If you like this online read you'll enjoy Kim Lawrence's books!

The Brunelli Baby Bargain
 £2.71
 £2.71

Desert Prince, Defiant Virgin
 £2.54
 £2.99

Unworldly Secretary, Untamed Greek
 £2.71
 £2.71

"Can we go to the park, Dad?" Adam Lynch bounced his football on the pavement and looked hopefully up at his father.

Finn intercepted the ball before it bounced into the road. He squatted down to look sternly into a pair of eyes very similar to his own. "What have I told you about playing with the ball in the street?"

"Sorry, Dad."

Finn grinned and ruffled the boy's dark hair; it was impossible to stay mad with Adam for long. "What'll your mom say if you get muddy in the park?"

"I don't expect she'll notice. James said she's not very well ? she must be sick, because I heard her crying this morning."

"Is that right. What do you think of James?"

Finn wondered how Adam was going to feel caught in the middle of two warring parents. It was hard not to question whether there wasn't an element of truth in the accusations of selfishness Maeve had flung at him.

Adam's freckled nose wrinkled thoughtfully as he considered the matter. "Oh, he's all right," he conceded. "He can't play football as good as you, though," he added loyally, giving his father's hand a comforting squeeze.

* * *

Maeve opened the door to Emily minutes after she'd closed it behind Finn.

"You'd better come in."

Defensive rather than hostile, Emily decided as she followed Maeve through to the drawing room of the elegant Regency terrace.

"Did Finn ask you to come? Because if?"

"No, he doesn't know I'm here."

Emily soothed her conscience with the thought that she hadn't lied to Finn. She had just let him assume, when they'd arranged to meet at the hospital before lunch, that she was going to spend the morning in bed.

One of Maeve's arched brows rose. "Are you feeling better?"

"I didn't come to talk about me."

"Somehow I didn't think you did." Maeve smiled edgily. "Stand if you like, but I'm going to sit down."

Emily didn't follow her example. "How could you do it to him, Maeve?" she exclaimed glaring at the older woman. "You know how much he loves Adam!"

Maeve flushed and lowered her eyes. "Of course I know," she gritted. She lifted her head and Emily was amazed to see the sparkle of tears on her pale lashes. "But I'm allowed a life of my own! It's all right for you to look sneery!" she cried. "You've got Finn, and don't tell me you wouldn't do whatever it takes to keep him!"

Emily shook her head. "Finn would never ask me to do this," she proclaimed with total conviction. "I still don't see how you... Did you ever love him, Maeve?"

The blonde sniffed. "Not when we got married," she admitted, much to Emily's amazement. "But it's hard to live with Finn and not fall in love with him a bit...well, maybe more than a bit. But," she said drawing a deep breath, "it wasn't to be."

"I sympathize with your position, but taking a child away from his father, no matter what the courts say, is a wicked thing to do."

The doorbell started chiming, but neither woman took any notice.

"That may be so, Emily, but Finn isn't Adam's father, is he?" She saw Emily's face and paled. "God, I didn't mean... Forget I said anything."

To be continued...



chapter: 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20