On My Own: Book Three in the Who's Your Daddy series Read Online Free PDF Page A

the limo pulled up to front of the building, he shook his head at the continued inequality in town. Those that got, got more. Always had been that way and always would be the same.
    A smile tipped the corner of his mouth as he thought about the battles his father had with the city government. Whenever there was a council meeting, his dad could be counted upon to rile them up with some complaint or other observation. Those who were not as outspoken or brave as his dad would stop by the house and ask him to speak on their behalf. And boy, did he love to do so! One year, they even tried to revise the rules to make it more difficult for him to air his complaints. Didn’t work though. Dad took them to court for violating his constitutional rights and won. The war was really on then.
    “You ready?” Monique’s question roused him from his trip down memory lane. “Looks like the welcome committee is ready to greet you.”
    Lined up at the entrance of the building was the who’s who of Devinne. The same people his dad tormented were standing there, prepared to greet him. The old man was probably up in heaven laughing his head off right now, elbowing his mother and pointing at the stuffy group assembled at the door.
    He spied Caroline on the far right of the group, a blank expression on that beautiful face. Today she had on a black dress that hugged those curves that his hands itched to travel. Her crinkly red hair was pulled back into a severe ponytail, but that failed to dampen his desire to run his fingers through the soft tresses.
    Suddenly the door to the limo was thrown open and it was time to get started with the show. Shouts of “Welcome back” went up as he stepped out. Dirk plastered a smile on his face as a camera was thrust into the midst of the gathering.
    As he went down the line, shaking hands with the mayor and council, he did his best to keep that smile in place. It slipped a bit when Ty Jackson thrust out his hand, but Dirk held it together and quickly gave it a shake. But as he approached the end of the line and Caroline, he noticed a man standing a bit too close, with a menacing look on his face. Dirk returned the stare with one of his own. Competition. And he so loved a good fight. Let the games begin.
     
    Caroline looked at the preening pair as they warily eyed each other and shook her head. She didn’t need this today, of all days. The testosterone these two idiots were throwing off almost made her gag. Like either one of them had any right to act that way, especially Dirk Benedict. He gave up his rights regarding her a long time ago.
    And what did Emanuel Hines think he was doing? His behavior right now solidified her decision not to have anything to do with him. She could care less that he was Devinne’s most eligible bachelor and school principal. Her dad tried to put them together whenever he got a chance and dropped hints about them getting together daily. The man was a creep, and hell would freeze over before she’d date him.
    “Benedict,” Emanuel sneered. “So kind of you to gift your hometown with your presence.”
    Dirk’s gaze flicked over to her before grasping Emanuel’s outstretched hand. “Thank you for the, um, kind welcome. I don’t think I’ve had the pleasure.”
    “That’s right, because you haven’t been around. Name’s Emanuel Hines and I’m the principal of the Devinne Educational Center.”
    “Educational Center?”
    “Yes, because of the declining enrollment, all grades have been consolidated into one building. If we had the financial support, maybe it wouldn’t have happened.”
    Caroline saw Dirk flinch at the not so subtle dig flung by Emanuel. To his credit though, he quickly recovered.
    “I’d like to hear more about the school’s condition when I visit tomorrow.” With that, his attention moved onto her and she tenuously slid her hand into his. That damn feeling returned, the electrical charge she felt each time he touched her. And with that devilish