“I’ll do my best to not disappoint either of you.”

That small smile crept onto her lips and he wanted to shout his victory. Her smooth skin beneath his thumb sent electricity down his spine. His body tensed at the sudden flood of desire pumping through his veins.

“I know you won’t.” She placed her hand over his on her cheek.

Trust. Had he ever known anyone quite like Maggie Brown? From a starry-eyed girl to a sultry teenager to this glorious woman standing before him, Maggie would never cease to amaze him.

He kissed her. He’d only meant to kiss her briefly. He wasn’t even sure why. He wanted to, so he did. He could taste the vanilla ice cream. Her lips were incredibly soft beneath his. His only thought was he didn’t want to stop kissing her.

About the Author

After an exciting life as a CPA, AMANDA BERRY returned to writing when her husband swept the family off to England to live for a year. Now she’s hooked, and since returning to the States spends her writing days concocting spicy contemporary romances while her cats try in vain to pry her hands off the keyboard. Her Marlene Award-winning contemporary romance, LA Cinderella, was her debut. In all her writing, one thing remains the same—love and happily ever after. Amanda lives in the Midwest with her husband and two children. For more about Amanda and her books, please visit www.amanda-berry.com.

Father
by Choice

Amanda Berry

www.millsandboon.co.uk

To my critique partners, Jeannie Lin, Shawntelle Madison, Kristi Lea

and Dawn Blankenship, who helped me develop

my idea and create a cohesive story and kept me sane.

I’d be lost without them. To Stephanie Draven,

who helped me make my synopsis the best it could be.

To Missouri Romance Writers, who inspire me and

provide a safe space for those of us with stories to tell.

To my family for putting up with the craziness of a

writer. To my husband for allowing me to live

my dream.

Prologue

Eight years earlier

Brady Ward didn’t stir as the bed dipped and rose. Maggie’s bare feet slapped lightly against the wood floor. The sound of her gathering her scattered clothes from around his childhood room broke the otherwise silent morning. Even the old rooster hadn’t woken to greet the day.

The last few stragglers from Luke’s graduation party had left minutes before. The sound of engines starting had awakened him from the light sleep. Apparently, it had woken Maggie, as well. His side cooled where her body had been moments before.

Brady remained still so she could slip out of his life as easily as she had slipped into his bed last night. He could almost taste the potential in the air. That this could be more if they wanted it to be. If things were different, they could be more than just one night.

The metal rattle of his doorknob stopped suddenly and he swore he could feel her gaze on his bare back. As if giving him that final moment to reach out and welcome her back into his bed, give her the promise of something more. But he couldn’t give anyone that.

The light floral scent of Maggie drifted over him like a Siren beckoning. Her soft voice lingered in his mind—I don’t normally do this. Her rich, blond hair had felt like silk in his hands while her hazel eyes had made him feel like the only man in the world.

The door whispered open with a sigh, and she was gone.

Brady rolled and stared up at the ceiling. The graying plaster had cracked, and a daddy longlegs had taken up residence in the corner of his room. He rubbed the dull, familiar ache in his chest.

Last summer had been hard enough. He’d come home from college to help Sam with the farm and tried to keep Luke from getting into too much trouble. Burying the fact that without their mother and father, the three brothers weren’t as close a family as they once were.

No use pretending sleep would come. Brady rolled out of bed and pulled on some jeans before plodding down to the only bathroom in the house for a quick, cold shower.

As if he hadn’t been away at college for a full year, he fell into the rhythm of chores like he’d always done, because it was expected. Summer break didn’t mean he got to laze around the house all day.

By the time the cows were fed and milked, the sheep moved into a new pasture and the pigs slopped, Brady’s muscles ached. Being home felt like slipping on a suit that didn’t fit right. It had never fit.

Kicking off his muddy boots on the porch, he walked into the kitchen in his socked feet.

“Morning.” Sam stood at the stove with a spatula, pushing around brown chunks of what might have been sausage at one point in Mom’s cast-iron skillet.

“Morning.” Brady started the coffee and hoped there was some cereal or something that didn’t need to be cooked—or in Sam’s case, burned—for breakfast.

“Glad you could make it out of bed this morning.”

Noting the sarcasm, Brady said, “I’m not here to argue with you.”

Sam grunted but kept pushing around the darkened meat. “The back forty needs to be plowed. I promised John at least two loads of hay. The barn needs repair and a fresh coat of paint.”

“Where’s Luke?” Brady tried to divert the conversation from the long litany of chores.

The back of Sam’s neck tinged red like it did when Mom had caught him out late. “He went out this morning.”

“What did you do?” Reaching into the old white metal cupboards, Brady pulled out their father’s favorite coffee mug with #1 Dad emblazoned on the side in red.

“Nothing.” Sam cranked the stove off and slammed down the spatula. “Breakfast is ready.”

“That nothing is definitely something,” Brady mumbled as he found a box of Cheerios toward the back of the cupboard. Even stale, it would be more edible.

“Leave it, Brady.” Sam’s tone left no room for additional conversation. Typical Sam. Which meant that something had happened but Sam was unwilling to confront it. Instead, it would stew inside until he lashed out. Confrontation had never been the Ward family way.

Luke had only been fourteen when Dad died and sixteen when Mom died. If that weren’t enough, dealing with Sam for the past two years as his guardian couldn’t have been easy. The kid had promised Brady he would straighten out for his senior year. And he had. Luke had graduated with honors and a full-ride scholarship to University of Illinois. He’d managed to escape Tawnee Valley High without a permanent record, an unplanned fatherhood and with all his limbs intact.

With a bowl of cereal and a slightly bent spoon, Brady joined Sam at the table. Sam scarfed down the burned food on his plate. Probably so he wouldn’t have to taste it. When he finished, he leaned back in the chair with his cup of coffee and studied Brady.

Undaunted by the appraisal, Brady ate his cereal at his own pace. He might have slowed down slightly to irk his brother. Each bite felt like a lump into his stomach. He should have written a note and left. But he needed to act like the man he wanted to be.

“Maggie Brown is a good kid,” Sam said.

Brady knew it had been coming. Ever since Mom got sick, Sam stuck his nose into everyone’s business.

“She’s not a kid.” Even though Brady had seen Maggie around for years, he’d never gotten to know her. Two years behind him in school, she’d just graduated with Luke.

“I suppose not.” Sam folded his hands over his stomach. “She seems to have her head on straight. I’m not sure why she slept with you.”

The spoon clattered against the bowl. Heat flooded Brady’s system, rising until even the tips of his ears were warm. “What of it?”

“She isn’t a one-night kind of girl.” Sam’s fatherly tone had Brady biting his tongue.

Not that it was any of Sam’s business, but neither of them had made any promises last night except one night was as far as their relationship would go. There wouldn’t be any holding hands in Parson’s Park or heading over to Owen, the next town over, to watch a movie and get some dinner. Even if he wanted to, they were at different points in their lives. His plans were taking him far from this place.

“She’s the kind of girl you settle down with,” Sam added.

Brady shoved away from the table and rose slowly to glare down at Sam’s dark hair. “Are you going to arrange a shotgun wedding?”

Sam didn’t budge. “I’m thinking you should give the girl a chance. You’ve only got two more years of school before you come home. She’d make you a good wife and would probably be a better cook than I am.”

“If you want a woman’s touch around the house, why don’t you get married?” Brady tried not to think of what Sam was proposing.

“I’m not exactly the catch of the county.” Sam’s smirk was Brady’s undoing. The same damn smirk Sam used to give him when they were kids and Brady had made better grades than Sam had.

“Neither am I.” Brady ran his hand through his hair and stared up at the yellowed ceiling tiles. “Don’t you see how the people in town treat us? Don’t you see the pity? The poor Ward brothers who lost their parents. Hell, in their eyes, you are probably a saint for raising Luke, while I’m the coward that ran away.”

“You didn’t run away.”

“Didn’t I?” Brady stared into the blue eyes of his brother that were duplicates of his father’s and his. “You don’t think I wanted to escape when Mom died? That I needed to escape?”

“And you did. and I didn’t stop you.” Sam’s voice had a slight edge to it. “You went to college, and I stayed here with Luke. I kept the farm going and when you get done with college, you can come home and help out.”

“Home?” The word was so foreign to Brady that it tasted bad in his mouth.

“Like Dad always wanted. Like Mom wanted. The three of us together.”

The backs of Brady’s ears burned. “This isn’t home.”

Sam’s lips tightened. The humor and patience drained from his face. He stood, but the extra inch of height Sam had on Brady wouldn’t intimidate him today.

“God, Sam, have you deluded yourself that much?” Brady wouldn’t back down. “This can’t be home, because home is Mom and Dad. Home was an illusion we had as kids. A safety net to keep us protected. Now? Home is shattered all around us.”

“Stop it.” The threat behind Sam’s words only made Brady push harder. This had been building for too long.

“Luke is a mess. You are a mess. I’m a freaking mess. We don’t belong anywhere. You can’t keep trying to bind us to this place. We don’t belong together.”

“Stop.” The word was an angry whisper.

“I’m not staying here anymore, Sam.” Brady took in a deep breath and the weight released off his shoulders. “I have an internship and scholarship waiting for me. In London.”

“England?” Sam staggered backward as if Brady had hit him.

“It’s the opportunity of a lifetime. It’s what I always wanted.” Brady changed tactics as some of the anger drained from him. “They don’t offer this to just any student, Sam. I’d be a fool not to jump on it. Most people who go end up getting a job overseas. My flight leaves in two days.”

“And that’s what you want?” Sam straightened to his full height. “To be as far away from here as possible?”

“It’s not like after school I’d return to Tawnee Valley, settle down with someone like Maggie Brown and raise a passel of children. The farm is your dream. Not mine.”

“What about Luke?”

“Luke?” Brady looked out the window toward the old barn across the drive.

“Who’s going to protect Luke? Who’s going to watch his back as he tries to become a man?” Sam’s voice was tight.

“You were—”

Sam shoved Brady. Caught off guard, Brady almost fell over a chair. The sibling rivalry that had been playing out for years rose to the surface, bringing with it the pent-up rage. But Brady held himself in check, even though he wanted to plant his fist in Sam’s face.

“That’s right. Me. I’m the one who left college to come home when Mom got sick and Dad died. I’m the one who is stuck on this farm, destined to watch everyone leave our dying hometown. I’m the one who had to step in when Luke made bad decisions. I’m the one who will have to clean up the messes you two leave behind.”

“I never asked—”

“Mom did.” Sam didn’t raise his voice, but he’d struck for Brady’s heart.

“But you didn’t have to.” Brady knew his reply was weak as it left his mouth. The venom from Sam’s words seeped through Brady’s veins and sapped away his anger.

Their mother meant the world to them. Their parents had tried for years to have children before finally getting pregnant with Sam. Their father had a heart attack when he was fifty-three. That same year their mother found out she had widespread cancer. If the boys could have, they would have taken her place. But none of them could and it was time to get on with their lives.

“I can’t keep coming back.” Brady took in a deep breath. “Mom’s in every square inch of this house. I keep expecting her to come around the corner, to shout from the bedroom for help, to be here. Every time that door squeaks and slams shut I keep hoping to see Dad coming in from work. You have to stay. But I don’t have to.”

Sam turned and braced his hands against the sink as he stared out the window.

“Please don’t ask me to.” Brady tried to sound confident, but the words were a shaky whisper.

Sam stared out the window for so long Brady lost track of time. Sam’s shoulders sagged from the weight he carried and Brady had helped put it there. Away from Tawnee Valley, Brady could pretend that everything was fine, but here…it hurt to breathe.

Sam finally pushed away from the counter and turned to face him. Brady braced himself to defend his decision. Sam wouldn’t understand how hard this was on him. The opportunity was too good to pass up.

“I won’t ask you to stay.” Sam lifted his gaze to meet Brady’s. He didn’t raise his voice, but Brady knew he meant every word. “I won’t ask you to come home. Not now or ever.”

“I wouldn’t expect you to.” Brady knew this was goodbye. He’d hoped to be leaving on better terms, but knowing Sam, how else could he leave?

“I’ll tell Luke.” Sam picked up the dishes and took them to the sink.

The conversation was over and so was their relationship. “I’ll send what money I can.”

The dishes crashed into the sink. Brady winced as the cup he’d given his father cracked.

Sam’s words were stilted as he bit out, “I don’t need your money.”

Brady nodded, but he would send some, anyway. “Bye, Sam.”

Chapter One

Eight years later

“Amber! You need to get out to the bus stop now!” Maggie Brown flipped over another paper on the desk. More bills. They just kept piling up.

“I’m going.” Amber bounced into the dining room with her backpack strapped tightly to her shoulders, her dark hair swinging from side to side. Her blue eyes were serious, even as she paused next to Maggie’s chair for a quick hug.

“You don’t have to wait with me.” Amber skipped her way out the front door, calling over her shoulder, “I’ll be fine by myself.”

Maggie rose and followed her. “I like to wait with you.”

Amber swung around in a circle, so carefree and full of life. Maggie could barely breathe with the weight on her chest. It had been only a few months since her mother succumbed to cancer. Amber had been their blessing during the hard times. She’d given Maggie and her mother the chance to focus on life instead of death.

“You all right, Mommy?” Amber had stopped her twirling and walked over to take Maggie’s hand. Through the bad times, they had each other.

“Yeah, baby. I’m good.”

The squeal of the bus’s brakes announced its arrival.

“Time to go.” Maggie squeezed Amber’s hand and dropped it.

“Love you.” Amber flung her arms around Maggie’s waist. Before Maggie could return the hug, Amber took off for the school bus.

“Love you,” Maggie shouted as the doors folded shut. She wrapped her arms around her waist against the chill of the early autumn breeze that swept the first fallen leaves across the sidewalk. The leaves continued past her neighbor’s house. The air felt light and free, but Maggie’s insides kept tying themselves into knots.

As the bus pulled away, Maggie noticed a truck across the street in front of the Andersons’ house. Not unusual given the teenage kids. It seemed as if a different vehicle was parked there every day. Shrugging off a nagging feeling, she turned to go inside.

Her mom’s house needed work. The old Victorian had seen better days, and the wraparound porch needed a fresh coat of paint. But painting would have to wait. Other bills needed to be paid this month.

“Maggie!”

She froze. She’d recognize that voice anywhere.

Spinning around, she saw Sam Ward jogging over from the old white truck. His familiar black hair, blue eyes and strong build marked him as one the Ward brothers. Brady had always seemed more approachable than his stern older brother, though.

Sam stopped in front of her with a grim look on his face. “I’m glad I caught you.”

“I was just leaving,” she said coldly.

“I saw you at the store with Amber the other day. She’s growing up fast.” His smile had an edge of worry to it.

Even though everyone in town speculated which Ward brother had done the deed, Maggie had never told anyone except her mom and her best friend.

Luke was always the first guess. They were the same age. It lined up perfectly with their graduation. A few thought it was Sam. Sam didn’t talk to her or Amber unless to say a brusque hi if they passed in a store. Not one person in town laid the blame on Brady. He was their golden child, football hero, the most likely to succeed; and he had. He’d gone off to England without a backward glance. She hadn’t expected any long goodbyes. And when she’d sent Brady a letter with the fact she was pregnant, Sam had started dropping off money to help. Sam had never said anything, just handed her the envelope or left it with her mother. Brady hadn’t even written a note.

As embarrassed as Maggie had been, she’d been grateful for the financial help. But the fact that the Wards, who had lost so much family, didn’t want Amber to be a part of their lives left a sour taste in Maggie’s mouth.

As far as she knew, Sam hadn’t spent any time with Amber. He never stuck around long enough for conversation. Maybe Brady shared the pictures that she sent once a year by mail to the Ward farm like everything else she had to share with Brady. Never any response, but the money always came. Never a note or any request to see his child. Just money, as though that was all Amber needed from her father.

“We go to the same store every week, Sam.” She emphasized his name as if he had a few screws loose. “What’s this all about? I have to get ready for work.”

“I heard about your mom.” Sam rubbed the back of his neck. His nervousness was starting to make her worry. What if something had happened to Brady? “I’m real sorry to hear she passed.”

“It was the end of a long battle,” Maggie said automatically. Even though it had been a different cancer that had taken Mrs. Ward, Maggie knew that in this respect Sam and she had something in common. Her gut clenched momentarily.

They stood there awkwardly for a moment. He looked around as if he wanted to be anywhere but here. The feeling was mutual. “I really need to…” She gestured to the screen door.

He hesitantly stepped on the first step. Apparently, he wasn’t going to leave until he’d had his say. “Would you mind if I came in? I need to talk to you.”

She stared him down, trying to determine whether she was willing to listen to anything a Ward had to say. But he seemed open and sincere.

She shrugged and opened the screen door. “Is everyone okay?”

“Yeah. Fine as far as I know.” Sam followed her into the small living room. Out of habit, she gestured to one of the worn recliners. Her furniture may be worn but it was clean and paid for.

“Would you like something to drink?” Manners won out over the burn of anger. Why now? After eight years of silence, why was Sam here? Was he coming to tell her that Brady was through sending money? She’d have to put in more hours as secretary at the furniture store if that were the case.

“No, thanks.” He sat on the edge of the chair, leaned his elbows on his knees and clasped his hands. Then he sat upright and half stood. He gestured to the chair opposite. “This would be easier if you sat.”

Her stomach knotted. She moved toward the chair but didn’t sit. What would be easier?

“I’ve done some stupid things in the past, Maggie.” Sam seemed to think she was in the mood for confessions.

“I’m sure you have, but I have work to do—”

“Sit down, Maggie Brown.” His stern expression had her lowering to the edge of the seat. Obviously remembering where he was, he added, “Please.”

“You have a lot of nerve—”

“Yes, I do.” Sam ran a shaking hand through his shaggy hair. “You have no idea how much nerve I have.”

She crossed her arms over her chest and waited.

“I’ve done some really stupid things—”

“You said that part already.”

He looked up to the ceiling before returning his gaze to her. His eyes softened. “I know Amber is Brady’s.”

She flushed and started to rise.

“But Brady doesn’t.”

She fell into the chair as if he’d punched her in the stomach. The air sucked out of the room and she gasped to draw it back in. Blood thundered in her ears. Her thoughts scattered into a million shards. “What are you talking about? I…I told him. He sends money.”

His eyes remained sad but determined as Sam reached into his pocket and pulled out some opened envelopes. “I’m sorry, Maggie. I thought I was doing right by my brother. Protecting him. I didn’t mean to hurt you or Amber.”

She took the envelopes. Each one was a letter she wrote to Brady, including the first one. One for every birthday.

“Brady doesn’t know about Amber?” Maggie felt as if the room had turned upside down. With her mother needing constant care after chemotherapy, Maggie had been so startled and scared when she found out she was pregnant that she hadn’t known what to do. Brady had vanished overseas somewhere. Taking the cowardly approach, she’d written a letter and sent it to the farm. When Sam dropped off the money, she’d been crushed that Brady didn’t want anything to do with Amber, but maybe a little relieved, too.

“I messed up.” Sam leaned forward again, his hands clasped before him and his head hung. “I want to make this right.”

“Right?” She felt like a mockingbird, but her chest felt hollow and her mind couldn’t put her world right side up. All these years, she’d been angry with Brady and he hadn’t even known.

All those missed birthdays. The long nights awake with Amber when she’d been sick. Brady had missed everything from Amber’s birth to kissing her scrapes and bruises better to holding her when she cried at her grandma’s funeral.

A rush of heat went to her cheeks. She could have tried harder to reach out. Even searched for Brady on the internet. But she’d been too afraid of further rejection to reach out through any means but the letters.

“I got you a plane ticket for this weekend and talked with Penny about watching Amber. I didn’t open your last letter. You should give it to him in person.” He held out the sealed envelope.

She looked at him as if he was the Mad Hatter. “What are you talking about? You walk into my house to tell me you’ve lied to me and Brady for eight years. Do you know how hard it is to raise a child alone? How hard it is to care for your mother and your daughter when both are sick?”

Maggie jumped up and paced away. This was Sam’s fault, not hers. Her mind raced to keep up with her emotions. “You had no right.”

“You’re right.” Sam didn’t move from his spot. His face was grim.

“Why?” Her shoulders shook with the anger bubbling within, but tears pressed against her eyes. A million whatifs weighed heavy on her soul. Would she have had to do it on her own? Would Brady have held her when her world fell apart? Would he have been the strong one when she felt small and overwhelmed? Would he have grown to resent her for keeping him from his dreams? Or would he have rejected her like his brother had made her think? “Why would you do something like that? How could you treat your brother that way? What did I ever do to you?”

Sam rose and set the letter and another envelope on the table. He took a heavy breath and blew it out. “I didn’t think about you. I had my reasons. It’s time to fix this. Go to New York and let Brady know.”

“New York?”

“Luke told me Brady transferred to the New York office of Matin Enterprises a month ago. I figured if Brady was this close again, it was time he knew.”

“Why don’t you tell him?” She shoved the envelopes toward him.

His lips drew into a thin line. For a moment, it seemed as if he wouldn’t say anything. But something inside him broke. She recognized defeat because she’d felt it far too frequently herself. She refused to feel any sympathy for Sam, though.

“Because Brady won’t talk to me.” His words came out stilted and harsh. “He hasn’t spoken to me in eight years. The only reason I know anything about his life is through Luke, and he barely speaks to me, either. This is the only way to clean up this mess.”

She stared at the plane tickets that had fallen out of the envelope. “I can’t go to New York and leave Amber at the drop of a hat. I have a job. I need to work.” Her gaze fell on the stack of bills. “I have obligations.”

“I’ll take care of it.” Sam stopped by the front door.

“What? Like you took care of this?” She held the old letters crumpled in her tight grip. Her stomach clenched. Heat flushed through her. This couldn’t be happening. Brady had to know. How could he not?

“Damn you, Sam Ward.” She made sure all the anger and frustration she felt were directed solely at him.

“I can’t change the past, Maggie.” She refused to see the pain in his eyes.

“All I can do is try to fix the future. Brady needs to know about Amber.”

Chapter Two

“This project will bring in twenty percent more revenue,” Brady said as a trickle of sweat ran along his spine. Senior management filled the boardroom, and he had their undivided attention.

“The project appears to be sound,” Kyle Bradford, the CEO of Matin Enterprises, said. In his mid-fifties, Kyle seemed more a friend than Brady’s boss. The past month he’d treated Brady to a few football games and a couple of dinners out to discuss where Kyle felt the company needed to go in the future.

Jules cleared her throat and stood, showing off her dark red suit as it hugged her killer curves, though they were nothing compared to the sharpness of her mind. “We put together this project to show exactly what Matin Enterprises can be in the future.”

Brady and Jules had put in long hours and weeks of planning to get this project ready for this presentation. Before he’d made the move to New York, Brady had started with the concept and played with the numbers. Now was his chance, and he had known Jules was the right person to help with the project.

“I agree, Kyle.” Dave Peterson stood at the far end of the conference table. “However, as a higher-level manager, I would like to help oversee it. That is, unless Brady—” he paused and winked at Jules “—or Jules objects.”

Jules had told Brady that Peterson had been asking her out since she started at Matin. Even though she always turned him down, it didn’t seem to make a difference. His condescending attitude toward her made Brady want to punch the smug man. The fact that no one else in the boardroom seemed aware of the issue made him more frustrated.

Peterson raised his eyebrow, daring him to make a scene in front of the corporate heads.

“Of course Peterson would be a great asset to have on our team.” That way, Brady could keep an eye out for the dagger Peterson would stick in his back.

“Wonderful. Keep us updated as the project moves forward.” Kyle stood. The rest of the men and women took it as their cue that the meeting was over.

Brady collected his papers and disconnected his laptop from the projector. Three months of planning had hinged on a one-minute decision.

“Nicely done, Brady.” Jules gathered the remainder of their presentation materials. She kept busy as Peterson approached.

Brady shut his laptop and met Peterson’s brown eyes. Peterson was only a few years older than Brady, but the man had let himself go over the years. His shirt buttons strained over his stomach, and his receding hairline was a mixture of black and gray.

“Great presentation, you two.” Peterson’s eyes strayed over Jules’s figure. “I couldn’t have done better myself.”

“Thank you.” Brady stopped from adding because you couldn’t have. It was well-known among the staff and lower management that Peterson made his way up the ladder on other people’s backs, taking credit for their work.

“I expect to be added to all correspondence from now on.” Peterson shifted his body closer to Jules. “And included in any meetings you two might have, Jules.”

Brady fought the urge to jerk the guy away from her. “Sure, Peterson.”

Jules lifted frosty green eyes to Peterson. “We’ll make sure you are included in all meetings, but the decisions come from us.”

“As long as you’re there, I’ll be there.” Peterson grinned and left the room.

Brady and Jules were both out for the same thing—recognition for the work they did. Their initial attraction had ended with a fizzle after a week. Both of them were driven to succeed and compatible in a lot of ways, but love wasn’t in his five-year plan. Jules agreed with him that love was something you sought when your career was firmly in place. Right now, it would get in the way.

“I’ll do my best to intervene with Peterson,” Brady said, knowing he could do nothing unless Jules wanted to file a harassment report.

She lifted her gaze to his and smiled. “I can hold my own with guys like Peterson. I’ve been doing it my whole career.”

Brady nodded and held the door open for her as she swept by. If he let down his guard for a moment, Peterson would take over his project and get the boost in his career that was meant to be Brady’s and Jules’s.

An email notification pinged on his phone. He clicked over to it. His blood pressure started to rise as he read the email Peterson had sent out to all the employees working on the project. He’d worded the email perfectly. It implied the project was his baby and that he was letting Brady and Jules work it.

Brady would need to keep close tabs on this project if he wanted to keep Peterson from taking over.

“This is ridiculous.” Maggie pulled the jeans out of the suitcase and folded them before returning them to the dresser drawer. It had taken every ounce of will Maggie had not to drive out to Sam’s farm and cram the tickets down his throat.

“What’s ridiculous is how long it is taking to pack a simple suitcase.” Penny rested against the headboard with her coppery hair pulled in a knot. Her brown eyes sparkled as she held up a lacy nightgown. “You should take this.”

Maggie snatched the nightgown from her best friend’s hands and stuffed it into the bottom of her nightgown drawer. She sank on the edge of the bed and put her hands over her face.

“What am I doing?”

“I’ve been wondering that for the past half hour. Are you packing to go to New York or just testing out your suitcase? I’m fairly certain it can hold more than the blouse you left in it.” Penny leaned forward to consider the insides of the suitcase.

“How can I walk up to Brady Ward and tell him, ‘Hey, you have a seven-year-old you know nothing about. By the way, it totally wasn’t my fault.’” The lump in the pit of her stomach said otherwise, though.

“It wasn’t your fault.” Penny patted her back. “Now pack up and enjoy life a little.”

“I should have tried harder.”

“To pack. I agree. This is no way to pack to confront the one-night stand you had a baby with.” Penny shifted off the bed and started opening drawers. “Not to mention the biggest crush you ever had.”

“That’s it, Penny. It isn’t about me. It’s the fact that we weren’t anything more than bed buddies for a night.”

Penny stopped with a red sweater dangling in her hand and quirked an eyebrow at Maggie. “Bed buddies?”

“Whatever.” Maggie took a deep breath. “Shouldn’t I call him or email him? Like I should have done in the first place?”

With an armful of clothes, Penny made her way over to the suitcase. “Bygones.”

“What if he’s too busy to see me? Shouldn’t I at least call and schedule an appointment?” Maggie pulled the lacy nightgown out of the suitcase again and tightened her grip when Penny reached for it.

“Okay. I get it.” Penny sat next to her on the bed and took Maggie’s hand in hers. All playfulness put aside for a moment. “What are you really worried about?”

Maggie’s eyes filled with unshed tears. “What if he doesn’t want her?”

Eight years ago, her mother had held her tight while she cried over the fact that Brady didn’t want anything to do with their baby. Part of Maggie had dreamed that he’d show up on her porch and sweep her off her feet. They’d shared something special that night and relationships had been started under worse circumstances than an unplanned pregnancy.

“Why wouldn’t he want her?” Penny squeezed Maggie’s hand.

Maggie took a deep breath in. “If he’s a self-involved nut job.”

Penny smiled. “Then we wouldn’t want him around our girl, anyway. Now about this nightgown…”

“No way. Grab my sweats.”

“You afraid you’ll be tempted to show him your pretty nightgown?” Penny laughed, but Maggie had no idea what to expect when she saw Brady. Would she feel anything? Would her old crush rear its head? Or would she resent him for not being there?

“There won’t be anything to worry about. I’ll be in a hotel. By myself.” Maggie stood and took charge of the packing. “I should call first, though.”

“What could you possibly say on the phone?” Penny tried to mimic Maggie’s voice. “I’m planning on being in New York this weekend and ran into Sam. Even though you apparently haven’t spoken to him in years, he told me your phone and address so that we could hook up. You don’t have time because you are a busy man? That’s fine. I’ll tell you some other time that you have a daughter.”

“I get it.” Maggie held up her hands in defeat. She hadn’t been able to figure out a better plan for the past few days. “I guess this is the way it will have to be.”

Penny grinned and held up a different lacy nightie.

“I’m not going for me. I’m going for Amber.” Maggie pointed to the drawer until Penny returned the nightie to its proper place.

“Yes, ma’am.” Penny saluted with two fingers. “I guess I don’t need to run to the drugstore and get some condoms?”

“No!” Maggie blushed as a little remembered heat flushed her body. “I don’t need a man. I’ve done fine on my own for years now.”

Penny muttered, “It isn’t about need.”

“Where are you going, Mommy?” Amber hugged her brown bear close to her small body. Her hair spread on the pillow, making her look like a dark-haired angel.

Maggie drew the covers to Amber’s chin. “I’m going to New York for a few days. Penny is staying with you.”

“I like Penny. She orders pizza for dinner.” Amber smiled. Her front tooth had come out a few days ago, prompting a visit from the tooth fairy. Another thing Brady had missed out on. If he even wanted to be part of their lives. She tried not to dwell on it, but she had to be prepared for him to reject her like she thought he’d already done. What would he want with a small-town family when he had New York?

“Are you going to see the Statue of Liberty?” Amber asked with awe in her voice.

Maggie smiled. “Maybe.”

“Will you bring me something?”

“Definitely.” She tickled Amber until she laughed. Maggie had her own ideas of what she wanted to bring home for her, but she wouldn’t dare to get Amber’s hopes up. It was bad enough that Maggie was thinking hopefully. She’d been kicked enough to only have doubt left, but apparently, a little spark of hope had survived.

“Go to sleep. Penny promised she’d get doughnuts.” Maggie dropped a kiss on her daughter’s cheek.

Amber linked her small arms around Maggie’s neck and pulled her down to the bed. “I’ll miss you.”

“I’ll miss you more, baby.” Maggie hugged her as best she could with all the bedding and stuffed animals in the way. She stood and walked over to the light switch. “Good night.”

“Night.” Amber squeezed her eyes shut like she always did at bedtime with her hands clasped together. What she prayed for, she never said aloud. Maybe Maggie, maybe her father.

Amber knew her daddy lived far away. But Maggie couldn’t bear to break Amber’s heart by telling her that her father didn’t want to be part of their family. Now she was glad she hadn’t.

A whole week hadn’t been long enough to figure out what to do or say. She’d never imagined Brady didn’t know. Over the years, she’d come to terms with the fact that he didn’t want her or Amber. Okay, maybe she was upset with him not wanting to be a father, but Maggie didn’t need him to want her.

That knot twisted a little tighter in her stomach.

How was she going to tell Brady about their child?

Chapter Three

“This is stupid,” Maggie muttered as she stood in front of Brady’s apartment building. She should have called. Sam had said she could catch Brady in the morning when he left for work.

The cold day seeped through her jeans and she hugged her blue sweater closer. Her ponytail whipped around into her face again. Just a few more moments then she’d go in and ask for him. Just a few…

Brady lived in a luxury apartment building off Central Park. Housing wasn’t cheap in New York, but his building seemed to be the cream of the crop. On the taxi ride over, Central Park had emerged among the buildings. The trees gave an illusion of open spaces, but the massive buildings dwarfed the park, holding it captive. Metal-and-glass structures on concrete. She’d never felt more lost or frightened.

Too many people shoved into one space. Even now, people walked or jogged past her. There didn’t seem to be a spare area anywhere in the city to step aside and take a deep breath. Her heart raced and she could barely breathe with the hustle and bustle.

She didn’t understand how Brady could live here when he’d grown up with the open spaces in Tawnee Valley. Where you didn’t have to clutch your purse to your side and fear the stranger walking toward you.

She moved closer to the door. Maybe she should return to the hotel and call him. A jogger in hot-pink short shorts weaving between the business people in their gray-and-black suits caught her attention. She followed the woman with her gaze, wondering if she could ever feel that comfortable here, surrounded by strangers.

“Maggie?” Brady’s baritone voice rushed over her like a warm waterfall.

Her breath caught in her throat as she turned to find Brady staring at her from a few feet away by the apartment building door. The sun chose that moment to come out from under the clouds, lighting his handsome face as he came toward her. His dark hair was cut more conservatively now, and crinkles formed in the corners of his blue eyes. He was even more handsome than she remembered.

Maggie returned his smile but couldn’t form any words. Up close, she could see the similarities between him and Amber. And those eyes, they caused her heart to stutter as he focused solely on her.

Brady had a huge grin on his face. “Maggie Brown! What are you doing here?”

“I came to see you,” she pushed out through her numb lips. “I mean, I’m visiting New York and…”

What else could she say? And how was she supposed to think when he looked at her like that? As if he knew her inside and out. It had been a long time since she’d been in his arms, but her body tingled with memories. Should she hug him?

“God, it’s good to see you.” His genuine smile didn’t change, but his voice sounded different from high school, more sophisticated, colder. “Are you living nearby?”

“No, I’m still in Tawnee Valley.” She didn’t want to blurt it out, but how was she supposed to ease him into knowing he had a seven-year-old daughter? Even though she’d known Brady since they were kids, they hadn’t been close friends, and right now he felt like a stranger. “I need to talk to you about something.”

Brady’s eyebrows drew together in concern, and he reached out his hand to grip her elbow. “Is everything all right? Is Sam…?”

Shocked at the intense surge of giddiness flowing through her at his touch, Maggie shook her head. No stranger had ever made her feel like that. “Everything’s fine.”

She wanted to drop her eyes, but his eyes held her entranced. It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him about Amber, but she couldn’t make her mouth form the right words.

With his pressed suit, he could have stepped off the cover of GQ. The Brady she knew had been headed for big things, but she didn’t know this man in front of her. To be honest, she hadn’t known Brady even back then. Not truly, just the facade he put on for the town. A facade he let drop during their night together.

“I wish I had more time right now, but I have to get to work. There’s an early morning meeting.” He pulled out his BlackBerry and checked the screen for a moment.

The cold wind swept through her when he backed away slightly. A reminder that they had shared only one night together. It had been a great night, but it wasn’t as if they’d had a meaningful relationship.

Now wasn’t the time to tell him about Amber. A little of the weight lifted off her stomach. She couldn’t tell him when there were people surging down the sidewalk like salmon around them. when he glanced at her, she shivered and nodded. “Maybe later?”

“How long are you in town?” He gave her the same expression Amber got when she wanted to reassure Maggie. It was unnerving. How could Amber have his expressions when she’d never met him? “I’m not trying to brush you off. Honestly.”

He tapped on his phone again.

“I didn’t think you were blowing me off.” What if this was her only chance? You have a daughter. I got pregnant. Surprise, you’re a daddy! Maggie swallowed hard.

“Good.” He barely looked at her. “How about one? For lunch? Unless you have other plans.”

“Sounds great.” She forced a smile. By the way, you have a daughter.

His return smile stole her breath and emptied her mind. “Where are you staying? I’ll pick you up.”

She rattled off the address of the hotel. She should tell him now. Get it over with. That way it wouldn’t sit in the knot that was her stomach until later. But how? His attention was apparently already at his meeting. She tightened her smile as he glanced at his watch. Who had Brady Ward become?

“I have to run. I’ll see you at one.” He backed away from her. “I’m glad you came.”

By the time they were sitting in the restaurant, Maggie was drawn tighter than a bow. Brady couldn’t imagine what had her uptight. The Maggie he’d known had been spontaneous and friendly.

Of course, high school had been years before. But he remembered the adoring look in her hazel eyes when she’d been a sophomore and he’d been a senior. He hadn’t taken advantage of her crush then, but two years later at Luke’s graduation party, that night he couldn’t resist. She’d been stunning and forward and one hell of a kisser.

Eight years hadn’t faded her beauty at all. Her honey-blond hair framed her face in a no-nonsense style. She had developed some curves since high school. Her soft blue sweater didn’t reveal much, but her jeans clung low to her hips and she filled them out nicely. She didn’t try to flaunt her assets the way Jules did. She was just Maggie. She put off a natural vibe that was unlike any woman he knew, and it did something to his senses that he couldn’t begin to describe.

“What brings you to New York?” Brady set his BlackBerry on the table, trying to ignore the constant barrage of emails. Now that financing had begun, he had to put everything into motion, which was always the hardest phase and required a lot of finesse. It didn’t help that Peterson circled every conversation like a shark waiting for blood.

Maggie lifted her gaze to his. He lost track of what he’d asked as he sank into her rich hazel eyes. Warmth. That’s what she offered, with no expectation of anything in return. The type of women he usually went for were like Jules. Sophisticated, driven, focused…temporary.

Her gaze dropped to the tablecloth, then to her hands folded neatly in her lap. “Do you remember Luke’s party?”

His phone buzzed insistently against the white tablecloth. He smiled apologetically and fought the urge to curse. The number was the contractor for the new facility. Another fire to put out.

“If you need to…” Maggie said.

“I’m sorry. I need to take this.” He stood and stepped outside the restaurant to talk to the contractor about the change orders that had been processed that morning. After a hurried five minutes, they’d agreed on the main changes. When Brady hung up, he quickly scrolled through his in-box to try to avoid more interruptions before heading inside.

She was already picking at her salad when he sat across from her. She looked at him expectantly. He wished for a moment that he could put the rest of the world on hold to catch up with Maggie, but he had obligations. He hoped she’d understand that.

“It was important. I swear it won’t happen again.” He drew the napkin across his lap. “I’m sorry. What were we talking about?”

“Luke’s party?” Her cheeks flushed.

His gut tightened as he recalled that night—her sweet smile and soft kisses. He waited until she looked at him before saying, “I remember.”

Her lips parted slightly before she shook herself. She inhaled before taking a bite. Whatever she was working herself up to must be major. The Maggie he remembered had been bold that night. Unrelenting, untamed, unashamed.

“It was the last time I was in Tawnee Valley before I left for London,” he said, trying to ease her into whatever she needed to say.

She set down her fork. “I don’t know how to even begin to explain—”

His phone buzzed. Brady didn’t want to answer it. Something had Maggie tied up in knots. He glanced at the screen. An email notification from Peterson, and Jules was calling. “Dammit. I’m truly sorry. I have to get this one.”

He didn’t know if she looked relieved or upset as he picked up the call and walked outside. When he returned ten minutes later, their lunch was on the table, but the work situation had been resolved…for now.

“Perfect timing.” He tried to lighten the mood.

“You’re a busy man.” Maggie’s statement was soft and nonaccusatory, but it was also a little sad.

“I’m in the beginning stages of a major project. New office. New position. New phone.” He held up the phone and then dropped it into his suit’s inner pocket. “No more interruptions. How have you been?”

She froze with a bite halfway to her mouth. A little war raged in her eyes until she sighed and put the fork down. “I’ve been better.”

“Is every—”

“Things haven’t been all sunshine and daisies the past eight years, but we’ve gotten through.”

His mind stuck on the word we. He didn’t even know if Maggie was married. His gut tightened. She wasn’t wearing a ring, but that didn’t mean anything. A memory of Maggie being the kind of girl you married hovered in the back of his mind. Not that it would bother him if she were. He choked a little on the word. “We?”

With her gaze firmly on his, she said, “After Luke’s graduation, I found out I was pregnant.”

The blood flowed heavy in Brady’s ears and the air left the room. “Pregnant? But we—”

“Used protection. Yeah, that was my first thought, too, as I was holding five positive pregnancy tests.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Brady asked quietly, too numb to be angry. A child? How could he have not known? He’d lost track of a lot of people, but someone could have reached out. It’d been eight years. Why keep the child a secret?

She bit her lip. “I wrote you a letter. It was childish. I should have called, but I was scared. We weren’t anything more than one night to each other.”

“I would have wanted to know that you were pregnant. I don’t shirk my responsibilities.” He automatically defended himself, but then her words sunk in. Brady’s fork hit the plate. “I never got the letter.”

“I know.”

His brows drew together. “Then why didn’t you try to reach me?”

Maggie’s cheeks brightened and her eyes flashed. “I didn’t know then. Shortly after I sent the letter, I started receiving money. I figured you wanted nothing more to do with me or Amber.”

A headache started behind his eyes. “Money? I never sent—”

“A week ago, Sam stopped by. He’d been the one receiving my letters and sending me the money.”

“Sam?” Brady felt as if his world was crumbling in on itself. Eight years of lies. He’d been across an ocean, but never out of reach. Brady had sent Sam money for the farm and always included his address and a way to reach him in an emergency. His older brother had always been controlling but this went beyond that. His thoughts stumbled. “Wait. Amber?”

“Our daughter.” Maggie pulled a photo out of her purse.

Brady was afraid to take it, afraid to touch it, afraid of making this real. She set the photo in front of him.

“Amber is seven. She’s in second grade with Mrs. Mason. She plays softball and takes gymnastics. She’s a good kid.”

Brady glanced at the photo, meaning to take a peek. But his gaze settled on a face so familiar, it broke his heart.

“She looks like my mom.” Brady’s hand trembled as he lifted the photo. Tears choked in his throat. It had been ten years since Mom died. When she became sick, it had changed their household. After she died, it had been the three of them. Angry, confused teenagers hell-bent on going their own way. Now his mother had a grandchild she’d never be able to spoil. Finally, a girl.

Maggie gave him a wary half smile. “She looks like you. Every time I see her, I see a little of you.”

He had a daughter. His phone clattered in his pocket, insistent for his attention.

He ignored it, trying to grab on to one of the emotions flying around in his head. Anger at not being told, frustration that he couldn’t ignore work for even an hour to discuss this with Maggie, confusion over the still-vibrant connection he felt for Maggie and uncertainty on how to process all this.

He had a daughter.

Maggie sat across from him with her usually emotion-filled face as serene as the pond in the back field of the Ward farm. He had a daughter with this woman that he barely knew. A daughter who didn’t know her father.

The bubble of a grin threatening to expand on his face burst as his phone once again vibrated violently. Taking it from his pocket, he glanced at the screen.

“Damn.” Setting down his daughter’s picture, he scrolled through the three new emails. One from Peterson and two from the production leads in response to Peterson’s email. “Give me a minute.”

He didn’t look up as Maggie shifted slightly in her chair. Her outgoing breath was a little harsher than normal. He read Peterson’s email and held back the vulgar word that came to mind. Peterson was taking over his project and trying to write his name in Brady’s blood all over it.

He couldn’t regain his focus as Sam and Amber floated through his mind, each vying for his attention. One with anger and the other with curiosity. And then there was Maggie. He connected with her hazel eyes, and he stopped to take a breath. His chest tightened. “I’m a complete ass. Here I am trying to multitask while you’ve been doing that for the past eight years. Seven years old?”

Maggie nodded. Seven birthdays. What would his parents think about him not knowing about his child growing up in Tawnee Valley without him? How could he not know? Anything he said or did would feel inadequate for the time he’d missed.

He put down the phone without finishing his response and reached out and took her hand in his. “I wish I’d known. I wish I could have been there for you and Amber. To have to do that all on your own…”

Maggie flushed and dropped her gaze. “My mom was there for us when she had good days.”

“Good days?” Brady couldn’t remember much about Mrs. Grace Brown, but she’d always been nice to all the kids at the town picnics.

Maggie looked back at Brady. “Mom had breast cancer. She underwent treatment while I was pregnant and we had a few good years before…”

With the revived memories of his own mother still battering his heart, Brady lifted a napkin to the tear that trailed down her cheek. “I’m sorry to hear about your mother.”

They both froze at his action. Maggie shifted back and he pulled away quickly, looking at his hand as if it were the hand’s fault. He’d stepped over a line. They hadn’t ever been emotionally involved.

“She fought it to the end.” Maggie’s smile was distant, as if she caught a glimpse of some memory that strengthened her. Ten years ago he’d been devastated by his parents’ absence from his life. He couldn’t even stand to be in the community he’d grown up in.

He had no idea how he would have reacted at twenty to Maggie’s pregnancy. He glanced at the posed, smiling face with a few scattered freckles across her nose. Amber. It felt as if a fist squeezed his heart. Had his daughter ever needed him? He winced at the thought of not being there for her.

“I want to see her.” The words burst out of Brady before he could stop himself.

Maggie’s mouth dropped open.

“I want to be part of her life.” A sense of rightness went through him. It’s what his parents would have wanted. It’s what he wanted. “If you’ll let me.”

Chapter Four

Maggie’s heart raced, but she drew in a deep breath to steady herself. Just because Brady wanted to get to know Amber didn’t mean he wanted anything more to do with Maggie. Nothing had to change.

“I’d like that.” She tried to smile, but it faltered on her face. “I mean, Amber would love that. It’s been hard telling her about you when I thought you didn’t want any part of our lives.”

Brady’s blue eyes narrowed. “I’ll never forgive Sam for doing that to you.”

“No,” Maggie rushed out. Her cheeks warmed. How much of it had been her fault for not trying harder? “I’m not saying what he did was right—”

“It was damn conceited.” Brady leaned back in his chair. “He always thinks he knows what’s best.”

Maggie didn’t argue. Brady had been twenty when Sam had made the decision for him. Eight years had added a roughness to Brady’s boyish face. If anything, he was more handsome now than when she’d mooned over him in high school. His dark suit and blue tie lying against the soft-gray pressed shirt made him feel less approachable than when he’d been on top of the high school food chain dressed in denim and a worn T-shirt.

His face softened. “I’d do anything to take back those years and give Amber the father she deserved and you the support you needed.”

His words irritated her. “We got by fine on our own.” He smiled. “Always the fierce one, Maggie.”

The intimacy of the statement hit her below the belt and reminded her why she’d slept with him in the first place. If she hadn’t thought he was patronizing her, she might have even liked him saying that. She cleared her throat and lifted her fork to toy with her rapidly cooling food.

He reached for his BlackBerry again and started pressing buttons. “I might be able to get away for a day or two…”

His lips tightened as he glared at the small screen. Whatever was on the screen wasn’t making him happy.

“The project I’m working on is a multimillion-dollar deal. But I should be able to get away in a month, maybe a Sunday.”

“A month?” The food sank like a lump in her stomach.

“If everything goes according to plan. I should be able to make it out and back in a day.”

“It might take longer?” Maggie crossed her arms over her chest. “Amber has waited seven years for a father I didn’t think wanted her. What am I supposed to tell her? Your father is a busy man and when he finds time, he fully intends to come meet you for the first time? Am I supposed to string her along with promises of her father indefinitely?”

“Amber should come first. You’re right—” Brady met her gaze “—but my career is hanging on this project. Can I fly her and you out here?”

“She has school. No one can cover for you for a few days? you don’t have vacation time?”

“Of course I have vacation time. I have a few months’ worth of vacation time saved, but—”

“But you aren’t willing to take them.” She stood and clasped her shaking hands together. “I don’t have vacation time, but I came here on my weekend off to tell you as soon as I found out you didn’t know.”

Brady glanced around them. Some of the nearby diners had stopped talking and stared at them with unabashed interest.

“Will you please sit?” Brady asked softly.

She wanted to leave and forget she had ever come to New York, but she had a duty to Amber. For the past seven years, she’d been the one that Amber turned to, the one she relied on. But every now and then, Amber asked about her father. Maggie wasn’t willing to disappoint her daughter because her father was turning out to be an ass. She dropped in the seat and crossed her arms.

“I can’t tell Amber that her father might be able to make it to Tawnee Valley to see her sometime this year. She’s seven. She’s never met her dad and doesn’t know her uncles. Her grandmother died a few months ago. I’m all she has left.”

Brady laid his hand on the table. The surrounding diners went back to their food, but they seemed to lean a little closer in the direction of Maggie and Brady’s table.

“I’m not trying to blow you off, Maggie.” He ran a hand through his hair and looked up to the ceiling before returning to face her. She had a feeling he said that to every woman in his life. “I want to see Amber. The project I’ve taken on is important—”

“And we’re not.” Maggie didn’t like the hurt in her voice, but she’d worked hard to be everything to Amber. Now someone else had a chance to be part of Amber’s life. This man that Maggie had always found fascinating. He’d been her hero in high school, and it was hard not to be disappointed in the man he’d become. She took in a deep breath and closed her eyes briefly, trying to think rationally. “I know that this is a lot. I know I just told you that you have a child. I know your work is important, but is it the only thing that’s important?”

“I’m not saying that.” Brady closed his eyes and sighed. “What do you want from me, Maggie?”

Everything. The thought startled her into silence. She bit the inside of her cheek and tightened her lips. Romantic dreams were for other people. She had to be rational. “I’d rather not tell her about you at all if we can’t work out something definitively.”

“I found out I have a daughter ten minutes ago. I’m dealing with the information as best I can.” He looked at the photo of Amber and his eyes softened. “I want to do what’s right, but I’m eight years too late. Tell me, what should I do?”

Maggie uncrossed her arms and laid her hand on top of his. His heat gave her comfort. She knew what Amber needed, what Amber deserved. What Maggie wished she’d had from the father she barely remembered. She took a deep breath before meeting his eyes.

“Two weeks. Give us two weeks of your time. Let Amber get to know you and adjust to having you in her life. If you decide you only want to be around occasionally after that—” Maggie swallowed the lump forming in her throat “—we can work something out.”

His lips tightened into a thin line and she wondered if he would try to bargain more with her. He let out his breath in a puff. “I’ll have to work while I’m there…”

Joy welled within Maggie, but it was tainted with concern. What if he didn’t love Amber the way she deserved to be loved? What if he decided he didn’t want to be a daddy to their daughter? What if Maggie accidentally drove him away and Amber hated her for the rest of her life?

She shook the doubts from her head. “We’ll make it work.” Realizing she held his hand, she released him and tucked a stray hair behind her ear.

“I’ll need a few days to straighten things out, but then we can head back,” Brady said.

Maggie’s smile slipped as she focused on what Brady was saying. “We?”

“You don’t think I’m going to let you go without me?” His half smile reminded her of the high school Brady she’d known. It was the same smile he’d given her when he’d caught her staring at him during gym class. The clanking of plates pulled her out of the small bubble she’d been in, bringing her back to the diner. Back to reality.

The reality was she needed to go home. “My plane ticket is for tomorrow. I have work and I need to take care of Amber—”

“All important details, but Sam obviously owes us. My assistant can take care of the ticket.”

“I can’t afford to stay at the hotel another night—”

“Stay with me.” He cleared his throat. “I meant stay at my apartment.”

The background noise faded again as she met his eyes. If only she were eighteen and willing to throw caution to the wind, to have one more night in Brady’s arms. If only she’d let Penny pack her pretty nightgown. With her mother’s illness and taking care of Amber, Maggie hadn’t had time for anything else. She opened her mouth to say no, but the words stuck in her throat.

The girl she’d been would have been happy to let him take control of the situation, but now…“My flight is already booked. Penny is expecting me. Amber is expecting me. I should go home.”

“I have a guest room,” Brady said. “It will be easier if we head back together. That way you can make sure I get out of here. And you can get to know me better. You can fill me in on the last eight years.”

“What do you mean?” Maggie asked, suddenly filled with nervous energy. Time alone with Brady Ward? Her inner teenager squealed with delight. She had to get ahold of herself.

“It’s been years, Maggie.” Brady sat back and looked for all intents and purposes to be a big-shot CEO as he stared down his fine nose at her. “We don’t know each other that well. I’ve missed so much already. Birthdays, Christmases, her favorite color. All these things a father should know. I don’t even know her birth date.”

That twinge of guilt for her part in his missing Amber growing up picked at her conscience.

As if reading that she was wavering, Brady added, “You might decide I’m not the type of guy you want to bring home.”

Given that he’d insisted that he wanted to meet Amber, Maggie suspected this was his way to make her feel comfortable with his plan by making it appear that it was in her best interest.

She wasn’t eighteen anymore. Guilt or not. “And if I decide in the next few days that I don’t want you to come meet Amber? You’d be fine with that?”

His eyes narrowed, but that cocksure smile of his told her that he had every intention of making sure that didn’t happen. He leaned in conspiratorially and suddenly the air surrounding her was sucked away. “Of course. I’d respect your wishes. But you have to promise me something.”

She returned his smile, wary but willing to play the game. “We don’t make promises. Remember?”

His smile only faltered for a second. “That was years ago. Surely we can make a few promises now.”

“Okay.” She leaned away, ready to negotiate. “A promise for a promise.”

He stroked his chin as he contemplated her. “You drive a hard bargain. Ladies first.”

“You won’t make any promises you can’t keep to Amber. No promises of gifts or time unless you fully intend to live up to that promise.”

Brady nodded. “Fair enough.”

“And that extends to parenting,” Maggie added.

“How so?”

“I’ve been with her these past seven years. You can come to visit, but she is my daughter. What I say goes.”

“All right. No promises I can’t keep and no going over your head on parenting.” Brady’s eyes twinkled mischievously though the serious look on his face never changed. “That sounds like two promises.”

“Take it or leave it.” Maggie shrugged. He’d either accept her decision or he could stay out of their lives. She expected him to ask for two promises, but instead he looked at her with something like…respect. Warmth blasted through her.

“Accepted.” Brady moved in close and the diner faded into a distant rumble. “Now for your promise to me.”

She squirmed in her chair. Whatever he was about to say she could walk away from if she needed to. She held that thought close to her heart as she gave him a nod to continue.

“You promise you’ll give me a chance.”

Her eyebrows wrinkled in confusion. “Would I be here if I wasn’t ready to do that?”

“I don’t know.” Brady stroked his fingers along his jaw. “I don’t know you any more than you know me.”

“We grew up together,” Maggie protested.

“We grew up around each other and except for one night, we never talked that much. We’ve both changed over the past eight years, Maggie.”

He didn’t have to remind her of that. Everything about him had changed. Clothes, hair, even his attitude. Eight years ago he’d had a haunted look about him. Even with his confidence, he hadn’t been able to hide that look from her. For a brief moment, she’d met a kindred spirit and she’d let her impulsiveness get the best of her.

She definitely wasn’t that girl anymore. Her first one-night stand had given her a daughter and a taste of responsibility she’d only toyed with before that. She was as firmly planted as the oak in her backyard.

“Give me a chance to get to know Amber and give her a chance to get to know me. Trust me to accept responsibility for this child I never knew I had. Trust me to try my best to not hurt Amber’s feelings. Allow me to make a few mistakes without cutting me out of her life.”

Could she trust him? What choice did she have? He was Amber’s biological father. Maybe part of her had actually hoped he’d leave them alone and want nothing to do with them.

Maybe that’s why it had been such a shock when Sam had delivered the money. Sure, Brady had been in London, but he probably would have wanted to be involved, somehow. Or maybe he would have been like Maggie’s father and tossed her away.

“Maggie?”

She pulled herself from her past pain. This was a new future.

“Can you give me a chance?” Brady asked.

“I’ll try.” She gave him a halfhearted smile.

“And you’ll stay with me until I can get away?”

How could she say no? She needed to get to know this man before she introduced him to her daughter. And she owed him the chance to learn about Amber.

“I don’t know if this is a good idea.” Insane was what it was; she was actually considering spending the next few days in Brady’s apartment. Alone. With him. Certifiable. But if it meant Amber got to meet her daddy…

“It’s a large apartment and I barely use it. I bought it as an investment.” He glanced at his watch. “There’s time to get your things and set you up in my apartment before my next meeting.”

“You won’t take no for an answer, will you?”

He winked. “Definitely not.”

Chapter Five

One meeting rolled into the next, keeping Brady from focusing on the fact that he had a seven-year-old. Amber was never far from his mind as he went over the numbers with the team in London. Neither was Maggie.

When he finally managed to find time to sit at his desk, it was already quarter to five. On his return from lunch, he’d asked his assistant to order some groceries and have them sent to his apartment. As far as he knew, the refrigerator and cabinets were empty. The clock seemed to be marking every second he had left to get things straightened out. If he wanted to talk to Kyle before he left for the game tonight, Brady needed to get over to his office.

“Brady, I have those numbers you asked for yesterday.” Jules appeared in his doorway. She looked up from the reports and frowned. “Are you going somewhere?”

Brady walked toward Jules. “Can you talk me through it on the way to Kyle’s office?”

“Is there a meeting?”

“No.” He waved off her concern. Though he knew in the past things had been done behind her back, that wasn’t the way Brady worked. “I need to talk to Kyle about a personal matter before he leaves.”

She nodded, though she still had a crease between her eyebrows. They started down the hall, and she handed him a page from the top of her papers. “I’ve been going through the preliminary budgets we set up. It looks like Peterson has made some changes without giving us notification.”

Brady stopped abruptly and gave the sheet his full attention. Funds allocated to construction had been moved to another account. “Dammit.”

“I can change it back, but—” She bit her lip and glanced at her watch.

This could take hours to resolve with Peterson and that’s probably why he’d done it. If Jules went into his office now, she’d be in there for hours arguing about why it was correct in the first place. All the while, Peterson would be suggestive without being overt enough for her to press sexual harassment charges against him.

Brady took the papers from her. “I’ll take care of it.”

“Thanks.” The tension drained out of Jules’s face and shoulders. “I owe you.”

“Don’t think I won’t hold you to that.” Brady left Jules and knocked on Kyle’s office door.

“Come in.”

Kyle stood behind his desk, putting his laptop in his bag. His cell phone was cradled between his cheek and shoulder. He gestured for Brady to come forward.

“No…” Kyle said to the person on the other end of the line. “Thursday won’t work. Yes, see you then.”

He tucked the phone into its holder and gestured for Brady to take a seat. “If you’d been two minutes later, I would have been out the door.”

“Glad I caught you, then.” Brady took the offered seat and waited for Kyle to sit.

“What can I do for you today, Brady?”

Brady swallowed. “I know this is the worst timing, but I have a family emergency and need to take some time off.”

Kyle leaned his elbows on the desk. “Is everything okay?”

“I honestly don’t know.” Brady chuckled, suddenly aware how absurd the situation sounded. “I recently found out I have a seven-year-old daughter who knows nothing about me. Her mother thought I knew, but I didn’t.”

“Congratulations.” Kyle leaned back in his chair and it rocked with him. “So what were you thinking? A day? Two?”

Brady released the breath he’d been holding. “I have vacation built up, but I’m planning to continue working on the project while I’m in Illinois.”

“How long?” Apparently, Kyle had noticed that Brady had dodged that question.

“Two weeks.”

“Starting…”

“Tomorrow or the next day?”

Kyle templed his fingers to his lips as he contemplated Brady. The clock in the corner ticked mercilessly. Kyle’s expression didn’t change. Brady felt as if he were being silently quizzed on a subject he didn’t know a single answer for.

Kyle stopped rocking. “You’ve just made a transition to this team. We usually like to build vacations into the schedule ahead of time.” Kyle smiled. “But this qualifies as a family emergency.”

“Great. I’ll keep the Detrex project going via email and phone.” Brady started to get up.

“No, the Detrex project is a huge account. Since Dave Peterson and Jules Morrison are both on the project, they should handle things while you are gone.”

Brady sank back into the seat. If he let Peterson take over the project, it would sink faster than the Titanic. Jules would have to deal with that scumbag every day. “With all due respect, Kyle, Peterson is a decent manager, but the contacts deal with me directly. We have so many balls in the air right now, one could drop and someone might not notice.”

“Then you had better get them up to speed before you leave.” Kyle rose from his chair, obviously dismissing him.

Brady stood. “Detrex is my project. I’d rather stay here than risk it failing because I left at the wrong time.”

“The project won’t fail without you.” Again, Kyle dismissed his importance.

But Brady knew how this game was played. He’d studied it from every angle. He wasn’t going to lose this project and the boost to his career. But if he let Maggie down this time, she might never let him see Amber.

“Let Jules lead it.” Brady knew this was a risky move, but he had to play it. “If she has any questions, she can contact me or go to Peterson. It’s only two weeks.”

He hoped that Kyle would accept this. He could work the project with Jules while he was gone. Peterson wouldn’t care if the project failed because it was Brady’s and Jules’s necks on the line. Until it’s time to take credit.

“It’s probably time Jules took on some additional responsibility.” Kyle walked with Brady to the door and turned out the lights in his office. “But this project is too big to let fail. If I see any indication that she can’t handle it, I will pass it off to Peterson.”

Brady nodded. “Enjoy the game, Kyle.”

Turning on his heels, Brady headed to Peterson’s office. It was time to take his project back.

Within thirty minutes after Brady left, Maggie had finished putting away her things. What was she doing here?

She grabbed her phone off the nightstand and dialed Penny’s number. It was early afternoon so she should be able to get her before Amber got home. “Did you tell him?” Penny asked immediately.

Maggie fell onto the bed. “Yes. I’m in his apartment right now. How is Amber doing?”

“She’s fine. I’m fine. What are you doing on the phone with me?” Penny laughed. “I know it’s been a while, but get out there.”

“He went to work.” Maggie rolled onto her side and stared out the window overlooking Central Park. “I told him.”

“Okay.” Penny stretched out the word as if trying to pick up the underlying meaning. “What happened?”

Maggie relayed the morning meeting followed by the nerve-racking lunch. And ended with her being dumped off in an apartment that looked like a pristine hotel room.

“It’s like no one lives here.” Maggie walked to the empty fridge. Her stomach rumbled, reminding her that she’d only eaten a few bites of lunch.

“Did you go in his room yet?” Penny sounded as if she was on the edge of her seat, waiting.

“I’m not going to snoop.” Maggie turned to look at the closed bedroom door. She leaned against the refrigerator and wondered what he would have in his bedroom.

“I bet he has kinky sex toys.”

“Penny!”

“Or naughty magazines.”

“Seriously?”

Penny changed tactics. “Would you want someone like that around Amber? After all, it’s important to have a good male role model and not all men can pass muster.”

Maggie tapped her finger against her bottom lip. “He did say that he wanted me to find out about him before taking him to meet Amber.”

“See?” Penny’s triumph was obvious even hundreds of miles away. “He wants you to snoop. Why else leave you in his apartment alone?”

“Because he had to go to work.”

“Wrong!” Penny said, sounding like a buzzer. “Excuses, excuses. Get in there. I’ll be right beside you. Make sure to use descriptive words like black leather love swing.”

“Okay, but don’t get your hopes up.” Maggie crossed the room and turned the doorknob. Just in case, she checked over her shoulder to make sure no one was in the apartment.

“A girl can dream.”

Maggie shoved open the door and stepped into a room similar to her own. The hardwood floors from the living room continued into the room, providing the only warmth to the otherwise white, sterile room.

“Dying of suspense over here,” Penny said.

“It’s bigger than my room. King-size bed.” No art. No photos. No spark of personality. Lifeless. Loveless. “Light tan bedspread with matching curtains. Black dresser. Two doors.”

“One of them has to lead to the sex chamber.” Penny’s voice quivered.

“Do you think that if he had a sex chamber I would tell you?” Maggie rolled her eyes as she opened the first door to a bathroom.

“You’ll tell me or I promise to read Amber Stephen King tonight.”

“You wouldn’t. Besides, I would be so shocked to find a sex chamber that I probably would tell you, so you could tell me what all the things were for.”

“You know it,” Penny said smugly.

“Door number one is a bathroom. Nice. Clean.” Lifeless.

“I’ll take what’s behind door number two.”

She opened the door to a walk-in closet the size of her bathroom at home. “Big closet.”

The rich scent of sandalwood drifted over her as she entered the closet.

“Dirty mags?” Penny whispered, as if they were on the hunt together, instead of just Maggie waiting to get caught going through Brady’s stuff.

The closet was neatly organized with nothing out of place. Suits lined up, next to neatly pressed pants, a few pairs of shoes. “It’s as if he doesn’t live here.”

“That’s it! Maybe he’s a vampire.” Penny snickered.

Maggie backed out of the closet and looked around for some evidence of anyone living there. “Worse, he’s a workaholic. No one’s house is this clean unless they don’t live here.”

“Or he stays at his girlfriend’s.” Penny’s tone didn’t help matters.

Maggie sank down on the edge of his bed. “I hadn’t even thought about that. I didn’t even ask. Why didn’t I ask?”

“Because you were telling the dude he has a seven-year-old? I think you had more pressing things than ‘are you dating?’”

“What if he is?” Maggie’s heart clattered to a stop. She stood. “What if I’m getting in the way of his life here?”

“Whoa. Cart. Horse. Slow down, Maggie. It’s only one possibility. As you said, this isn’t about you hooking up with Brady. This is about Brady getting to know his daughter.”

This wasn’t about her. It was about Amber, and she shouldn’t be in Brady’s room at all. She rushed out and closed the door. “You were the one who wanted me to bring sexy nightgowns and bikinis.”