Dad In Disguise

“Three or four weeks? That’s impossible. You said the work would done by then.”

“Sorry about that, but it can’t be helped. Excuse me a minute. I’ll be right back.”

Rachel gave out a long frustrated sigh. It was annoying enough to be totally dissed by her contractor. Then to be put on hold while he weaseled out of the job seemed too much to bear.

But he was a man, what could you expect? Even the seemingly nice ones couldn’t be trusted. That’s the lesson she’d learned.

Charlie would be different. She’d make sure of it. He’d be the one man in a million a woman could trust and depend on. She gave him a loving glance as he squealed and tossed his dog. Rachel moved to pick it up, but Jack was faster. He quickly retrieved the stuffed animal, carefully brushed if off with his large hand and gently offered it to the baby again.

Charlie grabbed it and Jack sat back with a big silly grin.

“Great reflexes. You’re going to be some athlete. A pitcher or maybe a full back?” Jack’s deep soft tone was both admiring and serious.

Charlie stared at Jack, then tossed the dog again, this time even harder. Jack tilted his head back and laughed. He picked up the toy once more and gave it back to Charlie.

“He’ll make you do that all day if you don’t watch out,” Rachel warned.

Jack looked up at her, smiling. “I don’t mind. He’s got a great arm. You’ll have to get him into Little League right away.”

Rachel laughed. “Absolutely. I think he has to learn walk first though. I don’t think he can try out if he has to crawl around the bases.”

Jack Sawyer smiled briefly but didn’t reply. Rachel hadn’t meant to be sarcastic, but it was typical of a guy to make that sort of comment. Men were so competitive. Always trying to force boys into sports. She wouldn’t be like that with Charlie. He’d only play sports if he wanted to. It didn’t matter to her one way or the other.

“Miss Reilly? You still there?” George Nolan came back on the line.

“I’m still here, Mr. Nolan.”

“I’m sorry about this delay. But it can’t be helped. If you can find another outfit to do the job for you, I won’t hold you to our agreement. Believe me.”

“But Mr. Nolan, can’t you fit the work in somehow between the other—”

“I’m sorry. Got to run. There’s a lot going on here.” Rachel heard lots of hammering and sawing in the background. Still, she doubted George Nolan was desperately needed by his work crew. The noise level did give him an easy out, though.

There was clearly nothing she could do. She promised to let him know if she still wanted him to do the work and said goodbye. Then she angrily hung up with phone, slamming it into the cradle.

She turned to her customer, still playing toss the dog with Charlie.

He glanced up at her, his dark eyes sympathetic and she knew he had overheard every word. “Bad news?”

Rachel shook her head. She hesitated answering him. It didn’t seem professional to tell this customer her whole life story. What did he care about her contractor problems?

But his expression was so sympathetic and the look in his brown eyes willed her to just…vent.

“Yes, it was bad news. I hired a contractor to work on the cottage behind this house. It needs a new roof and there’s water damage that needs repair. He was supposed to start last week and kept putting me off. Now he tells me he’s backed up with another project and can’t start for another month. I don’t know if I can even find anyone now to do it before the winter. And he did have the lowest price. I really need to rent that space out. It’s part of my plan.”

“Your plan?”

“I was counting on the income to cover some expenses when I bought this place. Just until I get some momentum with the store.”

“Oh, I see.” Jack nodded with a thoughtful expression. “And where do you and Charlie live, upstairs?”

“That’s right. There’s an apartment on the upper floors.” Rachel had that part of the building renovated before she moved in. The duplex was a very charming space, more than double the size of her apartment in the city.

Jack didn’t say anything and Rachel felt suddenly self conscious. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bore you with all this stuff. I’ll figure it out somehow.”

He looked down at Charlie again. The baby smiled up at him and gurgled.

“Maybe I can help. I do that type of work myself.”

“You do?” Rachel wasn’t entirely surprised. She’d guessed he was in some blue collar job by the way he was dressed. If he could really take on this work, it would definitely be her lucky day.

“Could you take a look now and let me know what you think?”

He nodded. “Sure, lead the way.”

Rachel picked up Charlie and grabbed her key ring from under the counter. She led Jack out a side door at the rear of the shop, which opened at the back of the porch, and then down a few steps to the gravel drive. They walked across the sloping lawn. Jack dipped his head as he passed beneath some trees. They looked like apple or cherry, but he couldn’t be sure. He imagined they brightened the property in the spring, when they blossomed.

“It’s pretty back here,” he said.

“It’s very quiet. And private. I’m going to make a big garden over there by the fence…if I ever get a chance.”

He glanced at her and smiled. She had plans, this woman. He had to grant her that.

“I’m sure you will,” he said.

They came to the cottage at the back of the property and Jack walked around it slowly, then climbed a ladder propped against the building. He examined the roof, pushing aside a blue tarpaulin that was covering the leaky patch. He felt around with his hands and pulled off a few rotten roof shingles.

Rachel stood back in the shade and watched him work. He’d shrugged off his sweatshirt at some point en route through her backyard and the thin black fabric of his T-shirt outlined every rippling muscle in his shoulders and back. Rachel knew she was staring—and drooling, just a little—but with his back turned, she allowed herself the tiny indulgence.

The cottage was as old as the house but far more run down. It hadn’t been used for years but had loads of potential. Julia Martinelli, the Realtor who had sold Rachel the house, had promised that the space could bring in a very good rent once it was renovated. Rachel had bought the house, depending on the extra income to keep her financially afloat. Business so far had been promising, but she still wasn’t making any profit. She didn’t want to panic. But the truth was, she seemed to need the cottage income more and more each week.

Julia was the first person Rachel had met when she came to town, nearly six months ago. She’d found Rachel the house, helped her set up her business and had quickly become one of Rachel’s dearest friends, most trusted advisor and Charlie’s favorite aunt. Rachel had never had a best friend like her before and she was sure she’d have made it this far in her new life without Julia’s friendship and support. And her zany humor.

She couldn’t wait to tell Julia about Jack Sawyer. It was going to be a two latte coffee break, at least.

Jack came down the ladder and brushed his hands together to rub off the dirt. “Not so bad. Let’s see inside.”

Cheered by his diagnosis, Rachel quickly headed for the front door. With Charlie in her arms, she handed Jack the key. He twisted it around a few times but the door wouldn’t budge.

“Are sure this is the right one?”

“Here, let me try. It’s pretty temperamental. You need to sort of twist and push down. Can you hold Charlie a minute?”

Jack looked surprised at the request, then quickly nodded. He held out his arms and Rachel handed the baby over. While she fiddled with the key, she couldn’t help noticing the way Jack held Charlie, very carefully and gently, as if cradling an armload of Baccarat crystal. His face wore an amazingly tender expression, which didn’t change one bit when Charlie started climbing up his chest and tugged at his hair.

Rachel gave the door the necessary twist and jiggle and it finally popped open.

“There we go,” she said leading the way inside. “I know it doesn’t look like much. I’d just like to fix it up enough so that I can rent it out. ”

Jack carefully handed Charlie back, then walked in and looked around at the large, main room. “Okay, let’s see what we have in here.”

A small kitchen was built in one corner, separated from the rest of the lay-out by a snack bar. There was a wood-burning stove on one wall and a short hall that lead to a bedroom and bath.

After touring the layout he returned to the main room where she waited. “The walls and ceilings in the back rooms don’t seem to have any damage. A fresh coat of paint back there should do it. This room, though, is pretty bad.”

He stared up at the ceiling, then reached up to push at the tiles on the ceiling. Once again, she was treated to a view of his great body in action. Long lean legs and slim hips, broad shoulders and long, muscular arms. It had been awhile since she met a man so totally, blatantly attractive. If he really took this job, she’d have to see him every day. What a distraction that would be.

Did she really want that? She wasn’t looking for a man in her life right now. That wasn’t in her plan.

Get a grip, Rachel. A guy like that definitely has as girlfriend or a wife. Or some significant other lurking around.

He turned to her suddenly, and Rachel felt her face flush, as if he could read her thoughts.

“I have a few ideas about what we could do in here. Would you like to hear them?”

Rachel felt her mouth go dry and didn’t answer at first. Charlie grabbed her earring, and she shifted him in her arms. “Sure. Go right ahead.”

“I’d put a new roof on, of course. The building is so small, it’s worth it to do the whole roof, not just a patch job. The renovation in here could be interesting….”

He picked up a scrap of paper and a pencil from the counter and sketched out the floor space. Then showed Rachel how he would remove the damaged ceiling tile and open the space to expose the rafters and make a vaulted ceiling, with a skylights in the main room and kitchen.

“Wow, that sounds great.” Rachel looked up at him. “But what’s that all going to cost? I think it might be too expensive,” she said frankly.

“Well…let’s see. What was the other contractor charging you?”

Rachel told him the figure, sure that this job would be at least double.

Jack looked down at his sketch again. “Sure, I could do it for that much.”

“You could?” Rachel looked at him with disbelief. His ideas were the most creative she’d heard from any of the contractors she’d spoken to. George Nolan was reliable, but a real no-frills outfit. Jack Sawyer had a much more artistic perspective. How could his price be so low? Something wasn’t quite right here.

“Are you sure that’s a realistic price? I mean, there won’t be any surprises for me later when I get the final bill?”

“I work on my own. I don’t have a big crew to pay and a lot of overhead costs that larger outfits have to figure in. And I have some great cheap sources for my materials.” Sensing that she wasn’t totally convinced, he added, “And I need the work. The job I had lined up for this month just fell through. I could start in a day or so, and be done in a few weeks.”

“Really?’

“Absolutely.”

He suddenly looked a little anxious about her reply. She guessed he really did need the work. Then he smiled at her and met her gaze with his soft dark eyes. A reassuring look that said, Trust me. I’m a nice guy.

Rachel did want to trust him. Still, she’d learned better by now. Or hoped she had.

“I’ll need references. And a written estimate and a contract,” she said. “You’re licensed and bonded, right?”

“Of course. I’ll have the references for you tomorrow.… So, we have a deal?”

“Yes, it’s a deal.” Rachel extended her free hand. He looked surprised at first, then took it in his own. His grip was strong and warm. His touch was…distracting. He gazed down at her, a warm light dancing in his eyes.

By the time he’d let go of her hand, Rachel felt her pulse speeding double time.

Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all, she thought. But beggars couldn’t be choosers. His sudden appearance, just when found herself in a bind, seemed like a gift from the universe. She’d just have to get her hormones under control.

Maybe some speed walking in the early morning would help. She needed the exercise anyway to burn off the last of her baby weight.

He’d better not take his shirt off while he was working. Maybe she’d have to write that into their agreement.

“I just need to take some measurements in here for the estimate. I don’t have my tool box with me, though. Can I use this?” He picked up a metal measuring tape and yard stick that had been left on the counter top.

“Of course. Help yourself. I’ll wait for you outside, okay? It’s a little stuffy in here.”

“Sure. I won’t be a minute.” He smiled at her again and Rachel knew her need for fresh air didn’t have anything to do with being in the cottage.

Rachel headed for the door, brushing disturbingly close in the small space before she stepped outside again.

Once outside she gulped in a few breaths of cool, fresh air, eager to clear her head. She stepped over to the cool shade and set Charlie down on the grass, then sat down beside him.

She was glad to have a moment on her own, to get herself together. It wasn’t like her to get all rattled just because some hot guy smiled at her. She didn’t like the feeling. Not at all.

He soon stepped out of the cottage and closed the door. Then he stood a moment looking at her and Charlie where they sat. A slow, warm smile spread over his face and Rachel felt completely undone again.

She scooped up Charlie, forcing a bland expression and hoped she wasn’t blushing again.

Jack followed Rachel back into the store. She went behind the counter and then handed him a business card. “Here’s my phone number, in case you need to call. Do you have a business card, Jack?”

“Sure…” He took out his wallet and flipped it open. Then suddenly flipped it closed. “I’m sorry… Looks like I’m all out. Here, let me jot down my cell number for you.”

Rachel nodded, handing him a pen and paper. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow then.”

“I’ll be here around noon, is that okay?”

Rachel nodded. “Sure, that will be fine.”

He’d said he was just passing through and now she wondered if he lived far away. Would he need to take a room someplace in order to be back here in the morning?

Well, that wasn’t her problem. Considering her experience with George Nolan, she wondered if she’d really see Jack Sawyer again.

But something told her she would.

He was smiling down at Charlie again and lightly touched the little boy’s hand. “So long, Charlie. I’ll see you soon, okay? We can play that game again.”

The tenderness in his tone caught Rachel’s attention. She had to smile up at him when he finally looked her way. She realized she hadn’t sold him anything from the store. But that didn’t seem to matter.

“I’m glad you decided to drop in and look around,” Rachel said with a laugh.

He nodded, but barely returned her smile. “So am I, Rachel.”

Then he turned and left the store. The bell on the door rang as he walked out. Then suddenly, it seemed very quiet.

Rachel picked Charlie up out of his seat and held him in her arms. Her little boy looked drowsy and she wondered if she should try a nap again. Jack had given the baby quite a work-out with their dog tossing game.

There was something about Jack Sawyer. Rachel couldn’t put her finger on it. He was good looking. Smart. Even had a surprisingly kind side.

But still, there was something a little…off. That didn’t quite fit.

She wondered if his references would check out. If they did, she’d hire him, of course. She’d never find anyone else to do the job at that price, or at this late date so close to winter. Besides…she did sort of like him. Even though she knew she shouldn’t let herself.

Rachel rocked Charlie on her shoulder and slowly walked back to his nursery, humming “Rockin’ Robin” again. She could hardly wait for him to fall asleep so she could call Julia.

Jack walked down to his car, slipped inside and drove down the quiet, shady street. By the time he’d reached the corner, he felt a strong impulse to pull a screeching U-turn, go back to Rachel Reilly and come clean with her completely.

Why did she have to be so damned beautiful?

Of all the mental images he’d had of his son’s mother, he’d never expected her to be such a damned knockout. He’d expected anything but. He thought of her, standing in the buttery sunlight in her shop, with her soft, curly hair and creamy complexion, and those big hazel eyes. Her figure was curvy, a bit more voluptuous than the lean, slinky model types he usually dated. But those curves were amazingly enticing. He wondered now what he’d been missing.

She’d looked like an angel holding Charlie in her arms. Then later, sitting under the apple tree, she could have been posing for a softly hued painting by some romantic nineteenth century artist.

Why in the world did a woman who looked like that go to a sperm bank to get pregnant? She could have men waiting in line to bed her. The minute he’d set eyes on her, he’d felt like getting in line himself.

Wasn’t this situation complicated enough?

It had been sheer madness to even suggest that he do the work on her cottage. He didn’t know what had gotten into him. Of course he could do the work. It might even be fun. He’d worked his way through college on construction crews and wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. He could easily come up with the references and credentials she wanted. That wasn’t any problem either.

The 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.”