The Loner Read Free

we weren’t related. And you left anyway.”
    He heard the torment in her voice and felt sick inside. He hadn’t wanted to hurt her. He’d wanted to love her, to marry her and live happily ever after with her. But she’d lived her entire life in comfort and ease, and he’d been certain that whatever love she’d felt for him would have died a quick and certain death when she found herself living on a derelict ranch in the dirt-poor surroundings which were all he could offer her. And after what had happened with his stepfather, he’d never take a penny of Blackthorne money, even if it belonged to his wife.
    “It wouldn’t have worked, Summer,” Billy said softly.
    “Why not?”
    Billy shook his head. “It doesn’t matter now. You’re getting married and…” He glanced over his shoulder at the child sleeping in the car seat. “I’ve got responsibilities.”
    She started toward the pickup and he held up a hand. “Don’t wake him. He just went to sleep.”
    “Are you married, Billy?”
    He hesitated, then said, “No.”
    “Then whose baby is that?”
    “Will is my son.”
    She looked up at him, visibly shocked by his announcement. He realized that he wanted her to see the one good thing he’d accomplished in the two years he’d been gone. He wanted her to see Will.
    He stepped aside and she stared, wide-eyed, at the sleeping baby. “Oh, my God, Billy,” she said reverently. “He’s beautiful.”
    She reached through the open window and brushed aside a dark, baby-damp curl from Will’s forehead.
    When she did, Billy’s heart clutched. It had been impossible not to wonder what Summer would think, what she would say, when she saw Will. Billy felt proud—and protective—of his son. He’d wanted Will from the moment he’d known of his existence, when the barmaid he’d shared a bed with had come to him for the money to get rid of his baby.
    He’d paid her instead to bear the child, and no moment in his life had been more profound than the first time he’d held the soft, fragile weight of his son in his large, workworn hands.
    Summer turned to him, her eyes glistening with tears, and said, “I never expected this. You, a father.”
    She smiled and his heart turned over.
    She stepped toward him, her arms widespread to give him a hug. He knew better. She was getting married in two weeks. She would never be his. It could only hurt more if he—
    But Summer didn’t hesitate. Before he could turn away, she was pressed against him, her breasts soft against his chest, her arms circled around his waist.
    His arms just naturally enfolded her. He closed his eyes as he imprinted the feel of her against his body one last time. He stuck his nose in her hair and breathed the flowery scent of her shampoo.
    His erection was an unwelcome surprise, and he edged his hips away, not wanting her to know how quickly and undeniably he’d responded to her. He raised his head to look into her eyes, but she kept her face hidden against his chest. He grabbed a handful of her silky curls and tugged her head back so she was forced to look up at him.
    Tears had welled in her eyes and one slipped onto her cheek.
    “What’s this?” he murmured, brushing aside the tear with the pad of his thumb.
    “I’m just happy to see you,” she said. “I missed you.”
    Billy hissed in a breath. He bit back the response on the tip of his tongue.
I missed you, too
. Why say the words when they would only cause more heartache?
    He saw the shiver run through her before she asked, “Do you love her? The baby’s mother, I mean.”
    Billy snorted softly. “She was warm comfort on a cold night.”
    “Where is she now?”
    “Don’t know and don’t care.”
    “I’m so sorry,” Summer said.
    “For what? There was no love lost between us by the time Will was born. He’s better off without her. With me, he’ll never know a day when he isn’t loved.”
    He met her gaze defiantly. His son wasn’t going to be bruised or beaten or left