Magnificent Folly Read Free Page B

her.”
    “Then what do you call your stakeout on the cliff?”
    “Pleasure.” His gaze shifted to Cassie’s small figure, climbing the steps of the cottage. “Enjoyment. She’s pretty wonderful, isn’t she?”
    “Yes.”
    His gaze moved back to Lily’s face. “You stillthink I’m here to put her face on the cover of the
National Enquirer?”
    “You know too much, Mr. Ramsey, and I don’t believe in coincidences.”
    “Andrew.” He studied her face for a moment. “Poor Lily, I guess I can’t blame you for acting the fierce mother tigress. Life hasn’t been easy for you, has it?”
    She stiffened. “And just what have you dug up in your morgue files about me?”
    He shook his head, his gaze warmly sympathetic. “I’m no reporter, Lily. You’re never going to see your face on a scandal sheet again. I promise you.”
    Again? He
did
know. She felt as if she had been punched in the stomach and had the breath knocked out of her. “Who are you?” she asked hoarsely.
    “Andrew Ramsey. Would you like to see my identification?”
    She gestured impatiently. “I’ll accept the fact that you’re telling me the truth about your name. Why are you here?”
    “It was time for me to come. You’ve had to fight too long by yourself. I wanted to come before, but I didn’t think you’d be ready for me.” He shook his head. “But now it doesn’t matter. Something’s happened that’s tossed all those reasons out the window.”
    Lily frowned. “You’re not making sense. Are you going to tell me why you’re here or not?”
    He made a face. “I’m trying. I feel as awkward as hell about this. I think you’re intimidating me.”
    She didn’t believe him. She had never met anyone who displayed such serene self-confidence. “Bull.”
    He laughed. “I can be intimidated by people I care about.”
    His gaze on her face was tender, almost caressing, and she suddenly felt breathless. She took an instinctive step back, her dark eyes blazing fiercely in her taut face. “That has no bearing. I’m a stranger to you.”
    He shook his head wearily. “Lord, you’re wary. I may be a stranger to you, but you’re no strangerto me.” He paused. “And neither is Cassie. I could never be a danger to Cassie, Lily.”
    “Fine words. How can I know that?”
    He hesitated, and then answered simply, “Because I’m Cassie’s father.”

TWO

    “Y OU’RE CRAZY ,” L ILY said blankly.
    He shook his head. “Cassie is my child. Shall I prove it? You were artificially inseminated nine years ago, in October, in the offices of Dr. Henry Slodak at Franklin University. Cassie was born May twenty-eighth of the next year. The doctor helped steer you to someone who supplied false documents showing you had been married to one Joel Deslin and that he had died.”
    She gazed at him in shock. “How did you find that out?” She broke off and ran her hand distractedly through her chestnut hair. “HenrySlodak is ethical. He never would have told you. I
trusted
him.”
    “You were right to trust him, Lily. After the insemination was successful, he told no one.”
    “He told you. How did you get him to do so? Money?”
    “You know better than that. I realize it’s not easy for you to trust anyone, but Henry is an honorable man and a true friend to you.” His tone was gentle. “He told no one after he gave you his word. As the donor I was required to give my consent. It was the arrangement we made with Henry before we set up the grant at the university.”
    “We?”
    “The Clanad.” He hesitated. “It’s a sort of corporation that maintains a research foundation.”
    “A foundation that hires college boys to impregnate women? Lord, you must have been only seventeen or eighteen.”
    He chuckled. “Four years younger than you, but don’t feel as if you were robbing the cradle. I was very mature for my age.” He grimaced. “If it hadn’t been necessary, I wouldn’t have made thesperm donation. I have no liking for the