Bargaining for Baby Read Free

castle with an iron fist and didn’t see a place on its staff for a “delicate girl” like Maddy. She disagreed. After serious and extended debate, she’d won and had gone to work at the firm.
    These past weeks her father had become understandably edgy over his daughter closing her first big solo deal. Beneath the brave face, Maddy was nervous, too. But, comehell or high water, she’d have the signatures she needed and by the date promised. One month from today.
    No one would guess how painfully shy she’d been as a girl, how hard she’d worked on her flaws in order to reflect her father’s celebrated style of business savvy and determination. Now, not a day went by that Drew didn’t in some way acknowledge his daughter’s efforts. Still, there were times she wished she’d known a mother’s love.
    Her gaze fell to the baby.
    How would this little one fare?
    Jack’s long, tanned fingers reached for the sugar bowl. “I don’t recall saying I wouldn’t take him,” he drawled.
    “You hardly seem gripped by the idea.” Maddy slid back and one inky black brow arched.
    “You’d do better not to be so hostile,” he said.
    “You’d do better not to be such a cold fish.”
    While her heart pumped madly, his expression didn’t change. Those lidded sexy-as-sin eyes merely peered into hers until a not unpleasant shiver rippled over her skin, heating her from crown to curling-toe.
    Blinking rapidly, she shifted back into the hard plastic seat.
    Not only was this man dripping with bad-boy sex appeal, in that last point he’d been right. He might be as demonstrative as a stunned salmon, but now was the time for calm, not commotion. No matter how difficult, for the baby’s sake, she must keep her emotions in check.
    All of them.
    Maddy loosened the grip on her cup and found the calm place inside that served her well in trying situations.
    “This day has been a shock for us both,” she admitted, “but, believe me, I only have one objective in mind, and that’s to make certain Beau is cared for the way Dahliawould’ve wanted.” She leaned in again, praying her heart would be there for him to see in her eyes. “Jack…he needs you.”
    A muscle in his cheek flexed twice. “So it would seem.”
    When he downed the rest of his coffee that must be three parts sugar and stone cold by now, Maddy’s hackles went up.
    All her life she’d mingled with powerful men, business associates from her father’s advertising firm, influential patriarchs of the boys she’d dated in university. She’d seen an investment banker multimillionaire for a while. But never had she met anyone who stirred such strong emotions within her.
    Both negative and shamelessly positive.
    The hot pulse that kicked off low and deep inside whenever she looked at Jack Prescott was real. His presence was so commanding, despite the day, she couldn’t help but be intrigued. The breadth of his shoulders, the strength in his neck…his man-of-the-land build was magnificent. His gestures, his speech, everything about him whispered confidence. Intelligence. Superiority.
    Detachment.
    The angel asleep in that carriage hadn’t another living relative left in the world. Yet this specimen of masculine perfection, this emotional ice man, couldn’t bring himself to even ask to hold him. She wouldn’t have been able to leave Beau with his uncle and simply walk away, even if she had a choice.
    Her stomach churning, Maddy nudged the blanket higher on the baby’s shoulder and kept her eyes on the soft rise and fall of his little chest. There was never going to be a right time. Might as well bite the bullet and get the final bombshell out in the open.
    “There’s something else I need to say,” she murmured. “About a promise I made.”
    Jack consulted his Omega platinum wristwatch. “I’m listening.”
    “I promised that I wouldn’t hand Beau over until you were ready.”
    While her heart jack hammered against her ribs, the man across from her slowly