Read Online Changed by His Son's Smile by Robin Gianna - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Robin Gianna
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nice.
“I’m...surprised you’re here,” Dani said, giving Chase a look he couldn’t misinterpret. He responded with a grin that showed no guilty feelings at all about his subterfuge. “Where do you live?”
“We’re working in Senegal right now. Benin’s a pretty quick airplane ride from there, really.” The woman clasped her hands together, her eyes sparkling. “When Chase told us about Drew and you, we were over the moon. We brought the little train and a few other gifts. I hope that’s okay?”
“Of course.” Dani smiled. “But I can’t tell if he likes it or not, can you?”
They all chuckled, as it was more than obvious he loved it. Scooting around, toot-tooting endlessly and grinning.
“They’d barely taken it from the box before he jumped on it,” Chase said as he watched Drew, his gaze soft with a hint of pride. “He’s going to be riding a bike in no time.”
“We’re happy he likes it,” Phil said. “I’m especially pleased because if he didn’t, I have a feeling Evelyn and I would be heading straight to another store to look for something else, even if we had to fly to Cotonou. I kept having to remind her we were bringing everything on a plane, she had so much stuff.”
“It’s a grandparents’ prerogative to buy their grandchildren presents,” Evelyn said, an indulgent smile on her face as she watched Drew. “Especially the very first one.”
First one? She couldn’t know Chase’s attitude about having children if she thought there would ever be more.
That thought led Dani in a nasty and very uncomfortable direction it hadn’t gone before, making her stiffen. What if Chase did marry someday? What kind of woman would be stepmother to Drew? Just thinking about it made her stomach twist. She reminded herself he’d be working in remote places around the world, so Drew wouldn’t be around a stepmother much anyway, but didn’t succeed in ridding herself of a slightly sick feeling in her gut.
Evelyn turned her attention to Dani. “I hear there’s to be a wedding soon. Have you decided on a date?”
What? One look at Chase proved he really had told his parents they were getting married. How arrogant could the man be? He had an infuriatingly smug smile on his face, and an expression that said he couldn’t wait to see how she’d react to his mother’s question.
“A wedding? I hadn’t heard about one. Is it someone I know?” She kept her voice light, her expression bland, but knew Chase could see the challenge in her gaze. So he thought this was one big chess game? He’d forgotten she’d learned to play from him.
His parents looked at one another then at Chase, obviously confused. “Chase said—”
“I said we were getting married. I didn’t say Dani had agreed yet,” Chase said smoothly, with a look that said, Answer that. “But wouldn’t it be great to make it happen some time when you could be here to share it with us? Please help me convince her how nice it would be to celebrate our marriage as a family.”
Damn the man. He’d certainly played his turn well, with both his parents staring at her with bemused expressions.
“Chase and I just recently met up again,” she said, trying to figure out exactly what to say. It was a battle to keep from narrowing her eyes and scowling at Chase for putting her in such an awkward position. Though she was pretty sure that, even if they didn’t know the details of her relationship with Chase, his parents knew how babies were made. “I don’t feel we know each other well enough again to consider something as important as marriage.”
Both his parents looked back at Chase, and Dani felt a slightly hysterical desire to laugh, thinking they looked like they were watching a tennis match.
“All I want is for the three of us to be a family, and I’m sure you’d agree that’s the best thing for Drew. But Dani’s being difficult.” Chase rocked back on his heels, his hands in his jeans pockets. “It’s hard
“I’m...surprised you’re here,” Dani said, giving Chase a look he couldn’t misinterpret. He responded with a grin that showed no guilty feelings at all about his subterfuge. “Where do you live?”
“We’re working in Senegal right now. Benin’s a pretty quick airplane ride from there, really.” The woman clasped her hands together, her eyes sparkling. “When Chase told us about Drew and you, we were over the moon. We brought the little train and a few other gifts. I hope that’s okay?”
“Of course.” Dani smiled. “But I can’t tell if he likes it or not, can you?”
They all chuckled, as it was more than obvious he loved it. Scooting around, toot-tooting endlessly and grinning.
“They’d barely taken it from the box before he jumped on it,” Chase said as he watched Drew, his gaze soft with a hint of pride. “He’s going to be riding a bike in no time.”
“We’re happy he likes it,” Phil said. “I’m especially pleased because if he didn’t, I have a feeling Evelyn and I would be heading straight to another store to look for something else, even if we had to fly to Cotonou. I kept having to remind her we were bringing everything on a plane, she had so much stuff.”
“It’s a grandparents’ prerogative to buy their grandchildren presents,” Evelyn said, an indulgent smile on her face as she watched Drew. “Especially the very first one.”
First one? She couldn’t know Chase’s attitude about having children if she thought there would ever be more.
That thought led Dani in a nasty and very uncomfortable direction it hadn’t gone before, making her stiffen. What if Chase did marry someday? What kind of woman would be stepmother to Drew? Just thinking about it made her stomach twist. She reminded herself he’d be working in remote places around the world, so Drew wouldn’t be around a stepmother much anyway, but didn’t succeed in ridding herself of a slightly sick feeling in her gut.
Evelyn turned her attention to Dani. “I hear there’s to be a wedding soon. Have you decided on a date?”
What? One look at Chase proved he really had told his parents they were getting married. How arrogant could the man be? He had an infuriatingly smug smile on his face, and an expression that said he couldn’t wait to see how she’d react to his mother’s question.
“A wedding? I hadn’t heard about one. Is it someone I know?” She kept her voice light, her expression bland, but knew Chase could see the challenge in her gaze. So he thought this was one big chess game? He’d forgotten she’d learned to play from him.
His parents looked at one another then at Chase, obviously confused. “Chase said—”
“I said we were getting married. I didn’t say Dani had agreed yet,” Chase said smoothly, with a look that said, Answer that. “But wouldn’t it be great to make it happen some time when you could be here to share it with us? Please help me convince her how nice it would be to celebrate our marriage as a family.”
Damn the man. He’d certainly played his turn well, with both his parents staring at her with bemused expressions.
“Chase and I just recently met up again,” she said, trying to figure out exactly what to say. It was a battle to keep from narrowing her eyes and scowling at Chase for putting her in such an awkward position. Though she was pretty sure that, even if they didn’t know the details of her relationship with Chase, his parents knew how babies were made. “I don’t feel we know each other well enough again to consider something as important as marriage.”
Both his parents looked back at Chase, and Dani felt a slightly hysterical desire to laugh, thinking they looked like they were watching a tennis match.
“All I want is for the three of us to be a family, and I’m sure you’d agree that’s the best thing for Drew. But Dani’s being difficult.” Chase rocked back on his heels, his hands in his jeans pockets. “It’s hard
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