She looked at Joshua, who was trying to look up into the massive white marble fireplace. “I worry about the kind of friends he’ll have.”

  “Temptations are out there. We’ll just have to teach him right from wrong.”

  She caught the “we,” but she wasn’t fooled. She was on borrowed time. “How long will we be here before we can leave?”

  “I thought I made myself clear on that matter,” he said, and stepped around her. “Joshua, you want to help me with the luggage? Then we can go get something to eat.”

  Joshua came to him in a flash. “Can we go to McDonald’s?”

  Cameron chuckled. “I see the rite of passage is still the same.” He placed his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Maybe next time. Why don’t we go to another place to get those hamburgers?”

  “Do they have a toy?” Joshua asked, as they headed out the door.

  “Nope. So I guess that means we’ll have to make a visit to the toy store tomorrow to make up for it.”

  “Wow!”

  Caitlin went to the door and watched Cameron and Joshua go down the stairs, their hands linked. They were growing closer. Where did that leave her?

  “We need to decide how to tell Joshua I’m his father, that he’s mine.”

  Caitlin had expected the request after they’d put Joshua to bed that night, but something about the way Cameron said “mine” brought to the forefront her fear that once Joshua was comfortable with Cameron there would be no need for her. “Perhaps we should wait.”

  Unfolding his arms, Cameron pushed away from the black marble mantel in the living room. Here again the decorator had used yellow, this time adding a mixture of blue and gold. “I’ve waited long enough. So has he for his father.” He stalked over to stand in front of her. “Do you know how hard it was when we went out and a woman asked if he was my son? I just stood there, unable to claim him.”

  “That’s my point, Cameron,” she said, getting to her feet from a side chair in front of the sofa and quickly stepping away. “You’re famous. What’s going to happen when news gets out that you have a son? NASCAR likes its family image.”

  His dark eyes narrowed. “You can throw NASCAR into the conversation when it’s convenient.”

  “I don’t want people questioning him. Why do you think I’m wearing this ring?” The second the words were out she wished she could recall them. She’d left the two-carat pear-shaped diamond engagement ring on the bed with the wedding gown and veil.

  “Whose fault is that?” he asked tightly.

  “Mine.” She thumped her chest with the flat of her hand. “I’m the villain here and you’re the good guy. You can crucify me all you want, but this is about Joshua, not us.”

  He leaned so close she could smell his spicy aftershave, see her own reflection in his mesmerizing eyes. “There is no us.”

  She flinched mentally, but refused to lower her gaze no matter how much she wanted to. He deserved to take a few swipes at her. “On that we agree.” They stood like two adversaries, each waiting for their opponent to show some sign of weakness so they could attack.

  Shaking her head, she pushed her hand through her hair. “I can’t do this, Cameron. We both want what’s best for Joshua, but no matter what we say, it’s hard to take the past out of the equation.” She started to walk away then turned back. “So, get it off your chest. Tell me all the things you wanted to say and couldn’t. Spit it out and then we’ll truly move on. The only link we’ll have is Joshua.”

  “That would take more time and energy than I care to expend,” he said. “After breakfast, we sit him down and tell him. As for NASCAR, no one in my crew will gossip. And if a reporter does get nosy, you’ll show him your ring.”

  “You never answered my question. How long do you plan for us to stay?”

  “You can leave when you’re ready, but Joshua stays with me.”

  Fear chilled her. “No. I’ll fight you, Cameron.”

  “Fathers have rights. I’m sure the judge will be sympathetic since you deliberately kept him from me.” He folded his arms. “I plan to use every connection at my disposal, and believe me, I have plenty.”

  “Just because you’re a popular athlete won’t help.” She was bluffing and hoped he didn’t call her on it.

  “Maybe, but my association with Blade Navarone will.”

  She started. Navarone had billions, and he was married to Faith’s sister-in-law. “Be reasonable. With your busy schedule, you can’t keep him.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong, Caitlin. I can and will keep my son, and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it.” He walked away.

  “We’ll see about that.” Caitlin hurried to her room, found her cell in her handbag, and called Diana. Caitlin hadn’t wanted to go into detail with her best friend, but Cameron’s threat now made that necessary. Caitlin needed answers. Diana’s experience as a lawyer would help her get them.

  “Hello,” Diana answered on the third ring.

  “Diana, it’s Caitlin. I need your help,” she blurted. Too tense to sit, she paced in her room.

  “I’m here,” came Diana’s calm reply, showing why she once had been a top prosecutor for the city of Los Angeles.

  “I—” Caitlin blew out a breath. “What are a father’s rights?”

  “Depends on the judge and the state, but in most cases they’re seen as equal. Mothers no longer get a free pass.”

  Caitlin gripped the phone. “That wasn’t what I wanted to hear.”

  “I know, but you need the hard facts,” she said. “From your question, I gather that Cameron wants visitation rights.”

  “He wants full custody.” Caitlin felt a knot in her stomach just saying the words.

  “Why now? Especially with his race schedule?”

  Caitlin hesitated, trying to find the words.

  “He did know about Joshua, didn’t he?” Diana asked when there was no answer.

  Caitlin plopped down on the bed. “No.” She answered the question she knew Diana must be wondering about. “My father was killed racing stock cars. I fell in love with Cameron before I knew what he did for a living. Two weeks before we were to be married Cameron’s best friend was killed in a race.” She swallowed.

  “Oh, Caitlin.”

  “I didn’t know I was pregnant when I disappeared the day we were to be married,” she said, her voice unsteady. “I didn’t notify Cameron once I knew because I didn’t want that kind of life for Joshua or to have him see his father injured or worse.”

  “Caitlin, as a mother I understand, but as a lawyer, I know that you haven’t put yourself in a very good position for the court to look favorably upon you,” Diana said. “You have deprived a man, a popular sports professional, of his child for over four years.”

  “Meaning I could lose Joshua?”

  “Fathers have rights. The best thing to do is to try and work this out between you,” she advised. “Like it or not, there’s another person in Joshua’s life now, an important person.”

  Caitlin blew out a breath. “You’re right, I don’t like it.”

  “I’ll play devil’s advocate and ask, how you would feel if you were in Cameron’s position?”

  Caitlin rested her forehead in the palm of her hand. “He asked me the same thing.”

  “And what was your answer?”

  “I—” She opened her mouth, then closed it because the words would only scratch the surface.

  “You’re a wonderful mother, a loyal friend. You’re—we’re raising two remarkable boys; both deserve the very best we can give them,” Diana said.

  “And that includes a father who loves them.”

  “I lost my father when I was young, as well. My mother was wonderful, but she wasn’t Daddy.”

  “Mama never got over my father’s death. I lost both of them,” Caitlin said. “That won’t happen to Joshua. Somehow Cameron and I will work this out. Thank you, Diana.”

  “Anytime.”

  “I’d like you to mail Joshua’s memory book. Joshua wanted Cameron to see it. Perhaps it will help,” Caitlin said. “I’ll call tomorrow with the address.”

  “Now you’re thinking. Sharing Joshua is a major step in the right direction.”

  “I hope so. Good night and thanks.”

  “Good night.”

  Caitlin hung up the cell phone and pitched it toward her handbag on the bed. Before she lost her nerve, she left her room, went down the hall, and knocked on Cameron’s door. There was no answer. She put her ear to the door. Nothing.

  Going to Joshua’s room, she quietly opened the door. He was sprawled on his stomach with the covers up to his neck. Cameron must have tucked him in again. Closing the door, she started back down the stairs, and heard a clinking sound coming from the direction of Cameron’s room.

  Retracing her steps, she stopped at the door next to his, listened, then knocked when she heard the sound again.

  The door opened and she barely kept her jaw from dropping. Perspiration dewed Cameron’s face, beaded on his muscled chest. She recalled lapping the moisture from his body, his nipples. Fighting desire, she jerked her gaze upward. His flared nostrils weren’t due to exertion from exercising.

  He drank in the scent of her and her arousal. They might both deny it, but the attraction between them was still strong.

  Chapter 6

  “Yes?”

  She tried to swallow to ease the dryness in her throat There was nothing she could do about the need pulsing through her. “I’ve decided to go along with your plan for the time being. Joshua should know he has a father.”

  “Thank you,” Cameron said, both hands holding the towel wrapped around his neck. A bead of water ran down his chest. The urge to lap up the moisture with her tongue was so strong she had to grit her teeth. “It will be better for him if we’re united on this.”

  She swallowed before she could speak. “I know, but it’s still difficult for me to share him,” she admitted. “It doesn’t help that you keep threatening to take him from me. I couldn’t stand that.”

  Releasing the towel, he reached out his callused finger to lift her chin. Too quickly the warm roughness of his finger was gone. She’d missed his touch. She just realized how much. “Then just think of how I feel. I just found him. I’m not ready to even think of him not being a daily part of my life.”

  Her cautious eyes met his. “I understand that, but I hope you realize that I won’t leave him.”

  He nodded and stuck out his hand. “Truce.”

  She scrunched up her face, but stuck out her hand. “It probably won’t last a day.”

  “Then we’ll keep trying until it does.” His hand closed over hers. A tingling sensation ran up her arm. Somehow her gaze lowered to his mouth, full, sensual. Heat pooled in her belly.

  “Caitlin.” Her name was a rough thread of sound, tinged with need.

  She snatched her hand back, almost stumbling in her haste. She flushed. “I better go check on Joshua. Good night, Cameron.”

  “Night, Caitlin.”

  Caitlin quickly entered Joshua’s room and closed the door behind her. What had almost happened? She shook her head at the idiocy of the question. She had almost kissed Cameron. And since one kiss had never been enough, it would probably have led to other things, especially since it had been five years since he’d held her, made love to her. Her body quickened with need and greed.

  That couldn’t happen.

  Trying to put Cameron out of her mind, she went to Joshua’s bed, pleased to see he remained under the covers and slept peacefully. She couldn’t fall into the trap of loving Cameron again.

  She wouldn’t survive this time when they parted. No matter how much she might foolishly wish otherwise she had to accept that she was on borrowed time.

  By eight the next morning Cameron had completed his five-mile run, checked that his race car and motor coach had arrived safely, spoken with his crew chief, and was finishing cooking breakfast. His mother might have insisted he be self-sufficient, but it was Brandon who had taught him to cook.

  He heard Caitlin and Joshua before he saw them. His lower body stirred. He cursed softly under his breath. Good thing he’d decided to wear dress pants instead of jeans. She still made his blood run hot. Bad, bad. She couldn’t be happy with his life, and he couldn’t be happy without racing.

  “Good morning, Cameron,” Joshua greeted.

  “Morning, Joshua. Caitlin. Grab a seat. Breakfast is almost ready.”

  “Good morning. Can I help?” Caitlin asked.

  “Thanks. There’s a pitcher of orange juice in the refrigerator.” Expertly balancing two plates on one arm and carrying a third plate in his other hand, Cameron placed the yellow and black stoneware on the table. “Waffles with maple syrup, soft scrambled eggs, hash browns, and pan sausage.”

  She wondered if he remembered she loved breakfast. She seldom cooked it because Joshua was into his cold cereal phase. A month ago it had been cooked cereal, and before that peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Of course, Cameron hadn’t thought about her when he was cooking, she reasoned. He liked a filling breakfast and had often cooked for them when they were together. He must not have noticed the cereal in their shopping cart yesterday at the grocery store.

  Caitlin poured the juice and set the pitcher on a metal trivet on the small round table. Maybe if she didn’t make a big deal out of it, Joshua would eat the waffles and pan sausage on his plate. The eggs were out.

  Cameron pulled out Caitlin’s chair. Their eyes met briefly before she turned away, but not before he saw a new kind of fear in her eyes. She was fighting the attraction as much as he was. Good. He needed all the help he could get.

  “Where’s your coffee?” Caitlin asked as she took her seat.

  “Got it.” Taking his mug from the counter by the oven, he returned and pulled out his chair.

  “I’ll say grace.” Finished, Caitlin watched Joshua as he poured syrup over his waffles. She took the pitcher before he drenched them.

  “Are we going to see the car today?” Joshua asked, picking up his fork.

  “After breakfast.” Cameron forked in a bite of waffle.

  Joshua cut into his waffles, tentatively put the food in his mouth, then he opened wider, his teeth closing over the food. “This isn’t so bad,” he said around his food.

  Caitlin was so stunned that she didn’t reprimand Joshua for talking with his mouth full. He’d never eaten the waffles or pancakes she’d prepared.

  Cameron smiled. “My best friend taught me how to cook. He and I have been friends since we were five.”

  “I’ll be five in August,” Joshua proclaimed proudly.

  Cameron paused as he picked up his coffee cup. “What day?”

  “The fifteenth.” Joshua looked at his mother. “I’m having a big party and inviting all my friends. Isn’t that right, Mommy?”

  “Yes,” she said, her gaze flicking to Cameron.

  “You can come, too,” Joshua said, picking up his juice.

  “Thank you. I’d like that.”

  Caitlin knew he was thinking of all the birthdays he’d missed. The look in his eyes said he wouldn’t miss another one. She’d been reminded again of what her actions had cost him. No more. They were ending as of now.

  Things were changing too fast. She couldn’t control what was happening. Cameron was in charge, and they both knew it. Yet, the hardest part was ahead of them—telling Joshua he was Cameron’s son.

  Caitlin would have put off the moment if Cameron would have let her. He hadn’t given her a chance. As soon as Joshua had forked in the last bite of his waffles, drained his glass of milk, Cameron had scooped him out of his chair and headed for the great room.

  Caitlin was left with little choice except to follow. The bright room, done in sunny shades of yellow with cherry woods, couldn’t diminish her apprehension.

  Cameron placed Joshua in one of the side chairs in the living room sitting area, then sat on the round coffee table in front of him. “We have something important we want to tell you, Joshua.”

  Caitlin wanted to sit beside Joshua to hold him, but realized that wouldn’t be fair to either of them. Joshua had to know, as Cameron indicated, that they were united on this. Slowly, she sank down next to Cameron on the coffee table.

  Joshua, his eyes wide, watched her. Sitting on furniture was breaking the rule. “I’ve been good,” Joshua said.

  “Of course you have,” Cameron and Caitlin said almost in unison. Cameron placed his hand on Joshua’s knee, Caitlin palmed his cheek.

  Caitlin kept swallowing, the reassuring smile on her face seemingly more difficult to maintain with each passing second. It was going to be up to Cameron to get them through this.

  Cameron prayed for the right words. How did he explain to a four-and-a-half-year-old that his father had “found” him? At least Caitlin hadn’t claimed he was dead. “Your mother and I want to talk to you about something very important.”

  Joshua looked from one to the other. “I won’t play in the fountain or go down to the lake unless an adult is with me. I remember.”

  “I know you won’t,” Caitlin said. “This is about—” She paused, bit her lip.

  “Your father,” Cameron finished for her. Dragging it out certainly wasn’t helping anyone.

  “You know my daddy?” Joshua asked, his small voice filled with wonder.

  “Yes,” Cameron answered.

  Joshua, his eyes round with excitement, jumped up from his chair and went to stand in front of Cameron. “Where is he? Can you take me to him?”

  Things were moving too fast for Caitlin. “You remember I said that your father loved you, but we decided we didn’t love each other and we went to live separate lives, that we didn’t know how to find each other.”

  “Did he find us?” he asked his mother. Her mouth trembled, but she didn’t say a word.

  “I’m your father, Joshua,” Cameron answered quietly, his voice unsteady.