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love her.
What on earth had happened in this house to bring it to the brink of such destruction?
She looked at Cole, hoping for some kind of explanation, but he simply stood near the wall, his
posture stiff and unyielding. Every line of his body shouted aversion to the whole thing. She
would have thought him cold and unfeeling if not for the torment in his eyes. His gaze begged
her, Please don t judge me so quickly.
So many emotions bubbled up inside Tara that for a moment she had trouble maintaining
her composure. It included a pain that had never left her heart, a secret she hadn t felt the need to
share with Cole. This was a disaster, and sooner or later, she had to get to the bottom of this. But
not right now, when there were more urgent matters.
Suddenly, Molly hiccupped, stopped crying and reached her tiny arms out to Tara. And
Tara s world turned upside down. Gone in an instant were her fears and misgivings at sharing a
house with Cole and her dismay at what faced her. With one gesture, Molly Cassidy had become
the focus of Tara s world, and an unusual feeling of calm settled over her.
She was getting something she d never thought to have, and that alone would help her do
this. She could make it work. All she needed was to get past the emotional landmines she knew
awaited her. She stepped over to the chair.
May I? Without waiting for an answer, she dropped her purse on the counter and lifted
the baby from the housekeeper s arms. As she nestled her cheek against the soft skin of the baby s
face, she felt a painful hitch in her heart. Tears pricked the inside of her eyelids, threatening to
run down her cheeks and she blinked hard to contain them.
She needs cleaning up, Mrs. Randall said nervously.
No kidding!
That s all right. Tara smiled. Why don t I take her upstairs and change her?
The housekeeper looked at Cole for answers.
He just nodded, looking like a caged eagle desperate to take flight. The message was clear
to Tara do whatever needs to be done, but leave him out of it. If she d had her car with her,
she d have told him to go on back to the office at once. She had never seen him this uptight.
I ll take care of her. She spoke in a quiet tone to the housekeeper. She turned to Cole.
Which way is upstairs?
This way. He led her out of the kitchen, into the hall then to the sweeping arc of the
stairway.
Tara stopped at the bottom step. We have a lot to discuss, but I ll give you my answer
now. Yes. I ll agree to this bizarre marriage arrangement. The sooner the better.
Cole visibly sagged with relief. Tara, I promise you I ll make sure you won t regret this. A
bargain is a bargain, and I ll keep my end.
Don t make promises you might not be able to keep, she said tautly. Meanwhile, we
have some immediate problems to resolve. Get rid of that dreadful woman. Pay her and send her
on her way. This seems to be way beyond her capability, and I don t particularly care for her
attitude toward Molly.
Tara, I
It s all right. And call Jake. Ask him to look in my Rolodex for the number for the
cleaning service we use for new construction. She stopped, suddenly worried. I m not presuming
too much, am I? Overstepping my bounds?
You re kidding, right? This is more than I hoped for. But what about&
She shook her head. When I come back down.
Cole tried once again to say something, but Tara hurried up the stairs with Molly in her
arms. The upper floor had the same depressing air of neglect as the kitchen and a musty odor
hung over everything.
What s wrong here? I can t understand why Cole would tolerate this kind of existence.
She located the nursery at the end of the hall. Not wanting to take the time for a tub
bath, she stripped off the little girl s clothes, carried her into the adjoining bathroom and ran a
sink of warm water. While she bathed Molly gently with a washcloth, she talked to her and sang
songs she dredged up from her childhood.
I have to be the dumbest person in the world to agree to this. But it s criminal what s
happening with this adorable little girl. How could Cole ignore his child this way? He acts as if she s
contagious. I would have expected a lot more from him.
But it was what it was, and without hesitation, she decided her next move.
Her mind raced, and her stomach did flip-flops at the thought of the very unTara-like
thing she was about to do. She worried that this really was pushing it, but the minute she d seen
Molly, everything else ceased to exist. This a child to love who obviously needed her was the
only thing that mattered right now. And she would do whatever she had to where Molly s
welfare was concerned. Even if it meant suppressing those flames of desire that consumed her
whenever she was in Cole s presence.
She opened a drawer and pulled out the first onesie she came to, thinking inventory later.
In a few minutes, she carried a clean and freshly dressed Molly downstairs and went to find Cole.
He stood in the kitchen, leaning against the wall, arms crossed, face set in granite.
She s gone. He paused, his voice and posture indicating his discomfort. Tara, I know
what you must be thinking&
One of these days you ll have to tell me what s going on here, but right now this child
needs attention.
Shall I call the agency to send someone else? he asked, his voice hesitant.
Tara sat down with Molly in her lap, cuddling the infant against her. No, I think not. You
said I could make decisions, so I m taking you at your word. Anything. His relief was evident.
Whatever you want, as long as you don t change your mind.
Okay, she thought, here goes. I think I should move into the house right away. She held
her breath, waiting for him to say something, but he was silent. Does that shock you? The
situation with Molly is the most important thing right now. You said to do what s best for her.
And we re going to be married quickly, right?
Breath whooshed out of him in the biggest sigh of relief Tara had ever heard. A smile, the
first his mouth had formed in ages, tugged at his lips. You really are full of surprises, aren t you? I
was hoping that was what you d do. Tackle it the way you do every project in the office.
For a moment, his reminder of the business-like nature of the situation chilled her, but
she quickly brushed away the feeling. I don t suppose that will cause any more gossip among
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