Wild Stallion (10 page)

“What?” This was the first she’d heard of that, and it certainly hadn’t been mentioned in the papers.

Jackson lifted his shoulder. “I want to adopt another child, and I don’t want to put in long hours at work. If I sell Malone Investments I can start a small consulting business. Evan suspects what I’m about to do, and I’m pretty sure he doesn’t approve.”

No, he wouldn’t, because it would essentially mean he was out of a job.

Jackson checked his watch then looked at her. “I’m moving both Caden and you into my suite. For security reasons,” he quickly added.

Her heart gave a little leap. His suite? “You’re sure? I figured you’d want me gone, not underfoot.”

“Part of me does want you gone,” he admitted. Then he shook his head. “But I can’t send you away with someone trying to kill you.”

Her heart leaped for a different reason. “Maybe that’s exactly the reason I should go. As long as I’m here—”

He pressed his fingers to her mouth. “The last gunman came to kidnap Caden. This is no longer just about you. We’re all in the middle of it.”

True. But she was surprised Jackson had been able to accept that. She certainly hadn’t come to terms with it yet.

He checked his watch again and took out his phone. “I’ll call Tracy and tell her it’s okay to come out of the panic room. Why don’t you go on up and check on Caden for me?”

Bailey was thrilled to do that, but she didn’t budge. “Why? Is anything wrong?”

“No.” Jackson’s answer was fast and sharp. “Just go on up and meet them as they come out of the panic room. I won’t be long.”

Bailey studied him a moment longer and finally nodded. There was no way she would give up a chance to spend some time with Caden, even if she suspected that Jackson might be up to something.

She went up the steps, glancing back at Jackson. He glanced at her, too, and motioned for her to go. She did. But because she couldn’t shake the feeling that something just wasn’t right, she stopped in the hall.

And waited.

She watched as Jackson did indeed make a call. From her position, she could even hear the beeps as he pressed in the numbers.

“It’s Jackson Malone,” he said to whomever answered. “Do you have those DNA test results for me?”

Bailey shook her head. She didn’t think he was talking to Evan, so what was this about? Why would he be calling anyone but Evan about DNA results?

“I see,” Jackson said a moment later. His back was to her, but she watched as he pressed his fingers to his forehead. “No. I’m still here,” he continued.

Bailey inched even closer because she didn’t want to miss any part of this. What was Jackson doing?

“Repeat the tests,” Jackson said to the caller. “When you get back the second test results, call me. Then destroy the samples. I don’t want anyone else to know what you just told me.”

Chapter Ten

Jackson eased off the sofa in his suite and tiptoed to the crib so he could check on Caden. His son was still asleep, thank God, because he’d had a restless night. Probably because of the change of rooms. But Jackson had had no choice. He’d wanted both Caden and Bailey nearby, in case there was another attack.

It was the reason Jackson had kept not one gun but two by his side throughout the night. That was a first for him. He’d never woken up to guns on Christmas Eve day.

He leaned down and brushed a kiss on top of Caden’s head. The baby stirred a little but didn’t open his eyes.

“My son,” Jackson mumbled.

That was certainly how he felt about the baby; but soon, very soon, he was going to have to come to terms with the fact that Bailey felt the same way about the little boy. Jackson had been wrong to think he could offer her money. Wrong to think he could intimidate her into leaving. Besides, he didn’t want to intimidate her. And that was a problem in itself.

He wanted her in other ways.

Thankfully, they hadn’t had time to act on those “other ways.” Jackson had been tied up with security arrangements and calls about updates in the investigation. All of that had lasted well into the night, and by the time he’d returned to his suite, both Bailey and Caden were asleep. He’d considered waking Bailey because there was something important he had to tell her.

He had to tell her about the call he’d made after Robin and Evan left.

That call had been critical. Life-changing, even. But when Jackson gave her the news, he wanted her to be alert so they could talk it out. He decided that talk could wait until morning.

Well, it was morning now, and even though he was dreading what he had to tell Bailey, he couldn’t put it off much longer. The day was likely to get hectic fast. Hopefully, that wouldn’t include any new dangers. They had enough of those as it was.

Jackson gave Caden another kiss and made his way to the adjoining bedroom. His bedroom, normally. But this morning Bailey was sleeping in his bed. She was cocooned there in the center of the massive bed, snuggled beneath the white, goose down comforter.

Completely covered except for her bare leg.

And her thigh.

All that bare skin revved up his body. Not that he needed much to rev him. All through the night, his body kept reminding him that Bailey was close enough to touch. Close enough to kiss. And even close enough for him to get off the sofa in the sitting room and climb into the bed with her. Then they could continue what they’d started the day before in his office.

Jackson was still staring at her thigh when he heard a slight sound. His gaze slid up higher, and he saw that Bailey was not only awake, she was staring at him with sleepy eyes. She was obviously aware that he was gawking at her.

She smiled. It was sleepy and slow as well. She clearly wasn’t fully awake.

“I dreamed about you,” she whispered. And from the sound of it, it had been a hot dream.

“Oh, yeah?” Jackson came closer and sank down on the bed next to her. “Because I dreamed about you, too.”

He leaned over, working his fingers into her hair, which was fanned against the stark white pillow. In fact, Bailey was the only spot of color amid all that white. And she looked better than any dream he’d ever had.

So Jackson kissed her.

She made a wistful sound of pleasure, rolled toward him and slipped her arm around him. Bailey might have still been half asleep, but she did a darn good job of kissing him right back. And more. She drew him closer—and closer—until she pulled him on top of her. Since his shirt was unbuttoned, his bare chest landed against her flimsy gown and her breasts.

Jackson glanced back into the sitting room. He couldn’t see Caden’s crib from this angle, but the suite door was locked and secured with the new security system, and he figured he would hear Caden if he awoke.

Bailey lifted her leg, sliding it around his, pulling him even closer to her. Jackson responded all right. He got rock hard, and he deepened the kiss. Yeah, it was probably a stupid idea to do this, but Jackson figured there was no way he was going to talk his body, or hers, out of a quick round of morning sex.

But then she stopped.

Bailey just froze.

Jackson pulled back and stared down at her, trying to figure out what was wrong. For one thing, she no longer looked sleepy or aroused. Her eyes were wide, alert and somewhat accusing.

He pulled back farther. “What’s wrong?” Because he didn’t think he had misinterpreted the sexual signals she’d been sending him. Not just now either, but those signals and the attraction that had been there from the moment they met.

She sat up and adjusted the comforter so that it was completely covering her body. “We need to talk.”

A talk that would no doubt include the reminder that they were in danger.

“I heard you on the phone last night,” she said, the tone of her voice as accusing as the look in her eyes.

Jackson shook his head. “When? I was on the phone at lot—”

“The call you made in the foyer.”

Oh. That one. The call.
The one that could change their lives forever.

“‘I don’t want anyone else to know what you just told me,’” Bailey said, repeating him verbatim. “What are you keeping from me?”

But Jackson didn’t get a chance to answer. The phone next to his bed buzzed. He considered ignoring it so he could finish this conversation, but it might be important. Plus, the sound apparently alerted Caden, because he started to cry.

“We’ll finish this talk later,” Bailey insisted, and she got up from the bed so she could pick up Caden.

Jackson cursed under his breath and took the call.

“It’s Ryan Cassaine. I’m here at the estate.”

“Really?” Jackson didn’t bother trying to sound civil. “At this time of morning?”

“It’s important, and it couldn’t wait. I have Shannon Wright with me, and we need to see you immediately.”

“Shannon?” Jackson didn’t sound civil about that, either.

“The last time you two were here, Bailey and I were attacked. And Shannon is one of our suspects.”

“She wouldn’t have orchestrated that attack,” Ryan countered without hesitation. “Just let us in and listen to what Shannon has to say. I can promise you, when she’s done you’ll be convinced that she has no desire to harm Caden or you.”

Jackson still wanted to say no, but he couldn’t. Did Shannon have some kind of proof that she hadn’t offered during her last visit? It certainly sounded like it.

“I’ll meet you in the downstairs sitting room in ten minutes,” Jackson told Ryan. And he hoped like hell this was worth the worry that it would no doubt put Bailey through.

“You’re meeting them again?” she asked, the moment he hung up. Yes, there was the worry in her voice. She probably hadn’t forgotten the talk they needed to have, but the possibility of renewed danger overshadowed it.

Jackson nodded, then phoned Steven so he could let the pair in. “Search them both,” Jackson reminded Steven.

Then he went to Bailey. She had a fussy Caden in her arms and was rocking him.

“I just need to hear what Shannon has to say,” Jackson insisted, and he left it at that. He headed to his closet so he could get ready.

“I’m going with you,” Bailey said from the other room. He heard her use the phone to call for the nanny.

Jackson wished he could do this alone, just in case this was some kind of ruse to launch another round of gunfire. But he also figured he stood zero chance of talking Bailey into staying put. So that meant he needed to find out what Shannon had to say so he could end this meeting as soon as possible.

When he came out of his dressing room, Bailey wasn’t there. Tracy now had Caden in her arms.

“He’s hungry,” Tracy let Jackson know. “I’ll be in the nursery with him.”

“Keep your phone close,” Jackson warned her, and he placed his gun in the back of his jeans. “I might have to move the two of you and Bailey back to the panic room.”

Tracy’s eyes widened. “Not more trouble?”

Jackson wanted to assure her that wasn’t the case, but lately, trouble seemed to have an easy way of finding him.

They went into the hall, but Jackson didn’t head for the stairs until he made sure that Tracy and Caden were indeed in the nursery. And then he waited for Bailey. He didn’t have to wait long. Within seconds she came out of the room next to his where her clothes and toiletries were now stashed. She’d changed and was now wearing another loaner dress. This one was a dark green.

“You could stay with Caden and Tracy,” Jackson reminded her.

But as expected, Bailey just shook her head and headed down the stairs. Yes, she was as anxious for the truth as he was, but she was also no doubt equally anxious for that private conversation the two of them needed to finish.

By the time they made it to the bottom of the stairs, Steven had opened the front door, disengaged the security system and was ushering in their guests.

“This better be worth our time,” Jackson warned both Shannon and Ryan.

“It is,” Shannon assured him, but she didn’t say anything else until they were all in the room just off the foyer. Even then, it took several moments for her to continue. “You might want to sit down for this.”

Bailey and Jackson exchanged glances, and Jackson decided it was a good time to show both Ryan and Shannon that he was armed. He did sit, but he took out his gun and placed it on the table next to him. Bailey sat next to him, so that either of them would be able to reach the weapon if necessary.

Shannon already looked ready to jump out of her skin, but this upped her anxiety significantly. Jackson could see sweat popping out above her upper lip, and she had a death grip on her purse.

“I lied to you,” Shannon finally said, aiming that remark at Jackson. “Well, at least I lied by omission. What I didn’t tell you…” She took a deep breath and blinked back tears. “What I didn’t tell you was that I’m Caden’s birth mother.”

The room went deadly silent.

Jackson’s gaze flew to Bailey, and she’d gone ash pale. She was holding her breath and staring in disbelief at the woman who’d just dropped a bombshell.

“You’re Caden’s mother?” Bailey challenged.

Shannon started to sob now, and Ryan sat beside her and put his arm around her.

“I didn’t know until this morning,” Ryan explained.

“This doesn’t make sense.” Bailey shook her head. “You were working in the hospital the day that Caden was born. There’s no way you could have given birth on that day, and there was no mention in the investigation of your being pregnant.”

“Because I hid the pregnancy.” She plucked at her oversized caftan dress. “People just thought I was gaining weight, and I didn’t tell them any differently.”

“Why would you do that?” Jackson pressed.

Shannon swiped at the tears that spilled down her cheeks. “My family is very conservative, and they would have disowned me for having a child out of wedlock. So I hid it from them, too.”

The tears were genuine, but Jackson figured that was the only thing about this story that was. “And what about Bailey’s question? Caden was born on the day of the hostage situation.”

“The day after,” Shannon corrected. “I gave birth to him in my apartment. Delivered him myself. I had arranged for a private adoption, but it fell through. So when I heard you were looking to adopt a child, I had a friend call Ryan Cassaine. I had the friend lie and say she was a college student who needed compensation for her medical bills and tuition.”

“Oh, God,” Jackson heard Bailey say, and he also heard the enormous pain in her voice.

Bailey clamped her teeth over her bottom lip, but it was too late. It was already trembling. So was she.

“He’s not my son,” Bailey mumbled. “Caden’s not mine.” She got up from the chair and would have no doubt raced from the room, but Jackson caught onto her.

“I can’t do this,” Bailey insisted, and she broke free of his grip.

This time, when she tried to run Jackson didn’t stop her. She hurried up the stairs. Jackson wanted nothing more than to go to her, but first he had to settle some business with Shannon.

“You have proof that you’re Caden’s mother?” Jackson asked.

She nodded and took an envelope from her purse. “That’s a maternity test I had done right before I handed Caden over to Ryan. It proves he’s my son.”

Jackson took the envelope but didn’t open it. “So what do you want? Why are you really here?”

“Not to claim my son. I want you to raise him, that’s why I put him up for adoption.”

“But you want more money,” Jackson concluded.

Shannon dried her tears again. “I have debts, and if those were paid, then I could leave Texas. I could go live with my cousins in Seattle. I swear that you’d never hear from me again. The only thing I need other than the money, is for you to stop this investigation. If you press for the truth, my family will learn about Caden and they’ll make my life a living hell.”

Jackson’s hands fisted, and he felt the envelope crush under the pressure.

“No,” Jackson told her.

“No?” Shannon question. “No to what?”

“To the money and to stopping the investigation.” Jackson didn’t know who was more surprised by his refusal—Ryan or Shannon.

Ryan held up his hands in defense when Jackson aimed a glare at him. “I had no idea she was going to ask for payment. She came to me with the maternity test results and said she wanted to show you the proof, so that you’d have some peace of mind.”

“I didn’t want Bailey Hodges trying to scam you,” Shannon piped in. She jumped to her feet. “I don’t want much money,” she concluded. “A hundred thousand is all, and that’s chump change to a man like you.”

“It’s extortion,” Ryan grumbled. “I’m sorry, Jackson. I really had no idea this is what she wanted to do.” Ryan grabbed on to Shannon’s arm and started to move her toward the door.

But Shannon dug in her heels and wouldn’t budge. “A hundred thousand or whatever you happen to have in your safe right now. And for that, I go away. There’ll never be any questions about me trying to regain custody of my son.”