The Cowboy's Claim by Carla Cassidy

years of work and no play in Texas had also provided a fairly healthy bank account for Nick. He knew things had to have been financially tough on Courtney, but now he was here to help share that load.
    He stood up straighter as her car pulled into the parking lot. “About time,” he said as he approached the car. She pulled Garrett from his car seat, but instead of greeting the tall man who was his father, Garrett made a beeline for the sandbox, his diapered butt beneath the jean shorts waddling back and forth with each step.
    “Guess I know where I stand on his list of priorities,” Nick said with a touch of humor as Courtney pulled the diaper and tote bag out of the backseat.
    “Definitely sandbox, Mom and Sophie at this point. But, given time maybe you’ll move into third position,” Courtney replied.
    As she started after her son, Nick followed her, trying not to notice how her tight jeans cupped the shape of her butt, how her rich, dark hair swung freely on the top of her shoulders with each step she took.
    He knew her hair would smell of vanilla. Jasmine and vanilla were the scents he would always identify with her, and they would always stir a heat of desire in the center of his belly.
    He hurried to catch up with Garrett, passing Courtney just behind him. He couldn’t think about her. This was all about a father’s right, about visitation with the son he needed to know, who needed to know him.
    “Hey, buddy,” Nick said to Garrett, who looked up and gave him a happy grin.
    “Toys,” Garrett said and pointed to the sandbox.
    “That’s right. We’re going to play with toys in the sandbox,” Nick agreed. “And speaking of toys.” He waited for Courtney to catch up with them. “What was the phone call about?”
    Her green eyes darkened. “When I got ready to walk out the door a little while ago, there was a box with Garrett’s name written on it. Inside were several brand-new, expensive toys. There was no note to indicate who had left them.”
    “Probably Hubert,” Nick said, trying to ignore the surprising jab of jealousy that shot through him.
    “No, it wasn’t Grant. I called him and asked and he said he didn’t leave anything. And there’s really no reason for him to do something like that, because I broke things off with him last night.”
    Nick looked at her sharply. “Why? I thought he was probably the man of your dreams, the well-off, respectable guy who could help you heal things over with your parents.”
    “Nothing is going to heal things over with my parents,” she said with a fervency that surprised him. “I don’t want to heal things with my parents, and my breaking up with Grant had nothing to do with that. And it certainly had nothing to do with you.”
    They’d reached the sandbox and Garrett stopped at the edge and looked at Courtney expectantly as he obviously needed help stepping over the lip of the sandy play area.
    “Here you go, son,” Nick said and gently lifted the boy and placed him in the sandbox. Garrett smiled in delight and tried to grab Nick’s hat.
    “Whoa.” Nick dodged the attempt. “Hat,” he said. “This is my hat, but I don’t think I want it filled with sand.”
    “Hat.” Garrett parroted. “Toys.”
    Courtney placed the sand toys into the box and then took a seat at the nearby picnic table while Nick lowered himself to the side of the sandbox and grabbed one of the shovels to start filling a pail.
    Garrett grinned up at him and began to help by using another shovel. For a few minutes the two worked together, and when the pail was full, Nick emptied it and they began the game again.
    It was surreal, playing in the sand with his son, a little human being he hadn’t known existed a day before. He marveled at the shape of Garrett’s meaty hands as he filled his bucket, the bright intelligence that sparked in his eyes, and he embraced the laughter that escaped each time Nick emptied the bucket.
    “So, why did you break up with Grant?” he