Read Online The Switched Baby Scandal (A Scandals of San Sebastian Novel) (Entangled Bliss) by Theresa Meyers - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Theresa Meyers
Tags: Romance, Contemporary, small town, enemies to lovers, sweet romance, secret baby, Blended families, Entangled Bliss, Switched at birth, child custody, Theresa Meyers
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roll and kick inside her stomach. She couldn’t have known she’d never see her little face again or nuzzle the soft supple crease of her baby’s neck. Her chest ached. As much as Emily had transformed her life, she now knew something was missing that could never be replaced.
Under any other circumstance she would have gleefully told him hell would freeze over before he’d see Emily again. But that wasn’t an option. Reece was the only way she could get to know the daughter she would never meet. He had the memories, the pictures of Alyssa. She had nothing of her little girl. And she couldn’t deny he was in pain, too. He was Emily’s biological father—and a family law attorney who could probably get the judge to do anything he liked. The ache intensified at the thought.
Taylor shrugged on a clean black sweater and a pair of jeans, then shoved her hair into a ponytail. She had no intention of dressing up for Reece’s benefit. Emily, on the other hand, refused to wear anything but her fanciest party dress, a mixture of pink satin, with a skirt of tulle and lace that only a grandmother could buy without wincing at the price tag.
“Emily, this is just dinner at Mr. Wallace’s house. What about your pink jumper?”
“No, Mommy. This is special. I’m going to dinner at Reece’s house for the first time.”
Taylor winced. The familiarity stung even worse, now that she knew Reece’s intentions. At least Emily didn’t know about her connection to Reece. That would have only complicated things.
She bundled Emily into the car along with Eddie the bear and half-a-dozen picture albums, still seething about the impact Reece had on her daughter’s behavior after only one meeting. She would put aside her anger and her frustration to grasp at what she could of her missing daughter. If nothing else, that alone would make the uncomfortable dinner worthwhile.
…
Reece watched them drive up to the gated entrance in front of his house and exhaled a sigh of relief. He’d been pacing, hoping that the mail hadn’t been too efficient in getting the court summons to Taylor, and worrying that if it had, she would blow off dinner before he could explain his intentions. He pushed the electronic button for the gate. They slipped through into the large, circular drive.
As he heard the car wheels crunch to a stop, he made a quick check in the foyer mirror, smoothing back his hair, especially the lock that tended to flip forward over his forehead.
He’d carefully prepared the meal and set the table for the first time in months. In reality, it was the first time he’d had any reason to. He was more comfortable dining alone in front of the television or at the kitchen table than in the large dining room with its ornate crystal chandelier and mirrored wall.
Tonight, however, was special in more ways than one. The clear, dulcet chimes of the doorbell echoed in the tiled foyer, and Reece reached for the thick oak door. As he opened it, two different faces greeted him. One was as dark as the night and the other like spring sunshine.
His gaze flicked first to Emily’s brilliant smile and bright eyes sparkling with delight. His heart jumped, glad to see such joy in her. But the joy crumbled quickly when his eyes met Taylor’s. She was cold and distant, her mouth grim and her fingers in a white-knuckled hold on the albums in her arms.
Damn.
The summons had gotten there early.
He gave her credit for showing up anyway. She obviously was willing to go to great lengths for Emily. He smiled as warmly as he could under her ruthless stare. “Please come in.”
Taylor allowed Emily to tug impatiently at her hand and lead her past him into the foyer.
He bent his knees, squatting down to Emily’s level. “I hope you’re hungry. I made enough for Eddie, too.”
“Good, Reece, because I’m very hungry.” Emily made a show of grabbing her stomach and tipping her head back in anguish.
“That’s a very pretty dress you have on,
Under any other circumstance she would have gleefully told him hell would freeze over before he’d see Emily again. But that wasn’t an option. Reece was the only way she could get to know the daughter she would never meet. He had the memories, the pictures of Alyssa. She had nothing of her little girl. And she couldn’t deny he was in pain, too. He was Emily’s biological father—and a family law attorney who could probably get the judge to do anything he liked. The ache intensified at the thought.
Taylor shrugged on a clean black sweater and a pair of jeans, then shoved her hair into a ponytail. She had no intention of dressing up for Reece’s benefit. Emily, on the other hand, refused to wear anything but her fanciest party dress, a mixture of pink satin, with a skirt of tulle and lace that only a grandmother could buy without wincing at the price tag.
“Emily, this is just dinner at Mr. Wallace’s house. What about your pink jumper?”
“No, Mommy. This is special. I’m going to dinner at Reece’s house for the first time.”
Taylor winced. The familiarity stung even worse, now that she knew Reece’s intentions. At least Emily didn’t know about her connection to Reece. That would have only complicated things.
She bundled Emily into the car along with Eddie the bear and half-a-dozen picture albums, still seething about the impact Reece had on her daughter’s behavior after only one meeting. She would put aside her anger and her frustration to grasp at what she could of her missing daughter. If nothing else, that alone would make the uncomfortable dinner worthwhile.
…
Reece watched them drive up to the gated entrance in front of his house and exhaled a sigh of relief. He’d been pacing, hoping that the mail hadn’t been too efficient in getting the court summons to Taylor, and worrying that if it had, she would blow off dinner before he could explain his intentions. He pushed the electronic button for the gate. They slipped through into the large, circular drive.
As he heard the car wheels crunch to a stop, he made a quick check in the foyer mirror, smoothing back his hair, especially the lock that tended to flip forward over his forehead.
He’d carefully prepared the meal and set the table for the first time in months. In reality, it was the first time he’d had any reason to. He was more comfortable dining alone in front of the television or at the kitchen table than in the large dining room with its ornate crystal chandelier and mirrored wall.
Tonight, however, was special in more ways than one. The clear, dulcet chimes of the doorbell echoed in the tiled foyer, and Reece reached for the thick oak door. As he opened it, two different faces greeted him. One was as dark as the night and the other like spring sunshine.
His gaze flicked first to Emily’s brilliant smile and bright eyes sparkling with delight. His heart jumped, glad to see such joy in her. But the joy crumbled quickly when his eyes met Taylor’s. She was cold and distant, her mouth grim and her fingers in a white-knuckled hold on the albums in her arms.
Damn.
The summons had gotten there early.
He gave her credit for showing up anyway. She obviously was willing to go to great lengths for Emily. He smiled as warmly as he could under her ruthless stare. “Please come in.”
Taylor allowed Emily to tug impatiently at her hand and lead her past him into the foyer.
He bent his knees, squatting down to Emily’s level. “I hope you’re hungry. I made enough for Eddie, too.”
“Good, Reece, because I’m very hungry.” Emily made a show of grabbing her stomach and tipping her head back in anguish.
“That’s a very pretty dress you have on,
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