Read Online Passionate Bid by Tierney O’Malley - Free Book Online Page A

surprised she”d found a man.
    A bright flash lit the room followed by loud thunder. Damn, he hoped it wouldn”t rain too much. He planned to drive back to Portland tomorrow to catch his plane—if Joanie signed the papers tonight.
    Soft pattering of footsteps sounded from upstairs. Sam. Thunder must have woken her up. Without waiting for Joanie, he met Sam half way down the steps and scooped her up by the armpits. “Hey there. You okay?” Sam wrapped her chubby arms around his neck.
    “I”m scared.” She sniffed and rubbed her cold nose against his shoulder.
    “Don”t worry, love. I won”t let the thunder get you.”
    “Promise?”
    “I promise.” Julian sat down on the couch, holding Sam on his lap. The little girl felt soft and good against him. She smelled of soap like her mother. He adjusted Sam”s position so she was lying across his lap. The crook of his arm pillowed her head.
    Sam sighed and buried her face against his chest. Seconds later, she was fast asleep. He noticed she was still wearing her silver necklace. Jesus, didn”t Joanie know it wasn”t safe for Sam to wear her necklace when she went to bed. It could choke her to death in her sleep.
    He lifted the chain and pulled it out of her pajama top. The ring pendant shone from the reflected light from the lamp. The simple silver band was too familiar. His chest thudded. If the ring was what he thought it was, then there should be an inscription…
    “What are you doing?” Joanie asked. She was holding two steamy mugs.
    “Why is Sam down here?”
    “The thunder scared her and she came down here. Did you know she”s scared of thunder?”
    “Yes. But her papa always tucked…. Shit. I”m sorry. I heard the thunder but—”
    “You forgot her papa is gone.”
    “I was—my mind was off somewhere…yeah, I forgot. Why don”t I take Sam back to her bedroom?” Another loud crack of thunder made Joanie jump.
    “She”ll just wake up again. It”s better if she stays here. Joanie, she can”t go to sleep wearing her necklace. It”s not safe. Do you know how many kids die every year because of a simple string?”
    “She”s been wearing her necklace since the first day she was born. She”s attached to it.”
    “Well, it”s time she should take it off. She”s too young to be wearing a necklace like this. If it gets snag, it”ll hurt her.” Joanie became quiet. She just stood looking down at Sam still holding the two coffee mugs. “I gave her the necklace because it was the right thing to do. Hurting her was the last thing in my mind.”
    “Give it to her when she”s older.”
    She sat down the mugs on the coffee table. “You”re right. It”s time to take it off. There is no use hanging on to it.” She splayed a hand on her chest and nodded.
    Somehow, Julian had a feeling he struck as sensitive spot. “It is for her own safety, Joanie.”
    Joanie looked into the mugs. Across her pale and beautiful face, a melancholy frown flitted. “I know. You show great care for a child you just met.”
    “I”d do and say the same thing to any mother who has no sense about what”s dangerous to her child.”
    Sadness gone, her face flushed from anger. “Are you saying I am stupid and senseless?”
    “I found Sam alone on the path and you let her wear a necklace to bed. What am I supposed to think?”
    “You don”t know shit about me. Now, are those the papers you were talking about?”
    Julian took a brief look at the manila envelope he placed on the table. “Yes.” Joanie nodded. As if someone blew the light from within her, her face turned utterly sad and her eyes shone from unshed tears. “The divorce papers.”
    “Yeah.” Damn, why was she crying? She already found another man. Their divorce shouldn”t make her sad. They”d been separated for years. He was just here to legalize their separation and so he could be with another and start his own family. This meeting was just a formality. The thought, for the first time, made him