A Dad At Last by Marie Ferrarella Page A

to get it under control. “So I guess this agreement of ours is for a little over seventeen years.” She paused. “It’s a long time to sell your soul into slavery.” And even longer to remain so close to a man who didn’t love her. She wasn’t sure if she was up to it.
    Slavery? Where did she get these thoughts? “Lacy, I just said—”
    â€œI know what you said. And I know what you’re thinking.” That he would never love her, but that he was confident he had control over her.
    That kiss had sealed her fate, and she damned him for it. There was no way she was ever going to loveany other man, even if Connor didn’t love her. And for that, she could almost hate him.
    Her head began to ache as the complexity of the situation assaulted her.
    She saw the uneasy look in his eyes. Maybe he wasn’t quite as confident as she thought he was. It helped a little. “Don’t worry, I won’t go back on our agreement. Chase and I’ll move into your place as soon as I talk to Shelby and make my arrangements.”
    The sigh that escaped him was one of relief. “All right, I can respect that.”
    Her eyes narrowed as she looked at him before returning to the dining room. “You have no choice in the matter, Mr. O’Hara.”
    Leaving him to follow or not, Lacy went straight for Chase, who was still sitting in his high chair. Megan was beside the baby, every inch the doting grandmother.
    As Megan watched Lacy cross to her, she tried to discern what was on her mind from the young woman’s expression. Lacy looked preoccupied. And perhaps a little troubled, as well.
    â€œYou know,” Megan told her kindly as Lacy began to undo the straps that held Chase in his chair, “you don’t have to go back to the boarding house tonight. Or ever, for that matter.” She’d given it only cursory thought. That was all it took to make up her mind. “You’re perfectly welcome to remain here foras long as you like.” Her eyes smiled at Lacy. “You’re family now.”
    Lacy wished she could really believe that. “That’s very generous of you, Mrs. Maitland.” Lacy sensed that Connor was behind her. “I guess I can see where Connor gets it from—even if he’s not aware of it.”
    Not quite following, Megan inclined her head. “Gets what from?”
    â€œHis generosity of spirit.” She wanted Connor’s mother to know the exact circumstances that were involved. The last thing she needed was for the Maitlands to think she was living with Connor as his mistress. “Connor has asked Chase and me to move in with him.”
    â€œOh?” Megan’s eyes shifted to Connor’s face.
    He didn’t have the look about him of a man who’d just asked a woman to marry him. But maybe he hadn’t. Lacy had said move in, not marry. Her gaze returned to Lacy, patiently waiting for clarification.
    â€œYes,” Lacy told her, loving the way Chase snuggled against her. This was worth everything, she thought, even not getting on with her life. “I’m going to be his cook—so he can have decent meals when he’s not eating here,” she added with a smile as she looked at Megan.
    Megan heard the pain, however subtly veiled, within Lacy’s voice. Unsure of what exactly was going on, she promised herself to get to the bottom ofit as soon as she could. For now, she rested a hand on the young woman’s shoulder.
    â€œAre you sure this is what you want?”
    That someone was actually concerned about her feelings touched Lacy. She wished with all her heart that Connor had grown up living with this woman instead of Clarise, who’d taught him how to seal himself off from everyone and everything. Maybe if he had grown up here, he would have used his heart for something other than an organ that kept his body functioning and going through the motions of being