Daddy by Christmas by Patricia Thayer Read Free Book Online Page A

“Mr. McKane, could I speak to you a moment?”
    Frowning, he came toward the bed as Nola left. “Suddenly I’m Mr. McKane again.”
    â€œI appreciate everything you’ve done for me. It’s better if we don’t become too friendly…given the situation.”
    He studied her for a moment. “The situation you are referring to is that you’ve already gotten to stay here until the spring.” He shrugged. “But, hey, I won’t bother you again.”
    He turned and walked out. The soft click of the front door let her know she was truly alone. She told herself it was better this way. She couldn’t get any more involved with a man like Jarrett McKane. Not that she had to worry that he’d ever give her a second look.
    She rubbed her stomach. All she needed to focus on right now was her baby.
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    Jarrett kept hearing a ringing sound. He blinked his eyes as he reached for his cell phone on the bedside table.
    â€œHello,” he murmured, running a hand over his face. It was still dark outside.
    â€œOh, I’m sorry, did I wake you?”
    It was Mia. He sat up. “Mia? Is there a problem?”
    â€œNo. No. I shouldn’t have bothered you.”
    â€œWait, Mia. Tell me what’s wrong. Is it the baby?”
    â€œNo, the baby’s fine. I just need a favor, but I’ll call back later.”
    â€œI’ll be right over.” He hung up, grabbed a pair of jeans and put them on along with a sweatshirt. He grabbed his keys and phone and headed across the hall. He let himselfinto her apartment with his master key and hurried to the bedroom.
    Mia was sitting on the bed, dressed in a thermal long-sleeved shirt that hugged her rounded belly and a pair of flannel pajama bottoms. Somehow she managed to look somewhere between wholesome and far too good at this time in the morning.
    Was it morning? “What’s the problem?”
    She looked embarrassed. “I’m so sorry I woke you.”
    â€œWell, since you have, tell me what you need.”
    â€œCould you pull out the table and see if my cable is plugged in? I didn’t want to move the table by myself.”
    â€œYou’re on the computer at this hour?”
    She shrugged. “I slept so much during the day, I’m wide-awake. So I thought I’d get some work done.”
    Jarrett went to the bedside table and pulled it out. Seeing the loose battery cable, he knelt down and pushed it back into the outlet. “It’s fixed.” He moved the table back and stood next to the bed. “You’re really not supposed to be working.”
    â€œI’m bored. Besides, if I don’t work, I don’t eat or pay my rent.”
    The computer screen lit up and he asked, “What are you working on?”
    She kept her focus on the screen. “A Web site for a Denver-based company.”
    He glanced at the home-page logo. “Are you going back to law school?”
    As she clicked the mouse and another program opened, she didn’t show any surprise that he knew her history. “Not for a while, but I hope I can go back someday. It won’t be easy with a baby.”
    â€œI’m sure everyone here would love to help you.”
    â€œWe won’t be living here…together,” she said.
    When she looked up at him with her scrubbed-clean face, large sapphire eyes and her hair in a ponytail, she looked fifteen. “How old are you?”
    Mia blinked at his question. “Don’t you know you’re not supposed to ask a woman her age?”
    He shrugged. “You look like jailbait.”
    â€œI’m twenty-nine. How old are you?”
    â€œThirty-seven.”
    She studied him for a few seconds. “You look it.”
    Frowning, he combed his fingers through his hair. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    â€œWhat did you mean when you called me jailbait?”
    â€œI meant it as a compliment. You look young for your