The Daddy Search

Which One Was The Real Nick Clayton? Letter to Reader Title Page About the Author Prologue Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Copyright

Which One Was The Real Nick Clayton?

The man her sister had described, or the one Lexi herself had observed?

There was no way you could call Nick irresponsible or callous. She could not imagine him knowingly abandoning his son or telling the boy’s mother to get out of his life.

And most devastating of all was Lexi’s sense of guilt for her personal involvement with the very man she had come to confront. What was she to believe? Her sister’s accusations, or her own observations of a man who made her tingle with excitement and caused her heart to sing?

Dear Reader,

Hey, look us over—our brand-new cover makes Silhouette Desire look more desirable than ever! And between the covers we’re continuing to offer those powerful, passionate and provocative love stories featuring rugged heroes and spirited heroines.

Mary Lynn Baxter returns to Desire and locates our November MAN OF THE MONTH in the Heart of Texas, where a virgin heroine is wary of involvement with a younger man.

More heart-pounding excitement can be found in the next installment of the Desire miniseries TEXAS CATTLEMAN’S CLUB with Secret Agent Dad by Metsy Hingle. Undercover agent Blake Hunt loses his memory but gains adorable twin babies—and the heart of lovely widow Josie Walters!

Ever-popular Dixie Browning presents a romance in which opposites attract in The Bride-in-Law. Elizabeth Bevarly offers you A Doctor in Her Stocking, another entertaining story in her miniseries FROM HERE TO MATERNITY. The Daddy Search is Shawna Delacorte’s story of a woman’s search for the man she believes fathered her late sister’s child. And a hero and heroine are in jeopardy on an island paradise in Kathleen Korbel’s Sail Away.

Each and every month, Silhouette Desire offers you six exhilarating journeys into the seductive world of romance.

So make a commitment to sensual love and treat yourself to all six!

Enjoy!

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Senior Editor, Silhouette Desire

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The Daddy Search

Shawna Delacorte

www.millsandboon.co.uk

SHAWNA DELACORTE has delayed her move to Washington State, staying in the Midwest in order to spend some additional time with family. She still travels as often as time permits, and is looking forward to visiting several new places during the upcoming year while continuing to devote herself to writing full-time.

Prologue

“There’s nothing more to say, Mother. Nick Clayton is Jimmy’s father and he has to pay for deserting Mamie when he found out she was pregnant. You’re not going to talk me out of it. I’ll be leaving for Jackson Hole, Wyoming, first thing in the morning.”

Lexi quickly concluded her phone conversation, then went into the living room where her five-year-old nephew had plopped down in the middle of the floor to watch television. She studied him a moment as she pulled her long blond hair into a ponytail and fastened it with a rubber band. He had his mother’s looks—Marnie’s light brown hair and blue-gray eyes. Friends and family had always said if it hadn’t been for Mamie being six years older than Lexi, the two girls would have looked enough alike to have been mistaken for twins. Both girls were tall and slender, and they wore the same size clothes.

Mamie had been a good mother. What she and her son lacked in material possessions Mamie had made up for in love and attention. It was almost as if she had searched all her life for someone who needed her, someone to whom she could give her love, and she had found what she’d been seeking when her son was born. Mamie’s death had created a tragic upheaval in Jimmy’s life and left a void that Lexi tried hard to fill. A touch of sadness washed over her, but it boosted her resolve to see things through to the conclusion.

“Jimmy?” The little boy looked up at the sound of her voice. “I have some business that I need to take care of . . . out of town. You’ll be staying with Grandma for a little while. And while you’re there, she’s going to take you to the zoo.” Lexi forced an encouraging smile and tried to make her voice sound upbeat and casual, as if nothing were wrong. “Won’t that be fun?”

Lexi set about packing a suitcase for Jimmy and then packed for her own trip. She was determined and her mother was opposed and that’s the way it had been from the moment Lexi first mentioned the idea four months ago, immediately following her sister’s death. Neither of them had budged from their positions and Lexi had decided to proceed with her plan. She needed to secure Jimmy’s future while trying to make sense of what had happened.

Even though Marnie’s death was technically an accident, Lexi still held Nick Clayton responsible. Mamie had been forced to take on a second job to provide for her son. It was on her way to that second job, driving through a deluge when everyone had been warned to stay off the roads, that she had been caught in a flash flood and drowned. Now Lexi had to raise her sister’s five-year-old son. Lexi loved Jimmy as much as if he had been her own child, and she was prepared to confront the man Mamie said had gotten her pregnant, then refused to accept any responsibility. She was going to demand that this unprincipled man contribute to Jimmy’s upbringing and see to it that the little boy received a good education. Yes, indeed—Lexi fully intended to confront Nick Clayton.

Then the nagging little thought surfaced again—the one that questioned if it was possible for this to be yet another of Mamie’s exaggerations. Lexi shoved the disturbing notion aside. Surely Mamie wouldn’t have lied about something this important... surely not.

One

Lexi stared blankly out the window at the passing scenery as the shuttle van made its way along the road. The other passengers were laughing and happy, obviously looking forward to a fun-filled holiday. But hot Lexi. Fun was the very last thing on her mind. She leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes in an attempt to ease the tension headache that throbbed at her temples.

She went over the facts for what seemed like the hundredth time in the past four months. She recited them in her mind almost like a litany. Mamie had met Nick Clayton while vacationing at the Clayton’s Via Verde Dude Ranch. They had an affair that included a trip to Hawaii where she became pregnant. When Marnie told Nick, he refused to accept any responsibility. Not knowing what else to do, Marnie had confided to Lexi and finally told their mother, Colleen, that she was pregnant and the father had deserted her.

Colleen had blamed her daughter, saying it was just one more example of Mamie’s wild and irresponsible behavior to add to an already long list. Mamie and Lexi’s father had died ten years ago. Being widowed at such a young age left their mother an embittered woman. Since then, their relationship with their mother could best be described as adversarial, which only made the strained situation worse. Lexi had tried her best to be supportive, but Colleen had informed Mamie that she could not look to her for any help with this latest mess of hers. An angry Lexi wanted to confront Nick Clayton and threaten him with legal action, but Mamie had begged her not to, so Lexi reluctantly agreed to defer to her sister’s wishes.

Mamie wanted to have the baby. When Jimmy was born, Mamie had signed a document stating if anything happened to her, she wanted her sister to be her son’s legal guardian rather than their mother. Marnie had eventually reconciled with her mother but had never gotten around to changing the document. So, with Mamie’s unexpected death, Lexi had become Jimmy’s guardian with her mother there to help care for the boy.

And now, four months later and against her mother’s strong objections, Lexi had taken all her savings and spent it on a three week stay at an expensive Wyoming dude ranch—certainly not the type of place she normally would have associated with her sister’s interests. She intended to confront the man she held responsible, even though indirectly, for her sister’s death. But first she needed to check things out in person, determine for herself exactly who this Nick Clayton was. Lexi had never felt so emotionally exhausted, or as old beyond her twenty-six years, as she did at this moment.

The van turned into a long, tree-lined driveway, then came to a halt in front of a large building. “Welcome to Via Verde Dude Ranch, folks, here in the heart of beautiful Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I’ll have your luggage unloaded in just a minute.” The driver busied himself with suitcases as the passengers climbed out of the van.

Lexi took in her surroundings. The grounds were attractively landscaped and the buildings all had an appropriately rustic look, contributing to the overall atmosphere of the dude ranch. She also noted two tennis courts, several tree-shaded terraces and a large swimming pool with a children’s wading pool and a Jacuzzi.

Then her gaze landed on the corral, her attention drawn by a highly spirited horse being led into a chute. She wandered over to the fence so she could get a better look at what was happening. Leaning against the railing, she watched as a cowboy climbed into the chute, then eased himself onto the back of the agitated horse. His hat blocked her view of his face, but his broad shoulders, long legs and the snug fit of his jeans told her the rest of him certainly warranted closer scrutiny. The chute gate sprang open and the snorting bronco shot out into the corral. It appeared that she had arrived just in time to get a glimpse of a mini rodeo.

The cowboy’s hat flew off, revealing a man of about thirty with dark hair and handsome features... very handsome features. Her thoughts drifted for a brief moment. There was certainly a lot to be said about the appeal of the rugged Wild West and the equally rugged men who lived there. She returned her attention to the action in the corral. The rider appeared to have the upper hand, but not for long. The unruly horse leaped into the air, twisted half around, then threw the rider off its back.

Lexi flinched. The cowboy hit the ground with a thud that nearly jarred her bones in sympathy with his plight. She watched him brush the dirt from his jeans, then rub his well-formed backside where he had landed. She toyed with the notion that kissing whatever he had bruised and making it well just might be a delightful way to pass the time—certainly a tantalizing idea that fitted perfectly with this drop-dead gorgeous cowboy. Her breathing quickened. She had no idea the Wild West could be so . . . so entertaining.

Then this prime physical specimen grabbed his hat from the ground and walked straight toward her. He exuded an undeniable sexuality wrapped in a layer of rugged masculinity—a very potent combination for sure. A little twinge of embarrassment poked at her. It was almost as if he had read her thoughts and come over to grant her the errant wish—a tempting possibility that produced a heated surge of desire where this virile man was concerned.

She noted the way he moved—a walk that was not a swagger and showed no arrogance, yet clearly defined the essence of a man full of confidence about who he was, where he was going and what he wanted out of life. All in all, a very attractive and appealing package that could easily set any woman’s heart aflutter, and she was no exception. Then a dash of cold water dampened her thoughts as she recalled exactly why she was at the ranch. Fantasizing about a sexy cowboy should have been the last thing on her mind.

As he drew closer, he appeared even more goodlooking than he had from a distance. And then he smiled—a cross between a sexy come-hither look and one of open warmth—showing perfect white teeth made all the more noticeable by his golden tan. She wasn’t sure, but she thought he might be the most devastatingly handsome man she had ever seen . . . just the type to cause a woman to have delicious fantasies of a truly erotic nature. She took a deep breath as the warmth swept through her body. She could almost feel his bare skin against hers, hear the ragged breathing of someone enveloped in the throes of passion.

A touch of surprise tempered her wandering thoughts. This certainly was not like her, conjuring up such heated fantasies about a stranger regardless of how attractive she found him. She was much more pragmatic than that. She suddenly felt like a teenager with raging hormones. True, she hadn’t been on a date since taking responsibility for Jimmy, but that didn’t excuse such totally off-the-wall and inappropriate musings where this stranger was concerned. She again reminded herself of the very serious purpose that had brought her to the ranch and the task she had set for herself. Meeting an exciting man was not part of that agenda, regardless of the sensual magnetism drawing her into his realm.

He came to a halt not more than five feet from her, removed his leather work gloves and tucked them into his belt. His brilliant blue eyes seemed to penetrate right into her existence and hold her soul captive. She had no idea who he was, but she was certainly anxious to find out. If she had known dude ranches offered up such delectable talent, she would have visited one a long time ago.

Then he spoke, the sound of his voice sending a tremor of excitement through her body while drawing her even farther into his magnetic aura.

“Hi. I don’t believe I’ve seen you around here before.” He reached out and tugged at her sunglasses until he had removed them to reveal her entire face. “That’s much better. Now I’m sure I haven’t seen you around here.” He handed the sunglasses back to her. “You really shouldn’t hide those beautiful eyes behind these dark glasses.”

“Oh?” She tried to fall in line with his open, easy manner. “You mean you don’t think they lend an air of mystery?”

He ignored her question. “I hope you realize you’re responsible for that horse tossing me to the ground.”

She felt her eyes widen in shock at his accusatory words. “Me? What did I do?”

“You appeared from out of nowhere and stood there looking like the most intriguing woman I’d ever seen—hair of spun gold and half your face covered by these large dark glasses. By the time I got my mind back on the fact that the horse and I had different goals, it was too late. I was on my backside in the dirt wondering what happened.” He flashed a sexy yet nonthreatening smile. “So you now owe me something to make up for this terrible inconvenience.”

“Oh?” She couldn’t help the little grin that tugged at the corners of her mouth. “And just what might that be?”

“I’ll have to think about that one.” He gave her a sly wink. “I don’t want to make any hasty decisions.”

She saw the sparkle in his eyes and a heated look that said a lot more than just hello—a look that sent a surge of earthy desire rushing through her body. He cocked his head and stared at her for a moment, a very unnerving experience that quickly brought her back to earth. She was no good at flirting and playing teasing little games, and knew she was way out of her league. She never should have tried it with him.

“Was mystery what you were trying for?”

She furrowed her brow in confusion and tilted her head to one side. “What?”

“You asked me if I thought the sunglasses gave you an air of mystery. Is that what you were trying for?”

She glanced at the ground as the embarrassment tried to take control and felt the heat spread across her cheeks. “No, it wasn’t.” She looked up at him again. Rather than making fun of her, he seemed more interested in what her answer might be. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound flippant. I guess I’m just not very good at this type of conversation.”

He reached out and touched his fingertips to her cheek, allowing his hand to linger for a moment before withdrawing it. His voice dropped to a soft level that wrapped her in a cloak of intimacy. “What type of conversation are you good at?”

Little trails of heat followed in the wake of his touch. She had to force the words that came out as not much more than a whisper. “I only meant that I don’t do very well with casual, flirty conversations. I never know what to say and usually end up feeling foolish.” Her own words shocked her. She could not imagine what had prompted her to say something so personal to this complete stranger.

“I guess that brings us back full circle to my original observation that I haven’t seen you around here before.” He blatantly looked her up and down, sending a second tremor of excitement coursing through her veins. He reestablished eye contact, which included another quick wink. “And believe me, I would have noticed you. Did you just arrive?”

“Uh . . . yes. I just got off the shuttle from the airport.” She waved her hand in the direction of the driveway, indicating the van parked in front of the registration lobby. She noticed the hint of confusion followed by the look of surprise that darted across his face as he shifted his attention in that direction.

His words were slightly distracted, as if he were thinking out loud rather than talking to her. “Looks like Herb made good time from the airport. He’s here a little sooner than I expected.” Then his gaze returned to her along with his devastatingly sexy smile. “As much as I’d love to stand here and talk to you for the rest of the morning, I’m afraid I need to get to work.”

“You mean riding that bucking horse and getting thrown to the ground wasn’t work? It sure looked like work to me.”

“That?” He gave a quick glance over his shoulder toward the horse being herded out of the corral. “No, that wasn’t work. I was handling a little problem. No big deal.” His gaze wandered toward the shuttle van again. “I really need to be on my way.” He climbed over the fence, then paused as he smoothed back his glossy hair and settled his hat firmly on his head. He smiled at her while touching his hand to his hat brim. “I’ll definitely see you later.” He had spoken the words as a statement of fact rather than a casual comment.

She returned his smile. “I’ll look forward to it.” Unsettled, she felt a flutter in the pit of her stomach as she watched him walk away, his stride purposeful and determined. Yes . . . she would like that very much in spite of the fact that he had left her feeling off balance. She knew she had just fallen instantly in lust with the sexiest man she had ever met, but there seemed to be more to it than that. He had literally rocked her senses to the core and knocked her for a loop. She toyed with the notion of love at first sight. Was there such a thing, and if so, how could someone clearly identify it? Whatever the answers, this cowboy had totally captivated her.

She turned her attention back to the shuttle van and to the reality of her objective. The driver had gotten a cart and loaded the baggage onto it. She hurried to rejoin the others, her insides still quivering from her encounter with the brash cowboy. A moment later, she spotted the same drop-dead gorgeous man headed toward the van. He smiled at her . . . at least it seemed that it had been directed solely for her benefit, rather than extended to the group. Or perhaps it was merely wishful thinking on her part.

He joined the new arrivals. “Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. If you’ll give me a moment or two, I’ll be right with you.” He turned toward the driver and held out his hand. “Do you have a copy of the guest list, Herb? You got here a little sooner than I expected and caught me unprepared. Then I got sidetracked—” he shot a quick sideways glance at Lexi along with a knowing grin “—and didn’t have a chance to grab the clipboard from the office.”

As if to confirm his statement he brushed some dirt from his shirt and took another swipe at his jeans. A sheepish grin appeared and a hint of embarrassment darted across his features, giving him the appearance of a mischievous little boy who had just been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

“I obviously didn’t have an opportunity to get cleaned up, either.”

The driver handed him a sheet of paper, then returned to the task of wheeling the baggage cart into the building.

The cowboy turned toward the group with an engaging smile. “I’m Nick Clayton. On behalf of my mother, Gloria, and my brother, Danny, I’d like to officially welcome you to the Via Verde Dude Ranch. We hope to make your vacation a fun and memorable experience.”

A solid jab of alarm shot through Lexi, then it settled in the pit of her stomach where it continued to churn. A hard knot lodged in her throat as the shock jolted her senses She tried to swallow it away, but it almost choked her. Had she heard him correctly? This sexy cowboy who had totally grabbed her attention and triggered such sensual thoughts and desires in her imagination was Nick Clayton? This man whose mere presence had sent tingles of excitement through her body and turned her world upside down was the very man she had come to confront—the man who had ruined her sister’s life?

She tried to shove the contradictory clouds of confusion from her mind. On one hand, there was her steadfast belief in her need to do everything she could to secure her nephew’s future, but on the other hand was her knowledge of Mamie’s history of lies and deceit It was that nagging little doubt in the back of her mind that had prompted her plan to check out Nick Clayton in person without his knowing it before taking any further action.

She forced her attention back to what he was saying.

“. . . you have any questions or need any assistance, please feel free to contact me or any of the staff.” Nick glanced at the list in his hand. “And now, I’d like to attach some names to your faces.”

He quickly identified the other people who had arrived on the shuttle van with Lexi, offering each a warm handshake of welcome. Then he turned his attention toward her and held out his hand. His voice lowered to a timbre that mesmerized her senses, nearly obliterating her determination to ignore him:

“It seems the only name left on my list is Alexandra Parker from Chicago.” He grasped her hand firmly, a physical contact that lingered a couple of seconds longer than it should have as the warmth of his touch suffused her with a very real desire for more.

Again she forced away the totally inappropriate feelings caused by the nearness of this very enticing man. She attempted to dismiss them as being ridiculous. It was a purely physical attraction to a sexy man, nothing more. She was a mature adult who could put aside such unimportant nonsense and concentrate on what needed to be done.

She stared at him through narrowing eyes as she forced her mind beyond what she saw and felt to exactly who and what he was. She knew his type all too well. She had once been engaged to someone just like him—a man with a smooth technique, a fast line and not a sincere bone in his body. She had been fully prepared to hate Nick Clayton on sight.

His warm touch and the almost overwhelming pull on her senses again edged into her consciousness as she tried valiantly to get the upper hand in her internal battle. She made every effort to shove the unwelcome sensations away, but as the familiar poem said, “The best laid schemes o’ mice and men...”

The sound of his voice interrupted her thoughts and jolted her back to the fact that he was talking to her.

“Is that correct? You’re Alexandra Parker?”