Deal of a Lifetime Read Online Free Page B

good. Then her internship had ended. Unwilling to let her go, he’d thought talking about marriage and O’Neal Corp. together would ease her fears. She’d disappeared anyway. If any hope remained for them, they had to deal with the real issues—his stubbornly determined, possessive, objectifying drive to get what he wanted and keep it at all costs, plus Tam’s distrust of personal commitments. They needed to build trust. He wished he was certain how to do that in five days.
    ****
    After a short, pithy conversation with the conference manager, Tam had a new, accurate folder followed by a very successful day of workshops, networking, and no sign of Con. She was relieved, she really was. Back in her bedroom, she hurried to put the finishing touches to her hair and fasten her earrings. She needed to call Susannah. Whenever business took Tam away, her heart ached at the separation. She always wondered if her own father had ever missed his daughter on his too frequent business trips, or had his only heartache been the heart attack that killed him while he was gone. Tam had never gotten to say goodbye or even remind him that she loved him. That would not happen to Susannah. Tam would move heaven and earth to communicate with her daughter every day they were apart. No way would Susannah grow up thinking that she took second place to a business. No way would Connor O’Neal’s single-minded drive have the chance to hurt Susannah, as Tam’s own father had hurt her and her mother.
    Tam dialed the number. Her conscience twinged. Connor is a good man. He deserves to know he has a daughter. Susannah deserves to have a daddy. She’s old enough. Both Con and I have made mistakes. Neither of us is more at fault than the other. Keeping Susa from Con shows a complete lack of faith in him. He’s obsessive and territorial but not dangerous. Those very traits helped him survive and thrive despite a poverty-stricken childhood, which argues that he would be an excellent father. Absolutely no proof exists that Con is like my dad and would neglect either Susa or me? Neither is there proof to the contrary. Mom suffered neglect and crushed dreams waiting for a man who was too busy making the next deal to love his family. Knowing how painful that was I can’t risk loving Con, not for myself, and not for my daughter.
    “Donal residence.” Sarah Carter Johnson chimed the formal greeting and drew Tam from her thoughts.
    “Hi, Aunt Sarah.”
    “Tam, it’s so good to hear you. How was your drive to Montana? We expected you to call last night. Are you okay?”
    Tam soaked up her aunt’s concerned outpourings. “Yes, I’m fine. The drive was long but uneventful.”
    “Good.” Having lost the rest of her family, Sarah worried in torrents whenever Tam was on the road.
    For her aunt’s sake, Tam tried to relax her voice and pretend nothing stressful had occurred. “I’ve only got a few minutes.”
    “Then I’ll put Susannah on. She’s waiting right here.”
    “Hi, Mommy.”
    Instantly Tam felt bright and lighthearted. “Hello, oh best of fairy girls, did you have a good time at school today?”
    “Chuckie let out our hamster, Bobo, and Miss Bebbins sent him to the office.”
    “Bobo or Chuckie?” Tam asked, knowing the answer.
    Her daughter’s laugh came over the phone. “That’s silly, Mommy. Chuckie went to the office. Bobo is lost.”
    Tam’s heart squeezed. She knew she had to work to support her family, but she hated being away from Susa.
    “I’m sure the hamster will turn up.”
    “Nancy said her daddy would give our class another one. He owns a pet store.”
    “That’s very nice of Nancy’s daddy.”
    “Mommy, is my daddy lost?”
    What could she say? Your daddy doesn’t know you exist because I never told him. I didn’t think he’d want us . Unless Tam confessed to Con soon, he might as well be lost. “I guess you could say he’s lost.”
    “Are you gonna find me another daddy?”
    “Do you want a