Read Online Texan's Baby by Barb Han - Free Book Online Page B

would Melanie react? That’s where the confusion began. It wasn’t the fact that he’d had a son with Melanie that threw Dawson. It was that she didn’t trust him no matter how well she knew him—and Melanie knew him better than anyone else. Then there was the simple fact that she was the one who’d kept his child from him and she looked at him suspiciously anyway.
    Forget that he’d been naive enough to think they’d had a strong bond as kids. A spark had ignited when they’d started a fling , wasn’t that what she’d called it before she left?
    He’d been confused, hurt when she’d pushed him away before, and it made even less sense now. He was, after all, the father of their child and trying to help.
    â€œWould you mind changing Mason’s diaper while I get his dinner ready?” she asked.
    â€œGot it.” Dawson started toward the little tyke. He ran down the hall, squealing in delight. What a different picture from last night.
    After completing the task, he returned. He leaned his hip against the kitchen counter, essentially blocking her in. “How about I watch Mason tonight while you work?”
    â€œYou’re not serious. And I need to feed him so I can get ready.”
    â€œOh, but I am. Give Ms. Whoever the night off. I’m here. I’ll just be fumbling around waiting for you otherwise.”
    â€œAre you kidding me? You barely learned how to change a diaper today. It’s too much, too soon.”
    There she was, not trusting him again and it hurt more than he cared to acknowledge. “I can take care of my own son.”
    â€œAll I’m saying is give it more time.”
    â€œYou’ll save money this way. You’ll be at work with a lot of people around you. Sprigs doesn’t know where you live, but we can’t be too cautious, not after what happened at the hotel.” Even she couldn’t argue his logic there. “How old is the babysitter?”
    â€œShe’s old. And you have a point. I don’t want to put her at risk unnecessarily.”
    Capitalizing on his good fortune, he added, “You can write down his evening routine. I’ll follow it to the letter.”
    She stood there for a long moment, contemplating, tapping her toe on the tile. She had that look on her face, the one that said he was wearing her down. Time to be quiet and let her decide. The longer she took to make up her mind, the better for him. At least some things hadn’t changed about her.
    â€œOkay. You win.” She jotted down a list with a satisfied little smirk, which he didn’t quite understand. “It’s easier to bathe Mason in the sink than in the tub.”
    â€œGot it.” He took the list.
    â€œAre you sure?”
    â€œI said I was good to go,” he said.
    â€œOkay. You have my number. Call if you have any questions. Anything comes up and I can be home in twenty minutes if needed.”
    â€œWe’ll be fine. Besides, I have this—” he held up his cell “—if I need you.”
    â€œThat reminds me. I haven’t charged my phone for the past twenty-four hours. No way do I have battery left,” she said.
    â€œWhere’s the charger? I’ll plug it in while you get ready for work.”
    â€œThanks. That’s really helpful.” She looked surprised.
    â€œWe can get along when we try, Melanie.” He regretted the words as soon as they left his mouth. They’d made progress in the past fifteen minutes toward him not being so angry and her actually giving him real responsibility with Mason. Dawson was going to need to figure out how to put the past behind him if he was going to give his son the life he deserved. And Mason deserved for his parents to work together on his behalf. “I’m sorry I said that.”
    â€œIt’s fine.” Her chin came up defiantly. “You’re right. We’re both adults.”
    â€œI’m