Free Daddy Wore Spurs (Mills & Boon Cherish) (Men of the West, Book 32) by Stella Bagwell Page A

His arms had felt so warm and strong, and the scent of him had filled her senses with erotic thoughts. Just thinking of it now warmed her cheeks and left her feeling horribly foolish. If she’d been the one he’d made love to, if she’d been the one who’d borne his child, things would be so different now, she thought. Because she couldn’t imagine loving this man only once. Unlike Aimee, she would’ve done everything in her power to keep him in her life.
    He said, “Actually, I wanted to discuss something with you. Whenever you have a free moment.”
    She glanced over to see he’d removed his long-sleeved shirt and replaced it with a gray T-shirt. The cotton jersey fabric clung to his broad chest and revealed a pair of heavily muscled arms. The sight rattled her senses so much that she swiftly jerked her gaze back to the safety of Harry’s sweet face.
    “Uh—let’s go to the back porch,” she suggested. “It’s cooled off nicely and there’s a playpen back there for Harry.”
    “Sounds good.”
    With Finn carrying the baby, they walked through the house and onto the back porch. The long planked floor stretched the full length of the back of the house and was protected from the weather by a tin roof. At one end several pieces of wicker lawn furniture were grouped together. Behind the chairs, next to the wall of the house, was a small playpen equipped with blankets and a small pillow.
    “I’ll just hold Harry for a while,” he said.
    He eased his long frame into one of the chairs and Mariah took the seat opposite from him. As she watched him settle Harry in a comfortable position against his chest, she couldn’t help but notice how gentle he was with the baby. It was a reassuring sight. If Finn truly was Harry’s father, he’d be a loving one, at least.
    “You have a beautiful view out here with the pine trees and the mountains in the distance. How many acres does Stallion Canyon cover?”
    “Close to six thousand,” she answered.
    “You get much rain up here?”
    “No. Hardly any in the summer. A little more in the autumn season. Normally we do get a fair amount of snow, though, and that helps. Dad always kept a few of the hay meadows irrigated. But the irrigation system needs repairing. Like everything else around here.”
    He didn’t reply, and she wondered what he was thinking as he stared off toward the western horizon where a purple haze was darkening the skyline. Yes, Stallion Canyon was a beautiful place. Strange that it had taken this man to make her remember just how beautiful.
    He said, “I’ve been doing some thinking this afternoon. About you and Harry.”
    Something about the quiet tone in his voice made her go on sudden alert. “What about us?”
    His gaze returned to her face and Mariah’s heart thumped with anticipation. In spite of the serious expression on his face, there was an appealing look in his blue eyes and it melted her like spring snow beneath a warm sun.
    “I wanted to ask if you’d be willing to travel to the Silver Horn and stay for a while.” He held up a hand before she could reply. “That is, if the DNA proves Harry to be my son,” he added.
    Without even knowing how she got there, Mariah was instantly standing on her feet. “To Nevada? With you and Harry?”
    He shot her a crooked grin and Mariah’s gaze was drawn to his white teeth and the faint dimples bracketing his lips. He was the most masculine man she’d ever encountered, and each time she looked at him the act of breathing grew more difficult. Being around this man for only a few hours had already shaken her. A steady dose of his company would no doubt turn her into a complete fool.
    “Yes. With me and Harry and the rest of the family,” he said easily. “Harry is accustomed to you. It would be much easier for him to make the transition to a strange place if you were with him. We have plenty of room. And you wouldn’t have to lift a finger. Just be there for Harry’s needs.”
    Finn was