent most of my hours at the hospital, watching over him.”
    “But how did you feel?”
    His jaw tightened. He could feel the muscle in his cheek jump. Finally he gave in to her question. “I felt nothing. Amy died so he could survive. I couldn’t absorb it. All I knew was that she was gone and I had a son who might not live, either. How do you think I felt?”
    She studied him with huge, dark, sympathetic eyes. “Have you ever talked about this with anyone?”
    Now he shrugged and ran his hand through his hair. “Talk about it? Gina, get real. Why would I want to talk about it? Talking only brings up everything I want to forget.” He sighed then blew out a breath. “I’m not clueless. I know what you’re getting at. You think I didn’t bond with Daniel.”
    “I didn’t say that.”
    “You didn’t have to. And the truth is, I didn’t the first month. He was so frail…I could touch him, but couldn’t hold him. He was hooked up to machines in a plastic bubble. But eventually…he grabbed my heart. Luckily I have a good team at the factory because I took a lot of time off. And when he came home, I was there, along with Hannah.”
    “I can see you and Daniel have a wonderful relationship.”
    “But…” he said warily.
    She laughed. “Nothing. Except maybe…” She smiled. “You indulge him a little too much. But that’s a parent’s prerogative, right?”
    “Except when it gets in the way of Daniel functioning as well as he should.”
    “You’re doing all the right things, Logan. Just give him some time. If you come to the picnic, he’ll have kids to play with and sights to see and new foods to try.”
    “So you’re inviting me to this picnic for his sake?”
    “No, I’m inviting you both so you can relax. My family can be fun.”
    He knew what she was thinking. He’d never had a chance to know them because they hadn’t approved of him. Maybe now that would all change. Did he really care if it did?
     
    Logan couldn’t stop the collision.
    Rounding the bases during the Rigolettis’ softball game, he and Gina reached home plate at the same time. Her shoulder slammed into his. Somehow their feet tangled and they both went down.
    The end-of-May sun shone brightly on them as his arms went to protect her rather than the ball in his glove. He didn’t know why, but holding on to her at that moment was more important than winning the game.
    They landed with a jolt, his worse than hers because he was on the bottom. That was good and that was bad. He could feel the hard ground under him—his shoulders pressed into it. But Gina was soft. Her T-shirt had ridden up and his hands were on soft skin. Her body was everything a woman’s body should be as he registered the imprint of her breasts and her pelvis, her thighs stretched along his. Memories flooded back of another time in this position and he knew that she knew he was aroused.
    “Damn it, this was supposed to be a safe game ofsoftball.” He didn’t realize he’d said it aloud until she’d scrambled off him as fast as she could.
    He reached for her and snagged her arm. “Gina, I just meant—”
    She was kneeling beside him, her face red. “It just meant you came today for a beer and playtime for Daniel. Don’t worry, Logan, I understand that.”
    He didn’t let go of her arm. “Are you okay? I mean, did you get hurt in the fall?”
    “No. Did