The Father of Her Son - By Kathleen Pickering Page 0,77
the penthouse.”
“That’s right, Mom. Her brother agrees with me. I may never be able to adopt Matt, but I surely can gain legal guardianship of him if I marry Kelly and we get Campbell arrested and convicted.”
“So, where is Kelly now?”
Evan shook his head. “Either at her friend’s house or in Brooklyn.”
Sean reached for his cell phone. “Actually, son, that girl needs to marry you today. Exactly as planned. What’s her number? I want to have a little chat with her.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
THE GARDEN ROOM in the back of Michael’s rectory reminded Kelly of their family parlor at home. The oak floors gleamed with a good polish, a comfortable leather couch flanked by upholstered armchairs nestled around a circular glass coffee table over a beautiful silk rug of deep greens pulling in the colors from outside. The view into the garden through the bay windows framed the lushness of the small enclave.
A Steinway parlor grand piano occupied a corner behind the couch, where Matt currently plunked out discordant tunes with one finger. Kelly sat on the couch facing Michael with her bare feet tucked beneath her. They’d been speaking quietly and indirectly so as to not allude to anything that Matt might overhear and become distressed over.
Clearly, Michael was getting frustrated with his inability to speak directly. He stood. “Let’s take a walk in the garden, shall we?”
Once outside he didn’t hesitate for a moment.
“I saw the broadcast last night, Kelly. I think you are making a huge mistake. If Evan said he had nothing to do with that interview, I believe him.”
“Well, I don’t. You don’t know Evan as I do.”
Michael shook his head. “No, dear sister, I don’t think you know him at all. The man I interrogated over lunch for the first time the other day is nothing but honest, sincere and, dare I say, madly in love with you.”
She looked up, stunned. “Really?” Then she waved away the notion. “It doesn’t matter. I can’t trust him.”
“And why not?”
“He’s manipulative.”
“You mean he’s focused and achieves his goals.”
“Well, then he’s pushy.”
Michael shrugged. “So you push back. You do have a backbone, girl. Look at all you’ve done for yourself up to now.”
They walked side by side, pacing the length of the lawn. “Kelly, please understand, I’m not one to insist a woman marry a man she does not love, but Senator Campbell will take your son from you unless you take steps to make his reach more difficult.”
She stopped in her tracks. “You want me to marry Evan?”
His lips pressed into a determined line as he formed his answer. “Do you have feelings for the man, lass?”
“Campbell?”
“No, Evan. Don’t be daft.”
That damned lump rose in her throat, surprising her with the threat of tears. “Michael, we made love last night. He was my first. We had just finished discussing how taking vows today would not be so difficult, given the...um...compatibility we discovered with each other.”
He laughed. “You’re blushing!”
“Michael, he terrifies me.”
Michael shook his head. “No, he doesn’t. You’re mixing him up with the only experience you’ve ever had. The only man who hurt you—oh, wait. Da is a bit of a chauvinist, as well.”
She sighed. “You see my point. I love my freedom.”
Concern filled his eyes. “If New York law is as skewered as it seems on this issue, I don’t think you can afford that luxury any longer. You need to be marrying Evan. Today.”
“What if I am right? What if he really is doing all this for headline news?”
“What if Evan is telling the truth and he can muscle Campbell into a corner?”
For the first time in days, she felt a fire rise in her heart. Buzz Campbell—out of her life forever? She was so busy believing he could not be beaten that she hadn’t considered the what if of Evan’s professional prowess.
Wonder filled her voice. “Do you really believe we can get him convicted?”
A chuckle rose in his throat. “The Evan McKenna I had lunch with can certainly rattle that cretin’s cage.” Michael grabbed both her hands. “If you think Evan has been manipulating you, then turn the tables. Use him to save your son from an evil man.”
She sighed. “Evan says he loves me.”
Michael punctuated his point with a finger in the air. “Good, then give him the chance to prove it.” He put an arm around her shoulder. “Besides, after all is said and done, if you’re unhappy I will personally annul your marriage. Do you think you can find the courage to save