his body to the long hours he kept; he wasn’t a man who was partying day and night. He was strong and hard and very much at home out here on this ranch. The scents of the outdoors followed him in, and the whole atmosphere of the room shifted. Or maybe that was just her reaction to him.
“There’s extra coffee if you’d like some,” she said.
Aiden leaned against the counter, folding his arms across his broad chest. “Thanks, but I just finished one.”
“I had to make a cup. I just couldn’t get that chill out,” she said, suddenly self-conscious because this was his kitchen. He should be offering her coffee, not the other way around. “Sorry, I should have asked first if that was okay.”
His hard features softened slightly. “It’s a cold start to spring this year, that’s for sure. I’m glad you helped yourself. I’d like for you and Will to feel at home here.”
She averted her gaze as warmth that had nothing to do with hot coffee swept over her. “I just checked out Logan’s website, and I think I’m going to give the job a try. That would be an invaluable experience. It won’t be long-term, I know, but every little bit adds up.”
Aiden’s jaw clenched, though he nodded. Maybe he was just tired. “Definitely,” he said. “And it’s better than a job at a bar.”
“What? No, I’d like to do both. If…if Will turns out to be yours and we stay an extra week or two, I’ll have enough time to work both jobs.”
“That’s a lot to take on. Especially if you don’t have to.” He paused for a breath. “You’re thinking about staying a little longer?”
He wouldn’t understand because he didn’t know just how broke she was and it was embarrassing to talk about. Being this far in debt made her feel irresponsible. Her identity had always been dependable, reliable, smart Janie. Her current financial status wasn’t backing that up. And if Aiden really was Will’s father, he would be evaluating what kind of guardian she was. Admitting she was practically penniless would make her vulnerable.
She crossed one leg over the other and wrapped her hands around the mug, trying to appear calm and collected rather than desperate. “I have to talk to Will about it first, and obviously we’d only stay longer if he is yours. We’ll be out of here in no time if he’s not. Speaking of, have you, um, checked your email lately?”
“No.” He pushed away from the counter with a start. “I’ve been checking like every five minutes, usually, but, uh, we got to talking, and I forgot.”
“That’s okay.” She smiled, but it felt tight. “It’s supposed to be sometime today, though, right?”
He nodded, pulling out his phone, then swiping across the screen. “Tomorrow at the latest.”
Janie held her breath, the stillness in her body mirroring the stillness in the room and on Aiden’s features. His face was unreadable. He didn’t move.
When she was just about to jump out of her chair because she couldn’t take it anymore, he looked up at her. The hard lines on his face, the stiffness in his body were a complete contrast to the softness, the tears in his eyes as he whispered hoarsely, “He’s mine.”
Janie nodded, unable to speak past the lump in her throat.
And then something changed. The softness in his eyes was replaced by something harder. Bitterness emanated from him, shrinking the kitchen, and when he spoke again his voice was low and rumbling as a growl. “He’s mine, and he’s been kept from me for fifteen years. I will never be able to forgive Maxi for this. Never.”
Chapter Six
“Is there any lunch I can have?” Will asked, appearing in the doorway to the kitchen.
Aiden tore his gaze from Janie’s to look at the young man. His son. Aiden’s hands were sweaty, and the emotions ripping through him were changing so rapidly he didn’t know what the hell to do or say. He couldn’t be calm and rational, because right now, all he could feel was rage at having been robbed of fatherhood for fifteen years. And he was angry that Will was an innocent victim of his father’s bad choices and his mother’s lies.
Somehow, with a self-control he didn’t even know he had, he nodded and said, “Of course. I can make soup and sandwiches.”
Will’s brow furrowed, his gaze shifting from Aiden to Janie. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong,” he said quickly and took a step toward Will. His son. He had