Prognosis: A Baby? Maybe

Author:Jacqueline Diamond
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-08-23T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

In the dim light, Jason gazed into two inquisitive green eyes. If he’d had any remaining doubts about Ginger’s parentage, her eye color—a match for his own—banished them.

“Hi,” he said.

“Ba ba ba,” said his daughter.

Alert and curious, she had pixielike features and perfectly formed little hands. A man could build a happy life with a child like this, taking her to the park, reading to her at night, holding her up to play with the ornaments on the Christmas tree.

It almost made Jason angry that Heather had tried to deny him these experiences. He had to acknowledge, however, that she had justification. In the grip of a hangover, he’d snarled that he didn’t want to hear any more about what had happened between them, and she’d taken him at his word.

It must have been a shock to discover that she was carrying his baby, especially since they’d apparently tried to use contraception. He hated to think what she’d endured, going through the pregnancy alone, hiding it from her coworkers. And matters weren’t necessarily easier now.

Jason had sometimes become impatient with colleagues who changed their schedules or left early because of day-care problems. Now he wondered how Heather managed. Obviously, she’d hired a nanny, but Olive seemed to feel entitled to take off an evening or an entire week whenever it suited her.

He almost said something right then. What was the point of continuing with this charade?

What stopped him was the probability that Heather would turn the car around and go home. Also, although she might be forced to acknowledge the truth, that didn’t mean she would agree to share Ginger with him.

A nasty court battle wasn’t in anyone’s best interest, especially not his daughter’s. It would be far, far better to improve their relationship to the point where Heather felt comfortable confiding in him and inviting him into her life.

Jason wasn’t sure what that was going to entail. Until last Sunday, he’d had no intention of starting a family or of making a commitment of any kind beyond acquiring a puppy. Even then, he’d made sure he had a backup caretaker.

The more he thought about his daughter, though, the more he wanted to be with her every day. That didn’t mean he was ready to get married, buy a house and plant roses. On the other hand, if they had their own house, Ginger could grow up with plenty of space and he wouldn’t have to sneak Frodo out for walks.

A house? Tension knotted in Jason’s throat. Taking on commitments meant limiting his future. It meant becoming like the many scientists he’d seen whose early promise dissipated after they settled down, sacrificing both their mobility and their edge.

He refused to worry about the future right now. The important thing was to focus on his goal: ingratiating himself with Heather and getting to know their daughter.

To distract himself and amuse the fidgeting baby, Jason pointed at a school they were passing. On the illuminated athletic field, a group of kids played a lively game of soccer.

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