The Single Dad's Marriage Wish (Bachelor Dads) Read Online Free PDF Page A

him…
    After a quick check and update with his doctors Hamish walked up to the child-care centre, pressing the intercom to enter, his heart twisting as he saw his little boy. Clearly tired, Bailey was curled up on one of the low sofas, half watching the early evening movie that was put on for children whose parents worked late.
    Bailey could recite the words to each one.
    Hazel eyes met hazel.
    Strange, Hamish thought as he signed the register and headed over to his son, how delighted Emma had been to produce a ‘mini-Hamish’. The same jet hair, the same pale skin, the same colour eyes, though as beautiful as his son was, sometimes, at moments like this, he wished he looked more like his mother.
    Wished there was just a little bit more of his beautiful Emma left in the world for him to hold onto.

CHAPTER TWO
    W HO would have thought the colour white could be so complicated?
    Standing back, watching as the late afternoon sun transformed the six squares she had painted on the wall, Charlotte was torn with indecision—each and every shade of white taking on an entirely different hue as the sun bobbed ever lower, glaring through the window and drenching the dank room she was attempting to rapidly and very cheaply transform.
    White bedspread, white muslin on the windows, white everything , Charlotte had decided, only why where there so-o many shades?
    But it wasn’t her colour scheme, or lack of it, that was the problem, Charlotte admitted, glancing at her faithful alarm clock and realising that at any moment Hamish would be home.
    Not for a second when she’d met him that morning had it even entered her head that her dream accommodation might mean sharing a house with him.
    Professional father of one requires help with some irregular babysitting duties in return for reduced-cost accommodation.
    Rural property—set on acreage—animals welcome.
    Need to be flexible.
    Experience with children essential.
    Contact Belinda.
    It had seemed like a dream come true. Her heart in her mouth, Charlotte had rung the given number, hope mounting as Belinda had cheerfully waved away Charlotte’s problem of the relocation of her beloved horses from the country—had assured her that her little menagerie wouldn’t be a problem.
    There had to be a catch, Charlotte had decided as she had driven her ancient car up the driveway of Adams farm for her interview and had glimpsed the gorgeous sprawling property, nearly swooning on her animals’ behalf at the sight of acre after acre of lush grass, courtesy of a dam and efficient irrigation system. But most importantly of all, she’d promptly melted as Belinda had guided her into the kitchen, a massive family room set behind it, and on the sofa in the middle a delicious two-year-old who had happily climbed all over her the second she had sat down.
    And then, just as she’d predicted, she’d found out the catch! Approximately two minutes into the conversation all the little snippets of information she’d gleaned about Hamish since working in the emergency department had fallen into place—mind you, detective school wasn’t a prerequisite to work out there surely weren’t that many widowed accident and emergency consultants named Hamish living in the area!
    ‘His regular housekeeper is being admitted tohospital for a knee reconstruction—she’s just gone to spend a couple of days with her niece,’ Belinda explained, ‘and I’ve just been offered a job that, frankly, I can’t afford to turn down.’
    ‘Shouldn’t Hamish at least meet me first?’ Charlotte asked. ‘I mean, if we’re going to be living together, if I’m going to be looking after his child.’
    ‘Bailey would be eighteen years old and driving if I left it to Hamish to find someone he considered suitable! Look, Charlotte, when I put in this advertisement I never dreamt someone as suitable as you would come along…And just look at Bailey.’ She smiled fondly at her nephew, bouncing up and down on Charlotte’s