Page 23 of The Forbidden Texan
“Oh, goodie,” she said and smiled, taking his mind off his discovery because her smile made him want to hold her in his arms again. “I think you found a family secret. Or maybe a gold mine somewhere on the ranch. Is that it?”
“You were closer when you were talking about a family secret. And it’s better than a gold mine.”
“Well, Thane said his grandfathers were rascals, so I’m surprised this is a family secret that is better than a gold mine.”
“You will be surprised. I wish Thane were here so I could share it with him. But in his place I think you may be the perfect person. First, let’s have a drink and for just a moment, I want to celebrate my discovery.”
“Ah, at least it’s good news.”
“I think it’s super great news. I just wish I had discovered it a lot sooner. White or red wine, or beer?” he asked again.
“Red wine, please. Now I’m very curious.”
Jake opened a bottle and poured a glass of wine, crossing the room to hand it to her. His hand brushed hers and he felt that sizzle again. He tried to bank desire and memories that made him want to forget everything else and kiss her, but when he looked down into her eyes, he was struck by a thought.
He was surprised he hadn’t realized it sooner. But now he did and the impact wasn’t lost on him.
There was no longer the division between him and Emily. No longer a feud.
Because she was a Kincaid...and he wasn’t a Ralston.
But she still wasn’t his type of woman. He was doing what he knew he shouldn’t and had said he wouldn’t—getting to know her, kissing her when he had the opportunity. He had known better than to kiss her. Emily would never take sex in a casual way and he didn’t want it any other way. In spite of knowing that, he couldn’t resist her.
His brothers, parents and stepparents had soured him on marriage. Emily looked the type to equate sex with marriage and she also looked the type to not care how old-fashioned that was.
So why was his pulse still racing, and why did he still want to pull her into his arms and kiss her and carry her to his bed?
He went back to open a bottle of cold beer and took a swallow, then he pulled a chair close to hers. “My secret is just for the two of us for now. Thane threw us together here in this old house and I’m beginning to wonder why. To what extent he wanted us to try to end this Ralston-Kincaid feud.”
“I think we’re doing what he wanted.”
Jake handed her the letter. “Read this and you’ll discover the secret the same way I did.”
Six
Emily took the letter, her warm fingers brushing his, and began to read while he waited.
“Oh, my word.” She looked up and her eyes were wide. “You and Thane were half brothers,” she said, sounding as stunned as he felt.
“And I never knew it until I read that letter.”
“Oh, my heavens. Ben Warner is your father. No one knows this?”
“No one knows except my mom, Thane’s dad, a doctor somewhere, and now you and I know.”
“Wow. You’re not a Ralston.”
Jake smiled as he nodded. “That’s right and suddenly people who have hated me will like me.”
“That makes the feud even sillier.”
“Maybe so, but we won’t be the shining example now of how a Ralston and a Kincaid can get along,” he replied.
“We can be if we don’t tell anyone about your discovery. No one has to know. Thane is gone. It won’t change your life. You don’t want to hurt Ben Warner. You don’t want to hurt your mother or Mrs. Warner. None of them will know if you keep it a secret—at least for a while longer. Mr. Warner has lived with it all these years. So has your mother. You might think twice before you reveal it to anyone else.”
“I agree. I guess that’s why Mr. Warner was always so interested in me and how I was getting along. I wish Thane had known, but we were like brothers, anyway. Maybe that’s why the man I thought was my dad wasn’t interested in me. I just thought he was cold.”
“What about your birth certificate?”
