Ten Acres and Twins Read Free Page B

decision, but she did no such thing. She seemed perfectly willing to just stand there, staring at Jack.
    Finally, he rubbed his chin and said, “I’ll have the steak, medium rare. Loaded potato. Bring a salad with the meal, ranch dressing on that… Oh—and bring me a bottle of your best stout beer.”
    â€œWill do. Thank you, sir,” said the girl, who was probably still in her teens. He had absolutely no business flirting with her, but he flashed her a smile when she took their menus, and kept watching as she sidled away.
    After the waitress was out of earshot, Abby lifted world-weary eyes to Jack’s. “Doesn’t take you long to do that.”
    â€œTo do what, Abby?”
    â€œTo make a killing with the ladies,” she said, shaking her head. “Or do a snow job.”
    â€œI was only being polite.”
    â€œUh-huh,” she muttered, picking up her water glass for the umpteenth time.
    Jack sighed audibly, commanding her attention again. “Is that why you asked me to dinner? To insult me?”
    She echoed his sigh as she set her glass back down. “I wanted to ask you about the hearing tomorrow.”
    â€œWhat about it?”
    Abby crossed her fingers in her lap. “Have you been asked to take custody of Wyatt?”
    Jack picked up his own water glass and took a sip, peering at her over its frosty rim. “Are we supposed to be discussing that?”
    â€œCome on, Jack,” she said. “It has to be you or your mother. Paige always told me your mom was busy with her second family. So that leaves you. It has to be you.”
    â€œWhat if it is?”
    â€œStop it!”
    â€œStop what, Abby Rose?”
    â€œAsking questions,” she said. “Answer my questions with answers.” Fidgeting with the lapel of her jacket, she forced herself to take a calming breath. She forced herself to wait. Again.
    Jack set his glass down, contemplating it soberly. When he looked up again, the shadows were back in his eyes. “Yes, Brian named me in the will.”
    Abby stretched her hand toward him, resting it on the tabletop. “But you’re not going to do it, are you?”
    He covered her hand with his own, evoking a sudden heat that caused a spasm in the core of her body. She felt suddenly needy and aroused.
    She slid her hand away, placing it in her lap. But it still tingled from his touch, and making a fist didn’t help.
    Uncomfortable with her body’s betrayal, she forced her mind to return to the question at hand. She was rather shocked that she could think of sex when something as essential as a baby’s future was in question.
    Finally, he said, “To be honest, I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
    Abby was grateful for his candor. Truly, she was. But sheneeded absolute assurances. “I want custody of both twins. They need to be together,” she announced.
    His troubled stare rested on some spot beyond her shoulder. “I don’t want to separate them any more than you do,” he finally said. “But I can’t just sign them out of my life. Wyatt’s my godson.”
    â€œWyatt is five months old,” Abby said. “He’d be better off with me.”
    â€œHe’s five and a half months old, and he’d be better off if his parents hadn’t just died.”
    She flinched at his bluntness, but dived right into the fray. “I’m the next best thing, and I want him.”
    Jack didn’t respond. Something past her head had caught his interest again.
    The waitress had arrived with their orders, interrupting a second brawl at their table by the window. “Here you go, sir,” she said as she placed Jack’s meal in front of him. “Let me know if your steak isn’t perfection itself.”
    Then she flopped Abby’s plate down and said, “Pepper?”
    â€œYes, please.”
    The redhead pulled a pepper mill from her apron pocket and