Read Online Found: One Secret Baby by Nancy Holland - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Nancy Holland
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a judge be any more likely to give me custody than you?”
“Not you—you and Felicity.” She gave him a smug look and took another sip of soup. “You’ve always been friends, and she needs a husband.”
He swallowed a laugh. Felicity wasn’t in the market for a husband. Never would be. But she kept that part of her life secret from her mother, and her mother’s friends.
“Can you picture Felicity chasing around after a child?” he asked.
“No, but you’re rich enough to hire someone to chase after him for her, just the way I would. That way I could see my grandson whenever I want.”
Which wouldn’t be very often, Morgan suspected, once she was reminded of what small children were like.
“Why would Felicity go along with such a crazy plan?”
“You’re handsome, rich, and have quite a reputation as a ladies’ man, if you know what I mean. Her mother is one of my best friends. Who could be more suitable for Felicity to marry?”
“Someone she loved?” Morgan ventured.
“Love and marriage are two different things.”
“You didn’t love my father?”
Lillian gave an artful sniff.
“Of course I did. But it also made good practical sense for me and your father to get married and put a stop to all the gossip about our divorces. And it makes good practical sense for you and Felicity to get married now so I can be near my grandchild.”
Morgan shook his head. He shouldn’t have mentioned Lillian’s relationship with his father, but her attitude still rankled.
And continued to rankle throughout dinner as she recited all the advantages, mainly for her, if he married Felicity and adopted Charlie’s kid.
Finally he’d had enough. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to have to skip dessert. I’ve got a huge backlog of work.”
“Can’t you stay a little longer? We could talk about your wedding.”
He closed his eyes and counted to ten. “There is not going to be a wedding. I am not marrying Felicity to get custody of Charlie’s son. Is that clear?”
“You could stay and tell me more about my grandson.”
“I only saw him for a few minutes, so I don’t know much. He’s a cute kid. He’s learning to talk. He loves his mother.”
“She’s not his mother, and she’s never going to be. I’m his grandmother, so I have some say in who raises the poor child. He’d learn to love Felicity, too, I’m sure.”
Anger pushed him to his feet.
“That’s not going to happen, Lillian. And I’d like to keep Felicity as a friend, so I don’t want you to even mention your crazy idea to her—or her mother. Got that?”
Lillian heaved a dramatic sigh. “Well, if you’re determined to be selfish …”
“I’m determined to do what’s best for Charlie’s son.” He bent and dutifully kissed the suspiciously taunt skin of her proffered cheek. “Goodbye, Lillian.”
On the drive back to his penthouse condo near the Common, his stepmother’s voice echoed in his head. He wanted to do what was best for Joey, but neither Lillian nor Felicity was the answer. And Charlie’s father definitely wasn’t the answer. Which left Ms. Rosalie Walker.
Morgan shook the thought from his mind and refocused on the work he had to do tonight.
The next Saturday morning, Rosalie opened the front door, Joey on her hip, expecting the babysitter. When she found Morgan on her porch instead, an inexplicable bolt of joy left her speechless.
Her soaring heart did an immediate nosedive. Had he come to take Joey away? The lawyer in her knew he couldn’t do that, but the mother in her still went cold.
Luckily, she recovered her sanity before he could worm his way into her house the way he had the last time.
“Why are you here? I’m expecting an important business call and …”
As if on cue, the cell in her jeans pocket chimed Beethoven. She groaned and set Joey on the tiled floor of the entry hall. Without taking her eyes off their unexpected visitor, she opened her phone.
“Good morning, Congresswoman
“Not you—you and Felicity.” She gave him a smug look and took another sip of soup. “You’ve always been friends, and she needs a husband.”
He swallowed a laugh. Felicity wasn’t in the market for a husband. Never would be. But she kept that part of her life secret from her mother, and her mother’s friends.
“Can you picture Felicity chasing around after a child?” he asked.
“No, but you’re rich enough to hire someone to chase after him for her, just the way I would. That way I could see my grandson whenever I want.”
Which wouldn’t be very often, Morgan suspected, once she was reminded of what small children were like.
“Why would Felicity go along with such a crazy plan?”
“You’re handsome, rich, and have quite a reputation as a ladies’ man, if you know what I mean. Her mother is one of my best friends. Who could be more suitable for Felicity to marry?”
“Someone she loved?” Morgan ventured.
“Love and marriage are two different things.”
“You didn’t love my father?”
Lillian gave an artful sniff.
“Of course I did. But it also made good practical sense for me and your father to get married and put a stop to all the gossip about our divorces. And it makes good practical sense for you and Felicity to get married now so I can be near my grandchild.”
Morgan shook his head. He shouldn’t have mentioned Lillian’s relationship with his father, but her attitude still rankled.
And continued to rankle throughout dinner as she recited all the advantages, mainly for her, if he married Felicity and adopted Charlie’s kid.
Finally he’d had enough. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to have to skip dessert. I’ve got a huge backlog of work.”
“Can’t you stay a little longer? We could talk about your wedding.”
He closed his eyes and counted to ten. “There is not going to be a wedding. I am not marrying Felicity to get custody of Charlie’s son. Is that clear?”
“You could stay and tell me more about my grandson.”
“I only saw him for a few minutes, so I don’t know much. He’s a cute kid. He’s learning to talk. He loves his mother.”
“She’s not his mother, and she’s never going to be. I’m his grandmother, so I have some say in who raises the poor child. He’d learn to love Felicity, too, I’m sure.”
Anger pushed him to his feet.
“That’s not going to happen, Lillian. And I’d like to keep Felicity as a friend, so I don’t want you to even mention your crazy idea to her—or her mother. Got that?”
Lillian heaved a dramatic sigh. “Well, if you’re determined to be selfish …”
“I’m determined to do what’s best for Charlie’s son.” He bent and dutifully kissed the suspiciously taunt skin of her proffered cheek. “Goodbye, Lillian.”
On the drive back to his penthouse condo near the Common, his stepmother’s voice echoed in his head. He wanted to do what was best for Joey, but neither Lillian nor Felicity was the answer. And Charlie’s father definitely wasn’t the answer. Which left Ms. Rosalie Walker.
Morgan shook the thought from his mind and refocused on the work he had to do tonight.
The next Saturday morning, Rosalie opened the front door, Joey on her hip, expecting the babysitter. When she found Morgan on her porch instead, an inexplicable bolt of joy left her speechless.
Her soaring heart did an immediate nosedive. Had he come to take Joey away? The lawyer in her knew he couldn’t do that, but the mother in her still went cold.
Luckily, she recovered her sanity before he could worm his way into her house the way he had the last time.
“Why are you here? I’m expecting an important business call and …”
As if on cue, the cell in her jeans pocket chimed Beethoven. She groaned and set Joey on the tiled floor of the entry hall. Without taking her eyes off their unexpected visitor, she opened her phone.
“Good morning, Congresswoman
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