problem was lying to her. She seemed a nice person. A reasonable person.
But of course, you never know. She might go berserk if she heard the donor dad of her child had searched for, and found, her and the baby. She might decide she’d never let him see him Charlie again.
When she’d stepped out of that back room carrying his son, Jack had thought for a second he was actually going to faint.
Jack had expected to feel moved by the sight of his son. But feeling his heart so full of love it was about to burst… well, that was a totally unexpected experience. And one previously unknown to him.
When she asked him to hold Charlie and he felt him so close, breathing right into his ear…his entire body was trembling. His son, his very own flesh and blood. In his arms for the first time.
He wasn’t a man to break down crying. But this was different. This was the real thing.
Jack knew in an instant Charlie had forever sealed his fate. Forever marked his life’s course. Charlie was his lodestar now, his touchstone.
He’d nearly lost it completely and told her everything.
But it hadn’t been the right time. The right way to do it.
It was more important than ever to find out for sure if she was a good mother before he could determine his approach. Sure, she seemed nice. But first impressions could be deceiving.
Case in point. Look how he’d just deceived her.
Until he knew more about her, he couldn’t jump to conclusions. And he certainly couldn’t let his hormones distort his judgment. There was still a lot to find out.
But was planting himself on her property, disguised as some down-and-out handyman, the right way to go about this? Jack didn’t think so. It wasn’t ethical. Or fair.
Oh, who was he kidding? Sure, he wanted to find out about her. But it was the boy. His boy. The temptation of being near his son every day was hard to resist. Watching him play, laugh, sleep. Not just hard. Impossible.
Still, Jack wasn’t sure if he should return to Rachel Reilly’s store tomorrow, as he’d promised. He could just call and make some excuse to her. Or just disappear without any word of explanation.
Yet it was funny how that had all come together though, just at the moment of his visit. Jack wasn’t a very spiritual man, yet this all seemed like some sort of gift from the universe. Should he really just pass on the opportunity?
Either way, whether he returned to work for her or disappeared into the blue, she would eventually find out who he was and why he’d come to visit today. Jack didn’t even want to think far enough to imagine her reaction.
The entire situation presented as many problems as it solved. He almost regretted coming here and not taking the advice he’d been offered.
Almost, but not quite. Not at all, when he thought back to Charlie.
Jack didn’t know for sure what he would do. Or should do.
He did know he was hungry, exhausted and this day of all days had shaken him to core.
At least he had all night to figure it out.
Chapter Two
“I love this place. I could live here. Honestly.”
Julia Martinelli strolled around the shop, surveying the wares with a wistful sigh. No matter how many times Rachel’s best pal dropped in at Pretty Baby—and she visited nearly every day—she always wore a look of wonder…and longing.
It was a short walk down Main Street to Pretty Baby from Home Sweet Home Realty. If Julia didn’t come for a morning coffee break, she often brought lunch. Like today.
Rachel was hungry, but her stomach felt jumpy, too. Nerves about seeing Jack Sawyer again, though she hated to admit it. He said he’d come by noon and it was now about half past. That wasn’t a good sign, she thought. But she didn’t want to spin her wheels about it. If he came, he came. He did seem to be too good to be true…and maybe, he was.
Julia had wandered over to the infant wear. She picked up a pair of fuzzy pink knitted booties, stuck them on her fingers and wiggled them around like tiny feet.
“These are adorable? So sweet…” She sighed and put them back again. “Can’t you please fix me a little room in the back, like Charlie’s? I’ll even pay rent.”
“Sorry, I need the extra space for storage. But maybe you can rent out the cottage when it’s fixed up. I’ll even give you a discount.”
The bright-eyed blonde glanced at Rachel, then sat down across from her at the counter. She opened the two bags she’d brought and began to spread out their lunch.
“Thanks, pal. I’ll think about it. So, what’s the story with the roof repairs? I’m sorry I wasn’t able to call you back yesterday.”
Rachel had called Julia soon after Charlie went down for his nap. But her friend had been busy with a client and was out last night on a date, so they’d never caught up.
“George Nolan left me hanging for a week, then bailed out on me totally. He said he was backed up on a bigger job and wouldn’t get to the cottage for a month or more.”
“You’re kidding? That’s the last time I recommend him for a job. I’ll tell him myself, too. Here’s your salad. And if that’s too healthy for you, I also brought some chocolate chip cookies from the bakery.”
“Thanks. This looks great.” Rachel flipped the container lid and took a bite. Julia did the same.
“There must be someone besides George who could do it.” Julia shrugged. She speared a hunk of lettuce with her plastic fork. “Do you need some more names to call?”
Rachel’s well-connected pal knew just about every guy in town who owed a hammer or knew how to handle a paint brush. Without Julia’s advice and recommendations, Rachel never would have been able to renovate her house and set up her shop in so short a time. But everyone on Julia’s list for the roofing job had either been booked solid, not interested in such a small project, or asked too high a price.
“I found someone.”
Julia squinted at her. “Already?”
Rachel nodded. She knew Julia was surprised that she’d managed that feat without her help. “He’s even dropped off his estimate, references and a contract.”
Rachel had found the thick manila envelope stuffing up the mail box when she’d opened the store that morning.
“He said he needs the work and I know he wants to start quickly. He’s either efficient and responsible…or totally desperate.”
“Maybe a little of both,” Julia offered. “How did you find this guy again?”
“He just walked into the store. Yesterday afternoon. He was standing near the counter when I took the phone call from George, so he heard everything. We started talking and it turns out he does that type of work and is in between
