A Father for Her Triplets: Her Pregnancy Surprise (20 page)

Sarah giggled and cooed and Grace regretted her decision to
bring the baby with her when she checked on him. When she least expected it, he
would say or do something that would remind her that she’d genuinely believed he
was a nice, normal guy the weekend they’d spent at the beach house. Volunteering
to help her in the kitchen when he first came downstairs hadn’t been expected.
His wanting to know Sarah’s heritage had struck her as adorable. And now he
looked perfectly natural, perfectly comfortable on her back deck.

But he was also here to convince Grace that he would be able to
care for Sarah. Technically he was on good behavior. She refused to get sucked
in again as she had at the beach house.

She turned to go back into the house, but he said, “Grace?” And
every nerve ending she had went on red alert. He had a sexy quality to his voice
that was magnified when he spoke softly. Of course, that took her back to their
pillow talk the night they had slept together and that made her all quivery
inside.

Scowling because she didn’t want to like him and did want to
let him know that if he thought he could charm her he was wrong, she faced him.
“Yes?”

“You never told me how you wanted your steak.”

Feeling embarrassment heat her cheeks, she quickly turned to
the door again. “Medium is fine.”

With that she walked into the house. She put Sarah in her high
chair and rummaged through the cupboards for a jar of baby food, which she
heated. By the time she was done feeding Sarah, had her face cleaned and the
rubber teething ring back in her chubby hands, Danny brought in the steaks.

“Salad is on the counter,” she said, as she laid plates and
silverware on the table. “Could you bring that in, too?” Her new strategy was to
put him to work before he could volunteer. This way, he wouldn’t seem nice, he
would only be following orders.

He did as she asked and they sat down at the table, across from
each other, just as they had been sitting that Sunday night at his beach house.
She’d dressed up, hoping he would notice her. But tonight, on the trip upstairs
to change Sarah’s diaper, she’d put on her worst jeans, her ugliest T-shirt.
What a difference fifteen months made.

“Your house is nice.”

“Thank you.”

Silence reigned for another minute, before Danny said, “So, did
you buy it remodeled like this?”

She bit back a sigh, loath to tell him anything about herself.
More than that, though, they’d discussed this that night at the beach house.
He’d forgotten. So much for thinking she’d made any kind of impression on
him

“It was a wreck when I bought it.”

“Oh, so you did the remodeling—I mean with a contractor,
right?”

“No. My cousin and I remodeled it.” And she’d told him that,
too.

He smiled. “Really?”

Grace rose from her seat. “You know what? I’m really not all
that hungry and it’s time for me to get Sarah bathed and ready for bed.” She
smiled stiffly. “If you’ll excuse me.”

* * *

Alone at the table Danny quietly finished his steak. If
Grace was going to continually take Sarah and leave the room, maybe he shouldn’t
cancel tomorrow’s dinner engagement? He drew in a breath, then expelled it
quickly. He couldn’t dodge or fudge this commitment. He wanted at least shared
custody of his daughter, and Grace had handed him the way to get it without a
custody battle that would result in her investigating his past and probably
result in him losing all but scant visitation rights. So he couldn’t leave. He
had to be here every minute he could for the next two weeks.

The problem was he and Grace also had to be together. He’d
thought they could be at least cordial, but this was what he got for his
positive attitude. The silent treatment. Well, she could save herself the
trouble if she intended to insult him. His ex-wife had been the ultimate
professional when it came to the silent treatment. Grace would have to go a long
way to match that.

But when he’d not only finished eating his dinner and stacking
the dishes in the dishwasher and Grace still hadn’t come downstairs, he wondered
if maybe she couldn’t give Lydia a tip or two in the silent treatment
department. Angry, because the whole point of his being here was to spend time
with his daughter, Danny stormed up the steps. He stopped outside Grace’s
bedroom door because it was ajar and what he saw compelled him to rethink
everything.

Though Grace’s bedroom was pretty, decorated in warm colors
like reds, yellows and taupe, a big white crib, white changing table and two
white dressers took up most of the space. Still, there was enough adult
furniture pushed into the room’s corners that Danny could almost envision how
she probably had her room before the baby was born. When she met him, she had
had a pretty house, a sanctuary bedroom and a budding career. When she got
pregnant, she’d lost her job. When she actually had Sarah, most of her pretty
house had become a nursery.

“Oh, now, you can’t be sleepy yet.”

Grace’s soft voice drifted out into the hallway.

“You still need to spend some time with your daddy.”

Danny swallowed when he heard himself referred to again as a
daddy. He was only getting used to that.

“I know you’re tired, but just stay awake long enough to say
good-night.”

She lifted Sarah from the changing table and brushed her cheek
across the baby’s little cheek. Mesmerized, Danny watched. He’d forgotten how
stirring it was to watch a mother with her baby.

“Come on,” Grace said, turning to the door. Danny jumped back,
out of her line of vision.

Thinking fast, he leaped into his room and quickly closed the
door. He counted to fifty, hoping that gave her enough time to get downstairs,
then opened the door a crack and peered out into the hall. When he found it
empty, he walked downstairs, too. Grace sat on the sofa, Sarah on her lap.

“Can I hold her before she goes to bed?”

“Sure.”

She made a move to rise, but Danny stopped her. “I’ll take her
from your lap.”

Grace nodded and Danny reached down to get Sarah. Lifting her,
he let his eyes wander over to Grace and their gazes caught. Except now he knew
why he was no longer dealing with the sweet, innocent woman he’d slept with at
the beach house. Her life had changed so much that even if she hadn’t tricked
him, she couldn’t be the same woman. She’d gotten pregnant to a stranger. He’d
rejected her. She’d lost her job and was too sick to get another. She’d had her
baby alone. Any of those would have toughened her. Made her cynical. Maybe even
made her angry.

No. She was no longer the woman he knew from the beach
house.

CHAPTER SIX

D
ANNY
AWAKENED
TO
the sounds of the shower. Grace was up before him and already started on her day. He waited until the shower stopped, then listened for the sounds of the bathroom door opening before he got out of bed, slipped on a robe and grabbed his shaving kit.

In the hall he heard the melodious sounds of Grace’s voice as she spoke to Sarah and laughed with her. He stopped. Her soft laughter took him back to their weekend at the beach house. He shook his head and walked into the bathroom. He had to stop remembering. As he’d realized last night, that Grace no longer existed. Plus, they had a child. Sarah’s future was in their hands. He didn’t take that responsibility lightly anymore.

After a quick shower, Danny dressed in a navy suit, ready for a long day of business meetings. He jogged down the stairs and was immediately enfolded in the scent of breakfast.

Walking to the small dining area, he said, “Good morning.”

Grace breezed away from the table and strode into the kitchen. “Good morning.”

Sarah grinned up at him toothlessly. He smiled down at her. “And how are you today?”

Sarah giggled. Danny took a seat at the table. Grace set a dish containing an omelet, two slices of toast and some applesauce in front of him. Suddenly her coolness made sense. He’d forced her to have their baby alone, yet she’d nonetheless suggested shared custody, allowing him into her home to give him the opportunity to prove himself. Even if the Grace who’d seduced him that night no longer existed, the woman who’d taken her place had her sense of generosity. Even to her detriment. She wouldn’t cheat him out of time with her daughter. Or use Sarah as a weapon. She was fair and it cost her.

Grace set her dish at the place opposite Danny and sat down. She immediately grabbed her napkin, opened it on her lap and picked up her fork.

Sarah shrieked.

Grace shook her head. “You already ate.”

Sarah pounded her teething ring on the high chair tray.

“A tantrum will do you no good,” Grace said to Sarah, but Danny was painfully aware that she didn’t speak to him. She didn’t even look at him.

His chest tightened. She’d been such a fun, bubbly, lively person. Now she was cautious and withdrawn. And he had done this to her.

* * *

Grace all but gobbled her breakfast. She noticed that Danny had become quiet as she drank a cup of coffee, but she didn’t have time to care. She wasn’t entirely sure she would care even if she had time. He’d basically accused her of lying. He clearly believed she’d tricked him. And if both of those weren’t enough, he intended to take her child every other week. She didn’t want to be his friend. He was only in her house because she couldn’t risk that he’d get full custody, and she also wouldn’t risk her child’s happiness with a grouch. So he was here to prove himself. She didn’t have to entertain him.

He was lucky she’d made him breakfast. That was why she was late, and rushing, so if he expected a little morning chitchat, that was his problem.

Having eaten enough food to sustain herself until lunch, Grace rose from her seat and took her dish to the kitchen. To her surprise Danny was right behind her when she turned from the dishwasher. Her heart thudded in her chest, half from surprise, half from being so close to him. He radiated warmth or energy, or something, that made being near him intoxicating. And trouble. His being irresistible was what had caused her to let her guard down in the first place.

He handed her his plate, though most of his food hadn’t been eaten.

She took a quick gulp of air to try to rid herself of the breathless feeling and looked up at him. His eyes mirrored an emotion she couldn’t quite read, except that he was unsure of what he was supposed to be doing.

“I’m rushing because I’m late. You can stay and finish. Just rinse your plate when you’re through and put it in the dishwasher.”

“I’ve had enough,” Danny said and as Grace turned away from the dishwasher she saw him glance around her small kitchen. “Since I’m the boss I don’t have to worry about being late, so if you’d like I could clean up in here.”

In his neat navy blue suit, white shirt and blue print tie, he might look like the guy who ran Carson Services, but he behaved like the Danny Grace had met at the beach house, and that wasn’t right. Being attracted to him wasn’t right. Even being friendly wasn’t right, if only because they were on opposite ends of a custody battle.

“No, thank you,” she coolly replied. “It will take me only a minute or two to wipe the skillet and stove. You go on ahead. I’m fine.”

“Grace,” he said with a chuckle. “It’s not a big deal.”

“Really?” Try as she might, she couldn’t keep the sarcasm out of her voice. “I’m surprised a rich guy like you even knows how to clean a skillet.”

He laughed. The sound danced along her nerve endings, reminding her again of how he’d been the night they’d made love. She fought the happy memories by recalling the scene in his office. The one where he’d called her pregnancy a scheme.

“I couldn’t exactly take a maid to university. My parents might have gotten me an apartment, but unless I wanted to live in squalor I had to do at least a little straightening up.”

Grace felt herself softening to him and squeezed her eyes shut. It was much easier dealing with mean Danny. No expectations were better than unmet expectations.

Opening her eyes, she faced him. “Look, I don’t want you to be nice to me. I don’t need you to be nice.”

“Helping clean up isn’t nice. It’s common courtesy.”

“Well, save it. You’re here to prove yourself with Sarah. And you did fine this morning just by saying good morning. You noticed her. You didn’t ignore her. You’re on the right track.”

“I’m not going to let you wait on me while I’m here.”

Grace removed her apron and set it on the counter. She didn’t have time or the inclination to argue. She also couldn’t give a damn what he did. That only tripped memories of a man she was absolutely positive didn’t exist. She couldn’t get into arguments that tempted her to believe otherwise.

“Fine. Dishcloths are in the bottom drawer.”

She walked out of the kitchen and over to the high chair, where she lifted Sarah into her arms before she headed for the stairway.

But from the corner of her eye she could see Danny standing in the kitchen, plate in hand, watching her. He looked totally out of place and equally confused and Grace again fought against emotions she couldn’t afford to have.

How could he make her feel like the one in the wrong when he had done such terrible things to her?

* * *

After a horrifically long day, Danny finally had ten minutes alone in his office. Though he tried to make a few phone calls before leaving he couldn’t. Being with Grace at her house and yet not really being with Grace was driving him crazy. He could not live with someone for two whole weeks who barely spoke to him. Not that he wanted lively conversation, but he couldn’t handle being ignored, either. Plus, if they didn’t at least discuss Sarah and her care, especially her likes and dislikes, how were these two weeks supposed to prove to Grace that she could relax when Sarah was with him?

Knowing it wouldn’t help matters if he were late for dinner that night, Danny stuffed a few files into a briefcase and left early. At her front door, he hesitated. He felt so ill at ease just walking inside that he should ring the bell. But he was living here. The next two weeks this was his home. And maybe walking in would jar Grace into realizing she had to deal with him.

He opened the door and saw Grace on the floor with Sarah, playing peekaboo.

“Hey.”

Sarah squealed her delight at seeing him. Grace glanced over. “Hey.”

He didn’t smell anything cooking and finally, finally saw a golden opportunity. “I was thinking this afternoon that things might go easier if we just went out to dinner.” He paused, but she didn’t say anything. “On me, of course.”

She sighed, lifted Sarah into her arms and rose from the floor. “It’s not practical to go out to a restaurant with a baby every night.” She walked into the kitchen, Sarah on her hip.

With Grace’s reply ringing in his head, Danny looked around again. Two bears sat on the sofa. A baby swing was angled in such a way that the baby inside could be seen from the kitchen, dining room or living room. A high chair sat by the dining table. Blocks were stacked on the buffet. The room smelled of baby powder.

He remembered this now. For the first few years of a baby’s life everything revolved around the baby. That had been a difficult enough adjustment for a married couple. But it had to be all-consuming for a single mom. Not just because she didn’t have assistance with Sarah, but because it affected everything.

He walked into the kitchen. “Can I help with dinner?”

She pulled a package of hamburger from the refrigerator. “Do you want to grill the hamburgers?”

Eager to do his share, Danny said, “Sure.”

He reached for the hamburger, but Grace pointed at his jacket and tie. “You can’t cook in that.”

He grimaced. “Right.”

After changing into jeans and a T-shirt, he took the hamburger from the refrigerator and headed for the back deck and the grill. Grace was nowhere around, but he assumed she and the baby were in her room. Maybe because the baby needed a diaper change.

Gazing out over the short backyard Danny studied the houses near Grace’s. Realizing none was as well kept as hers, he remembered her telling him about remodeling her home the night they spent at his beach house. That was why her comments about wanting to be rich hadn’t struck him oddly that night. He knew she was a hard worker. But three weeks later when she told him she was pregnant, he’d forgotten how eager she was to earn her way in life. He only remembered that she’d wanted to be rich and he’d assumed the worst.

He’d seduced her, left her for a week, said he didn’t want to see her again when he returned, refused to believe her when she told him she was pregnant and then threatened to file for full custody of their baby. While he’d acted on inaccurate “interpretations” of things she’d done, he’d given her five very real reasons to hate him.

It was no wonder she was cool to him. He’d not only misjudged her. He’d behaved like a horrible person.

The sound of a car pulling into her driveway brought him out of his thoughts. He strode to the far end of the deck and glanced around the side of the house just in time to see Grace pulling Sarah from the car seat. With a grocery bag hooked over her arm and Sarah perched on the other, she walked, head down, into the house.

Danny’s heart squeezed in his chest. Would he ever stop hurting people?

* * *

Grace stepped into her house at the same time that Danny walked in from the deck. “Where did you go?”

“I needed milk and hamburger buns.” Carrying Sarah, she went to the kitchen to deposit her purchases.

Danny grabbed the gallon jug that dangled from her hand and put it in the refrigerator. “I could have gone to the store.”

“Well, I did.”

He sighed. “Grace, I want to help but I can’t do things that I don’t know need done.”

“I didn’t ask you to do anything.”

But even as the words were coming out of her mouth, Grace regretted them. She slid Sarah into the high chair and turned to face Danny. He might be a difficult person, but she wasn’t. And she refused to let him turn her into one.

“Here’s the deal. I’m accustomed to being on my own. There’s no point in breaking that habit because you’ll only be here for another twelve days. So don’t worry about it. Okay?”

He nodded, but he kept looking at her oddly as if she’d just discovered the secret to life. He continued to steal peeks at her all through dinner, making her nervous enough that she chattered to Sarah as they ate their hamburgers and salads, if only to bring some sound into the room.

When she could legitimately slip away to feed Sarah a bottle and put her to bed, she felt as if she were escaping a prison. She extended her alone time with a long, soothing shower, but rather than slip into her usual nightgown and robe she put on sweatpants and a T-shirt and shuffled downstairs to watch a little TV to unwind before trying to sleep.

She had just turned off all the lights and settled on the sofa with a cup of cocoa, when Danny came down the steps.

Seeing her curled up on the couch, he paused. “Sorry.”

He pivoted to go back upstairs and Grace said, “Wait.” She didn’t want to be his friend. She didn’t want to like him. She most certainly didn’t want to get romantically involved with him. But she couldn’t take the silence anymore and she suspected he couldn’t, either.

“You don’t have to leave. For the next two weeks this is your home. We might as well get accustomed to each other.”

At first he hesitated, but then he slowly made his way down the steps and into the sitting area.

“Would you like some cocoa?”

As he lowered himself to the love seat, he chuckled softly. “I haven’t had cocoa in—”

He stopped. Grace suspected that the last time he’d had cocoa it had been with his son, but she was also tired of tiptoeing around his life. He’d told her very little about himself the night they had dinner at the beach house and she’d not pushed him. But if she had to accept him into her house and Sarah’s life, then he had to accept her into his. They couldn’t pretend his other life didn’t exist.

“In?” Grace prompted, forcing him to talk about his son.

“In years.” He took a breath and caught her gaze. “Since I had cocoa with my son.”

The words hung in the room. Danny kept his gaze locked with Grace’s, as if daring her to go further. But she had no intention of delving into every corner of his world. She only wanted them to begin having normal conversations, so the tension between them would ease.

“See. We can talk about both of your children.” She rose from the sofa. “Let me make you a cup of cocoa.”

Without waiting for his reply, she walked into the kitchen, pulled a small pot from the cupboard by the stove and set it on a burner. Danny lowered himself to one of the stools by the counter, reminding Grace of how she had sat at the beach house bar while he poured himself a glass of Scotch.