Righteous Lies (Book 1: Dancing Moon Ranch Series) by Patricia Watters Read Free Book Online Page A

been a stranger three days before, with his head on her
belly while he listened to the heartbeat of his son. She looked at Jack's
profile against her belly. He had a face that wouldn't be difficult to look at
over the years. Even in his untidy state at the clinic she'd noticed him. Most
women would.
    "It's a
strong beat," Jack said. "It's amazing. One egg, one sperm, and from
that a child will grow into a man. I want to be there when you deliver."
    "Oh
no," Grace replied. "Just because I was forced into an embarrassing
situation at the hospital doesn't mean anything close to that will happen
again. I'll let you listen to the baby's heart and feel him kick, but you're
not my husband, and that's as far as we go."
    Jack stood and
faced her. "Grow up, Grace," he said. "I'm thirty-three years
old. I've seen my share of naked women. But get used to the idea that I'll be
in the room when you give birth to our son, whether he's delivered by a midwife
or a doctor."
    "Not if I
won't allow it," Grace snapped. "There's nothing legal establishing
you as father."
    "There
will be by then," Jack said. "I have lab tests proving I'm the
father, and I've already filed a Notice
of Intent to Claim Paternity . I will be with you during labor, and I will
be there to help make decisions if our son has medical problems when he's born.
Like I said, he's not just your son, Grace. He's mine too."
    Grace glared at
the man. If the welfare of her baby wasn't at stake she'd leave. But she was
stuck. And the father of her baby was the most infuriating man she'd ever met.
There was no in-between with him. It was his way or no way. The thought of
having the man around for the next eighteen years was almost inconceivable.
    She turned
abruptly on the bed and reached for her robe…
    And a pain shot
low in her belly, doubling her over and drawing a groan from her.
    "You're
having contractions again," Jack said.
    Grace shook her
head. "Just a stitch in my stomach— Ohhh... Umm." She pressed her
hands to her belly. "I guess you'd better call the midwife."  
    "You need
a doctor," Jack said.
    "I refuse
to see a doctor," Grace replied. "I have a midwife. Her number's in
my purse."
    Jack handed
Grace her handbag, and after she got the midwife's phone number and handed it
to Jack, she said, "I think I'll take a nap until she gets here. It's been
a long day."
    Jack took the
paper. "Just to set things straight, you don't have to worry about me
taking advantage of you whether it's holding your hand during contractions or
anything else you need. You're the mother of my son and I'll do whatever it
takes to keep you healthy for him, and that's all." He gave her a little
half smile. "And if he's still sitting on your bladder, I'll carry you to
the bathroom every fifteen minutes if that's what it takes." He looked
steadily at Grace with sincere eyes that told her he meant every word he'd just
said.
    And for the
first time since she'd met Jack, Grace wanted something more than just being an
incubator for his son. But for the life of her, she didn't know what it was.
    ***
    Grace awakened
from her nap to hear Dorrie, the midwife, and Jack, in the hallway just outside
her room, Jack relaying to Dorrie about their trip to the hospital and what the
doctor said, using the same jargon the doctor had, so Dorrie knew Jack had been
present during the exam. And from the way Jack talked, Dorrie would assume he'd
been a part of Grace's life far longer than three days. Weeks in fact, and
she'd soon set things straight.
    But after the
examination, Dorrie called Jack into the room, and said, as if Grace wasn't
there, "She needs bed rest and lots of fluids. I'm leaving some cramp bark
for her. She won't like the taste so give it to her by the dropperful and
follow with a chaser of orange juice whenever she has contractions. It should
stop them within an hour."  
    Jack seemed to
be taking it all in, which didn't surprise Grace. Then to Grace's dismay,
Dorrie said to Jack, "If you want to be