Seduced by Metsy Hingle Page A

I told you, Martha Winthrop gave up any rights she might have had when that son of hers turned his back on my sister. If it hadn’t been for her, Sara never would have run away in the first place. She wouldn’t have been on that damn mountain, wouldn’t have...” His voice broke; he choked back the pain thoughts of his sister’s death caused and hardened his resolve. “I’ll never give that woman access to Summer.”
    Dave’s sigh came through loud and weary over the phone line. “All right. We’ll play it your way. But I sure hope you know what you’re doing because I wasn’t kidding about the sympathy factor being in Martha Winthop’s favor. Things have changed a lot in the last few years. The courts are ruling in favor of the grandparents in quite a number of these cases involving grandparents’ rights—even ones where illegitimacy is a factor. If Martha Winthrop sues you for custody of Summer, there’s a strong possibility that she’ll win and you’ll lose Summer.”
    â€œI won’t,” he said determinedly. Michael’s chest tightened painfully at the very thought of losing Summer. In the few short months since she’d come to live with him, the little girl had turned his entire life upside down and had stolen his heart in the process. Now he couldn’t imagine himself without her.
    â€œI hope you’re right, pal...for everyone’s sake.”
    â€œYou know what your problem is, Dave? You worry too much,” Michael informed him. “I’m not going to lose Summer. I told you, I’ve got a plan.” He wouldn’t lose Summer. He couldn’t.
    â€œSo you’ve said.” Michael caught the hint of skepticism in his friend’s tone. “But since you haven’t seen fit to tell me just what this brilliant plan of your is, don’t blame me if I’m not quite as confident as you are that everything’s going to be just fine.”
    How could he explain to his friend or anyone else that he was banking on marriage to Amanda swaying things in his favor? “It will be.” It simply had to.
    â€œSuit yourself. But whatever this foolproof plan of your is, it had better come together soon because I’m not going to be able to stall much longer. The only reason Martha Winthrop hasn’t taken you to court already is because I indicated to her attorney you might come around. The woman’s not stupid, Mike. I’m not going to be able to keep putting her off.”
    â€œYou won’t have to. All I need is a few more weeks.” And a small miracle, Michael added silently as he hung up the phone.
    After years of successfully avoiding the grand delusion of love and marriage that so many of his friends had succumbed to, he had finally decided to step into the trap; only the woman he’d chosen was proving to be less than willing.
    Maybe because in his past relationships, the woman always knew and shared his need for pleasure without commitment. Despite the ritzy social circles and the privileged upbringing her family’s position had obviously provided, there was something about Amanda that struck him as a little old-fashioned. His lips curved at the thought of an old-fashioned, morally conscious heart hidden beneath all that pale blond beauty and sophistication.
    Opening his closet, he took out a white polo shirt and a pair of jeans, and changed his clothes. Somehow, he didn’t think Amanda was the type of woman who would settle for an affair. She didn’t strike him as one of the love-without-commitment breed.
    The big thing he did have going for him was that she was attracted to him physically. He’d dispelled any doubts he’d had on that score the first time they’d kissed. Getting her to fall in love with him should have been easy. It had been anything but. Every time he’d made any headway, she would shy away like a skittish colt—the way