Her Bad Boy Billionaire Lover (Billionai - By Bretton, Barbara Page 0,53
at the pretty women and counting up his profits, while Megan and Jenny went on with their lives as if he'd never existed.
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Jake stared at the swarm of kids tearing around the center court of the mall. He'd never seen so many children in one place in his life. Hundreds of them, all different ages and colors and personalities, with just one goal in mind: to drive their parents crazy.
Jennifer and her friend Stace had seemed like relatively normal children to him up until the moment they saw the hordes of small marauders tearing from the carousel to the puppet theatre to the child-sized railroad that wound its way around the perimeter of the center court.
"Can we sit in the front row, Mommy?" Jennifer's eyes were wide.
"Only if you promise to behave yourselves and not stand up on your chairs."
"We promise," the two children said in unison.
"You believe them?" Jake asked as the girls took their seats right in front of the puppet theatre.
Megan shrugged her lovely shoulders. "Hope springs eternal," she said. "Ask any mother."
He watched her as she watched their daughter. It occurred to him that the girl he'd loved and lost had been replaced by a woman he would never get to know. He'd shared her body but would probably never be lucky enough to share her soul and that struck him as a bloody shame.
The puppet show began on schedule and, to Jake's amazement, the kids quieted down enough for the performers to be heard.
"They'll be busy for a while," he said to Megan. "Why don't we get some coffee."
Megan shook her head. "I don't want to leave them alone."
"We won't leave the mall."
"They're my responsibility," she said, her voice soft. "I have to stay."
It was a dangerous world and children were the most vulnerable of them all. The fact that their daughter was a healthy and happy six-year-old was a testament to Megan's devotion and care--and another example of all the things he'd never understand about raising a child.
They sat together on a bench not too far from the puppet theatre.
"Sometimes I look at Jenny and I wonder how on earth I ever believed I could bring up a child. She's so little, so trusting--" Her voice caught and he put his arm around her shoulders. She didn't move away.
"You're doing a great job with her, Meggie. She's bright and opinionated and--"
She met his eyes. "Stubborn as hell?"
He grinned. "I was saving that for last."
"She's our daughter, Jake. There's no doubt about that."
"Poor kid," said Jake with a laugh.
"Yeah," said Megan softly. "Poor kid."
"She doesn't like me much."
"She doesn't really know you."
"Why don't I think that would help."
"Maybe she senses how uncomfortable you are around her. Kids are amazingly intuitive."
"It's more than that. When she looks at me I feel like she knows every lousy thing I've done in my life."
Megan chuckled. "She's a brilliant child but you're giving her way too much credit."
"She sees something, Meggie. She knows I don't have what it takes."
"Maybe she sees what you want her to see."
He had no answer for that. He doubted if there was one.
They sat together, his arm around her shoulders, her hand in his, watching the puppet show and enjoying Jenny's reaction to it. Her face was exceptionally mobile, her expressions perfectly mirroring the action on stage. She was bright, enthusiastic, self-confident as hell. He wasn't sure if he was seeing Megan as a child or the kid he would have been if life had dealt him a different hand.
The puppet show concluded after an endless finale of knock-knock jokes and sing-alongs. The minute the curtain went down, the children exploded into frenzied activity, racing for the bathroom, the mini-train, and the carousel.
"Can we have a ride, Mommy?" Jennifer begged. "Please, please, I promise I'll go to sleep on time tonight."
"Please, Aunt Meg," Stace urged. "Just one ride."
"Go ahead, Aunt Meg," Jake said. "I'll pay for it."
Megan looked at the two little girls then shrugged. "I know when I'm outnumbered."
They bought tickets from a perky little blond in a candy-striped shorts outfit then waited on line.
"Aunt Meg, help me!" Stace ran for a painted pony the second their turn came. "I can't climb up."
Megan hesitated.
"Go ahead," Jake said, sounding more confident than he felt. "I'll help Jennifer."
Jennifer looked up at him and scowled. "I don't want you," she said, standing in front of a palomino with pink flowers painted around his neck. "I want my mommy to help me."