A Little Dare - Brenda Jackson [54]
After a long moment of silence, Shelly said, “I want to apologize for leaving the way I did ten years ago, Delaney, and for not staying in touch.”
Delaney’s eyes shone in understanding. “Trust me, we all understood your need to put distance between you and Dare. Everyone got on his case after you left, and for a while there was friction between him and my brothers.”
Shelly nodded. Dare had told her as much.
“Mom explained the situation to me about AJ,” Delaney added, breaking into Shelly’s thoughts. “She told me how you and Dare have decided to let him be the one to tell Dare the truth. What’s the latest on that? Is he softening any toward Dare? As someone just arriving on the scene, I’d say they seem to be getting along just fine.”
Shelly nodded, remembering AJ’s intense dislike of Dare in the beginning. “I think he’s discovered Dare isn’t the mean cop that he thought he was, and yes, he is definitely softening. He even told me this morning that he plans to tell Dare that he’s his father.”
A huge smile touched Delaney’s features. “When?”
“Now, that I don’t know. From what I gather he’ll tell Dare when they get a private moment and when he feels the time is right. He’s battling his fear that Dare may not want him because of the way he behaved in the beginning.”
Delaney shook her head. “There’s no way Dare would not want his son.”
“Yes, I know, but AJ has to realize that for himself.”
Delaney nodded, knowing Shelly was right.
AJ stood next to Dare in the supermarket line. He watched as the sheriff pulled money from his wallet to pay for his purchases. When they walked outside to wait for Mr. Westmoreland, who was still inside buying a few additional items he’d discovered he needed, AJ decided to use that time to ask Dare a couple more questions.
“Can I ask you something?”
Dare looked at him. “Sure. Ask me anything you want to know, AJ.”
“Earlier today you said you liked kids. If you ever marry, do you think you’d want more than one child?”
Dare wondered about the reason for that question. Was AJ contented being an only child? Would he feel threatened if Dare told him that he relished the thought of having other children—if Shelly would be their mother? He sighed, deciding to be completely honest with his son.
“Yes, I’d want more than one child. I’d like as many as my wife would agree to give me.”
AJ’s face remained expressionless, and Dare didn’t have a clue if the answer he’d given would help him or hang him. “Any more questions?”
For a long moment, AJ didn’t say anything. Then he met Dare’s gaze and asked, “Is Dare your real name?”
Dare shook his head. “No, my real name is Alisdare Julian Westmoreland.” He continued to hold his son’s gaze. “Why do you ask?”
AJ placed his hands into his pockets. “Because my name is Alisdare Julian, too. That’s what the AJ stands for.”
Dare wasn’t sure exactly what he was supposed to say, but knew he should act surprised, so he did. He raised his dark brows as if somewhat astonished. “Your mother named you after me?”
AJ nodded. “Yes.”
Dare stared at AJ for a moment before asking. “Why did she do that?”
He watched as his son drew a deep breath. “Because—”
“Sorry I took so long. I bet your mom thinks the three of us have been kidnapped.”
Both Dare and AJ turned to see Mr. Westmoreland walking toward them. But Dare was determine his son would finish what he’d been about to say. He returned his gaze to AJ. “Because—?”
AJ looked at the older man walking toward them, and then at Dare and, after losing his nerve, quickly said, “Because she liked your name.”
“Because she liked your name.”
Later that night Dare shook his head, remembering the reason AJ had given him for Shelly’s choice of his name. He knew without a shadow of a doubt that AJ had come within a second of finally telling him he was his son before his father had unintentionally interrupted them, destroying that chance. But Dare was determined he would get it again.
Once they’d returned to his parents’ home, there had