Part 5 (1/2)

Though Grace's bedroom was pretty, decorated in warm colors like reds, yellows and taupe, a big white crib, white changing table and two white dressers took up most of the s.p.a.ce. Still, there was enough adult furniture pushed into the room's corners that Danny could almost envision how she probably had her room before the baby was born. When she met him, she had had a pretty house, a sanctuary bedroom and a budding career. When she got pregnant, she'd lost her job. When she actually had Sarah, most of her pretty house had become a nursery.

”Oh, now, you can't be sleepy yet.”

Grace's soft voice drifted out into the hallway.

”You still need to spend some time with your daddy.”

Danny swallowed when he heard himself referred to again as a daddy. He was only getting used to that.

”I know you're tired, but just stay awake long enough to say good-night.”

She lifted Sarah from the changing table and brushed her cheek across the baby's little cheek. Mesmerized, Danny watched. He'd forgotten how stirring it was to watch a mother with her baby.

”Come on,” Grace said, turning to the door. Danny jumped back, out of her line of vision.

Thinking fast, he leaped into his room and quickly closed the door. He counted to fifty, hoping that gave her enough time to get downstairs, then opened the door a crack and peered out into the hall. When he found it empty, he walked downstairs, too. Grace sat on the sofa, Sarah on her lap.

”Can I hold her before she goes to bed?”

”Sure.”

She made a move to rise, but Danny stopped her. ”I'll take her from your lap.”

Grace nodded and Danny reached down to get Sarah. Lifting her, he let his eyes wander over to Grace and their gazes caught. Except now he knew why he was no longer dealing with the sweet, innocent woman he'd slept with at the beach house. Her life had changed so much that even if she hadn't tricked him, she couldn't be the same woman. She'd gotten pregnant to a stranger. He'd rejected her. She'd lost her job and was too sick to get another. She'd had her baby alone. Any of those would have toughened her. Made her cynical. Maybe even made her angry.

No. She was no longer the woman he knew from the beach house.

CHAPTER SIX.

DANNY awakened to the sounds of the shower. Grace was up before him and already started on her day. He waited until the shower stopped, then listened for the sounds of the bathroom door opening before he got out of bed, slipped on a robe and grabbed his shaving kit.

In the hall he heard the melodious sounds of Grace's voice as she spoke to Sarah and laughed with her. He stopped. Her soft laughter took him back to their weekend at the beach house. He shook his head and walked into the bathroom. He had to stop remembering. As he'd realized last night, that Grace no longer existed. Plus, they had a child. Sarah's future was in their hands. He didn't take that responsibility lightly anymore.

After a quick shower, Danny dressed in a navy suit, ready for a long day of business meetings. He jogged down the stairs and was immediately enfolded in the scent of breakfast.

Walking to the small dining area, he said, ”Good morning.”

Grace breezed away from the table and strode into the kitchen. ”Good morning.”

Sarah grinned up at him toothlessly. He smiled down at her. ”And how are you today?”

Sarah giggled. Danny took a seat at the table. Grace set a dish containing an omelet, two slices of toast and some applesauce in front of him. Suddenly her coolness made sense. He'd forced her to have their baby alone, yet she'd nonetheless suggested shared custody, allowing him into her home to give him the opportunity to prove himself. Even if the Grace who'd seduced him that night no longer existed, the woman who'd taken her place had her sense of generosity. Even to her detriment. She wouldn't cheat him out of time with her daughter. Or use Sarah as a weapon. She was fair and it cost her.

Grace set her dish at the place opposite Danny and sat down. She immediately grabbed her napkin, opened it on her lap and picked up her fork.

Sarah shrieked.

Grace shook her head. ”You already ate.”

Sarah pounded her teething ring on the high chair tray.

”A tantrum will do you no good,” Grace said to Sarah, but Danny was painfully aware that she didn't speak to him. She didn't even look at him.

His chest tightened. She'd been such a fun, bubbly, lively person. Now she was cautious and withdrawn. And he had done this to her.

Grace all but gobbled her breakfast. She noticed that Danny had become quiet as she drank a cup of coffee, but she didn't have time to care. She wasn't entirely sure she would care even if she had time. He'd basically accused her of lying. He clearly believed she'd tricked him. And if both of those weren't enough, he intended to take her child every other week. She didn't want to be his friend. He was only in her house because she couldn't risk that he'd get full custody, and she also wouldn't risk her child's happiness with a grouch. So he was here to prove himself. She didn't have to entertain him.

He was lucky she'd made him breakfast. That was why she was late, and rus.h.i.+ng, so if he expected a little morning chitchat, that was his problem.

Having eaten enough food to sustain herself until lunch, Grace rose from her seat and took her dish to the kitchen. To her surprise Danny was right behind her when she turned from the dishwasher. Her heart thudded in her chest, half from surprise, half from being so close to him. He radiated warmth or energy, or something, that made being near him intoxicating. And trouble. His being irresistible was what had caused her to let her guard down in the first place.

He handed her his plate, though most of his food hadn't been eaten.

She took a quick gulp of air to try to rid herself of the breathless feeling and looked up at him. His eyes mirrored an emotion she couldn't quite read, except that he was unsure of what he was supposed to be doing.

”I'm rus.h.i.+ng because I'm late. You can stay and finish. Just rinse your plate when you're through and put it in the dishwasher.”

”I've had enough,” Danny said and as Grace turned away from the dishwasher she saw him glance around her small kitchen. ”Since I'm the boss I don't have to worry about being late, so if you'd like I could clean up in here.”

In his neat navy blue suit, white s.h.i.+rt and blue print tie, he might look like the guy who ran Carson Services, but he behaved like the Danny Grace had met at the beach house, and that wasn't right. Being attracted to him wasn't right. Even being friendly wasn't right, if only because they were on opposite ends of a custody battle.

”No, thank you,” she coolly replied. ”It will take me only a minute or two to wipe the skillet and stove. You go on ahead. I'm fine.”

”Grace,” he said with a chuckle. ”It's not a big deal.”

”Really?” Try as she might, she couldn't keep the sarcasm out of her voice. ”I'm surprised a rich guy like you even knows how to clean a skillet.”

He laughed. The sound danced along her nerve endings, reminding her again of how he'd been the night they'd made love. She fought the happy memories by recalling the scene in his office. The one where he'd called her pregnancy a scheme.

”I couldn't exactly take a maid to university. My parents might have gotten me an apartment, but unless I wanted to live in squalor I had to do at least a little straightening up.”

Grace felt herself softening to him and squeezed her eyes shut. It was much easier dealing with mean Danny. No expectations were better than unmet expectations.

Opening her eyes, she faced him. ”Look, I don't want you to be nice to me. I don't need you to be nice.”

”Helping clean up isn't nice. It's common courtesy.”

”Well, save it. You're here to prove yourself with Sarah. And you did fine this morning just by saying good morning. You noticed her. You didn't ignore her. You're on the right track.”

”I'm not going to let you wait on me while I'm here.”

Grace removed her ap.r.o.n and set it on the counter. She didn't have time or the inclination to argue. She also couldn't give a d.a.m.n what he did. That only tripped memories of a man she was absolutely positive didn't exist. She couldn't get into arguments that tempted her to believe otherwise.

”Fine. Dishcloths are in the bottom drawer.”

She walked out of the kitchen and over to the high chair, where she lifted Sarah into her arms before she headed for the stairway.