in his neck.
“Sweetheart,” he murmured. “I’ve been going out of my mind since I got your message.” His big hands stroked her back, gentle and soothing. “Are you okay?”
She nodded. “As much as possible under the circumstances.”
He tilted her chin up and brushed a strand of hair away from her face. “You sounded so upset that I almost headed straight for the ranch. What’s he doing here, Lanie?”
A tear trickled down her cheek. “He wants Zack, Jared.”
His slim body stiffened for an instant, then relaxed. “He can’t get him. No judge would take Zack away from you. You’re a wonderful mother.”
She swiped at the tear. “Zack isn’t the only thing he wants.”
Silence descended over the yard and his hand stilled on her back. “I see.” His tone was soft. “Want to tell me about it?”
“I don’t think I can explain twice and I need Sara to hear it, too.”
Lanie felt a sigh lift his chest. “I’m not going to like this, am I?”
“No,” she whispered.
He hesitated a moment longer. “Okay, let’s get it over with.” Jared dropped his arms and stepped away from her, taking her hand in his large, warm one.
A shiver rippled across her. If only it were simple enough that they could get it over with tonight. But she knew they couldn’t.
Sara looked up as they came in and deposited her coffee cup on the table beside her.
She was still wearing one of the trim suits that were her standard uniform at the office, and her black hair was pinned up in an elegant twist.
Lanie leaned over and hugged her. “I’m sorry for dragging you out tonight. I know you’re probably tired.”
3“Don’t be silly. It’s not like I had any plans, and Doris said you sounded upset.” She smoothed her skirt. “After hearing the message you left for Jared, I can understand why. Having Quinn suddenly show up after all this time must have been a shock. And knowing him, he wants something.”
“He does.” She sank onto the couch and felt Jared’s solid weight settle next to her, one of his arms slipping around her waist. “You see, he didn’t know about Zack until a few days ago. I know that sounds strange, but you have to know Quinn’s father to understand.”
For the next hour and a half she told them everything, Sara interrupting occasionally with questions. She couldn’t look at Jared, couldn’t stand to see the hurt in his eyes when she told them that Quinn wanted three months to try and make their marriage work. By the time she finished, her body felt limp, exhaustion draining all emotion until there was nothing left but numbness.
“Can he do this, Sara? Can he force me into a trial marriage?”
The lawyer cleared her throat. “Of course he can’t.” She leaned forward and took both of Lanie’s hands. “I’m going to give it to you straight, kid. You’ve got a choice to make, and you’re the only one who can make it. Say the word and I’ll file your divorce papers tomorrow, right along with a petition for custody. But—” She shot a quick glance at Jared. “There’s a chance Quinn could win. Knowledge of Zack was kept from him, even if you weren’t aware of it. The courts are big on father’s rights these days.
And if he can prove what he told you about the ranch, you’ll certainly lose it.
Furthermore, he could drag this out for years. Especially the custody battle. I know of cases that lasted eight or more years with the child in question going back and forth like a ping pong ball. As your friend and as your lawyer, my advice would be to take his deal. This could all be settled in three months. If we go through the system it will take longer than that anyway, and Zack will ultimately be the victim.”
“She’ll do it.”
Jared’s voice was harsh, raw with pain that sent an answering echo into her heart.
“Jared, no. I need to think about it.”
His hand moved up her back to cradle her nape, one thumb caressing the skin below her ear as he forced her to
“Sweetheart,” he murmured. “I’ve been going out of my mind since I got your message.” His big hands stroked her back, gentle and soothing. “Are you okay?”
She nodded. “As much as possible under the circumstances.”
He tilted her chin up and brushed a strand of hair away from her face. “You sounded so upset that I almost headed straight for the ranch. What’s he doing here, Lanie?”
A tear trickled down her cheek. “He wants Zack, Jared.”
His slim body stiffened for an instant, then relaxed. “He can’t get him. No judge would take Zack away from you. You’re a wonderful mother.”
She swiped at the tear. “Zack isn’t the only thing he wants.”
Silence descended over the yard and his hand stilled on her back. “I see.” His tone was soft. “Want to tell me about it?”
“I don’t think I can explain twice and I need Sara to hear it, too.”
Lanie felt a sigh lift his chest. “I’m not going to like this, am I?”
“No,” she whispered.
He hesitated a moment longer. “Okay, let’s get it over with.” Jared dropped his arms and stepped away from her, taking her hand in his large, warm one.
A shiver rippled across her. If only it were simple enough that they could get it over with tonight. But she knew they couldn’t.
Sara looked up as they came in and deposited her coffee cup on the table beside her.
She was still wearing one of the trim suits that were her standard uniform at the office, and her black hair was pinned up in an elegant twist.
Lanie leaned over and hugged her. “I’m sorry for dragging you out tonight. I know you’re probably tired.”
3“Don’t be silly. It’s not like I had any plans, and Doris said you sounded upset.” She smoothed her skirt. “After hearing the message you left for Jared, I can understand why. Having Quinn suddenly show up after all this time must have been a shock. And knowing him, he wants something.”
“He does.” She sank onto the couch and felt Jared’s solid weight settle next to her, one of his arms slipping around her waist. “You see, he didn’t know about Zack until a few days ago. I know that sounds strange, but you have to know Quinn’s father to understand.”
For the next hour and a half she told them everything, Sara interrupting occasionally with questions. She couldn’t look at Jared, couldn’t stand to see the hurt in his eyes when she told them that Quinn wanted three months to try and make their marriage work. By the time she finished, her body felt limp, exhaustion draining all emotion until there was nothing left but numbness.
“Can he do this, Sara? Can he force me into a trial marriage?”
The lawyer cleared her throat. “Of course he can’t.” She leaned forward and took both of Lanie’s hands. “I’m going to give it to you straight, kid. You’ve got a choice to make, and you’re the only one who can make it. Say the word and I’ll file your divorce papers tomorrow, right along with a petition for custody. But—” She shot a quick glance at Jared. “There’s a chance Quinn could win. Knowledge of Zack was kept from him, even if you weren’t aware of it. The courts are big on father’s rights these days.
And if he can prove what he told you about the ranch, you’ll certainly lose it.
Furthermore, he could drag this out for years. Especially the custody battle. I know of cases that lasted eight or more years with the child in question going back and forth like a ping pong ball. As your friend and as your lawyer, my advice would be to take his deal. This could all be settled in three months. If we go through the system it will take longer than that anyway, and Zack will ultimately be the victim.”
“She’ll do it.”
Jared’s voice was harsh, raw with pain that sent an answering echo into her heart.
“Jared, no. I need to think about it.”
His hand moved up her back to cradle her nape, one thumb caressing the skin below her ear as he forced her to
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