Wild Stallion by Delores Fossen Read Free Book Online Page B

was the wrong man to make her feel any kind of trickle. But she couldn’t seem to convince herself of that.
    She put her hand on his arm, in about the same spot where he had gripped her. But instead of pouring her frustration and anger into that grip, she traced her finger slightly down his arm. Hopefully, a gesture to soothe him.
    He probably thought she was sucking up to him, but Bailey didn’t care. She didn’t want to make an enemy of this man.
    Even if they felt like enemies.
    After all, he could have her son, and he could be keeping the baby from her.
    “So what do we do?” she asked.
    He blew out a long breath and checked his watch. “I need to bring Caden out of the panic room. He’s probably up from his nap now, and I don’t want him frightened by the strange surroundings.”
    Again, her heart latched right on to that as a possible opening. Even though it didn’t make sense, Bailey thought if she saw the baby that she would immediately know if he was hers or not.
    “No,” Jackson said, and he realized he was staring at her. “I can’t let you see him because, quite frankly, I don’t trust you.”
    She nodded, accepting that. Bailey didn’t fully trust him, either. “You won’t try to hide Caden so I can’t get to him?”
    Jackson’s hesitation didn’t help the tightness in her chest. “I agreed to the DNA test, and I’ll have it done. But that’s only because I don’t believe he’s yours. Think this through,” he said, pulling away from her. “Someone stole your child. So why would that person risk placing the baby up for adoption?”
    Bailey had an answer, only because this had constantly been on her mind. “Two possible reasons—as long as the woman has the baby with her, he, and therefore she, could be linked to the hostage situation. Plus, she kidnapped my son. Her intentions might have been good at the time. She might truly have wanted to save my baby’s life. But when she didn’t return him, she became a kidnapper and therefore a felon.”
    He continued to study her. “And the second reason?”
    “Money. I read this was a private adoption. Money no doubt changed hands.”
    “It did. But I paid it through an attorney to Caden’s birth mother, who was a college student.”
    Bailey gave that some thought. It could have been the college student in that hospital room with her. Bailey had no idea who had walked out with her baby that day. “Does this student have any DNA proof that the child is hers?”
    “No. But then neither do you.” Jackson tossed his comment right back at her.
    “Not yet anyway.”
    She instantly regretted that snap, because it put some fire in his eyes. Fire that she didn’t want there.
    “You can wait in the guesthouse until Evan returns with the DNA kit.” His voice was cool now. Detached. With just that arrogance and suspicion she’d encountered when he first walked down the stairs and confronted her. “I’ll have one of the servants show you the way.”
    Jackson reached for the phone on an end table, but he didn’t get a chance to pick it up. His own cell rang, and after glancing at the caller ID screen, he answered it right away.
    “Sheriff,” he greeted. “Please tell me you learned the identity of the intruder.”
    Bailey moved closer, hoping to hear the sheriff’s response. This could be big. If she knew the man’s name, then maybe she could learn who had hired him.
    “What?” Jackson asked. Not exactly the tone of a question. More like stunned anger. “How the hell did that happen?”
    Alarmed, Bailey went even closer, but she still couldn’t hear what the lawman was saying. My God, what had gone wrong now? Had the man managed to escape? If so, he might double back and try to break into the estate again.
    He might endanger Caden.
    Even if the baby wasn’t hers, she didn’t want him in danger. It had been a horrible mistake coming here, she admitted to herself, again.
    Jackson slapped his phone shut, but he didn’t say anything