Verdict: Daddy by Charlotte Douglas
Author:Charlotte Douglas [Douglas, Charlotte]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-09-15T00:00:00+00:00
Chapter Seven
Blake, head in hands, sat on a wrought-iron bench outside the courthouse. In the moss-draped branches of the live oak above his head, a mockingbird sang contentedly, and the winter sun spread delicious warmth on the concrete pavers at his feet, but Marissa’s client obviously didn’t share the happy sentiments.
He raised his head, disappointment etching the strong lines of his handsome face. “Well, that certainly went well.”
“We got off to a rocky start, that’s all,” Marissa said. “We’ll gather more character witnesses—”
The line of Blake’s jaw hardened. “You heard what the judge said. As long as we’re not married, he isn’t about to grant me custody of Annie.”
The answer to that dilemma seemed simple enough. “Then I’ll move out.”
“No!” Blake stood and shoved his hands in his pockets. “I refuse to let a judge with nineteenth-century attitudes and his head stuck in the gutter dictate how I run my life. There has to be another way.”
“I’m sure there is,” Marissa said soothingly.
Hope lit his features. “Like what?”
Her mind went blank. “There has to be something. I just haven’t thought of it yet.”
At the sound of footsteps, she glanced up to see Debbie approaching.
“Tough break in there, guys,” the attorney said with obvious sympathy. She looked at Blake. “Sounds like you have the neighbor from hell.”
“Tell me about it,” Blake said with a groan.
“Cheer up,” Debbie said. “I’ll request DCF to do a background check on the two of you. Your clean slates should shoot down the judge’s objections.”
Blake shook his head. “I doubt that. That old coot will never agree to my having a woman in my house to care for Annie, whether it’s Marissa or a nanny, if I’m not married to her.”
Debbie didn’t argue, and Marissa took her silence as a bad sign.
“Tell you what,” Debbie said with an encouraging smile. “I know you’re concerned about Annie. Why don’t I take you to see her? Maybe that’ll put your fears at ease.”
Blake’s expression brightened, and Marissa felt a powerful tug of interest. In spite of her efforts not to, she had developed a strong attachment to the abandoned little girl.
“Can we go now?” Blake asked.
Debbie shook her head. “I have an appointment before lunch, but we could leave at one o’clock. You want to meet at my office and follow me over?”
Blake glanced at Marissa. “You coming, too?”
“Sure, why not.” Marissa not only wanted to see the baby. She also wanted to make certain Blake didn’t do anything rash, like taking Annie out of the foster home if he wasn’t pleased with her care.
“Are you required to advise the foster parents that we’re coming?” Blake asked.
Debbie cocked her head. “You want to arrive unannounced?”
Blake nodded. “That way I’ll observe the true conditions, not some show for our benefit.”
“If that’s not a problem for you, Deb,” Marissa added quickly.
“No problem. See you at one, then,” Debbie said and walked briskly toward the parking lot.
Blake seemed to shake off his earlier discouragement. He turned to Marissa with a smile warmer than the Florida sun.
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