Page 30 of Kayla's Cowboy
Though Kayla smiled blandly, there was steel in her eyes. “My grandparents may not look old, but they’re in their seventies. Having a comfortable bed isn’t too much to ask. Plus, there’s a small kitchen in the RV.”
“I’ve got a terrific cookstove.”
“Fine, bring it. Maybe we’ll use that instead, but when Grams bakes a cake, she’ll do it in the RV.”
A cake?
Jackson’s vision of a hardy outdoor excursion began to erode; he’d hoped it would be easier getting to know Alex with fewer modern distractions.
“Uh, why would she make a cake? We can buy sweets.”
“We certainly can, but I guarantee Grams will do some baking, too. It’s DeeDee’s birthday next week and Grams wants her to have a cake she’s made herself.”
“Oh.”
The whole thing was exasperating, but only a louse would argue against a child’s birthday cake. He’d do well to remember Kayla had two kids to consider, along with her grandparents. “You’re right,” he conceded. “An RV is a good idea for your grandparents, and DeeDee should have a homemade cake.”
Kayla put a hand over her mouth as she yawned. “Sorry, I was up early on a call to Seattle.”
With a boyfriend?
The speculation annoyed Jackson. Kayla seemed to be a decent mother, so her dating habits weren’t his concern. Most divorcées in her situation would be searching for a new relationship, and with her looks, she probably had them lined up at the door.
Still, the prospect of a new stepfather might be hard on a teenage boy. Jackson considered how he’d feel in Alex’s place and decided he should know what sort of men were in his son’s life.
“Are you seeing anyone seriously?” he asked.
Kayla’s eyebrows lifted. “That’s none of your business.”
“Anything that affects Alex is my business.”
She snorted. “As if you have a clue about your biological son’s life.”
“That isn’t my fault. And don’t call Alex my ‘biological son’ as if you’d gone to a fertility clinic.”
“Do we have to cover this again? Biology and relationship are two different things. So far, you only have DNA in common. As for it not being your ‘fault,’ don’t rewrite history,” she said coolly. “I told you I was pregnant and you rejected both of us. What was I supposed to do, come back to Schuyler every year and find out whether you’d grown up enough to face your responsibilities? I don’t think so.”
The justice in her retort was indisputable. Even the argument that Kayla could have returned at least once put him on shaky ground, yet a part of Jackson remained angry. He had treated her poorly, but he’d also lost fifteen years with Alex, making it unlikely they’d ever share the kind of relationship a father and son should share.
“As for me dating,” Kayla continued, “you probably think a woman always wants a man, except that isn’t true. Though it’s really none of your business, I’ve gone out a few times since my divorce, but only because I was pushed by friends. I’m not sure I want to fall in love again. And certainly not until Alex and DeeDee are grown.”
“Your divorce must have been rough.”
“It wasn’t happy. How did it feel when you and Marcy split?” she asked.
“Mostly relief.” And loathing, he added silently.
“Then, you can’t understand what it’s like when someone you love says he doesn’t want to be married any longer.”
Though he saw pain in her eyes, a curious envy went through Jackson—at least Kayla and her ex-husband had started by loving each other. He’d never expected the kind of grand passion that poets extolled, but it would have been nice if he and Marcy had felt more for each other.
“Anyway,” Kayla said, “I’m here to get Alex’s questions answered, not to discuss my personal life.” She glanced at her notebook. “Among other things, Alex wants to be assured that if he’s really unhappy, you won’t go ballistic if we pack up and leave your little tea party.”
Jackson set his jaw at the deliberate goad. “Of course not,” he answered in even tones.
“The same goes for trying to spend every minute together. He knows the point of the trip is to get acquainted with you and Morgan, but he doesn’t want to commit to anything too intense.”
“Doesn’t he even care about meeting me?”
Faint sympathy filled Kayla’s face. “It’s hard to say. Alex won’t explain what’s bothering him the most. All I get from him is little stuff.”