LITMIR.BIZ

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keeps them on her mantel.”

      Jeff gave a humorless laugh. “Always one for the quick retort. I miss that about you.”

      “Good doggy. Charlie doggy.” The boy wiggled in her arms and Julia put him on the floor. His chubby finger pulled the leash from her hand and he led the dog toward the kitchen. “Doggy nice.” Casper followed willingly.

      “You trust that beast with him?”

      “More than I trust you.” Julia folded her arms across her chest. “For the record, there’s nothing I miss about you.”

      Jeff’s eyes narrowed. “He’s still my son. Whether you like it or not, I deserve to be a part of his life. There’s no judge in the world who will deny me access.”

      “I never wanted to deny you access. I called you after he was born, emailed pictures and never heard one word back. You haven’t answered my question. Why now?”

      His gaze shifted to the floor. “Change of heart.”

      “You need a heart for it to change. You made it clear you never wanted to be a dad. What’s the real story?” Before he could answer, Charlie led the dog back into the family room. He pulled a blanket off the couch and spread it on the floor. “Mama, doggy bed.” She smiled as her son took a board book from the coffee table and sat on the blanket with Casper, making up words to an imaginary story.

      Her gaze caught on Jeff, who yawned and looked around her apartment, obvious distaste written on his face for the kid-friendly decorating style. He didn’t pay a bit of attention to his son. Since she’d opened the door, he’d barely looked at Charlie. It was the first time he’d laid eyes on his own flesh and blood. She realized he couldn’t care less.

      Unable to resist testing her theory, she said, “He’s about to go to sleep. Do you want to read him a story? He loves books.”

      Jeff held up his palms as if she’d offered him a venomous snake. “No, thanks.”

      “I’ve got paperwork that says you want joint custody of my son. You act like you’d rather be dipped in boiling oil than have any interaction with him.”

      “I told you. I’ve got a proposition for you.”

      “What?”

      “Marry me.”

      Julia stared at him, disbelief coursing through her. He couldn’t have shocked her more if he’d offered her a million bucks. “Is that a joke? It’s sick and wrong, but it must be a joke.”

      “I’m serious, Jules. You’re right—I have no interest in being a father in any sense of the word. Ever. In fact—” he paused and ran his fingers through his hair “—I got a vasectomy.”

      “Excuse me?”

      “After you, I was determined no woman would try to trap me again.”

      “It takes two. I’m sorry, Jeff, that I ever believed we could be a family. I know how wrong I was. But I don’t understand why you’ve changed your mind now?”

      “Are you kidding? I love my life. I’ve been on two research expeditions in the past year. I make my own schedule and can teach whatever classes I want. Why would I want to be tied down to a woman or a baby?”

      “Then why are you suddenly proposing? Why the custody suit?”

      Jeff had the grace to look embarrassed. “My parents found out about my surgery. It made them interested in our kid. You know I’m an only child. They expected me to marry and ‘carry on the family line.’” He rolled his eyes. “Whatever. But my dad’s company is a big funder of my grants. If he wants a grandchild, I need to give him one.”

      Julia’s gaze strayed to Charlie, who was snuggled against Casper’s back, sucking on his thumb. His eyes drifted closed. She felt a wave of nausea roll through her. “You need to give him one? And you think you’re going to give him mine?”

      Jeff shrugged. “Technically, he’s ours. When my parents want something, they don’t stop until they get it.”

      “How is anything you’re saying good news for me? Why don’t you get the hell out of my house and out of my son’s life?”

      “Not going to happen.”

      “When the judge finds out your plan...”

      “No one is going to find out. I’m the father. You can’t keep him from me.”

      “I want to keep him safe and protected.”

      “That’s why you should marry me. Oh, I heard all about your engagement to the cop. He’s not for you. I know you. You want someone who’s going to make you look smart.”

      Julia sucked in a breath. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”

      “Does he know about your problem?”

      When she didn’t answer, Jeff smiled. “I thought so. I’m guessing you don’t want him to. It hasn’t come up in the court proceedings, either, but that can change. Here’s my proposal. Marry me, move to Ohio. My parents’ property is huge. They have a guesthouse where you can live with the boy. All of your expenses will be covered.”

      “Why would I agree to that, and what does it have to do with us being married?”

      “A marriage will seem more legit to my parents’ precious social circle. They’ll get off my back with someone to shape and mold into their own image.”

      “Like they did you?”

      “My parents are proud of me.”

      “I thought your father wanted you to give up the university and take over his business.”

      “Not going to happen.”

      “Instead, Charlie and I should spend our lives at their beck and call?”

      “They’ll keep fighting until they take him away from you. We all will.”

      Her temper about to blow, Julia yanked open the front door. “Get out, Jeff.”

      “On second thought, maybe I should read the kid a story. Get to know him before he comes to live with us.”

      “Get out!”

      Jeff must have read something in her eyes that told him she would die before she let him touch her son tonight. He hesitated then turned for the door.

      She slammed it behind him. The noise startled the dog and woke Charlie, who began to cry. She rushed over and cradled him in her arms.

      “It’s okay, sweetie. Mama’s here.” Tears streamed down her face as she hugged Charlie close. “No one’s going to take you away from me. No one.” She made the promise as much to herself as to him, wanting to believe the words were true.

       Chapter Eight

      Julia stepped into the afternoon light and put on her sunglasses, more to hide the unshed tears welling in her eyes than for sun protection.

      Frank Davis, her attorney, took her elbow to guide her down the steps of the county courthouse. They’d spent the past two hours in a heated session with Jeff, his parents and their lawyer. She couldn’t believe how much information they’d dug up, from the details of her finances, including the business loan that had yet to be approved, to her credit history. Thanks to a loser boyfriend who’d stolen her bank-account information, her credit was spotty, at best.

      They knew all of the dead-end jobs she’d had over the years, including those she’d been fired from or quit without notice, and had a detailed record of her habit of moving from city to city for short periods of time.

      They’d brought in statements from one of her ex-boyfriends and a former employer stating she was flighty

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