Read Online Trusting Sydney: The Temptation Saga: Book Six by Helen Hardt - Free Book Online

me?”
    God no, she couldn’t. She loved Sam. Damn it, I love Sam so much.
    “I’m sorry. I can’t marry you, Rod. For the life of me, I don’t know why you want me.”
    “This is a blemish, that’s no lie. I don’t relish having bastard half siblings of my own flesh and blood running around.”
    “See? Good. You don’t want to marry me.”
    “So there’s no reason not to honor the man’s request, is there? He has a right to know where his child is.”
    Sydney clenched her fists, her heart pounding. “Damn you! Why do you want to do this? Why are you trying to hurt me?”
    Rod smiled sardonically. “Because I can.”
    She pushed him out the door and slammed it. He was pure evil. How had she gotten involved with the likes of him?
    Money .
    It all came down to money.
    The purse she won today would help. They weren’t destitute after all, but the small Buchanan ranch needed help. Right now they were being forced to sell off their livestock, and a ranch couldn’t exist without its stock.
    Her big brother, Blake, had abandoned them long ago, but she would not. Her parents deserved better. Duke deserved better.
    Duke .
    Such an angel.
    She walked to the bathroom and took off the robe. She needed a shower.
----
    G oddamn her to hell !
    Sam drove back to the rodeo at top speed.
    Once there, he walked through the crowds, looking for Sydney’s parents. He’d find out once and for all what the hell was going on.
    Maybe they didn’t even know she’d had a child.
    Well, too bad. Today they’d find out. If they had any information about his kid, they were damn well going to give it to him.
    God, where were they? The damn place was so fucking crowded.
    “Hey, Sam!”
    Crap. Dusty. He loved his baby sister, but he did not have the time right now.
    “What is it, Dust?”
    “Did you have a chance to talk to Sydney?”
    What was that about? “I don’t have any desire to talk to her.”
    “Listen, she told me all about her engagement. She’s not in love with that guy, and she was going to break up with him anyway. Did you know they never even had sex?”
    “I don’t care right now. I’m sorry, Dust, but I’m busy.”
    “You don’t care? You don’t seem like you don’t care whenever you’re with her. The chemistry between you two is palpable.”
    He looked above Dusty’s red-gold head, scanning for the Buchanans. “The chemistry between us, if it’s even there, is not any of your business. Right now I have to find some answers.”
    “Answers about what?”
    He turned and faced his sister. What the hell? She’d find out anyway. “About my child, Dusty. Sydney had my child five years ago and gave it up for adoption.”
    Dusty’s eyes widened. “What?”
    “It’s true. I just found out.”
    “You mean Seanie has a cousin? Who’s almost his exact age?”
    “Yes, Sis, that’s exactly what it means. Where’s that genius IQ of yours today? This isn’t rocket science.”
    “I need to sit down.” Dusty visibly trembled.
    He took his sister’s arm and found a bench with one empty spot. “Stay here,” he said. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. But right now I need to find Sydney’s parents.”
    “Give me a minute,” Dusty said. “I know where they are. I saw them a while ago. They’re in the stands.”
    “Where?”
    “To the north.”
    “Thanks, Sis. I’ll go find them.”
    “I want to go with you.”
    “I need to do this alone. I’ll tell you what I find out.”
    His heart beat like a drum against his sternum. A child. He had a child.
    A son.
    A little boy.
    What might he look like?
    A mini Sam? A mini Sydney? A combination?
    He made his way to the north stands and scanned the crowd. Damnit, where are they?
    And then he spied them, Roy and Carrie, with little Duke sitting between them. He sprinted up the stairs, nearly knocking over a hot dog vendor.
    “I need to talk to you two,” he said.
    “Goodness,” Carrie said. “Oh, yes, you’re Dusty’s brother.”
    “Yes.