Rebecca's Little Secret Read Online Free PDF

her waiting. After Jeff reached her and held open the door, both Rebecca and Joey gave a sigh of relief.
    “Now can I go play with Derek?”
    “First you have to eat your hamburger. I’ll get you some water to drink.”
    “But I want another soda.”
    “I think we’ll stick with water.”
    His face took on a stubborn look. “I want a soda.”
    “You’re not going to get a soda. If you’re nice, you can play with Derek. If not, we’ll just go home.” Rebecca kept her voice calm, leaving the choice up to him.
    “I’d like some water, please, Mommy.” Joey evenmanaged to smile, determined he was going to play with his friend.
    “Very nice. I’ll be right back.”
    She brought him water, and he finished his hamburger in rapid fashion. Then he politely asked if he could go play with his friend.
    Rebecca agreed, warning him they would have to leave in twenty minutes. After he ran to join his friend, she wished Jeff had been there to see his good behavior. And Chelsea, too. If she was going to be his stepmother, Rebecca wanted her to know that he could behave properly. He’d just gotten excited about seeing his friend.
     
    R EBECCA WASN’T EAGER TO GO to her job the next day. She was afraid Jeff would make remarks about Joey’s behavior. It was important for Jeff to like Joey. Joey’s self-image was at stake. She admitted to herself that his acceptance of Joey mattered to her, too. She wanted Jeff to believe she’d done a good job of raising their son.
    Which also forced her to admit that Jeff’s opinion about everything mattered to her, even if he was marrying another woman. All these years, even though she hadn’t told Jeff about his son, she’d held him in her heart. She might not be able to have Jeff for her own, but she at least wanted her son to have him in his life.
    She warily entered the law office that afternoon. When she barely avoided running into a tall, handsome man—not Jeff—she abruptly forgot her problems. “Oh, excuse me!” she exclaimed.
    “I’m sure it was my fault. I was in too much of a hurry.”
    She smiled and stepped back, assuming he was on his way out of the office.
    “Are you here about a legal problem?” he asked, not moving.
    “No,” Rebecca said, still smiling, “I work here.”
    “So do I.” He gave her a curious look.
    “Oh, you must be Jeff’s new partner!” Rebecca exclaimed just as Harriet came out of Jeff’s office.
    “Oh, good, I see you two have met,” Harriet said with a smile.
    “Well, not exactly,” the man said. “She’s figured out I’m Jeff’s new partner, but neither of us knows the other’s name.”
    “Well, then, let me introduce you. Rebecca, this is Bill Wallace, Jeff’s new partner, as you suspected. Bill, this is Rebecca Barlow, our part-time help.”
    “Hello, Rebecca,” Bill immediately said. He extended his hand, and Rebecca placed hers in it, assuming he wanted to shake hands.
    Bill, however, just held her hand, smiling at her. “I must say Jeff has shown great taste in hiring you.”
    Embarrassed, Rebecca tugged on her hand. “Actually, Harriet hired me.”
    “Then Harriet has shown good taste,” he said, a teasing smile on his face as he continued to hold on to her hand.
    Jeff walked out of his office. “What’s going on?”
    “I’m just making Rebecca’s acquaintance,” Bill assured him, his smile growing.
    Jeff frowned. “I need to see you in my office, Bill.”
    Slowly Bill released Rebecca’s hand. “I’ll see you later, Rebecca,” he promised before he turned and followed Jeff into his office.
    “Close the door,” Jeff snapped.
    Bill did so, but his expression showed concern.
    “What’s wrong? Did I commit a faux pas?”
    “I just wanted to warn you about flirting with Rebecca.” Jeff sat down behind his desk. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to mix business and personal interests.”
    “So she means nothing to you? Personally, I mean.”
    Jeff glared at him. “She’s the mother of my