The Playboy's Baby

Read The Playboy's Baby for Free Online Page B

Book: Read The Playboy's Baby for Free Online
Authors: JM Stewart
Tags: Romance, Contemporary Romance
and glared at him. “You know me better than that.”
    He turned his gaze to Annie, lowering his voice. “You’d be surprised how many times the fake pregnancy has been tried on me.”
    “Well, I’d never do such a thing. You, of all people, should know that.” She wanted to be angry with him for daring to accuse her of trying to use a baby to extort money from him. Money didn’t mean much to her. Bills had to be paid.
    A sad truth shone in Dillon’s eyes she couldn’t ignore. She wondered how many times the phony pregnancy ploy had been played on him.
    He let out a heavy breath. “She’s my daughter. I want her to stay with me. Janey’s kept her from me for too long.” He looked up and arched a brow, his eyes daring her to challenge him. “Of course, I can call my family’s lawyer if I need to.”
    Any other time his comment would have irked the hell out of her. Dillon pulled rank on her, using his name and money like weapons. She couldn’t bring herself to be angry with him for this. Given the situation, he expected her to be the enemy, and why shouldn’t he? Janey had taken his choice away from him.
    It flat out awed her to watch him, the way he looked at Annie. The protective way he held her against his chest. Despite knowing it could mean losing Annie altogether, she had to give him this chance. They both deserved it.
    “If I planned to take her away from you, I wouldn’t be here.”
    He turned his gaze back to Annie, his expression cool and detached. “Then I guess you’re going to have to get used to the idea of living with me for a few days, because I want her to stay with me.”
    The timer on the oven buzzed, filling the silence that suddenly spawned like a living, breathing entity between them. Dillon handed Annie back to her, then moved around her with a calmness Emma wished she shared. She hugged Annie to her chest, glad to hold her again, and turned.
    Watching Dillon trek into the kitchen, dread formed a hard knot in her stomach. He was right. The best thing for Annie would be to give him the time Janey stole from him, but living with him, even for a few days, wouldn’t be anywhere near simple.
     
     
    * * *
     
     
    Standing at the kitchen sink an hour later, rinsing dishes, Dillon glanced over at Emma. Beside him at the counter, she spooned leftovers into a plastic container, her head bent over the task. Neither of them had said much since they left the table ten minutes ago, but Emma… Emma barely looked at him.
    To say dinner had been awkward was an understatement. They ate in near silence, entirely too aware of each other, struggling to make painful small talk that amounted to discussing the weather and her drive over from the city. Emma sat stiffly in her seat, picking at her food. He wasn’t exactly hungry either. Too much stood between them.
    Now Emma moved about his kitchen, putting leftover food away and helping him with the dishes like she’d been there a million times. The situation built an awkward wall between them. One he longed to break through, simply to feel some sort of ease with her.
    “When we’re done here, we can go over to the bed and breakfast and pick up your things.”
    Emma paused in her task to look at him. She stared for a long moment, and then her shoulders slumped in defeat. “There’s no talking you out of this, is there?”
    He shook his head. “No.”
    Had he lost his mind inviting her to stay with him, allowing her into his world for more than just one night? He had. With Emma being so close, staying away from her wouldn’t be easy. He wanted her too much. It may have been eight years, he may have grown up a lot in that time, but she was still gorgeous and damned if he didn’t want her the same way he always had.
    Dillon glanced at Annie sound asleep in the car seat, in the corner of the kitchen. He wanted a chance to get to know her. She pulled at a protectiveness deep inside that flat-out floored him. She’d just lost her mother, but she was

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