Catch of a Lifetime Read Free Page B

back. "Now you don't have to take off from work tomorrow. Angel can watch me. I won't have to go to daycare, and you can save the money. Rainbow likes to save money."
       The child's smile was every bit as wide as Harry's, but full of lovely little teeth, a few spaces between them where the baby ones had fallen out. She wondered how many gold coins Matilda had placed beneath his pillow or if the Tooth Fairy Brigade only celebrated Mer tooth loss.
       "Michael, that's not going to happen. Angel has more important things to do than watch you while I'm at work."
       Ah. Babysitting. An odd phrase, but now completely understandable. Her people called it Mer-minding.
       "Actually, I don't. My study doesn't take all my time." Not to mention, babysitting Michael would be her field study.
       "See? She can!" Michael was now bouncing on both feet, his cap crushed between his hands, his thick auburn hair, so like his father's, flopping by his ears.
       Logan was trying to glare at her over his son's head, but Angel purposely kept her gaze averted. She liked Michael's idea and didn't want to give Logan any am munition for his argument.
       Yes, Rod would have issues with this whole thing, but if he'd allowed her the opportunity to apply for the job she'd wanted, this situation could have been avoided. But Rod had spouted off about no more Human inter action by members of his family—interesting how he came up with that stipulation after he and Reel had both married Humans—and then Harry had pulled his idiotic move, so her fins were tied.
       Besides, when she pulled this off and went back to Atlantis with firsthand information, she'd be the perfect candidate for director of the Coalition. Rod would have to give her the position—who better to work towards fostering Mer-Human relations with the goal to save the planet than a Mer who'd actually lived among them? The Council would thank her for the leaps she'd made in advancing Mer knowledge.
       If she didn't blow it…
       "Michael, why don't you go see Tony so Angel and I can talk."
       "I don't wanna." Michael puffed out his lower lip and crossed his arms. "You said I could have what ever I wanted for my birthday and I want Angel for my babysitter."
       Logan looked ready to spit snails. Instead he rolled his eyes toward the heavens and scraped a hand across his jaw, the slight rasp setting Angel's skin to tingling.
       "Look, sport, no offense to Angel, but I don't know her well enough to feel comfortable about her watching you."
       She glanced away when Logan's eyes drilled into hers, and she hunched down in front of the little boy.
       "Michael, how about if we do this on a trial basis? Maybe your dad would feel better about me babysitting if he spent the day with us. If he's happy with the way I look after you, we can discuss the situation then, okay?"
       "But I don't want you to go away." The little boy's bottom lip trembled.
       Angel couldn't help herself. She hugged him. He was no different from any other child she knew. "I'm not going anywhere, Michael. I promise."

    ***
    Oh, hell.
       Logan looked at the scene before him and tossed in the proverbial towel. First the problem at work, now this. He couldn't deny Michael the one thing he wanted for his birthday, but he also couldn't leave his son in the care of a total stranger.
       It was a good thing he could work from home. He'd been doing it since Rainbow— Christine —had dropped Michael off with nothing but a note, a stuffed toy rac coon, a bag of tattered clothing, and a few children's books. What were a couple more days? Not the ideal situation, but school wasn't that far off.
       "All right, Michael. If that's what you want, Angel can hang out with you while I'm working today, okay?"
       "You're the best, Logan!" Michael wrapped his thin arms around Logan's thighs, giving him his first official Dad hug.
       A lump formed in Logan's throat. What