Read Online Peekaboo Baby by Delores Fossen - Free Book Online Page B

the wrong place since he was touching her. But he kept it there anyway.
    â€œI’m sorry,” he said.
    â€œAre you?” But before he could respond, Delaney dismissed it by shaking her head. She also moved her hand. And his. Inching back away from him.
    Recoiling.
    Before the recoil was complete, Ryan caught a whiff of baby powder. And her. Something distinctly female. Somehow, it was the unique scent that cut through everything and made its way to his nose.
    Ryan reminded his nose not to get any bad ideas to pass on to the rest of his body.
    He forced his attention away from her and looked around the simply furnished room. Better to concentrate on the decor than gawk at her. It was clean, uncluttered and efficient. A lot like the woman who owned it. What was missing was the baby. But there were two rooms just off to his left. One of them was probably the nursery.
    The nursery.
    For such a simple word, it caused a flurry of emotions.
    â€œWhat would you do with the DNA results?” Delaney challenged.
    Talk about a loaded question, and he was positive she wouldn’t care for his response. “I think we should get the results first, and then we can discuss it.”
    Nope. Judging from her scalpel-sharp glare, she didn’t like what he had to say. “We’ll discuss it now.”
    â€œFair enough.” And it was what he’d expected. Ryan had assumed it would take an argument, or even several of them, to convince her. “I figure there’s only a slim chance that you received a cloned embryo. And if you did, there’s an even slimmer chance that the embryo was created from genetic material taken from my son, Adam. So look at it this way—the test results could give you peace of mind.”
    She made a sound. A short burst of air. Almost a laugh, but it was laced with irony. “I’ve pretty much given up on that whole peace-of-mind thing.” Her glare softened then faded. And she bunched up her forehead. “I’m trying really hard not to be terrified of you, but I’m failing.”
    Her honesty broke down his defenses in a way that nothing else could have. Not good. He couldn’t allow that. Ryan was positive he would need those defenses before this was over. “My reputation—”
    â€œI didn’t mean your reputation. I’m talking about Patrick.” She moistened her lips and took in a quick breath. “I’m sick over the possibility of losing him to you.”
    That did it. Many people had called him a cold, heartless bastard, but he would have truly had to be one not to reach out to her. Ryan came off the sofa and maneuvered himself between the coffee table and her chair. Not touching her, exactly, but close enough that if she needed a shoulder to cry on, he’d offer his.
    Despite what it would end up costing them both if she accepted.
    â€œI’ve tried to put myself in your place,” she said, her voice quivery now. “And I know I’d be requesting a DNA test—”
    â€œAnd if I were you, I’d be fighting it.”
    She lifted her eyes to meet his and gave an uncertain nod, as if she hadn’t expected him to understand. “But fighting it won’t make this go away, will it? The question of Patrick’s paternity is there now, and I don’t think you’ll stop until you know the truth.”
    Ryan hoped his silence conveyed that she was right about that. “You need the truth, too, Delaney. Even if it’s so you’ll have a medical history of your son’s biological parents.” Because it seemed like a festering wound between them, he slipped the DNA kit back into his jacket pocket. “Did the clinic tell you anything about the couple who supposedly donated the embryo you used?”
    â€œJust the basics. Hair color, eye color, nothing in their backgrounds to indicate there’d be future medical problems.” She paused and pursed her lips. “Hair