Bargaining for Baby by Robyn Grady Read Free Book Online Page A

town, Tara?”
    Tara’s bewildered gaze whipped around, as if she’d forgotten they had company.
    “I own the adjoining property,” she said absently. Then a different emotion filtered over her face and she exhaled once more, this time with an apologetic smile. “Forgive me, please. I’m being rude. It’s just…” She sought out Jack’s gaze. “I’ve been worried these past days.”
    “Will you stay for supper?” Cait asked from the back door, giving Beau, who had half his fist in his mouth, a jiggle. “There’s always plenty.”
    At the same time Tara quizzed Jack’s face for his reaction, Maddy felt a brush against her leg. She lowered her gaze. Nell had taken up a seat between herself and Jack.
    Stiffening, Maddy rubbed the goosebumps from her arm and slid a foot away. A mime act made more noise than this dog.
    When Jack rotated away from the rail to face Tara, the familiar furrow between his brows was gone. Accommodating now, he reached for her hand. “Yes, of course. Stay for supper.”
    But Tara stole a quick glance between the baby and Maddy then, put on a lighthearted air and shook back her ebony hair.
    “I would’ve liked to, but I’m staying in town tonight. Taking a buyer to dinner.”
    Jack eased back against the rail and crossed his arms over his chest, interested. “Which horse?”
    “Hendrix.” She addressed Maddy. “I breed Warmbloods.”
    Maddy raised her brows. And she was supposed to know what that meant? But she imitated Jack’s cross-armed stance, pretending to be interested, too.
    “That’s…great.”
    “Warmbloods are bred for equestrian sports,” Jack explained. “Tara’s trained a stable full of champions, mainly Hanoverians.”
    Maddy tacked up her slipping smile. If she’d felt inadequate before…
    No wonder Jack was involved with this woman. Beautiful, ultimately gracious under pressure, and a proven breeder of champions to boot. What more could a man want?
    With an elegant, slightly possessive air, Tara looped her arm through Jack’s. “Will you walk me down to the car?”
    As Jack pushed off the rail, Maddy piped up, “If I don’t see you before I head back to Sydney, it was nice meeting you.”
    Tara’s lips tightened even as they stretched into a charming smile. “Oh, you’ll see me.”
    As she and Jack meandered down the steps, Maddy couldn’t help but notice—Tara didn’t say goodbye to Beau.
     
    Later that evening, Maddy went to join Jack in the yard. With his back to her, he didn’t seem to hear her approach, so she cleared her throat and asked, “Don’t suppose you want any company?”
    When Jack turned his head—his eyes glittering in the evening shadows, his face devoid of emotion—Maddy drew back and withered in her shoes. She shouldn’t have left the house and come outside. Standing amidst the cricket-clicking tranquility, it was clear Jack didn’t want company. Particularly not hers.
    After that awkward scene three hours ago with Tara Anderson, Jack had taken a vehicle out to the hangar tobring the bags in. Then he’d mumbled something about heading off for a while. From the window of her guest bedroom, Maddy had caught sight of a big black horse cantering away. With an Akubra slanted low on his brow, the rider looked as if he’d been born to rule from the saddle.
    As he headed off toward the huge molten ball sinking into the hills, her chest had squeezed. She might have been watching a scene from a classic Western movie. Talk about larger than life.
    While Cait prepared dinner, Maddy had enjoyed a quick shower. Then it was Beau’s turn. He’d splashed and squealed in his bath until she had a stitch in her side from laughing and the front of her dress was soaked through. She didn’t want to dwell on the fact that someone else would be enjoying this time with Beau soon.
    Would that someone be Tara?
    She neither saw nor heard Jack return, but when Cait called dinner, as if by magic he appeared in the meals room. With his gaze