Wanted: Parents for a Baby! by Laura Iding

said. Then her mouth gaped open when he crossed over to pull open the passenger-side door of his sporty cherry-red convertible. “You have a convertible?” she squeaked.
    â€œYes, I hope you don’t mind,” he said, glancing at her long hair. He remembered how Victoria hadn’t liked the wind messing up her hair. “I can put the top up if you prefer.”
    â€œNo way! I’ve always wanted to ride in a convertible.” He watched in amusement as she rooted through her purse to find a hairtie. Pulling her hair back into a ponytail didn’t take long. “This is going to be fun,” she declared, sliding into the passenger seat.
    Ryan smiled, closing the door behind her. Cassie was so different from Victoria, which made her dangerously attractive.
    He hadn’t been with a woman in a long time and forced himself to remember that Cassie wouldn’t appreciate being used for sex. Truthfully, the idea didn’t sit well with him, either. She deserved a man who would love and cherish her and little Emma.
    Someone better than him. He didn’t deserve a second chance. He hadn’t loved Victoria the way he should have loved his wife, and his son had died because of it. Oh, he’d blamed Victoria, too, for becoming addicted to painkillers, but deep down he knew that he was the one at fault.
    For not loving her enough.
    For not noticing her addiction.
    For not being home when she and his son had needed him.
    He shook off the sobering thoughts with an effort. Ryan knew he’d need to find a way to keep his distance from Cassie. A task far easier said than done.
    As he drove to the park, she lifted her faceto the sky as if enjoying the wind against her skin. “This is fabulous!” she exclaimed. “You must love this car.”
    â€œIt’s just a car,” he said mildly, enjoying the rapture on her face. “But I’m glad you’re having fun.”
    He parked at the base of the walking path that would lead up the bluff, looking over Lake Michigan. “Come on, let’s take a walk.”
    She climbed out of the car. “Okay, but I think we can safely assume that the woman we’re trying to find wouldn’t try to walk up this path with her cane.”
    He shrugged, refusing to admit that this part of the day was strictly for the two of them. “I know, but we can head into town to search for her after you see the view. It’s amazing.”
    â€œLead the way,” she said with a smile.
    Dark clouds swirled overhead and he hoped the rain would hold off, at least for a while. Cassie didn’t say much as they climbed up the bluff, but he didn’t find her silence awkward or strained.
    She was an easy person to be with. Beautiful, compelling and nurturing, an intoxicating combination.
    â€œWow, you were right,” she whisperedonce they reached the top. “This view is incredible.”
    He nodded, although his attention was focused more on Cassie than the view. He didn’t deserve her, but he wanted Cassie so much he ached. “I knew you’d like it. I’m surprised other people aren’t up here, although maybe the rainclouds scared them away.”
    â€œCould be,” she said, glancing up. “The weather report said the rain wouldn’t come until two this afternoon, but those clouds look ominous.”
    â€œWe’d better head back down,” he murmured, hating to cut their time short. “Before the clouds let loose.”
    He caught her hand in his as they started their descent. Going down was faster than going up, and soon they were back in the convertible. “I’ll put the top up,” he said, reaching for the controls.
    â€œPlease, don’t, it’s not raining yet,” she said, putting her hand on his arm.
    Every nerve in his body went on alert at her touch. And at that moment he couldn’t deny her anything. “All right, let’s hope we don’t get