Her Callahan Family Man. Tina Leonard

so.

      “I can’t believe I’m going to be a father to a little girl and boy. It’s so unreal. And wonderful.”

      It was hard not to soften, hearing the pride in his deep voice. She’d always loved Jace’s voice, so warm and enveloping and inviting somehow, especially when he whispered to her in the dark.

      She sensed those days were long gone. Nothing could be the same now that they were married, and married under spurious circumstances he’d no doubt come to regret one day. Speaking of regret, she figured she might as well put everything out in the open now. She took a deep breath.

      “Jace, here’s the main reason you and I have a marriage that’s probably going to be in a difficult spot, even if we didn’t have a few other notable issues. I know your family really never trusted mine.”

      “Sort of stating it too harshly,” Jace said. “We didn’t know what to think. Besides, we’ve put all that to rest with our marriage.”

      Sawyer knew better. “In a sense, your family’s fears were well-founded. Uncle Storm did ask me to keep an eye on your family.”

      She turned to look at him, met his surprised gaze. “I’m sorry. I just think you should know the truth.”

      “We kept an eye on Storm, and will continue to. We keep an eye on everyone. No big deal.”

      She waved a hand. “You can’t brush that off. I was working for you, and reporting to my uncle whenever I saw anything that I thought might be a problem for him.”

      “Why? We never had anything to do with Storm. Didn’t wish him ill.” Jace shrugged. “We just didn’t fully trust him.”

      “Yet you hired me.”

      “We weren’t worried about you.”

      She didn’t know if she should be flattered, or insulted by the sheer arrogance of Jace thinking she wasn’t a threat. “Because I’m a woman?”

      “No. I wasn’t worried about you because—”

      “Oh, no,” Sawyer interrupted, suddenly annoyed. “You weren’t worried about me because you thought you’d locked me down.”

      He laughed. “I wouldn’t have put it that way, but I would say that I feel I’m a pretty good judge of women. You never struck me as a devious sort. I could tell you liked me. Women who are hot for a guy usually have strong loyalty to him.”

      “Really. Yet I reported on you to Uncle Storm.”

      Jace shrugged again. “Probably a wise thing to do. Now that you’ve gotten that off your conscience, should we stop for the night? I don’t want you getting too tired. My children need their rest.”

      She stared at him, not happy at all. “Please drive on. I don’t want to spend a night with you.” They’d never shared a real bed before; no sense in starting tonight. Her resolve would weaken if she got near her handsome husband and a bed, with no Callahan drama to keep them apart.

      “You’re having second thoughts? I’m not the date you had in mind when you spent your hard-earned money on me?”

      She turned away, glanced out the window. Oh, he was every bit what she’d had in mind, and then some. She was married to the man of her dreams and the father of her children.

      What more could a woman ask for from a bachelor raffle?

      “You’re going to have to help me get Loco Diablo away from Galen,” Jace said, “or at least what should be my share of it. Now that you’ve proved you have a devious streak, that shouldn’t be a problem at all, princess.”