Cody patted Buster as Jacob had done and said, “Good dog,” over and over.
A tug pulled at Jacob’s heart. It was admittedly tiny, but definitely there and something to build on.
He showed the boy a few more of Buster’s tricks, finishing with a display of Buster’s vocalizing abilities.
“Say hello,” Jacob commanded, and the dog yowled comically.
“That’s amazing,” Mariana said.
Hearing the warmth in her voice, Jacob glanced up. The matching warmth in her expression had him unable to stop staring. She was more than pretty, she was compelling, and the effect she had on him was potent.
“I can’t take any of the credit,” he said. “My friend trained him.”
She came over and petted Buster. “I bet he was something to see.”
“If you go onto YouTube and search his name, you’ll find a few videos from his heyday. They’re fun to watch.”
“I just might do that.” She moved to the couch and sat next to Jacob. “We can’t stay much longer. Cody’s bedtime is eight.”
“Thanks for bringing him by.”
“I think it went well.”
“Before you go, can we spend a few minutes discussing visitation?”
“Oh.” She abruptly tensed. “Don’t you want to wait for the DNA test results?”
“That’s a week away, at most.”
Sensing his performance was over, Buster stretched out at Jacob’s feet. Cody tumbled on top of the dog, whose only reaction was a soft grunt.
“Have you told your family yet about Cody?” she asked.
“Like you, I was waiting. I mentioned him to a friend the other day.” Jacob turned the tables on her. “Have you told your mother?”
There was a slight flicker in her expression and then she finally said, “Yes.”
“How did she take it?”
“She’s concerned for Cody’s welfare. Please don’t take that wrong. It’s nothing against you personally.”
“I don’t. I’m a complete stranger. Perhaps she and I can also meet. In fact, I’d like that.”
“Eventually.”
Again, her tone rubbed him the wrong way. “Wow, she must be really upset. Is she going to fight me?”
“There’s nothing to fight. You haven’t been proven to be an unfit father.”
“I’m not any kind of a father.”
“Which is one of the reasons I’d prefer to start with weekly supervised visits. Like tonight. Then, we could progress to unsupervised visits. After a few months, you could take Cody for a whole day.”
If her expression weren’t so serious, he’d think she was joking. “Am I a criminal?”
“What?”
“You’re treating me like one. Supervised visits?”
“This is going to a big adjustment for Cody. Moving too fast will only confuse him, and he’s already suffered so much.”
“I get big adjustments, Mariana. My mother married Brock Baron when I was nine, and my life changed completely. I promise you I’ll be sensitive to Cody’s needs.”
“I’m sure you will. But he’s only two.”
“And he’ll probably adjust a lot faster than a nine-year-old. Look at him.” Both their glances traveled to Cody, who lay snuggled beside Buster, the thumb of one hand shoved in his mouth and the fingers of his other hand entwined in the dog’s thick fur. “Does he look like he’s struggling?”
“It might be a different story if I weren’t here.”
“Why are you backpedaling all of a sudden?”
Her lips thinned. “I’m not.”
“You came to me. You suggested I have a role in Cody’s life, to whatever extent I choose.”
“After an adjustment period.”
“According to you, a very long adjustment period. Did your mother change your mind?”
“My mother does have reservations and raised some valid points. After considering them, I reviewed my original position.”
Always the carefully worded answer. She was definitely an attorney.
“Look,” he said. “I’m the first to admit I lack parenting experience. And I’m going to need help. But I won’t be treated like a criminal, either.”
“I apologize. I was out of line.”
He nodded. “Thank you for that.”
“I really want for us to work together on what’s best for Cody.”
“Agreed.”
“Good.” She relaxed. “What if Cody and I come by—”
“I’d like for Cody to move in with me. Right away.”
“What!” She stared at him as if he’d suggested she jump out of a plane without a parachute.
“I told you that first day, if he was my son, I’d do right by him. Well, I will. And for me, that means being a full-time father. Not pawning him off on his mother’s relatives.”
The plan that had started taking shape yesterday during Jacob’s ride crystalized. He would be a better father than Oscar Burke and Brock Baron combined.
“I love Cody. You wouldn’t be pawning him off on me.”
“You’d be welcome to visit anytime. Your mother, too. Have him on weekends.”
Mariana shook her head. “You can’t possibly care for a toddler. You don’t even have a crib.”
“Small details that can be worked out.”
“Have you ever bathed a child or changed a diaper?”
Diapers? Okay, he hadn’t thought of that. “Larger details, but they can still be worked out. Other men manage to be fathers.” He was thinking of Luke. “I’m sure I can learn, too.”
“You work during the day. And you’re gone every weekend to some rodeo.”
“Cody’s in day care now. There must be a suitable place between my house and the drill site.”
She held up a hand as if to stop him. He almost expected her to say, “Your honor, I object.”
What she did say was, “This is much, much too quick. He just lost Leah. He can’t lose me, too. There has to be another solution.”
“There is. You can move in with me, too.”
“What!”
“Temporarily. Just until Cody adjusts. A month should be long enough, don’t you think? Longer if necessary. I can get off work early on Thursday.”
Her mouth worked, but no words came out.
Jacob couldn’t help grinning. Seems he’d finally done it. Shocked the unflappable Mariana Snow into silence.
* * *
“HAVE YOU LOST your mind?” Lucille Snow pressed her palms to her cheeks and squeezed her eyes shut. “You can’t do this.”
If Mariana had lost her mind, she wasn’t the only one. Jacob was plumb crazy to suggest she stay with him. Then again, she’d agreed. What did that say about