Summer Kisses by Theresa Ragan, Laurie Kellogg, Katie Graykowski, Bev Pettersen, Lindsey Brookes, Diana Layne, Autumn Jordon, Jacie Floyd, Elizabeth Bemis, Lizzie Shane Page B
Authors: Theresa Ragan, Laurie Kellogg, Katie Graykowski, Bev Pettersen, Lindsey Brookes, Diana Layne, Autumn Jordon, Jacie Floyd, Elizabeth Bemis, Lizzie Shane
Tags: Romance
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dear.” He wriggled his brows.
She laughed and then stopped when she saw him giving her a strange look. “What?”
“Nothing,” he said, looking away.
She thought about coaxing him into telling her what was on his mind, but decided against it. Until things had been sorted out between them with regards to Ryan, it was safest for her to keep her guard up. If she was to convince her parents they were dating she needed to be friendly, but there was no reason to overdo it.
His gaze fell back to Ryan, who was now asleep. “Looks like we wore the little guy out. Should I put him in his crib?”
“I’ll take him.” She stood, and then leaned low and scooped Ryan up and off of his chest. Her baby smelled like Derrick, musky and masculine. “I’ll be right back.”
By the time she returned, Derrick was at the door ready to go. She was glad. The man made her nervous. He was handsome and too charming for his own good. This entire afternoon had probably been a sham. He was probably just kissing up to her, befriending her and then when she least suspected, he’d bring in the lawyers and find a way to take Ryan away from her. Men could not be counted on, she reminded herself.
“I was wondering if it would be okay if I stopped by tomorrow.”
“No,” she said a little too quickly. “I mean, I don’t think it would be a good idea.” She felt vulnerable and she didn’t like the feeling. There was no way she could be his friend and remain strong at the same time. Her plans were quickly dissolving into a pile of mush. She opened the door and after he stepped outside she said, “Maybe it would be better if the next time we see each other it’s in the mediation room.”
He rubbed his chin, clearly confused. “I know this can’t be easy for you, but we’re not meeting with the mediator for another month. My parents live less than an hour from here and my family is already on my back to meet Ryan. Let me pick you and Ryan up at, say, ten on Saturday and—”
“No. I’m sorry. I can’t.” She shut the door, and then leaned against it, her eyes closed tight until she heard him walk away. Everything was happening too fast. She had a magazine to run, a small magazine, but a magazine all the same. Food For All was chock full of everything from quick-to-fix recipes to restaurant reviews. The idea for her magazine had come to her five years ago as a hobby when she lived back East, but quickly grew into much more. She’d found a buyer for the New York edition and they agreed that she would start another edition once she moved to California. Finding a readership took time, though. Her savings was dwindling fast. If she didn’t find a way to get subscribers, she would be forced to find a job outside of her apartment.
She had an article to finish, emails to read, and a phone to answer. She walked into the kitchen and picked up the receiver. “Hello.”
“Jill. It’s so good to hear your voice. It’s me, Thomas.”
~~~
On the way to his car, Derrick found it difficult to wrap his mind around the fact that he had a son. The last few days had been a wild ride of emotions. Before finding Jill, he’d thought a lot about what he would do if he found the woman who had selected him as a donor, and what he would do if she were pregnant.
He certainly never thought he’d feel what he was feeling right now—happy. Spending time with Ryan today had been exhilarating. Even little Lexi had calmed his fears about whether or not he could handle children.
Maybe, he thought, if Maggie could see that he’d changed, that he took his responsibilities seriously, she would see that he was the man for her—not Aaron.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a sign: “Apartments for Rent.” Turning about, he followed the direction of the arrows, which took him back upstairs. Directly across from Jill’s apartment was a FOR RENT sign.
With a smile on his face, he headed for the main office.
~~~
Three days had passed since Maggie
She laughed and then stopped when she saw him giving her a strange look. “What?”
“Nothing,” he said, looking away.
She thought about coaxing him into telling her what was on his mind, but decided against it. Until things had been sorted out between them with regards to Ryan, it was safest for her to keep her guard up. If she was to convince her parents they were dating she needed to be friendly, but there was no reason to overdo it.
His gaze fell back to Ryan, who was now asleep. “Looks like we wore the little guy out. Should I put him in his crib?”
“I’ll take him.” She stood, and then leaned low and scooped Ryan up and off of his chest. Her baby smelled like Derrick, musky and masculine. “I’ll be right back.”
By the time she returned, Derrick was at the door ready to go. She was glad. The man made her nervous. He was handsome and too charming for his own good. This entire afternoon had probably been a sham. He was probably just kissing up to her, befriending her and then when she least suspected, he’d bring in the lawyers and find a way to take Ryan away from her. Men could not be counted on, she reminded herself.
“I was wondering if it would be okay if I stopped by tomorrow.”
“No,” she said a little too quickly. “I mean, I don’t think it would be a good idea.” She felt vulnerable and she didn’t like the feeling. There was no way she could be his friend and remain strong at the same time. Her plans were quickly dissolving into a pile of mush. She opened the door and after he stepped outside she said, “Maybe it would be better if the next time we see each other it’s in the mediation room.”
He rubbed his chin, clearly confused. “I know this can’t be easy for you, but we’re not meeting with the mediator for another month. My parents live less than an hour from here and my family is already on my back to meet Ryan. Let me pick you and Ryan up at, say, ten on Saturday and—”
“No. I’m sorry. I can’t.” She shut the door, and then leaned against it, her eyes closed tight until she heard him walk away. Everything was happening too fast. She had a magazine to run, a small magazine, but a magazine all the same. Food For All was chock full of everything from quick-to-fix recipes to restaurant reviews. The idea for her magazine had come to her five years ago as a hobby when she lived back East, but quickly grew into much more. She’d found a buyer for the New York edition and they agreed that she would start another edition once she moved to California. Finding a readership took time, though. Her savings was dwindling fast. If she didn’t find a way to get subscribers, she would be forced to find a job outside of her apartment.
She had an article to finish, emails to read, and a phone to answer. She walked into the kitchen and picked up the receiver. “Hello.”
“Jill. It’s so good to hear your voice. It’s me, Thomas.”
~~~
On the way to his car, Derrick found it difficult to wrap his mind around the fact that he had a son. The last few days had been a wild ride of emotions. Before finding Jill, he’d thought a lot about what he would do if he found the woman who had selected him as a donor, and what he would do if she were pregnant.
He certainly never thought he’d feel what he was feeling right now—happy. Spending time with Ryan today had been exhilarating. Even little Lexi had calmed his fears about whether or not he could handle children.
Maybe, he thought, if Maggie could see that he’d changed, that he took his responsibilities seriously, she would see that he was the man for her—not Aaron.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a sign: “Apartments for Rent.” Turning about, he followed the direction of the arrows, which took him back upstairs. Directly across from Jill’s apartment was a FOR RENT sign.
With a smile on his face, he headed for the main office.
~~~
Three days had passed since Maggie
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