Daddy by Christmas / Christmas Magic on the Mountain. Patricia Thayer

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СКАЧАТЬ but Mia is carrying her brother and sister-in-law’s baby.”

      “The hell you say!”

      Suddenly Jenna came running into the kitchen. “Unca Jay, you said a bad word.”

      Jarrett ignored Trace’s disapproving stare. “I’m sorry, sweetie,” he told her. “I’ll try to be better.”

      “You got to give me a nickel for the jar.” The child held out her tiny hand and smiled. “Pay me.”

      The little thief. With a smile he dug into his pocket. “Here’s a quarter.”

      “Jenna, go wash up for supper,” her mother said.

      “Okay, Mommy.” She smiled and went and hugged Trace. “Hi, Daddy.”

      While father and daughter exchanged pleasantries Jarrett tried to wrap his head around this news.

      Once the child left, Jarrett turned back to Kira. “Was Mia Saunders going to give the reverend and his wife her baby?”

      Kira shook her head. “No, she’s been carrying Brad and Karen’s baby all along. Surely you’ve heard of a fertilized embryo being implanted in another woman and she carries the baby when the biological mother can’t. In this case, Mia was doing this for her brother and his wife.”

      Kira got up from the table, went to the oven and checked the roast, then she returned to the table. “But now everything has changed with Brad and Karen’s death. Mia will not only be giving birth to her niece or nephew in about six weeks, but now she’ll be raising the baby, too.”

      In the past, Jarrett had always run as far as possible from romantic entanglements. He didn’t do relationships beyond a few months, no matter how beautiful or intriguing the woman. It would mean he’d have to put his feelings on the line, to be vulnerable—something he’d avoided since he’d been a kid when his mother had died. Still grieving, he’d soon learned that his father’s new wife didn’t want to deal with someone else’s kid.

      He’d concluded a long time ago he wasn’t cut out to be a family man.

      Yet, this woman caused him to pause. Why was he even giving her a second thought?

      A woman with a baby?

      He recalled the scene from earlier that day in the community room filled with all those elderly tenants and how Mia Saunders had led the pack. Those amazing blue eyes had dared him to challenge her demands. She’d tried to act tough, but he could see her nervousness.

      “Does she have any other family?”

      Kira shook her head. “From what I heard there was only her brother. Since her brother was a pastor, Brad and Karen didn’t exactly have a fat bank account. Mia had been going to law school, but she had to drop out after the accident. I know she does Web design because she works from home, which is important now with the baby coming. The church is helping as much as possible.”

      And he was about to throw her out of her home. “When is the kid due?”

      “Would you believe Christmas day?” Kira smiled. “I feel that’s a good omen. I believe there’s a miracle out there for her.”

      Jarrett hoped it happened before the New Year.

      “They have the best food around,” Jarrett told Neil Fulton the next afternoon at lunch. “Prime Cut’s Barbecue is outstanding. It’s all local beef, too. Some of it comes from my brother’s ranch.”

      The fifty-five-year-old business executive looked as if he’d spent a lot of time behind a desk. His skin was pale and his hair thinning. “You own part of that, too?”

      “No, I got out of ranching a long time ago.” Jarrett hadn’t liked all the hard work or a father who drove him to do more than a kid should have to do. For what? To wait out another drought, low cattle prices or a freezing winter without going bankrupt. And you’re still poor. He liked the finer things in life, and he’d found a way to get them.

      “But my brother is good at what he does. I guarantee you’ll love the beef.”

      “Maybe another time, I usually eat a lighter lunch.” Neil looked over his half-glasses at Jarrett. “My wife insists on it.”

      Jarrett would do everything he could to move this deal along. With the slow economy, he needed to make sure this sale didn’t fall through. If only he could find a place for the Mountain View tenants, life would be perfect.

      “Why not have the best of both worlds?” he said. “If you lived around here, you could enjoy hearty meals, because there’s plenty of hiking and skiing around to keep you in shape. And there’s a great gym where you can work out.”

      Neil smiled. “You’ve kept in shape well enough since you left football. How do you do it?”

      Jarrett couldn’t believe people still remembered his college career. But he’d use it if it helped seal the deal with Fulton Industries.

      “I have a home gym,” he explained. You and your wife will have to come by and I’ll show you. It’s Robin, isn’t it?”

      Fulton nodded, then returned to scanning the menu.

      “I also want to show you both some houses in the area. There are several estates with horse property. Riding is another great way to keep in shape.”

      Neil raised a hand. “First, I need to put all my energy into building this plant. Robin will stay in Chicago until we can get things moving along. From past experience, once my wife gets going on a new house, she’ll throw herself into decorating it.”

      “Well, when that happens I’ll have one of my top agents help her find the perfect house.”

      Neil frowned. “You don’t know Robin. She’s hard to please.”

      Jarrett bet he could handle her. “Then I’ll work with her personally.”

      Neil laughed. “You may live to regret that offer.”

      Before Jarrett could respond, a young man approached the table. “Excuse me, sir, are you Jarrett McKane?”

      “Yes, I am.”

      The guy pulled out a manila envelope from inside his jacket. “This is for you.” He smiled. “You’ve been served.”

      Jarrett felt his face heat with anger. Then he glanced across the restaurant as the man stopped at a table. He sat down beside a dark-haired woman. Mia Saunders.

      “Is there a problem, Jarrett?” Neil asked.

      “No. Just a minor disagreement with a client.”

      Mia raised a hand and waved.

      “This doesn’t have anything to do with our project, does it?”

      Jarrett nodded at Mia. “Like I said it’s a minor problem. Nothing I can’t handle.”

      The following morning, Mia drove to her doctor’s appointment in Grand Junction, СКАЧАТЬ