An Unexpected Partnership. Teresa Southwick

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СКАЧАТЬ you found out you were pregnant.”

      She nodded. “I can’t put in the time necessary to keep the business afloat. I have to take care of the baby. And I don’t want my grandfather’s legacy to disappear, but—”

      “So it’s the pregnancy that changed your mind about contacting me.”

      She’d vehemently told him she wasn’t a liar. There was no point in starting now. “Yes.”

      “Because it’s the only way to save The Pub.”

      “Maybe there’s another investor I could interest. But Granddad liked you.” She would give anything to know why. If only she shared the opinion. She didn’t have a problem with him professionally. It was the personal that she was afraid of. Look what happened that night. But there was so much more at stake here. And she didn’t have a lot of choices. The only thing she trusted unconditionally was her grandfather’s judgment. Other than warm memories and this business, there was nothing left of him. And the thought of it ceasing to exist broke her heart. “Are you still going to invest in the bar?”

      “You’re having the baby.”

      “How many times do I have to repeat it? The child I’m carrying is the only reason I need your help. If I wasn’t pregnant I’d muddle through without you. Yes, I’m having the baby.”

      “Then I’m definitely going through with our deal. I’ll contact my lawyer to draw up papers.”

      “I’ll make an appointment for blood tests at a private lab.”

      “Fair enough.”

      “Okay, then.”

      She said that with way more enthusiasm than she felt. He obviously didn’t believe her about the baby, and the juxtaposition of his agreement implied that if he had no connection to the child, she and her business could dry up and blow away. He was sticking around just to keep her honest.

      She couldn’t wait to see the look on his face when he had to admit he was wrong about her.

      * * *

      Leo offered to pick Tess up for the meeting at his attorney’s office to sign the partnership agreement but she politely declined. In a very cool and distant tone, she’d said it would be best to meet there. Fine with him. He hadn’t seen her for a couple of weeks and that was for the best. A cooling-off period gave him time to brace himself to deal with her as they saved her bar. But out of sight didn’t mean she was out of his mind. Her and the baby. Damn.

      He rode the eight-story building’s elevator to the top floor, where Annabel Sanders had her office. The doors opened into the reception area with a view of the whole valley. Huntington Hills in Southern California had a population right around two hundred thousand and was beautiful in the spring. Trees and flowers were blooming, and the vibrant colors of purple, pink and yellow stretched all the way to the mountains.

      He walked over to the receptionist. “Hi, Geraldine.”

      “Mr. Wallace.” The attractive woman was in her fifties and had stylishly cut short blond hair. Her blue eyes twinkled with humor. “And you know perfectly well the name is Geri.”

      “Right. I keep forgetting.”

      “It’s a common problem with our former-hockey-player clients. Too many shots to the head.”

      “How many hockey-playing clients does Annabel have?”

      “Only you. Thank goodness.”

      “Ah. Maybe I can shake the bushes, contact some of my teammates. Send some business your way.”

      “Please don’t. You keep us busy enough. What with all the investment opportunities you’re researching.”

      He had to make up for lost time. His career ended abruptly, and not long after his marriage ended, too. It was a dark period, most of which he’d spent in Pat Morrow’s penalty box. He owed that man a lot for pulling his head out of his ass.

      “You know you love me,” he said. “If you weren’t already happily married...”

      She leaned back in her chair and looked up at him. “You’re a shameless flirt. I should leave my husband and call your bluff.”

      “You should. But we both know you won’t. You’re way too smart to toss aside a good man for the likes of me.” Leo felt someone behind him and turned. “Tess. Hi.”

      “Leo.”

      “I didn’t hear you.” No doubt she heard Geri calling him out on his crap.

      She ignored him and smiled at the receptionist. “Hello. Tess Morrow to see Annabel Sanders.”

      “Nice to meet you.” Geri gave her the friendly receptionist look. “Annabel is with a client. Her meeting is running a little late. I apologize for that. If you’ll just have a seat in the waiting area, she’ll be with you both as soon as possible.”

      “Thanks,” Tess answered.

      “May I get you something? Coffee?”

      “No.”

      Leo noticed her already pale face go a little whiter. “You okay?”

      “Fine.” She smiled at Geri, then walked over to the cushy chairs by the windows and sat.

      Leo followed and took the seat at a right angle to hers. Because she’d told him she was pregnant, he knew she was nauseated from morning sickness. He still couldn’t quite wrap his head around the fact that the baby was his. Maybe.

      “So, I got the results of the blood tests,” he said.

      “Me, too.” There was a “told you so” look in her brown eyes.

      “It’s not conclusive,” he pointed out.

      “It conclusively confirmed you can’t be excluded as the biological father.”

      She was right about that. He’d done the research. The most accurate results came from an infant’s umbilical blood or tissue from the placenta, and that would have to wait another seven or so months. Fetal DNA could be observed in the mother’s blood and rule out someone who absolutely couldn’t be the father. Right now the test results were not admissible in court for purposes of custody or child support.

      But they prevented a guy from getting emotionally involved for months only to find out he had no biological connection. And sometimes a man was led to believe he was a father for several years before finding out he wasn’t. He didn’t intend to be that naive a second time.

      “Leo? Are you all right?”

      “Hmm?” He met Tess’s questioning gaze.

      “You look weird.”

      Not surprising. He was remembering a weird, painful time in his life. It still hurt and he’d be damned if he’d let another woman pass off another man’s child as his. “I’m fine. But I was going СКАЧАТЬ