Accidental Father Read Online Free PDF Page A

wouldallow him to breathe again. Then he sucked in a great gulp of air.
    â€œHi, Liam,” he heard himself utter, unsure of where the words came from. “I’m your…father.”
    Unsure of whether to reach for him.
    Or not.
    Unsure of how to go about it if he did.
    He’d never held a baby. His brothers didn’t have kids yet. Luc and Sophie had been married a little over a year and had just announced that they were expecting their first child. Henri was a well-confirmed bachelor allergic to the thought of marriage, much less bringing another life into the world.
    Though, obviously one didn’t have to be married to have a…son.
    â€œWould you like to hold him?” Julianne held Liam out to him, as if reading his earlier thoughts. “Here, he’s kind of heavy.”
    Alex took Liam from her, and was surprised by how solid and sturdy the boy’s small frame felt in his big, clumsy hands.
    The boy squirmed. Alex brought him to his chest, shifting awkwardly, wrapping one protective arm around him and supporting his diapered bottom with the other.
    His touch must’ve been too rough because the boy let loose a piercing wail that startled a flock ofpigeons, causing them to kick up dirt and gravel as they took flight, scattering in all directions. Liam cried and reached for Julianne.
    This wasn’t going well at all.
    â€œHe’s tired and cold.” Her voice sounded apologetic. Even after yesterday’s dealings, it was the first time she’d allowed him to glimpse a softer emotion in her.
    â€œRight. Sorry.” He handed the baby back to her. “I guess meeting here wasn’t such a brilliant idea. I should’ve taken the weather into account when I suggested it.”
    There was an awkward pause as Liam settled down, snuggling into Julianne, resting his little head on her shoulder. Seeing them like that, it dawned on him that she couldn’t be a complete ice queen if the boy was so fond of her.
    Maybe he needed to step back and reframe the situation.
    â€œWould you like to go get some coffee?” Alex suggested. “Perhaps Liam could have hot chocolate to warm him up.”
    She shook her head. “He’s too young for hot chocolate.”
    â€œReally? I thought all kids drank hot chocolate or at least chocolate milk. I didn’t realize there was an age restriction.”
    She looked at him as if he’d suggested giving the boy whiskey.
    â€œTechnically, I guess there’s not an age restriction. If it’s going in a sippy cup, it would have to be only tepid chocolate, not hot. But really, I’m simply trying to teach him good habits.”
    What the heck was a sippy cup?
    â€œIs chocolate a bad habit?” He smiled hoping she’d realize he was simply trying to lighten the mood, not indict her. “ You must not like it if you think it’s so bad?”
    â€œI didn’t say it was evil.” Her voice was hoarse with frustration. “I happen to like chocolate very much. But I have a hard time getting him to drink regular milk. When he has chocolate milk, he doesn’t want the plain variety.”
    He quirked a brow at her. “So you have given him chocolate milk before?”
    She leveled him with a murderous glare, and he knew he’d gone too far.
    He held up his hands in surrender. “Okay, okay, I’m sorry. I’m just kidding with you.” He studied his shoes for a moment, searching for the words to explain. When he looked back up their gazes locked. “Also, I’m a little nervous. You see, I’ve never done this before.”
    He gestured to the boy, who had fallen sound asleep on Julianne’s shoulder.
    â€œI haven’t either.” When she lowered her gaze to look at the sleeping baby, the image of Leonardo da Vinci’s Madonna returned. She was a classic beauty with her dark hair and piercing blue eyes. How had this escaped him yesterday?
    In an instant,