Read Online A Love to Cherish by Connie Mason - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Connie Mason
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me. I’m not hiding from someone, you are. Give Tommy’s grandfather a chance to get to know the boy. Go to him. Work out a compromise. I’m sure he’ll be reasonable about visitation and such. You
are
the boy’s mother. Please, Belle, I implore you, stop running. McAllister will find you one day, and you could lose Tommy for good. I don’t want that to happen.”
Belle leapt to her feet and flew at Casey, pounding on his chest with clenched fists. “No! Never! How could you suggest such a thing? I told you T.J. hates me. He’d never let me see Tommy again. Damn you, Casey Walker! Whose side are you on, anyway?”
Casey grasped Belle’s wrists, trying not to hurt her as he brought them to her sides. “I’m only thinking of you and Tommy, Belle. I don’t want to see either of you hurt. How long can you keep running? You need someone to take care of you. You work much too hard in the diner. You need a man to pamper and love you.”
“Are you suggesting you’re that man?” Bellemade a disgusting sound deep in her throat, telling Casey without words exactly what she thought of that idea.
If it would convince Belle to give up Tommy to McAllister without a fight, he’d tell her anything. He feared McAllister would hurt her worse than merely depriving her of her son. “Is that such an outlandish idea? We’re explosive together, Belle.” Truer words were never spoken. Tension rippled beneath the surface of his skin. His eyes had darkened, his nostrils flared and his grip upon her wrists had tightened. Even now his manhood defied confinement, provoked merely by her nearness.
Belle pulled from his grasp, breathing hard, her eyes flashing angrily. “You and your suggestions can go to hell, Mr. Walker. I will never, I repeat,
never
give up my son. If you knew T.J. McAllister, you wouldn’t suggest such a thing.”
“I’m sorry, Belle,” Casey said. “Sorrier than I’ve ever been in my life.” Belle’s refusal to compromise left him with no choice but to contact McAllister. But, dear Lord, could he do it? Could he actually tell McAllister where to find Tommy? Regret, guilt, shame, remorse, all those emotions made him feel like the lowest bastard who’d ever walked the face of the earth.
On the other hand, there was Mark. Innocent of a murder charge, and depending on his big brother to get him out of prison. A man didn’t live who was more torn or tormented than Casey Walker.
Belle stared at Casey and felt her anger slowly drain away. If the expression on his face was any indication, he was suffering his own private hell. She had no idea what had brought it on, butsomething inside her couldn’t let it continue. Her soft heart made her reach out to him, touching his arm gently.
“I think I know what’s best for my son, Casey. We haven’t known one another long, so you can’t possibly understand the situation. Or convince me that you’re interested in me as a woman. I don’t know the reason for your anguish, but there is no reason to pretend with me. You have to know by now that no man is worth the loss of my son. Not even you, Casey Walker.”
If Casey harbored the hope that he could talk Belle into giving her son up to McAllister, it had died with her last words. Truth to tell, he admired her determination. Most women would cave in to the pressure being applied by McAllister.
“I didn’t mean to upset you. I had to try one last time to …”
“To what?”
“To make certain you knew what you were doing,” he improvised.
“I do,” Belle vowed as she turned back to her chores.
For his own peace of mind, Casey needed to make Belle understand why he was concerned about her and Tommy. But what could he say that wouldn’t send her and Tommy fleeing to only God knew where to escape McAllister? Misery flailed him unbearably. He couldn’t ever recall feeling such gut-wrenching guilt. Seizing Belle’s arms, he pulled her against him, trying to make her understand his position without
are
the boy’s mother. Please, Belle, I implore you, stop running. McAllister will find you one day, and you could lose Tommy for good. I don’t want that to happen.”
Belle leapt to her feet and flew at Casey, pounding on his chest with clenched fists. “No! Never! How could you suggest such a thing? I told you T.J. hates me. He’d never let me see Tommy again. Damn you, Casey Walker! Whose side are you on, anyway?”
Casey grasped Belle’s wrists, trying not to hurt her as he brought them to her sides. “I’m only thinking of you and Tommy, Belle. I don’t want to see either of you hurt. How long can you keep running? You need someone to take care of you. You work much too hard in the diner. You need a man to pamper and love you.”
“Are you suggesting you’re that man?” Bellemade a disgusting sound deep in her throat, telling Casey without words exactly what she thought of that idea.
If it would convince Belle to give up Tommy to McAllister without a fight, he’d tell her anything. He feared McAllister would hurt her worse than merely depriving her of her son. “Is that such an outlandish idea? We’re explosive together, Belle.” Truer words were never spoken. Tension rippled beneath the surface of his skin. His eyes had darkened, his nostrils flared and his grip upon her wrists had tightened. Even now his manhood defied confinement, provoked merely by her nearness.
Belle pulled from his grasp, breathing hard, her eyes flashing angrily. “You and your suggestions can go to hell, Mr. Walker. I will never, I repeat,
never
give up my son. If you knew T.J. McAllister, you wouldn’t suggest such a thing.”
“I’m sorry, Belle,” Casey said. “Sorrier than I’ve ever been in my life.” Belle’s refusal to compromise left him with no choice but to contact McAllister. But, dear Lord, could he do it? Could he actually tell McAllister where to find Tommy? Regret, guilt, shame, remorse, all those emotions made him feel like the lowest bastard who’d ever walked the face of the earth.
On the other hand, there was Mark. Innocent of a murder charge, and depending on his big brother to get him out of prison. A man didn’t live who was more torn or tormented than Casey Walker.
Belle stared at Casey and felt her anger slowly drain away. If the expression on his face was any indication, he was suffering his own private hell. She had no idea what had brought it on, butsomething inside her couldn’t let it continue. Her soft heart made her reach out to him, touching his arm gently.
“I think I know what’s best for my son, Casey. We haven’t known one another long, so you can’t possibly understand the situation. Or convince me that you’re interested in me as a woman. I don’t know the reason for your anguish, but there is no reason to pretend with me. You have to know by now that no man is worth the loss of my son. Not even you, Casey Walker.”
If Casey harbored the hope that he could talk Belle into giving her son up to McAllister, it had died with her last words. Truth to tell, he admired her determination. Most women would cave in to the pressure being applied by McAllister.
“I didn’t mean to upset you. I had to try one last time to …”
“To what?”
“To make certain you knew what you were doing,” he improvised.
“I do,” Belle vowed as she turned back to her chores.
For his own peace of mind, Casey needed to make Belle understand why he was concerned about her and Tommy. But what could he say that wouldn’t send her and Tommy fleeing to only God knew where to escape McAllister? Misery flailed him unbearably. He couldn’t ever recall feeling such gut-wrenching guilt. Seizing Belle’s arms, he pulled her against him, trying to make her understand his position without
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