Read Online Right by Her Side by Christie Ridgway - Free Book Online

right?”
    â€œThat’s right.” Trent’s jaw hardened. “But his remains were found.”
    Rebecca’s stomach clenched. “But you know you weren’t responsible. You couldn’t have—”
    â€œI could have done something if I’d been watching them more closely. If I’d followed them into the front yard—”
    â€œBut you were watching the baby! It wasn’t your fault, Trent.”
    He laughed, a short, cold sound. “I know. I think I even was able to forget about it for a little while until Danny’s little boy, my nephew, was kidnapped.”
    Rebecca stared. “No!”
    â€œYes.” Trent’s expression grew remote. “Four years ago, when he was a year old. His mother, my sister-in-law, killed herself a year after that.”
    â€œOh, God.” Now Rebecca could understand how losslike this had become such a monster in Trent’s eyes. In his heart. She curled her legs out of his lap and knelt on the cushions beside him. “I’m sorry, Trent.” Her hands grasped both of his. “I’m so sorry for your family’s pain.”
    Though his fingers laced with hers, his expression remained distant. “I want to be in this baby’s life.” His voice wasn’t urgent or upset. It wasn’t cool and casual, either. It was plain certain. “Our baby’s life.”
    Oh, no. She felt her spine going soft. “Trent…”
    â€œI want an arrangement that won’t make it easy for you to take the baby from me.”
    â€œI wouldn’t—”
    â€œAnd I don’t want to be a part-time father either. I’ve had one of those, too.”
    Rebecca stilled. “I don’t want to be a part-time mother myself. That’s not what I went through this for.”
    â€œIf we don’t get married, the fact is, Rebecca, we’ll both be part-time parents. I’ll make sure of that.”
    Jerking her hands from his, she drew away from him. “Are you threatening to take my baby from me?”
    â€œNo. I’m telling you that I’m going to be in this child’s life. I’m telling you that if we share custody, then neither of us gets what we want. The only way for that to happen, for us both to be satisfied, is to get married.”
    She couldn’t… She wouldn’t…. But his determination to be a father to her baby made his offer just the teeniest bit tempting. Oh, Eisenhower, he must loveyou. He must already love you like I do. Then she remembered her steely spine. “Trent, no.”
    But he must have seen that sentimental yes on her face. “Don’t worry, Rebecca. I promise it won’t be a problem. You’ll have a say in everything, in every way we work it out.”
    â€œBut how could it work out? What if one day you fall in love—”
    â€œDon’t make me laugh. We’re cynical on romance, remember? The fact is, we’ll do better creating a partnership on practical matters. You’re not counting on love to come your way, are you?”
    â€œHah.” Then she collapsed against the back of the love seat, unable to believe what she couldn’t be seriously contemplating. “This is just a bad dream, right? Tell me that any minute I’m going to wake up.”
    â€œShh, shh, shh.” He dragged her feet back into his lap and started that hypnotizing massage again. “Just relax.”
    She closed her eyes to give herself a barrier against his gorgeous face. “I haven’t agreed,” she reminded him.
    â€œI think we should marry as soon as possible,” he murmured. “There’s no reason to wait and there’s every reason for us to become better acquainted.”
    The whole idea of getting better acquainted through marriage was so overwhelming that she couldn’t find the voice to protest. He kept up that soft kneading, that soft talking, spinning tales of their future