Blame It on the Rodeo. Amanda Renee

sister, Lexi tried to move closer to Hunter without him noticing. When he laughed, her breath caught in her throat. He has my laugh. A mother dreamed of the day she heard her child’s laughter for the first time. Today she heard hers.

      Lexi watched Shane and Hunter pose for a series of photos for a man she’d never seen before. The stranger looked out of place in perfectly creased jeans and a snap-front shirt that was probably fresh out of the package. Side by side, Hunter looked almost identical to Shane at that age. How could someone not question this child’s paternity, especially after knowing Shane’s reputation when it came to women?

      Lexi had lived wondering about her son for too long. She wanted proof the boy in front of her was hers, but swore it wouldn’t change anything. She needed the confirmation for her own peace of mind and sanity. Nobody else needed to know. She turned and stumbled over one of the folding chairs as she tried to escape the confines of the crowd.

      “Lexi?” A strong male hand lightly touched her shoulder. “Are you all right?”

      Clay Tanner. It had to be fate, Lexi thought. “If I retain your services it’s illegal for you to disclose my case to anyone, right?”

      “Private investigators don’t have that privilege in this state, but you wouldn’t have to worry.” Clay ushered Lexi outside the tent and away from prying ears. “You don’t have to hire me, Lex. Just tell me what you need and I assure you it will remain confidential.”

      “Promise me, Clay,” Lexi pleaded. Her heart beat wildly in her chest. Her throat began to close, tears threatening to spill with one more blink of her eyes. “I need your help.”

      “You have it. Sit down before you pass out and then you’ll really have some explaining to do.”

      Lexi looked toward the facility and the people gathered around the Langtry family, Hunter still by Shane’s side.

      “Tell me what you need.” Clay said.

      Lexi breathlessly gripped her friend’s arm. “I need you to find out if Hunter’s my son.”

      Chapter Four

      “You think that boy is your son?” Clay led Lexi away from the crowd. “I think you better start from the beginning.”

      “I can’t.” Lexi frantically looked over her shoulder to double-check no one was listening. “Not here. I can’t risk someone overhearing. Can we go to your place?”

      Leaning into him for support, Clay protectively wrapped an arm around her and guided Lexi to her car. This was not the norm for her, Lexi thought. She prided herself on strength and perseverance no matter the obstacle. Yet twice in one day, she had found herself relying on someone else to walk her to her car. After reassuring him she was able to drive on her own, Lexi pulled out of the parking lot behind Clay’s pickup.

      The twenty-minute drive to Clay’s gave Lexi far too much time to second-guess asking him for help. She figured shouting “Happy belated April Fool’s” wouldn’t fly with the detective. After keeping her secret hidden for the past thirteen years, she found the idea of unburdening it both terrifying and a relief.

      Stopping behind Clay in the gravel driveway, Lexi death-gripped the steering wheel, uncertain she wanted to turn off the engine. A quick shift into Reverse seemed like a wiser option. Not giving her much of a choice, Clay strode to her car, reached across her and removed the keys from the ignition. Damn convertibles.

      “I’m keeping these until I know you’re okay.” Clay sauntered to the porch. “Take your time, I’ll be up here.”

      You can do this. Clay’s the only one who can help you.

      Lexi put all her trust and faith in her longtime friend, reasoning the former Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agent turned private investigator was a better choice than some stranger she found in the yellow pages. Trust and faith. A foreign concept that left a bad taste in her mouth. She trusted no one and the only thing she had faith in was her animals.

      Blindly reaching for the handle, she swung the door wide, testing her footing for fear the earth would give way beneath her and swallow her whole. A part of her actually relished the idea of disappearing and not having to face the past. Slogging up the stairs, she joined Clay and slumped into one of the porch rockers.