Natural Born Daddy Read Free Page A

wanted,” she told him.
    â€œI work very long hours. I’m not sure what I’d do with a kitten in Houston,” he said, trying to sound as if he regretted it when the truth was he couldn’t have been more relieved.
    â€œCats don’t mind if you’re not home very much. They’re very independent,” she informed him. “We hardly ever see Francie, except when she’s going to have kittens.”
    Old Francie reminded him of certain types of people who only turned up when they were in trouble. He hoped Kelly wasn’t going to view his visit that way.
    Dani stopped on the path in front of him, her face turned up, her brow knitted with concern. “Mommy says we have to give all of them away,” she told him.
    Her eyes suddenly and, Jordan thought, rather suspiciously filled with tears.
    â€œWhat if we can’t find homes for them?” she asked, sounding pathetic. “Will we have to drown them in the creek?”
    The little minx was pulling out all the stops. Jordan choked back a chuckle at the preposterous notion that Kelly would allow harm to come to a single kitten. “No, Dani, I seriously doubt that your mother would drown them in the creek. Where would you ever get such an idea?”
    â€œThat’s what Daddy said should happen to kittens.”
    â€œBut you didn’t do it, did you?”
    â€œNo, because I found homes for every single one.” She looked up at him speculatively. “Maybe they’d like a new kitten at White Pines. I’ll bet there are mice there and everything. A kitten would be a big help.”
    â€œI’ll ask,” he told her, wondering what his mother would have to say about a kitten scratching her precious antique furniture.
    â€œPromise?”
    â€œCross my heart.”
    A radiant smile spread across her face. “Thanks, Jordan. I really, really think you should take one, too. So you won’t be lonely.”
    Actually, he had another idea for staving off loneliness. He glanced up and saw the very woman he had in mind standing in the barn, hands on slenderhips, a challenging spark in her eyes as she regarded her daughter.
    â€œYou have your work cut out for you, young lady,” Kelly announced, barely sparing a glance for Jordan. “There are seven kittens in here. Francie’s tuckered out and so am I. See to it that Francie has some fresh food and water.”
    â€œCream, Mommy. Don’t you think she deserves cream just this once? Having kittens is hard work.”
    â€œFine, bring her some cream.”
    Dani tore off across the lawn as fast as her churning little legs could carry her.
    â€œAnd don’t put it in a good china bowl! Use plastic,” Kelly shouted after her. Finally she glanced at Jordan. “What brings you by on a Friday night? You didn’t mention anything about coming home when we talked earlier in the week.”
    Jordan shrugged. He was struck by an uncharacteristic twinge of uncertainty. He tucked his hand into his pocket and tightened his grip around the jewelry box for reassurance. “Just an impulse.”
    â€œCome on in. I’ll make us some tea. Chamomile, I think. You look almost as frazzled as I feel.”
    â€œYou don’t look frazzled,” he noted even though it was a charitable remark. Her hair was tousled, her makeup nonexistent, her clothes caked with mud and hay and other stains that didn’t bear too close a scrutiny.
    Inside the cozy kitchen, which was shadowed in the gathering twilight, she smiled at him. She took down two china cups and placed them on the kitchen table. “And you’re a lousy liar, despite all that practice you get dispensing your charm all over Houston. How’s the oil business?”
    â€œChallenging.”
    Attuned as always to his moods, she paused while filling the teakettle with water. “Bad week?”
    â€œNo worse than most.”
    Her gaze narrowed. “That doesn’t