With All Josie's Heart by Crystal Stovall

Author:Crystal Stovall
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2001-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

Michael worked throughout the afternoon and into the night on Sharla’s playhouse, eager for it to be finished by the time the court awarded him custody.

But tonight as he sawed lumber and pounded nails, he didn’t think of the little girl. Instead, his thoughts centered on Josie. With every strike of the hammer he tried to erase her image from his mind.

But he failed.

The distressed look on her face just before she’d slipped into the house haunted him. He shouldn’t have been so harsh. Who was he to judge her, anyway?

His motivation had been selfish. He hadn’t wanted to help her as much as he’d wanted to hurt her, to lash out at her for letting go of their love. And he’d wanted to protect himself from her. She’d only been home a short time, and already, little by little, he felt their lives becoming entangled.

Sitting down on an overturned bucket, he covered his face with this hands. The whole day had been a disaster, from Sharla’s fondness for Josie to Sarah Marshall forcing him to say he loved her daughter.

What had he gotten himself into?

Then, as if he sensed her presence, Michael looked up in time to see a shadow flee Josie’s bedroom window. The fact that he’d known she watched him disturbed him more than her nearness.

Determined to clear his mind of Josie, Michael picked up the hammer and swung hard. With two clean strokes the nail pierced the wood. Stepping back, Michael admired his handiwork. Even in this unfinished stage, the playhouse promised to deliver hours of girlish dreaming and delight.

“Wow, this fairy-tale castle is really something.”

Though the deep voice startled Michael, he immediately recognized Eddie. What a way to end the day, he thought.

“What can I do for you?” Michael asked. He clutched the hammer tightly.

“I hoped you would see it that way.” Eddie circled around Michael, keeping a wide berth as he walked toward the playhouse and entered the stud structure. His boots echoed on the plywood floor. “Sharla said the playhouse was spectacular, and I’ve got to agree with her.”

Michael didn’t like the way Eddie had barged in, but he promised himself he would keep his cool. Gritting his teeth, he counted to ten under his breath. Sparring with Sharla’s biological father wouldn’t win him any points with the court. And more importantly, it wouldn’t help Sharla.

“Anne Devon came to see me today,” Eddie said. “She had a little news. Said you were engaged.”

“That’s right.” Michael volunteered no more information than necessary. His attorney had warned him not to talk to Eddie outside of court.

“A little fast, isn’t it?” Eddie wore the confidence of a man who believed checkmate was only one move away.

Michael wanted to say his engagement wasn’t any of Eddie’s business, but whatever affected either man, impacted Sharla. “Josie and I have been together since high school,” Michael said, skipping over their seven-year separation. “She’s been working abroad, and when she came home two weeks ago we decided we didn’t want to wait any longer.

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