Her lips slid over his in a soft caress. So warm. He couldn’t wait to slip a ring on her finger and claim her.

He ended their kiss and squeezed her before moving aside. “I’ll be back,” he promised.

“You better be,” she scolded lightheartedly.

He moved around the counter, waved a hand to the others. “I’ll see you later, Danny.”

“You’re leaving?” His head bounced up.

“Gotta run some errands.”

Danny scrambled to his feet and ran to hug him. There was something about a little boy tossing himself into Jack’s arms that made everything worthwhile. Jack kissed the top of his head. “Later, partner.”

“Later, Uncle Jack,” Danny mimicked.

Jack opened the door and shot a glance at Jessie. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail, and her apron hung from her waist with copious amounts of flour on it. She was smiling, even before she looked up and caught him staring at her.

He did not want to mess this up.

Once outside, he turned on his cell phone and noticed a message waiting for him.

“Jack, dammit, where are you?” It was Katie. “Oh, never mind. Listen, Dad came home ticked that he missed you. He and Beth started talking, and between the two of them and my tight lip, they figured there is a woman involved. One you want to make permanent. I swear I didn’t say a thing. He’s on his way to you. We’re both coming. I’ll try to hold him back until you have things fixed with Jessie. You are fixing things with Jessie, right? Oh, and he said something about meeting with your contractor for the new project while he’s there. He’s been on the phone for the last hour barking orders. Anyway, consider yourself warned.”

Jack turned off his phone and jumped into his truck. With a little luck, he’d make it back to the hotel and manage to clean himself up before his father invaded.

Gaylord Morrison did everything the Texas way.

Big!

Large strides carried Jack through the lobby and to the elevators. Sam saw him from the reception desk and scrambled to catch up with him.

“Mr. Morrison…”

“Not now, Sam, I’m in a hurry.” Jack summoned the elevator to the lobby floor.

“Your father is on his way.”

“I know.” He pressed the button again, frustrated with its speed.

“The other executive suite in the hotel has a guest. Will your father be staying with you?”

The elevator light lit up.

Jack slid into the elevator. “I’ll take care of it, Sam. Don’t worry.”

Housekeeping had erased all evidence of the mess Jack had left before his short trip to Texas. Jack disrobed as he walked but made sure all his clothes were shoved into the closet like a good bachelor. Within twenty minutes, he was shoulder-to-heels Armani, his good Stetson securely on his head, his polished boots on his feet. Not a huge change from Jack Moore, he decided.

His phone rang as he was placing a watch around his wrist. “Hello?”

“Mr. Morrison, your father and sister have arrived.”

Jack drew in a deep breath.

Let the sidestepping begin.

“What meeting room are we using?” he asked.

“The one next to my office,” Sam offered.

“I’m on my way down now.”

It wasn’t that he didn’t care for his dad. He loved the man, but he could be intense at times and beyond domineering.

Jack stepped into the lobby and into an array of people and organized chaos. His dad stood in front of Sam, who was talking rapidly and gesturing with his hands. From afar, Gaylord Morrison was a roadblock, someone who demanded your attention. At six-four and two hundred twenty pounds, he could have passed for a retired linebacker. His hair was peppered with gray, but his eyes were sharp and caught everything. Katie stood at his side, wearing one of her ridiculous miniskirts. Probably to piss the man off. She loved getting under his skin and did so on a regular basis.

Gaylord caught sight of Jack and broke off his conversation with the hotel manager.

“Jack,” he called as he turned.

Jack extended his hand, which his father took in his firm grip before pulling him into a hug. “What the hell were you thinking running off before I came home?”

“It’s good to see you too, Dad.” It was, despite the bad timing.

Around them, porters scurried to assist them with their bags, Sam stood ready to accept any task, and a half a dozen men wearing business suits were trailing after the senior Morrison.

“First Thanksgiving, now Christmas,” Gaylord bellowed as he pulled away and started to instruct Sam to find a room for his driver and staff.

Katie sauntered to Jack’s side and leaned close to his ear so only he could hear. “I swear I didn’t say a thing,” she whispered.

Jack patted her arm and smiled down at her. “The man’s radar has always been superior to any satellite dish.”

Katie laughed and tossed her head back.

A couple of flashes went off in the lobby. Jack glanced around and noticed a reporter with a photographer at his side. “What are they doing here?” he asked his sister.

“They’re for you.” Gaylord returned his attention to his children.

“For me?”

“I heard there’s a special lady friend in your life, one who might be joining our family soon.” Gaylord’s last word was spoken slowly and nearly sounded like a question.

The smile on Jack’s face slipped into a scowl. He didn’t like the thought of the press invading his personal life to this degree. Besides, he still needed to propose to Jessie…again.