The Daddy Surprise by Ginny Aiken

Author:Ginny Aiken
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2011-10-14T16:00:00+00:00

In the three days after the city council meeting, Lucie’s irritation only grew. While she’d gone to the council chambers far too aware of Ryder’s opposition to her purchase of the house, the response of the people she’d met there had buoyed her spirits. When Ryder had adjourned the meeting, a group of women had surrounded her. Each one introduced herself and gave Lucie all kinds of encouragement. Even a couple of the men, business-and property-owners all, had approached her. They’d been especially interested in cleaning up the eyesore the house had become.

When the group thinned, Lucie had started toward Ryder, cheered by the welcome she and her plans had received. But a scant five feet away, the expression on his face had frozen her in place. His anger had reached out to entangle her, and she’d been unable to confront him right then.

She’d left, headed to the hotel, and once in the room, she’d stood by Chloe’s bed to watch their daughter’s peaceful sleep. For the first time, she’d questioned her decision to move.

Was Ryder the man she’d hoped he would be? Would he become the loving father Chloe needed?

Still…had she made a mistake by coming to Lyndon Point?

Lucie slipped into the bathroom, washed off her makeup and changed into her pajamas before heading to bed. Once again, she struggled to find a comfortable spot. For hours, she tossed and rolled, stared at the numbers as they changed on the alarm clock’s LCD screen and wished she could turn on the television without disturbing Chloe. She knew by experience the sound would have lulled her to sleep before long.

At least, it always had in the past. Tonight? She had to wonder.

Frustrated, she punched the pillow. Which didn’t satisfy, so she punched it again, this time harder. And got the same, ineffective result.

“Lord? Did I blow this? Should I have stayed in New York?”

She sighed. She couldn’t have stayed. Chloe needed her father. And Ryder needed to know Chloe. But now Lucie needed a place for her shop. Would he ever change his mind about the house?

An hour later, as the thoughts continued to hound her, Lucie did a relaxation exercise she’d learned during pregnancy. Beginning with her toes, she relaxed every muscle, one by one….

The next morning, she remembered only reaching her knees. And her conviction was reinforced.

“Nope,” she murmured as she gathered fresh clothes. “I’m not the one who’s made the mistake. Everyone at that meeting last night wants my store in that house. Ryder’s at least going to have to give me a better reason for his refusal than ‘It’s not open for discussion.’”

She would just have to find a better way to show him her side. As he spent time with Chloe, he would see how much more the two of them could share if she and Lucie lived nearby—at the house. He would understand how important it was to all three of them for Lucie to settle into the right place to live and work.

She hurried through her shower, dressed and then readied Chloe for the day.

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