Destined to Change by Harley, M. (top android ebook reader TXT) 📕

that’s how. That woman just broke my heart. I had always dreamed of bein’ a daddy. I wanted that so bad. Ever since my parents died, I had wanted a family. I had my cousins, but I’d always wanted a kid. And for less than a minute, I had it. But of course she thinks it’s asshat’s baby.

We had used protection when we were together, but I just wanted this so damn bad. I really hoped it would be mine. I guess I would have to hang around a few weeks to find out. If that baby was mine, there was no fucking way Loralei Harper wouldn’t become mine too.

Loralei

“Cade, I really don’t want to talk about this right now.” We were on our way to my house from the hospital. My parents had the kids and were waiting for me at home.

“Hon, we need to talk about this now. I’m not leaving here until I know if that baby in your belly is mine. I know you keep tellin’ me you don’t feel a spark with me, but by God I feel one with you. I haven’t slept a wink since we parted in Joplin. I have been hurtin’, physically hurtin’, for you. You can’t tell me that you didn’t have a good time with me, hon. I know you did. And where the hell is asshat anyway? Why wasn’t he here for you when you needed him? Sure as hell wasn’t him driving you to the hospital. Or sitting up all night watching you sleep, just to make sure you were breathing okay. Where was he, huh, Loralei?”

I couldn’t even look at him. He was right. He was there for me when I needed him. And this baby could be his. But in my heart, I knew it was Jaxon’s. There wasn’t a question in my mind. No matter what had happened, I loved Jaxon, not Cade. And I had to tell him.

“Cade, you did make me happy. You were exactly what I needed at that point. But you are not my future. I’m so sorry, but I don’t love you. And I don’t believe that you love me either. I really think I’m more of a game to you. Something you can’t have, so you want it even more. I love him, Cade. And no matter what’s happened between he and I, that hasn’t changed. We may not end up together, but I will never feel for you, what I feel for him.”

We rode the rest of the way home in silence. Every once in awhile I would glance over at Cade, but he never took his eyes off the road. He had this look on his face. I had only seen it a couple of times before. He was fiercely determined. That look scared the hell out of me. He wasn’t going to go anywhere until we knew who the father was. Oh my god! How was I going to tell my parents I was pregnant? Oh, and I would have to tell them I wasn’t sure who the father was. Wow, who’d have thought my life would come to this?

I broke the silence when we started down the drive to my house. “Cade, I don’t want to tell anyone about the baby yet.”

He didn’t even look at me. “I’ll do whatever you want, hon. You just tell me, and it’s done. You don’t want anybody to know. I won’t tell a soul. But I’m not leaving here until I know if that baby is mine.” He finally looked up at me, with his green eyes burning. “And if that baby in your belly is mine, you will be mine too. That’s a guarantee.” He finally looked away from me when my dad opened my door.

“Darlin’, we were so worried about you. We took good care of the kids, while Cade took you to the hospital. Thanks again for that, Cade. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate ya takin’ care of my baby.”

Cade tipped his hat at my dad. “The pleasure was all mine, Mr. Harper, I assure you.” He glanced over at me. “Looks like ya’ll could use a couple of extra hands with the new cattle comin’ in and all. Why don’t Clay and I stay here with ya for a bit? Mr. Davidson will be here tomorrow with the cattle from the sale. Since it’s doin’ poorly, probably wouldn’t be a bad idea, to keep ‘em all together for a while. Then we can cull the herd and go our separate ways in a few weeks probably.”

My dad looked at me, waiting for me to respond to Cade. “Uh, I guess that’d be okay. You can stay in the old cabin as long as ya need to. But we don’t want to keep you from anything at your ranch. If you need to get back, everything here will be just fine.”

Cade was getting mad. He was glaring at me. “No, hon, right here is where I need to be. I’ll send Clay to the ranch to pick up some stuff for us and we’ll see ya’ll tomorrow. Mr. Davidson is plannin’ on gettin’ here around lunchtime right?”

I nodded and my dad helped me down out of the truck. He tipped his hat at Cade. Cade drove away toward the cabin.

We went into the house and my mom came running over toward me. “Loralei Harper, this is what you get for not listening to your mother. I told you, you need to eat healthier. You don’t eat right, sweetie. It’s not good for you. And you aren’t setting a good example for the kids.”

I really couldn’t handle this right now. “So, mom, if you’re done yelling at me about my eating habits, could you maybe tell me where my kids are?”

My mom glared at me. “You know you’re never too old to bend over my knee ma’am.”

Seriously, she was going to do this now?

“Mom, I am suffering from a head injury, I