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Baby By Chance
M.J. Rodgers
Susan Carter needs to find a man.Not just any man, but the stranger who fathered her unborn child. In desperation, she turns to David Knight, one of the detectives working for White Knight Investigations. She's sure she'll look bad to David–she doesn't even know the last name of the man she's searching for–but she has no choice. It's the only way to find out about her child's father.David Knight doesn't expect to like every client he has. What surprises him is how much he likes Susan, especially since he knows she's keeping things from him. If she wasn't, wouldn't she tell him about the man who gave her the ring she wears on her left hand?
“I was just thinking about a woman who came by the office.”
David’s father smiled at him and said, “What did she want?”
David wondered whether he should say. Maybe a discussion was what he needed to put everything in order.
“She wanted me to find some guy she had a one-night stand with. Seems she’s carrying his kid.”
“Not exactly an everyday request,” Charles said, “but I don’t see the problem.”
“She made me drag every detail out of her like I was a prosecuting attorney. Even when I explained that she had to be totally honest, she held back crucial information.”
“What was that?”
“She was wearing a wedding band, yet she said nothing about being married. And I gave her plenty of opportunity to spit it out.”
Charles shrugged. “So she was embarrassed or ashamed or both. I’m not saying that dealing with a cheating spouse is pleasant, just part of the job. And there’s nothing that says we have to like a client.”
“But this one didn’t look like someone who should be lying.”
Charles let out a long sigh of understanding. “Ah, so that’s the problem. You do like her.”
Dear Reader,
I love to read about heroines and heroes.
In this world of cranky kids and kitty litter, unbalanced checkbooks and bad-tempered bosses, sagging skin and stretch marks, it’s great to be able to open a Harlequin Superromance novel and find a gal who handles life’s petty concerns with such panache that she inspires you to think your best thoughts, do your noblest deeds and be your finest self.
That’s what I call a heroine.
The guys who win the hearts of these gals have to be special—and they are. Tough, tender and downright tempting, they can melt the polish right off your toenails. I’d like to introduce you to four such men. The Knight brothers are a talented team of investigators whose modern-day armor consists of quick minds, steel bodies and strong integrity. Their motto is When You Need Help, Call On A White Knight. These men are ready to put themselves on the line for what’s right and for the women they love.
That’s what I call a hero.
David Knight’s story is the first in the WHITE KNIGHT INVESTIGATIONS series. David has earned his share of battle scars and is convinced he’s prepared for anything—until he meets Susan, the lovely nature photographer who desperately needs his help in finding the father of her unborn child.
I hope you enjoy David and Susan’s tale. And may love always find the heroine in your heart.
Warmest wishes,
M.J. Rodgers
Baby by Chance
M.J. Rodgers
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
Baby by Chance
CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER ONE
SUSAN HAD A HARD TIME believing it had come to this. If someone had told her a week ago that she would be seriously considering hiring a private investigator, she would have laughed.
People came to her for help. She was the sensible, self-reliant one who always handled whatever problem came her way. At least, she had been.
She drove past the White Knight Investigations’ offices every day on her way to work. When You Need Help, Call On A White Knight, the sign said. The promise implicit in that motto never failed to conjure up the romantic image of a tall, stalwart warrior in silver armor charging on his sturdy steed to help some hapless heroine.
A nice fantasy. But the key word here was fantasy.
Even if the King Arthur legends could be believed and men with high ideals had rescued damsels in distress in the sixth century, she knew perfectly well that damsels unlucky or foolish enough to get themselves into distressful situations in the twenty-first century had better be ready to rescue themselves.
Yet knowing all that didn’t stop her from slowing as she approached the White Knight offices this morning. She wanted to believe, because she was in a mess. And she gladly would have traded all the idealistic heroes in history on white horses for the help of one fat, balding modern-day cynic driving a VW Bug—as long as he was a competent and intelligent investigator.
Their number was on the sign. Maybe she’d call for an appointment. Then again, maybe not. She’d gotten herself into a situation that was as embarrassing as hell for herself to accept, much less explain to someone else.
An unexpected light in the office window had Susan turning the steering wheel of her SUV. The offices were always dark at this hour. That light beamed down on her like a special invitation, a message that someone waited for her up there, someone who would listen and would be willing to help.
She maneuvered her vehicle into the parking lot and switched off the engine. She sat behind the wheel for a moment as the drizzle smeared her windshield, uncomfortably aware that levelheaded women didn’t lead their lives by attributing the guiding hand of fate to an unexpected office light. Still, as long as she was here, it probably wouldn’t hurt to go up.
The front door to the office-building complex was open, a bakery shop on the first floor already filling the foyer with the warm aromas of yeast and rising dough. Normally such smells would have been welcome. But today she couldn’t get away from them quickly enough. She dashed for the elevator and punched the button for the top floor where the White Knight offices were located.
The elevator made its journey with an efficient swoosh of gears. When the doors opened, she stepped out on a lovely curved landing. A floor-to-ceiling picture window overlooked the small city of Silver Valley, jewel-like in the early morning light.
As tempted as she was to linger over the dazzling scene, she knew that if she didn’t continue with this sudden impulse, her common sense was going to kick in and have her retreating back to her vehicle.
The light she had seen from the street was spilling out from the reception area of the White Knight offices. Her footsteps made no sound on the thick carpet as she made her way toward it.
She halted in the shadows just outside the open door and peered inside. Her eyes swept over the oak desk, the thick gold carpet, the tasteful assortment of art hanging on the pastel walls, the impressive expanse of windows.
But it was the man facing those windows who claimed her real attention.
He was at least six-three, with shoulders and arms like a logger’s. His full bark-brown hair was cleanly cut at the nape of his neck. A dark green sweater stretched over his muscled back. Tailored black slacks hugged his long legs. One of his huge hands hung casually by his side. The other was holding something in front of him that she couldn’t see.
The solid strength of his body and the calm, innate confidence in his stance put Susan immediately in mind of the sturdy cedar that had stood outside her bedroom window when she was a child. That cedar had borne the weight of her treehouse, weathered the worst of winter’s storms and soaked up the tears shed by her young self.
Her heart filled with sudden hope. Maybe, just maybe, the impulse that had brought her here wouldn’t prove to be so crazy, after all.
DAVID SAVORED HIS COFFEE as he watched the traffic beneath his window. Mornings were always his favorite part of the day; he enjoyed watching the world wake up and get busy, especially in this part of the world.
Western Washington wouldn’t push open its coffin lid of clouds to let in any real sun until summer. He didn’t mind enduring the months of overcast skies ahead. The rain was a familiar companion, and he had learned that there was comfort in the familiar. A man could handle anything when he knew what to expect.
A long, difficult case now hinged on an interview he would conduct with his client’s runaway daughter in a few hours. Getting the girl’s trust was key. He was counting on what he had to show her to help him. But his approach also had to be right. He had come in early so as to plan what he would say to her.
He checked his watch. Barely eight. He had another full hour before the office officially opened and anyone else arrived. Plenty of time to—
“Excuse me.”
David spun around so sharply at the sound of the unexpected voice behind him that coffee splashed out of his cup. He found himself suddenly face-to-face with large, luminous eyes the color of summer clover.
She stood in the doorway, a slim silhouette in a dark business suit with matching, low-heeled pumps. Across her forehead was a curve of shiny, golden-brown bangs. The rest of her hair fell in one long, thick braid to the gentle swell of her right breast. Her cosmetic-free face reflected the pink, creamy glow of youth. She didn’t look a day over twenty-one.
“I’m sorry I startled you,” she said.
Her surprisingly deep and resonant voice vibrated through David like the melody of a forgotten song.
She took a tentative step into the room. “If you have some paper towels, I can try to soak up that stain on the carpet.”
“No,” he said in a tone that was far too abrupt and gruff and had nothing whatsoever to do with her offer to help and everything to do with the unwelcome surprise of her. His thoughts must have shown on his face, because her open, expectant expression quickly faded.
“I’ve obviously come at a bad time,” she said, and turned to leave.
“No,” he heard himself barking again in that same uncivil tone. He took a deep breath. This was foolish. He was a professional. She was a client.
“Come in,” he said, carefully modulating both his manner and tone. “The clerk will see to the carpet when he arrives. I’m David Knight.”
He set his coffee cup on the desk and walked over to extend his hand. He was determined that this woman would see him as he really was—a cool, cordial investigator, in control of himself.
She did not immediately take his hand but instead studied his face. There was a question in her eyes. But whatever she wanted to know, she seemed hesitant to ask. When she finally stepped forward and slipped her hand into his, he was taken aback by the warmth and strength of her clasp.
“I’m Susan Carter.”
Her name didn’t ring a bell. Not that all of the firm’s clients were known to him. But he was surprised that no one had mentioned her over the dinner table the night before. His brothers seldom passed up an opportunity to talk about an attractive woman.
Could she be a special client taken on by his mom or dad?
“Is something wrong, Mr. Knight?”
David realized that while silently asking himself these questions, he’d been unconsciously gripping her hand. He released his hold and retraced his steps to the desk, where he grabbed the telephone.
Didn’t matter whose client she was. What mattered was that he arrange for her to be taken care of so he could get on with what he had to do.
“Who’s handling your case, Ms. Carter? I’ll call and let them know you’re here.”
“There’s no one to call. This is my first visit.”
He dropped the telephone receiver onto the base. So, she had walked in off the street. Did she really think that private investigators had nothing to do but sit in their offices waiting for prospective clients?
“We’re not officially open for business until nine,” he said, maintaining an amicable tone.
“Could someone see me then?”
She’d missed the important point of his message. He tried again. “The clerk will be available to check the schedule when he arrives. But I doubt there’ll be an opening this week.”
Her disappointed response came out in a rush. “Of course. You’re as busy as everyone else. I saw your light while I was driving by and thought—”
Her deep voice ceased abruptly. She had no intention of sharing what she’d thought. He had the sudden conviction that she rarely did. She swallowed hard, squeezing the strap of her shoulder bag in what appeared to be an involuntary movement. “Stupid mistake on my part.”
Her self-effacing tone told him she did not like making mistakes. The firm set to her mouth also said that she was harder on herself than anyone else could be.
“Please, forgive the interruption.” She looked him straight in the eye when she said those words. Hers was a sincere apology, not a polite one.
He saw then what he had missed earlier. There were dark circles beneath her eyes. She was in trouble. She had clearly acted on impulse coming here. If he insisted she make an appointment, she’d probably talk herself out of keeping it. She was turning to go.
“I have a few moments, if you want to tell me how we can help,” David heard someone say in a familiar voice that he tardily recognized as his own.
She halted in mid-stride and turned back. “You’ll see me now?” Her question sounded full of surprise and hope.
In answer, he started toward the door adjacent to the reception room, wondering all the while what the hell he was doing.
“My office is through here. What do you take in your coffee, Ms. Carter?”
SUSAN CRADLED THE WARM cup in her cold hands. She could smell the freshly ground beans, the rich cream, the sweetness of the sugar.
