Magnificent Folly Read Online Free PDF

what did he tell you about the donor?”
    “Not much, except that he was young, healthy, and intelligent, and absolutely stable mentally.”
    He nodded. “I can see how the last would be important to you.” He smiled. “I’m still all those things, Lily. If you accepted me as a father for your child, don’t you think you could take the chance on me as a friend?”
    “That’s different.”
    “A different kind of intimacy?” He took a step closer, and his finger touched her lower lip. “Intimacy is good, Lily. I’m not Tait Baldor.”
    The name struck through her like a sword, piercing the dreamy languor Andrew was weaving about her. She stepped back again. “I don’t want to talk about Tait Baldor.”
    Andrew nodded. “All right, we won’t discuss him now, but we’ll have to talk about him sometime.”
    “No, we won’t.” She moved decisively toward the front door. “My past is my own business and none of yours,” she said over her shoulder.
    “But I’m part of your past, Lily.” His soft words followed her. “And your present is very much my business. I’ll be down at the beach at four tomorrow afternoon. I’m telling you in case you want to be there to protect Cassie from me.” He paused. “But I hope you believe now that I would never hurt her.”
    She turned to face him, her gaze troubled. “I don’t … know. Perhaps you wouldn’t mean to hurt her, but Cassie is very sensitive, and for some reason she seems to have taken a shine to you.”
    “Like to like.” He grinned. “Still, I think you’d feel more secure with me tomorrow if you were sure I was Cassie’s father. I’d like you to call Henry tonight and ask him about me. Will you do that?”
    “Perhaps.” She didn’t look at him again as she closed the door behind her. She leaned back against the door feeling strangely drained. There was no reason for her to have this reaction to Andrew Ramsey. His voice had been gentle, his words persuasive and not threatening. Yet she felt as if she had been in a losing struggle with atitanic personality. She believed she had taught herself to be a fair judge of character, but Andrew Ramsey was an enigma to her.
    “Can I have my cheeseburger?”
    Lily straightened to see Cassie grinning at her from the doorway of her room. She was dressed in her pajamas, and there was no hint of antagonism in her expression. Lily felt a rush of relief. “I don’t see why not.”
    “And potato chips?”
    Lily grinned back at her. “Potato chips.” She paused. “After you eat your vegetables.”
    Cassie sighed. “Andrew said I was pushing it.”
    Lily’s smile faded. “I’m not going to lie to you, Cassie. I haven’t made a decision about your friend Andrew.”
    “I know you haven’t. Andrew said we had to give you plenty of time.” Cassie’s bunny slippers shuffled on the wooden floor as she came toward the kitchen. “He explained it all to me.”
    “Andrew seems good at explanations,” Lily said drily.
    “Oh, he is. Andrew makes things clear as glass.You’ll see that when you get to know him.” Cassie glanced over her shoulder. “Do I still get that extra hour at the piano?”
    “I thought you said the music was gone.”
    “It’s back now.” Cassie’s words trailed behind her as she entered the kitchen. “Andrew brought it back.”
    How had Andrew managed to capture Cassie so completely in so short a time? Lily wondered with helpless exasperation. She started across the living room toward the kitchen even as Cassie suddenly appeared again and dashed toward her.
    “Cassie, what on earth is—”
    “I forgot.” Cassie threw her arms around her mother’s waist in an enthusiastic bear hug that robbed Lily of breath, her cheek pressing hard at Lily’s midriff. “I love you, Mom.”
    “Do you?” Lily felt as if a magic ointment had been smoothed over the rawness of a wound. “I love you, too, Cassie.” Her arms tightened around her child’s warm, sturdy body. “So much. I