A Long Tall Texan Summer: Tom Walker by Diana Palmer Page A

Matt said, chuckling. "She's pregnant You're going to be an uncle again."
    Tom whistled through his teeth. "Imagine that. They've tried for years to have a second child." He Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html laughed with pure delight. "I'll bet they're both over the moon."
    "Kate sounded that way when I spoke to her," Matt agreed. "She said Jacob's already planning a new nursery. He wants a girl this time. I think Kate does, too."
    "They'll be happy with whatever they get. They're both crazy about kids."
    "Their son will like having a playmate."
    "And Kate is a wonderful mother," Tom added. "I'll call her as soon as I get home. Why are you holding
    Elysia's hand?" he added so abruptly that it caught Matt by surprise.
    "Was I?" He loosened her fingers with a smug look that neither of them saw.
    "He can hold my hand if he wants to," Ely-sia told Tom.
    "I noticed," he said coldly. "You must like him. You haven't thrown anything at him. What's the matter, can't get your shoe off?"
    "Just you give me a minute and we'll see...!" She struggled with a loafer, using Matt's arm for a prop, but
    she was immediately
    tugged upward.
    “Stop that," Matt muttered.
    "Did she throw a shoe at you, Mr. Tom?" Crissy asked, wide-eyed.
    "Yes, she did," he replied curtly. "A high-heeled one, at that. She could have knocked my head off."
    "That was the idea, all right," Elysia said sharply.
    "Now, now." Matt stepped between them. "This isn't setting a good example for the shortest member of our little friendly group."
    Tom and Elysia stopped glaring at each other and glanced at Crissy, who was watching them with growing worry.
    Tom wiped the anger from his face and smiled nonchalantly. "It's just a slight disagreement, cupcake,"
    he said. "Nothing to worry about. Isn't that right, Elysia?"

    She cleared her throat "Of course."
    "Then why did my mommy throw a shoe at you?" Crissy asked the tall man.
    "Because he called me a—!"
    "Ellie!" Matt interrupted.
    Elysia clenched her teeth and forced a smile in Tom's general direction. "Never mind."
    "Don't you like each other?" the child asked plaintively. "Mommy, you have to like Mr. Tom because he's my friend."
    Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html Those green, green eyes would have melted stone, which Elysia wasn't. She went down on one knee. "I like Mr. Tom," she told the child. "I really do."
    "And do you like my mommy?" the child asked the man.
    He drew in a short breath. "Sure. I think she's just spiffy."
    "Huh?"
    He glanced at Elysia with cold green eyes. "Terrific. Super. A truly wonderful person."
    "Thank goodness," Crissy said, smiling her relief. "Now you have to stop yelling at each other, okay?"
    Tom and Elysia stared at each other. "Okay," they chorused gruffly.
    "Let's have a cup of coffee," Matt said quickly. "Elysia, do you mind?"
    "Not at all." It was something to do, to get her out of range of that...that man!
    The men followed slowly back toward the house with Crissy in tow. By the time they arrived in the dining room, Elysia was calm and coolly friendly, even to her daughter's hated friend. But she was relieved when Tom left, just the same.
    He became a regular visitor to the ranch after
    that. Sometimes he came when Luke was there alone
    with the child, but occasionally he showed up for Sunday dinner. Elysia tolerated him, but she couldn't forget the horrible things he'd said to her, his cold treatment of her. Even understanding his past didn't make him any more welcome in her home. She knew that he was just pretending to tolerate her company
    so that he could spend time with his daughter.
    She still wasn't sure if he might try to claim custody of Crissy, and it made her nervous. She saw the way
    he looked at the child, with pride and tenderness. Crissy was equally fond of him. It was going to complicate Elysia's life, but she didn't know what to do. Tom had every right to see his child. But it cut