Passionate Bid by Tierney O’Malley Page B

up deal.
    Sam jerked in her sleep. “Come okay?”
    “Yes, baby. I”ll come to your party.” Two times now, he made a promise with her. He hoped to God that he”d be able to keep his words.

Chapter Seven
    Downstairs, the old grandfather”s clock struck eleven, which meant Joanie had been lying on her bed staring on the dark ceiling for hours. Normally, the sound of rain pelting against the glass window lulled her to sleep. Not this time.
    Her mind and body were wide-awake, attuned to the man lying in the tiny bed in the room across from hers.
    Two weeks of staying with them. What an idiotic idea! Had he any clue how awkward that would be?
    Outside the wind howled. The tree branches creaked and whipped the side of the house. Damn it. They”d be screwed if a branch broke and landed on her paper-thin house. She threw her bed covers and got up. She stood by the window and peered outside, but it was too dark to see.
    Cold air seeped through the sealants around the window. Joanie picked on the old putty. She had work to do around the house. Most of them involved money, which she didn”t have. At least, right now. If Julian agreed with her, she could have the money she needed. Then she could start with the important repairs.
    Feeling the cold draft, she grabbed her robe and walked out the room to a peek into Sam”s bedroom.
    Julian was on his back with his eyes closed. His feet flat on the floor. Sam”s belly was pressed against his stomach and her leg draped around his hip. He looked uncomfortable lying on the tiny bed, but the look on his face said otherwise.
    He must have sensed her. Slowly, he opened his eyes and looked at her. For a moment, she let herself meet his gaze. She stared wordlessly across at him, her heart pounding.
    Lordy, he’s one fine looking man. So pleasing to look at.
    Their eye contact broke when Sam shifted. Her foot jerked, kicking Julian right on the groin.
    “Oomphht!” He bucked and grabbed Sam”s foot.
    “Are you okay?” Joanie mouthed in sympathy.
    Julian nodded. Slowly, he scooted on the side of the bed. He adjusted the cover around Sam and kissed her forehead.
    She watched him as he rose to his feet.
    Julian tucked his hands deep into his pockets and stood silently. Frozen, she remained standing in the doorway.
    “Meet me downstairs, Joanie.” With one last look at Sam, he squeezed by her and left the room.
    Julian paced in the living room while raking his hair with his fingers, leaving his hair standing on ends. Obviously, finding out he had a daughter was too distressful for him. Did the unexpected news put a kink on his present plans?
    A plan to remarry? Joanie wondered. An invincible punch hit her in the gut. Lordy, why that thought never failed to hurt her? Didn”t she move on already? Or she only made herself believe that? Whatever her feelings were, they didn”t matter anymore.
    Sam mattered.
    “I accept your condition to stay until Sam”s birthday. But you”ll have to agree with mine, of course.”
    Julian stopped pacing and pierced her with a look that made her want to bolt and lock herself in a room. His fists were opening and closing. Joanie could imagine him thinking he was gripping her neck. She took a step back. Just a tiny bit and raised her chin. She wouldn”t be intimidated in her own home, especially by him.
    “When do you need the money?” He practically spat the last word.
    Soon. Right now. Pronto. It would be great if she could get the money soon. At least she could inform the buyer that the property was no longer for sale, and she could call the carpenter again for the estimate on the repair. “How soon can you give it to me?”
    “Eager, huh? Care to tell me what you”ll do with it.”
    She hated the sarcasm in his words. He said them as if she was a gold-digger, money-grabbing bitch. “No. It”s none of your business what I”ll do with the money.”
    “On Sam”s birthday, I”ll give you the money.”
    “Fine.” Two weeks. She could handle