Accidental Family Read Online Free PDF

but he’d threatened her child and he’d awakened some primitive instinct inside her that wouldn’t be denied.
    “You’re making a mistake,” he said, tripping over the threshold as he stumbled out the door.
    “You’re the one who made the mistake, Mr. Rand,” she said, one hand gripping the edge of the door. “I want this baby and I intend to keep this baby. Even if its father’s gene pool could have used some chlorinating!”
    Then she slammed the door in his face.

CHAPTER FOUR
    H E ’ D BLOWN IT .
    Alan stared at the door of the barbershop, tempted to pound on it until she let him back inside. But he knew Rowena was too furious at the moment to listen to reason. He shook his head as he turned and headed for his car. Alan had intended to make a show of good faith with that check and his recommendation of a respected obstetrician. Instead, she believed he wanted her to terminate the pregnancy.
    “Mr. Charming strikes again,” he muttered, his breath coming out in frosty puffs of air as he slid behind the wheel of his Ford Mustang. He replayed their conversation over in his mind as he drove to Twin Oaks, wincing when he remembered some of the things he’d said. What the hell had gotten into him?
    But he knew the answer. Rowena. His tongue had started turning somersaults the moment he’d laid eyes on her. Hell, he could hardly think straight around her, much less negotiate their touchy situation. So instead of telling her he simply wanted to be a father to their baby, he’d come on like some big shot and tried to buy her compliance.
    Big mistake.
    One he definitely needed to rectify. The only question was how. From the sparks he’d seen in those amethyst eyes, she’d rather stab him with her scissors than speak to him again. He’d gone into that barbershop expecting to find a woman he could impress with his stature and big-city sophistication. But he’d severely underestimated her. Rowena Dahl was a mature, intelligent, witty woman. And as much as he hated to admit it, he found those traits even more seductive than her beautiful face and luscious figure.
    Alan parked outside Twin Oaks Bed and Breakfast, then walked up the path lit by a pair of wrought-iron carriage lamps. Once inside, he ignored the amorous couples gathered around the crackling blaze in the huge stone fireplace and took the stairs two at a time to his room. He had his cellular phone out before the door closed behind him. He dialed Brad’s number, then swore softly when he heard the busy signal buzzing in his ear.
    A father. He was going to be a father. The shock of it still unnerved him. This wasn’t the way Alan had planned it. He wanted a family—someday. But in the traditional way. With a wife. A big house somewhere in the suburbs of Toronto. Perhaps, if he ever learned to swim, even a cabin up at Lake Temagami—like the Haleys.
    Alan redialed his lawyer’s phone number, only to hear a busy signal again. He carried the cell phone to the window and looked into the black, starless night. Tiny lights dotted the ski slopes, outlining the runs. He could teach his child to ski. Sign him up for a hockey team. Or her, if it was a girl. As the reality slowly sank in, he realized there was so much he wanted to do.
    If he was given the chance.
    He turned away from the window and walked to the hearth, bending to place another log on the fire. A few moments later, a blaze flared up and Alan held out his hands to warm them. The flames reminded him of the amethyst fire he’d seen in Rowena’s eyes when she’d torn up his check.
    Damn, she was beautiful.
    That was his first mistake. He’d let his attraction to her distract him from his goal. Something he couldn’t afford to let happen again. Alan needed to focus on what really mattered—the baby. He might have screwed up tonight, but that didn’t mean he was going to turn tail and meekly back down from his rights as a father.
    Taking a seat by the fireplace, he dialed Brad’s home number