The Cowboy and His Baby by Sherryl Woods Page A

just the same. He’d taken her for granted, which everyone in the family had accused him of doing at one time or another. He suspected he’d do the same with a wife. What was the point of ruining some woman’s life for his own selfish longing to have just a taste of the kind of love Jordan and Luke had found?
    â€œHow long are you sticking around? Have you told your boss when you’ll be back in Wyoming?” Jordan asked after Kelly insisted Cody stay for dinner.
    Kelly dished up a serving of stew for him and lingered at his shoulder. “You are not going back until after J.J. is baptized,” she said emphatically.
    Cody glanced up at her. “When is that again?”
    â€œNext weekend, which you know perfectly well. I sent you an invitation. We’re going ahead with it. Harlan insisted.”
    Something in his expression must have given him away because she frowned. “You ripped it up, didn’t you?”
    Cody recalled the scattered pieces of the pretty blue invitation and felt a tide of red rising in his cheeks. Was the woman a damned witch?
    â€œOf course not,” he fibbed.
    The response drew a disbelieving snort. “So you’ll be here at least that long,” she said.
    Cody had a feeling once he learned the truth about Melissa’s baby, he wouldn’t be able to get away from Texas fast enough. He’d need to cool his temper for a good long while before confronting her with what he knew. He’d also need time to make up his mind exactly what he wanted to do about the baby she’d kept from him. He intended to learn that truth in the next twenty-four hours.
    â€œSorry,” he said eventually. “I can’t promise to stay that long.”
    Kelly glanced at Jordan, then back at him. “Your brothers said you were going to say no,” she said.
    â€œI had no idea I was so predictable.”
    â€œLately you are,” his sister-in-law said. “Lately, you’ve gotten downright boring.”
    He gave her a wry look. “More of that fatal charm, I see.”
    Kelly frowned at his teasing. “What if I told you that Jordan and I want you to be the baby’s godfather?”
    Something deep inside him shifted at the offer. He felt an unexpected warm glow. It was a feeling he toldhimself he didn’t deserve, especially not if he had a real child of his own he’d never even acknowledged.
    â€œI’d say you made a lousy choice,” he responded.
    â€œI told you he wouldn’t even be gracious about it,” Jordan chimed in. “Leave him be, Kelly. He’s as stubborn as the rest of us when he digs in his heels. He’ll change his mind, if we let the idea simmer long enough.”
    â€œI won’t change my mind,” Cody said. “Sorry.”
    â€œYou say that a lot these days,” Jordan observed.
    â€œMaybe I have a lot to be sorry for.”
    â€œWell, this is one thing you can check off the list,” Jordan said.
    He spoke in that matter-of-fact way that indicated he’d reached a decision and wanted no further argument. It was a tactic that might have served him well in business, but it grated on Cody’s nerves.
    â€œI want you here, little brother,” Jordan stated emphatically. “And I want you to be the baby’s godfather. It’s settled.”
    Despite his annoyance at Jordan’s attempt to snatch the decision out of his hands, Cody could feel himself weakening, feel that odd, empty sensation in the pit of his stomach that always meant the loneliness was taking hold again.
    â€œDid you check it out at the church?” he inquired lightly. “They’ll probably be worried about lightning hitting the steeple if I show my hide in there.”
    â€œThere was some mention of that, but I believe there’s a general consensus that your soul is still salvageable,” Kelly said. “Please, Cody. We’ve missed you. It’s only for a few