Dare
of
all
people
being
so
critical.
“He’s
my
child.”
Dare
stared
at
her
wondering
if
she
really
expected
him
to
believe
that.
There
was
no
way
the
kid
could
be
hers,
since
in
his
estimation
of
the
kid’s
age,
she
was
a
student
in
college
and
his
steady
girl
about
the
same
time
the
boy
was
born.
“I
mean
who
does
he
really
belong
to
since
I
know
you
didn’t
have
a
baby
twelve
or
thirteen
years
ago,
Shelly.”
Her
gaze
turned
glacial.
“He
is
mine,
Dare.
I
gave
birth
to
him
ten
years
ago.
He
just
looks
older
than
he
really
is
because
of
his
height.”
Shelly
watched
Dare’s
gaze
sharpen
and
darken,
then
his
brows
pulled
together
in
a
deep,
furious
frown.
“What
the
hell
do
you
mean
you
gave
birth
to
him?”
he
asked,
a
shocked
look
on
his
face
and
a
tone
of
voice
that
bordered
on
anger
and
total
disbelief.
She
met
his
glare
with
one
of
her
own.
“I
meant
just
what
I
said.
Now
may
I
see
him?”
She
made
a
move
to
leave
Dare’s
office
but
he
caught
her
arm.
“Are
you
saying
that
he
was
born
after
you
left
here?”
“Yes.”
Dare
released
her.
His
features
had
suddenly
turned
to
stone,
and
the
gaze
that
focused
on
hers
was
filled
with
hurt
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