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

gleam in his eye, she bet he felt it too. She had to really tug to extricate her hand, and quickly stuck it into her jacket pocket.
    The mayor, along with the film crew, arrived just in time so she could escape Dirk’s attention. Willing her heartbeat to return to normal, she took several deep breaths while no one was looking. Satisfied that she was once again in control, she turned her attention to the growing crowd of young people descending upon Dirk. Most of them looked genuinely happy to see him. Had she been wrong in not contacting him over the years? The thought almost made her knees buckle. But she shook her head and carried on.
    “Look at him. Just like his old man, thinking he’s better than everybody.” Ty Jackson’s eyes shot daggers in Dirk’s direction and a chill shimmied through Caroline’s body.
    “Dad, please. Not now.” She looped her arm through his and guided him toward her mother. Geraldine Jackson had been standing off to the side in the midst of several other women , probably spreading gossip, as usual. “Mom, can you watch dad, please?”
    “I don’t need my wife watching me!” Ty countered. “I know how to behave.”
    “Then do it,” Caroline shot back. “For JJ.”
    Hearing his grandson’s name seemed to deflate Ty’s anger and he meekly allowed his wife to lead him away. Despite his anger at Dirk, Caroline knew her father would do anything for his grandson. Anything.
    “As I was saying,” the mayor boomed, “Devinne may be down, but we’re not out. We have a lot to offer any business that wants to relocate to our fine city.”
    Caroline rolled her eyes at the mayor’s blatant business pitch. With the reduced output from the mill, Devinne lost more than half its population in ten years. Gone were the grocery stores, liquor store, and most of the retail shops. Dollar stores were the only new businesses in town. The bus service was few and far between and townsfolk without cars paid exorbitant fares to jitney drivers to get them to the out of town establishments. Devinne was a shell of its former self.
    “And you can see there’s plenty of space for industrial complexes on the outskirts of the city,” the mayor droned on. Caroline could tell the film crew was getting a bit bored by the speech. She needed to intervene.
    “Mr. Mayor, how about we go inside?” She tilted her head in the direction of the entrance.
    “We’re not quite ready,” Seneca Worth loudly whispered as she rushed into the building. “Give up another half hour to get all the food prepared.”
    Caroline wanted to scream. She’d explicitly requested that everything be in place by six o’clock.
    “Would it be possible to get a tour of the city?” Dirk asked with a half -smile on his face.
    “Wonderful idea,” the mayor said. “I’d love to show you the changes and my plans for the city.” He started walking toward the limo with the film crew behind him.
    “Mr. Mayor,” Dirk shouted. “If you don’t mind, I’d like Caroline to be my guide.”
    Her gaze met his and she could see the merriment dancing in his eyes. He then boldly looked in her father’s direction, as if daring him to say anything.
    This was not how she planned the evening to go. Not. At. All. But with the film crew nearby, she didn’t want to draw any unwanted attention to them. “Alright, let’s go.”

    Chapter Five
    Dirk tried his best not to let his face show what he thought about Caroline’s car. To say it was a step above the piece of crap he drove while living in Devinne years ago was being kind. The car was a hot mess and should have been junked eons ago.
    He casually shifted in his seat, trying to find a comfortable spot. But each time he moved, he seemed to find either another lump or some kind of squeaky coil. After a while, he simply gave up with a sigh.
    “Go ahead and say it.” She shot him some serious side eye before returning her attention to the road. “My car is not what you usually travel in,