Daddy's Double Duty by Stella Bagwell Read Free Book Online

herself. As far as Conall went, there would never be a time for them. And she had more important issues to focus on. Like two little tots with golden-red hair and blue eyes.
    â€œI am hungry,” she admitted. For food. Not for a man like him, she mentally added.
    â€œGreat. There’s a little restaurant right across the street that looks good.”
    â€œJust give me a moment to fetch my purse and sweater from the room,” she told him.
    A few minutes later, they were seated at a small table in a family-type restaurant that featured Italian dishes. Vanessa ordered ravioli while Conall chose steak and pasta. As they waited for their salads and drinks to be served, Conall glanced around the long room decorated with early dated photos of Las Vegas and simple, homestyle tables covered in brightly striped cloths.
    Seated directly across from him, Vanessa asked, “Is this place not to your liking? We can always find another restaurant.”
    Surprised by her suggestion, he turned his gaze on her. “I’m perfectly satisfied. Why do you ask?”
    One of her slender shoulders lifted and fell in a negligible way. “I don’t know. The way you were looking around and frowning.”
    â€œI frown all the time.” A wry smile touched one corner of his mouth. “At least, that’s what my mother tells me.”
    â€œMothers don’t like to see their children frown,” she reasoned. “Mine never did. She always told me to smile and count my blessings.”
    As Conall’s gaze dwelled on his secretary’s face, he was surprised at how easy and pleasurable it was to look at her and be in her company. He’d not expected to enjoy any part of this trip. He’d only done it because she was a woman alone and in need, and she was a dedicated employee. But he was quickly discovering that Vanessa was more than an efficient secretary, she was a lovely woman and, like it or not, desire was beginning to stir in him for the first time in a long, long time.
    â€œYou must miss your mother terribly,” he said. “I was surprised when I heard about her passing. The last time I’d seen her in church she seemed very spry.”
    Her gaze suddenly dropped to the tabletop, but Conall didn’t miss the sadness on her face. The image bothered him almost as much as her tears had yesterday. And for some reason he felt guilty for not attending Mrs. Valdez’s funeral services. Even though he’d not known the woman personally, he should have made the effort for Vanessa’s sake. But at that time, she’d not been working as his secretary; she’d merely been a past acquaintance, who’d left the valley years ago.
    â€œYes. Mama appeared to be a picture of health. That made her sudden heart attack even harder to take,” shesaid quietly, then lifted her gaze back to him. “Her death was one of the main reasons I left Las Vegas and returned to Tinnie. I missed the end of my mother’s life. I want to be around for my father as much as I can before…he leaves me.”
    Other than the twins, she certainly didn’t have much in the way of family. The idea troubled Conall, although he wasn’t sure why. Plenty of people he knew had lost their parents or were lacking family of any kind and they didn’t necessarily garner his sympathy. At least, not the deep sort of regret he felt for Vanessa.
    â€œYou gave up a very good job to return to your family home and your father,” he commented. “I have to admire you for that, Vanessa.”
    Her eyes were full of doubt as they connected with his.
    â€œI’m not sure that I made the most sensible decision, Conall. I did have a good job and a little house in a nice part of town. Materially speaking, I had much more here in Vegas than I ever had in the valley. But…” Pausing, she let out a long sigh. “Money isn’t a cure-all.”
    No one knew that any better than