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  The sole commitment he’ d made was to the military. To being a pilot. Until his recent run-in with Josie, he’ d apparently been on the upwardly mobile trek. A revered Air Force pilot. Too bad he’ d screwed it up doing what he did best, attempting to take advantage of a woman. Not that those kinds of maneuvers were anything new, but this time he’ d gotten caught.

  Kayla couldn’ t pretend complete innocence in what had happened between her and Mike, but she had been painfully young. He should have recognized that fact. Instead he’ d taken her word that she was eighteen. The rest, as they say, was history. He’ d left, she’ d borne his child.

  “ Look.” His gaze settled on hers once more. Incredibly, the depth of regret she saw there surprised her. “ I know I haven’ t always done the right thing.” He lifted one shoulder in a weary attempt at another gesture of uncertainty. “ I can’ t promise I will in the future. But I can’ t let my daughter grow up without getting to know her. Being a part of her life.” He shook his head, stared at the ground. “ I just can’ t do it.”

  She knew the deal. His career had stalled and he was scrambling for some kind of emotional purchase. Kayla tamped down the hint of empathy that welled in her chest. Stupid, Ryan, she scolded. “ She’ ll be twelve next month, Mike. I don’ t know that I want to throw this at her right now. Adolescence is a tough time.” You’ re too late, she didn’ t add. Couldn’ t he see that? He should have had this epiphany years ago.

  But would she have liked it any better then than she did now? Probably not.

  “ I only have a few days before I have to head back to Nevada,” he went on. “ Think it over. I want to know her. I have the right to know her.”

  He said the last with a kind of conviction that sent fear trickling down Kayla’ s spine.

  “ Is that a threat?” She searched his eyes, his face, looking for signs of just how far he intended to take this.

  He blew out a big breath and scrubbed one hand through his hair. “ I don’ t want to do it this way.” That hazel gaze turned dead serious and bored straight into hers. “ But I will if I have to. I want to see her, Kayla. I want to get to know her. I’ m her father. You can’ t keep me shut out.”

  A new charge of fury scorched through her. “ Shut you out?” She stabbed an accusing finger at him. “ You were the one who couldn’ t get away from here fast enough. You were the one who didn’ t look back.”

  “ But I kept up the child support payments,” he countered. “ I did my duty.”

  Oh, yeah, there was that. His duty. “ Being a parent is about a hell of a lot more than doing your patriotic duty, Major Bridges,” she railed. “ Who sat up with her at night when she was sick? Helped with homework? Took her for dance lessons?” She hitched a thumb at her own chest. “ Me. I’ ve been here for her every moment of her life. Where were you?”

  “ Helping to keep this country safe and free,” he snapped. “ Someone has to do it.”

  “ Do all the other Air Force dads abandon their kids? Their responsibilities?” The very idea that he would use that excuse infuriated her all the more.

  His gaze narrowed accusingly. “ You didn’ t want me involved, Kayla. Not really. And you know it. You had your family. You didn’ t need me.”

  The moment of silence stretched. Maybe he was right. He’ d admitted he didn’ t want to get married. She’ d been devastated. Hadn’ t wanted anything else to do with him after that. Kayla had turned to her family and… never looked back.

  “ I still don’ t need you,” she couldn’ t resist informing him.

  Mike surveyed her uniform. “ I can see that.” He moistened his lips, whether from necessity or design, she didn’ t know. Didn’ t matter. She wasn’ t taking the bait. “ You’ ve done real well, Kayla. But I knew you would. Jazz is lucky to have you for a mother.”

  “ Flattery will get you nowhere,” she retorted before she could stop herself. She didn’ t want to hear his compliments. Didn’ t trust him to mean what he said. She’ d believed in him once and he’ d let her down. Or maybe she’ d let herself down. Either way, she wasn’ t going to travel that road again.

  They’ d been bad for each other all those years ago, and there was no reason to believe things had changed since. And yet, this was not about her or Mike, this was about Jazz. She had a right to know her father. As much as Kayla would like to pretend the need could be ignored she knew it couldn’ t. She’ d read plenty of stories about children growing up and going out in search of a biological parent they’ d never known. Why put her daughter through that? Surely she and Mike could work out something.

  It wasn’ t as if Kayla had kept him a secret. She and Jazz talked about him. Jazz had started asking questions when she was five. Kayla had told as much of the truth as she felt comfortable with, saying Jazz’ s father was a dedicated soldier who had chosen duty over family. Her daughter seemed to accept that explanation.

  “ Kayla, don’ t do this,” he urged, his voice soft and cajoling. He evidently took her silence for an outright refusal.

  As much as she didn’ t want to be swayed by his needs, and certainly not by his charm, how could she say no? Jazz deserved this opportunity.

  “ All right. But we do this my way.”

  He nodded, albeit reluctantly. “ Does she know about me?”

  Kayla rolled her eyes. “ Of course. How do you think I explained where she came from?”

  He smiled, the expression visibly relieved. “ I’ m grateful for that.”

  She shrugged, almost too prideful to admit the next. “ I have that picture we had made together at the spring carnival. She knows who you are.”

  He blinked, but not quickly enough to conceal the surprise that glittered briefly in his eyes. “ That little thing?”

  “ I had it enlarged to a five-by-seven. It’ s not that bad.” The picture had actually been an accurate depiction of their time together. Mike had been standing behind her with his arms wrapped around her and the huge teddy bear he’ d just won. In the photo they were both smiling, unabashedly happy smiles. The image of him captured on the film had been precisely the way she’ d seen him during that short affair. A single moment of happiness trapped in a mere photograph. Two young people too crazy in lust to think clearly.

  She had been just as much at fault in the whole mess as Mike, hadn’ t she? Kayla felt uncomfortable making that admission. And even so, could she trust him with her daughter’ s heart? God help her, maybe this wasn’ t such a good idea.

  “ When can I see her?”

  Fear attacked Kayla all over again. “ Let’ s not be hasty,” she countered. She rubbed her damp palms on her hips and tried not to look as nervous as she suddenly felt. “ We have to go slowly with this. Let me talk to her first.”

  Irritation sparked in his eyes once more. “ I don’ t want you putting me off. I want— ”

  She held up her hands to ward off whatever he would have said next. “ I’ m not putting you off. But this is pretty sudden, you have to admit.”

  He didn’ t agree, but he didn’ t disagree.

  “ Let me talk to her. I’ ll call you tonight and set something up. That’ s fair, isn’ t it?”

  When he was slow in responding, she added, “ After all, her feelings are primary here, right?”

  Kayla held her breath until she saw the signs of capitulation in his posture. Thank God.

  “ Let me give you my cell number.”

  She withdrew the notepad she kept in her jacket pocket for jotting down info at crime scenes and from perp interviews and took his cell phone number as well as the name of the hotel in Phoenix where he would be staying for a few days.

  “ I’ ll call you tonight.”

  He took an abrupt step in her direction. Kayla’ s breath caught in her throat.

  “ Don’ t forget, Kayla,” he reminded her. “ If I don’ t hear from you tonight, I’ ll be back tomorrow.”

  She didn’ t have to ask this time. She knew the statement was a threat.

>   Before she could pull together a proper comeback a sedan pulled up behind Mike’ s SUV. Recognition flared instantly.

  Hadden.

  Perfect.

  Peter Hadden emerged from his vehicle looking as he always did, rumpled and sexy as hell. Colombo meets James Bond. He strolled right up to where Kayla and Mike stood on the sidewalk in front of her house as if he lived there.

  Despite her worries where Mike was concerned, Kayla suddenly wondered if Hadden brought news regarding their joint investigation. Something besides his insistence that Marshall Carrington was some sort of smuggler.

  “ Kayla,” Hadden said with a dip of his head.

  She blinked, startled. She couldn’ t recall once his having called her by her first name. “ Hadden,” she returned. “ What’ s up?”

  Just when she felt certain things couldn’ t get any stranger, his gaze shifted from her to the man standing nearby. “ I don’ t believe we’ ve met.” He thrust out his hand. “ I’ m Peter Hadden, homicide, Tucson.”

  “ Major Mike Bridges.” Mike gave Hadden’ s hand a brisk shake, his demeanor stiff, noticeably tense. “ Jasmine’ s father,” he pitched in with a distinct edge in his voice.

  If the last surprised Hadden he showed no sign of it, but then he was a good detective, well versed in the proper methods of negotiations. Never let the enemy see you sweat.

  “ I hope I’ m not interrupting anything,” Hadden said with a smile. He looked from Kayla to Mike and back.

  “ Actually, Mike was just leaving.” Her gaze was direct when she addressed the man who wanted to invade her daughter’ s life. “ I’ ll call you tonight.”

  The familiar glitter that ignited in Mike’ s eyes shocked her just a little. She knew that look. Had seen it before. Anytime she and Mike had gone out all those years ago he had been fiercely possessive. A single glance from another man would set him off.

  Jealousy?

  How could he be jealous?

  Then the answer dawned on her. If he believed she and Hadden were a couple, Mike would see Hadden as competition where his daughter was concerned. His jealousy had nothing to do with Kayla. The very idea was ludicrous.

  Mike acknowledged her promise with a nod. “ If I miss you tonight,” he warned, “ I’ ll see you tomorrow.”

  And then he was gone.

  She watched him drive away, the 1Pilot vanity license plate reinforcing what she knew deep in her heart. He might be feeling humble just now due to recent events in his personal as well as professional life, but Mike Bridges would never, ever change.

  When his sporty red SUV had disappeared down the street, Kayla turned her attention back to Hadden.

  “ What’ re you doing here?”

  “ I called your office. Shirley said you were here.” His gaze still lingered in the direction the SUV had taken. “ I didn’ t know he was still around.”

  The comment on top of his sidestep around her question ticked off Kayla. “ Why would you?” It wasn’ t like they had gotten to know each other on that level. They’ d locked horns more often than not on Rainy’ s case. Other than her ridiculous physical attraction to the man, she wasn’ t even sure she liked him.

  He shrugged. Was it her imagination or was that gesture suddenly rampant among the men in her life?

  “ I thought you were raising Jasmine alone.” His gaze settled on hers now and there was no way to miss the sincerity there. He really wanted to know the situation.

  Kayla wasn’ t sure she could take any more surprises today. “ This is the first time I’ ve seen Jazz’ s father in more than twelve years,” she admitted.

  Hadden’ s brow furrowed as if the thoughts whirling around in his head disturbed him. “ He’ s not giving you any trouble, is he?”

  She sighed. Just more proof of her suspicions that Hadden was a threat to her solitary state. He was always looking out for others. “ The jury’ s still out on that one,” she admitted. Again, she didn’ t know why she confessed anything to Hadden. Maybe it was simply the idea of us against him… an ally in this battle with Mike. Would she need an ally? Could it really get dirty?

  The possibility was there. She was all too aware of that glaring fact. If I miss you tonight, I’ ll see you tomorrow. His warning rang in her ears like Sunday morning church bells, but with a distinctly more menacing message.

  The idea that he might take legal steps if she didn’ t cooperate was a risk she couldn’ t afford to take. If she worked something out with him, on her terms, maybe it wouldn’ t come to that. She could hope. Even the remote notion of her daughter being forced to go spend time with her father, a man she didn’ t even know, in a place she’ d never been before, ripped Kayla’ s heart right out of her chest. But it could happen. As a cop she was well aware of that fact. She’ d seen it happen.

  She had to talk to her family, to Jazz. And somehow she had to work up the courage to call Mike back this very night. She couldn’ t let anything get in the way of resolving this issue. Allowing him to take the ball and run with it would be a mistake of mammoth proportions.

  “ Well, here’ s something that might cheer you up,” Hadden offered.

  Kayla stared up at him, doubtful that anything he could say just now would lift the dark cloud of utter depression from her head.

  “ Dr. Deborah Halburg is back in town.”

  Kayla’ s heart kicked into a faster rhythm. “ When? Where has she been all this time?”

  Deborah Halburg had served as Rainy’ s gynecologist for more than two years. When Rainy had died, Dr. Halburg had been out of town, unreachable. Kayla desperately needed any and all information on Rainy that the doctor might have.

  “ Apparently her father was some kind of missionary serving somewhere in the far East. He fell ill and she’ s been there with him for the past four months. He died two weeks ago. She’ s back now and playing catch-up.”

  Dr. Halburg’ s receptionist and nurse had not been able to provide any helpful insights into Rainy’ s case. Rainy’ s files were missing— had probably been stolen— and only Dr. Halburg herself could provide the necessary details Kayla sought. Kayla had been waiting for the doctor’ s return.

  Anticipation burned through Kayla now. Any new evidence could be helpful.

  “ When can we see her?” She used the term “ we” since she felt confident Hadden wasn’ t about to miss out on whatever Halburg had to say. No point pretending he wasn’ t involved. Trying to rationalize his motivation for continuing to investigate the case was futile as well. Early on he’ d made his conclusions clear— he thought Rainy’ s death was an accident. Kayla knew better, but she could not discuss with him the things she and the Cassandras had learned.

  Not yet anyway.

  “ We can see her today.” He glanced at his watch. “ She told me to come by before her clinic closed for the day. I thought you’ d want to come along. I cleared it with your boss.”

  Kayla swore silently.

  He’ d driven all the way from Tucson to dangle this carrot in front of her, knowing she couldn’ t refuse. Hadden was up to something. Part of her wanted his showing up in person to be about their attraction— but she suspected it related more closely to his personal agenda for the case against Marshall. Still, she did want to see Dr. Halburg ASAP. And talking to Halburg over the phone might cause her to miss something crucial that the doctor’ s expression would reveal. She’ d have to get her sister to pick up Jazz. Dammit. She hated doing that too often. Not that Mary minded. She didn’ t. Her boys, eight and ten, looked up to Jazz like a big sister. They all loved Jazz and Jazz loved staying over. But Kayla preferred all the quality time she could rake and scrape with her daughter. Not to mention she had to talk to Jazz about her father. There was no getting out of that one.

  Then there was the invitation to Athena.

  “ I have to check with my sister to see if she can pick up my daughter.” If Jazz got her homework done by the time Kayla returned they might still have time to talk. It would be late aft
er a trip to Tucson and back, but as long as she called Mike tonight that’ s all that mattered. He hadn’ t specified a time. God, she hated that she had to jump at his command. Renewed ire twisted in her belly.

  Hadden gestured to his sedan. “ I’ ll drive.”

  Kayla didn’ t like the way he studied her. Could he see how vulnerable she felt right now? She hoped not. But she had a feeling he suspected a great deal more than he would dream of saying. Great. All she needed was him prying into her life. It was bad enough he’ d insisted on participating in this investigation.

  She made the call to her sister, locked up her house and settled into the front passenger seat of his utilitarian sedan. Maybe bad wasn’ t the right word, she mused as she analyzed Hadden’ s profile. Bad applied to the bike thieves she’ d collared yesterday. Bad was what happened to Rainy. This thing between Kayla and Hadden wasn’ t really bad, it was simply unfortunate.

  Unfortunate because she felt certain she would never be able to open herself up to the possibly of hurt once more. How could she ever hope to have a satisfying relationship with a man if fear kept her from opening up?

  Hadden braked at a light and glanced in her direction. Too late to look away. He’ d caught her staring at him. Her cheeks scalded. He simply smiled, showing off those appealing dimples.

  “ I’ m not that complicated,” he said bluntly.

  “ What’ s that supposed to mean?” She hadn’ t intended to sound so pissed off, but then she was… at herself mostly.

  He reached over and smoothed her brow with the tips of his fingers. The crackle of electricity his touch generated heated her skin, sent her tummy into an acrobatic act.

  “ You look as if you’ re having a difficult time figuring me out.” He smiled patiently at her and turned his attention back to the task of driving. “ All you have to do is ask when you want to know something.”

  Her humiliation dissipated instantly in light of the surprise that claimed her. Confident, wasn’ t he? She’ d just see how deep that confidence went. “ Why do you keep coming back?” she asked with all the bluntness he’ d used before. “ I know you think Rainy’ s death was an accident, why trouble yourself with my personal investigation?” Why drive two and a half hours to pick me up? she didn’ t add.