The Bridal Path: Danielle Read Online Free Page A

Sara.”
    Sara dutifully headed for the door.
    “And keep your mouth shut.”
    “I promised, didn’t I?”
    “I know exactly how persuasive and sneaky Daddy can be when he wants information,” Dani reminded her. “If you heard about this morning, he will have, too. He’ll have questions. He’d better not get answers from you. One word crosses your lips and the talk at Sunday dinner will turn to babies. I guarantee it.”
    Sara looked suitably impressed with the repeated warning, but Dani knew her father as well as anyone on earth. If he couldn’t wrangle anything out of Sara when she got home, he’d be on Dani’s doorstep in the morning. Fortunately, years of ranching had made him an early riser. With any luck, he’d come and go before Slade Watkins showed up with the boys. It was certainly something worth praying for.
    * * *
    Naturally her prayers fell on deaf ears. Slade was in the process of admonishing the boys to be good-for the tenth time–when Trent Wilde pulled to a stop at the curb in front of Dani’s house promptly at eight the next morning. His smirking expression as he exited his four-wheel-drive vehicle set her teeth on edge. Given the impeccable timing of his arrival, she vowed to throw Sara and Jake’s timetable for baby-making to the wolves. In the meantime, she had her father to deal with.
    “Hello, Daddy,” she said, kissing his cheek. Then she added pointedly, “I wasn’t expecting you.”
    “Since when can’t a father pay a surprise visit to his daughter?” he inquired distractedly, most of his attention already focused on her company. “You must be Slade Watkins. I knew your grandparents. I’ve been hearing a lot about you lately.”
    “I’m sure,” Slade said dryly. “And I’d wager these two are the cause of most of it.”
    “Mr. Watkins, this is my father, Trent Wilde,” Dani said. “He used to be a rancher. Now he spends his retirement meddling.”
    Slade grinned. It was the first time Dani had seen anything resembling a smile on his face and it was enough to weaken not just her knees, but her spine. What it did to other parts of her anatomy made her breathless.
    “That’s what fathers do,” he reminded her, then glanced at his sons. “Right, boys?”
    “Yes, sir,” Timmy said, though most of his attention was reserved for Dani’s father, who was wearing his favorite handmade snakeskin boots, pressed jeans, a Western-cut shirt and his best Stetson in honor of this opportunity to meet Dani’s potential beau.
    Kevin was staring, as well. “Are you a real cowboy, sir?”
    “Some would say so,” Trent said, hunkering down in front of him. “You interested in being a cowboy?”
    “Do you have to ride a horse?”
    “Quite a lot,” her father said.
    Kevin’s eyes widened. “Really? Wow, that’s the best. I want to learn to ride.”
    “Sure you do, squirt,” Timmy said with big-brotherly skepticism. “You’re scared of horses.”
    “Am not.”
    “Are, too.”
    “You’re the one who’s chicken.”
    “Boys,” Slade said softly. “Enough.” He glanced worriedly at Dani for about the hundredth time since his arrival. “Are you sure…?”
    “We’ll be just fine,” she promised. Pirate woofed his agreement in that bizarre, husky tone he had, then settled down in a patch of sunlight nearby.
    Slade handed her his business card. “You can reach me anytime. I can be here in ten minutes or less.”
    “That won’t be necessary, I’m sure.”
    Her father’s intent gaze was fixed on Slade. “You work close by?”
    “Actually, I work at home. I’m a computer software designer.”
    “He’s the best,” Timmy said with unmistakable pride. “You should see some of the stuff he’s created. It’s awesome. I’ve only beat one of his games once. Kevin can’t beat them at all. And everybody says we’re computer whizzes.”
    “I just do those games for you guys,” Slade reminded them. “I get paid for designing business and investment