Project Seduction by Tatiana March Page A

to stay with her. I used to sneak out and listen to her talking on the phone with her friends."
    "Is she the one who called your mom a good for nothing dope-head who should never have been allowed to have kids?"
    Andy gave a reluctant nod. “Yeah."
    "I thought it might have been your father,” Georgina admitted.
    "No way,” Andy cried. “He's always defending her."
    "Where was he?” Georgina demanded. “Why wasn't he around to help?"
    "He didn't know I existed. My mom didn't know who my dad was. My dad didn't know I existed until two years ago."
    "I don't understand.” Georgina sat up straight on the bed and scrutinized Andy. “How come you are with him now, if he didn't know about you?"
    "Do you think we look alike?” Andy asked.
    Georgina took stock of the dark hair and the extraordinary black eyes. The likeness didn't stop there. It was also in the square jaw and the full mouth. It simply wasn't obvious because the miniature version was feminine, and the grown-up original was so totally masculine.
    "Carbon copy,” she announced in amazement.
    "My mom was arrested for possession and I went down to the precinct with my aunt. Some of my dad's friends on the force saw me and spotted the likeness. They joked about it with my dad. He checked out my mom's name on the arrest report and it rang some bells. He paid for a test and bingo. I was his child."
    "What happened then?” Georgina's voice fell to a whisper.
    "He offered my mom some money if she would give him custody."
    "He bought you from her!” Georgina cried out in horror.
    Andy grinned with glee. “Yeah. Sort of. Is that cool or what? He said he'd get custody anyway through courts because my mom was so screwed up, and I was old enough to tell the judge that I'd rather be with him, but it would take a lot longer. He was just cutting some corners."
    "You don't have his last name, though?"
    "Not yet,” Andy said miserably. “He doesn't have full custody yet either. My mom keeps dodging the lawyers."
    "Perhaps she wants you back."
    "I don't think so,” Andy said, hanging her head. “Although I have creepy nightmares about it."
    "Then why does she dodge the lawyers?"
    "I think she's trying to get more money out of my dad.” Andy began to twist a corner of the pillow in her fingers. “And he's got no more. He's spent it all on the lawyers."
    Georgina fought and lost a brief battle with the inner voice that told her not to interfere. “Do you know the name of the lawyer?"
    "It's in a big building downtown San Diego. If you want, I can get the address for you. My dad has stacks of files full of letters from the lawyer. The address is always on top of the letters."
    "I'd like to borrow one,” Georgina said. “But it might be a good idea not to tell your dad. Since I walloped him with my handbag, I don't think I'm exactly his favorite neighbor."
    Andy nodded at her. “I'll get you one tomorrow."
    "Good. And now it's sleepy time. Goodnight.” Georgina reached out to brush Andy's hair back from her face.
    The child sprung up and threw her arms around Georgina. “Goodnight. Thanks for letting me stay."
    "That's all right,” Georgina whispered, overwhelmed by the alien feelings that filled her heart.
    * * * *
    At first, Georgina wasn't sure what had disturbed her sleep. She strained her eyes in the dark until she found the bedside clock. The red digits glowed 3.27. She stared at the display, while her brain slowly took in the sounds that had woken her.
    The front door.
    Who in God's name could be attacking her front door at half past three in the morning, making a racket like the world was coming to an end? Still more than half asleep, Georgina scrambled up and rushed out to the hall.
    It had to be some kind of emergency. There could be a fire, or even an earthquake. They got those in California. And it had to be tonight of all nights, when she had the added responsibility for a child.
    Drawing a deep breath to steady her pounding heart, Gerogina reached for the