Baby Before Business (Silhouette Romance) by Susan Meier Read Free Book Online

asked, “Are you okay?”
    “Just tired.”
    “How about if your dad and I get the formula and bring it to the house?”
    “How about if you do it alone?”
    Penney laughed. “Your dad is fine. He was just a bit concerned last night. Ty Bryant doesn’t have a very good reputation.”
    Ha! Didn’t Madelyn know the truth of that! She was the one charged with fixing the impression the whole town had that Ty Bryant was one of Satan’s minions. “His reputation is as a scrooge, Mom, not a philanderer. I’m safe.” She rolled her eyes. If her mother only knew how safe she was!
    “I suppose.” Penney sighed. “It’s just that when somebody isn’t nice in one way it’s not a stretch to think they’re into other things, too.”
    “Like he’s a scrooge who seduces young women?” Madelyn said, then she laughed. “Trust me, Mom. The guy’s not interested. And even if he were, we’re both too busy. Between the baby and trying to figure out how to clean up Ty’s reputation—which, by the way, even you know and you never met the guy until yesterday—I’ve got my hands full.”
    “All right. I’ll try to ditch your dad and be there in about an hour or so.”
    “Thanks. And Mom…” Madelyn wound the phone cord around her finger, not quite sure she should make her next statement since it was her job to convince peopleTy Bryant wasn’t an ogre or scrooge. She drew a quick breath and plunged in anyway. “Get a receipt and use the back door.”
    Her mother laughed. “Oh, honey, your work is so cut out for you.”
    Madelyn desperately wanted to nap for the hour it would take her mom to get the formula, but the call with her mother reinforced how important it was to clean up Ty’s image. That meant she had to get her PR ideas typed up so she could get Ty involved now. But on her way to his office to get the laptop computer, Madelyn saw the foyer full of baby things.
    She sighed. It would be easier for her to have all the baby clothes, diapers and crib sheets upstairs. Plus, a mobile on the crib might soothe Sabrina back to sleep at night. Not only that, but Madelyn needed the stroller.
    She sighed again. Because getting Sabrina settled and happy would ultimately free up more time to work on the PR, she decided to take it one box at a time. She would put away the clothes, diapers and crib sheets, then install the mobile and assemble the stroller. But that was as far as she was going. Ty was the baby’s guardian. He would do the rest of this.
    Her mother hadn’t arrived after an hour of unpacking. Madelyn checked on Sabrina to make sure she was still sleeping soundly and made her way to Ty’s den for the computer. He sat at his desk, engrossed in a report. She slid the laptop from his file cabinet, expecting him to question her, but he didn’t as much as look up. He had to know she was there. Yet, he ignored her.
    Well, peachy. He didn’t want to talk to her. Big deal. She didn’t want to talk to him either. The only conversationthey needed was about PR and Sabrina. She most certainly didn’t want to get accused of flirting with him again. So fine. He could be silent as much as he wanted. It worked for her.
    At the kitchen table, she typed out the notes of the PR strategies she’d come up with the night before. Another hour went by before her mother knocked on the back door.
    She jumped up and ran to answer it. But when she pulled open the door, it was her dad she faced. “Hey, Miss Maddy.”
    “Hey, Dad,” she said, struggling to keep the panic out of her voice. “Where’s Mom?”
    Her mom peeked out from behind her dad. “Here.”
    “You couldn’t convince him to stay home, could you?”
    “Now, see here, young lady. It’s my job to be concerned.”
    “I told Mom there was nothing to worry about.”
    “Give me a minute to look around and see that for myself, and I won’t be back again unless you ask me.” He stepped into the kitchen, Maddy’s mom on his heels.
    Madelyn closed the door.