“No, thank you,” she said shortly.

“It’s thirty one degrees. I can’t have you freezing.”

“I won’t be out here long enough to freeze.” Her chin lifted. She stared him down. “Why are you here? What do you want?”

“You,” he said bluntly.

“Too late.”

“And my son.”

“I’ve never kept him from you.”

“Not true. You stopped bringing him to see me, and wouldn’t let my brothers bring him for a visit.”

“The prison visits were giving him nightmares.”

“Seeing me scared him?”

“Leaving you each visit destroyed him.” Her lips pressed thin. Her eyes shone emerald, the black mascara on her lashes wet. “He needed to be protected. He needed to be a child….innocent, free, happy.”

“And so you stopped coming.”

“I gave TJ his childhood back.”

Her gaze locked with his, fierce and defiant, and as much as he hated what she was saying, he respected her position. “You should have told me that,” he said. “At least I would have known what was happening and why.”

Her shoulders hunched against another gust of icy wind. “I asked your brothers to explain.”

He glanced up at the darkening sky. There were no clouds, and no snow in the forecast. “My brothers know better than to get involved when it comes to you and me.” He thrust his jacket at her again. “Please put it on.”

“I have to go inside. Lawrence is waiting.”

“And TJ? TJ is still my son?”

“Of course he’s your son.”

“And you’ll let him come see me on weekends…stay with me on the ranch?”

“Well, eventually, maybe—I mean—he’s just five, Trey.”

“I know. I’ve missed out on four of his five years. I don’t want to miss anymore—” he broke off as the church doors crashed open and TJ bolted outside.

“Mom! Momma!” he cried, racing towards McKenna with Lawrence hot on his heels.

“Stop, TJ,” Lawrence said sharply, racing after the boy. “Stop! TJ, listen to me.”

But TJ wasn’t listening and he didn’t stop until he’d flung himself against McKenna, his arms wrapping tight around her waist. “I wanted to see Dad,” he said, pressing his face to her tummy. “But Lawrence wouldn’t let me.”

“Come back inside with me, TJ,” Lawrence said, putting his hands on TJ’s shoulders. “It’s cold out here and your mother needs to talk.”

TJ shrugged a shoulder, shaking the hand off. “She’s talking to my daddy.”

Lawrence’s jaw tightened in exasperation. “Come inside, son.”

TJ squirmed away, glancing shyly at Trey. “I want my daddy. My real daddy. Him.”

Chapter Four

‡‡

TJ’s innocent words made McKenna go hot then cold. Lawrence must be beside himself. She was beside herself. Nothing was going today as she’d expected.

“I’m sorry,” she said to Lawrence.

He just shook his head, uncomfortable, and probably offended.

She swallowed hard, confused and conflicted. She should reprimand TJ for being rude to Lawrence, but how could she get angry with TJ when he was staring up at Trey in shock and awe?

“Give us a minute, hon,” she said softly to Lawrence, reaching out to take his hand.