Seducing the Innkeeper (At First Sight Book 3) Read Online Free Page B

meal.
    While she ate her thoughts turned to her problems. How was she going to tell Davy why his father had been shut out of her life? He would want to know. How could she tell him she’d fallen in love with Mark and had feared his reaction to the news? She had imagined Mark denying he was the father or offering money if she would go away.
    Davy wouldn’t understand. Especially when Mark was here and determined to claim his son. She’d made the same decision about him just as she had with her half-sisters. Admitting her mistake was difficult.
    As they began dessert Davy returned to his chatty self. She laughed at his stories. He scooped the last bite of apple dumpling with cinnamon ice cream. “Can I leave the tip?”
    “Don’t you always.” She handed him several bills. After he tucked them under his plate they rose. “Don’t give Mrs. Lowry a hard time. Homework. A half-hour of TV, then bath and bed.”
    He nodded. “Can I stay up late tomorrow?”
    “What day is it?”
    “TGIF.” He gave her a high five and darted past guests arriving for dinner. Moments later Christa caught him in the foyer. She ruffled his hair. He and the older woman who doubled as desk clerk and sitter waved and left.
    The door closed. Stella left her station. She leaned against the counter. “We looked him up on the internet.”
    “Who?”
    “Mark Blakefield.”
    “Why? He’s none of your business.”
    Stella laughed. “Since he’s Davy’s daddy we thought you should know about him.”
    Peggy sauntered over. “His family owns a group of magazines.”
    “I know that.”
    Peggy smiled. “He’s not married or engaged. He likes hot women. He’s rich and available. You can hit him for a bundle. I’m sure he doesn’t want to be tied down by a kid.”
    Christa glared. “What he has or wants has nothing to do with you.”
    Peggy glanced at the cash register. “You are so dumb. I would hit him for child support in a heartbeat.”
    “Ten years will add up to a large sum,” Stella said.
    Christa stepped away from the counter. “To work.” Once they returned to their stations she entered the office but left the door open.
    After booting the computer she opened the booking calendar. The inn was solid for December and January. Even the cottages were full. She found a list of confirmed reservations she had neglected earlier and entered them. After checking emails she listened to phone messages. While she and Davy were in town she’d missed a call from a realtor interested in listing the property. She made a note to call the woman in the morning.
    For a brief time she considered asking Mark for child support. The money could be used to rid herself of Stella and Peggy. She shook her head. Wouldn’t work. They would always want more. Davy was her joy and responsibility. He had been from the moment she’d held him in her arms.
    She rose and walked to the door. Seven o’clock. Her heart stuttered. Mark stood at the entrance to the dining room. Stella put her hand on his arm and leaned toward him. Christa resisted the urge to storm from the office and claim him.
    She clenched her hands. Her half-sisters weren’t his type. Neither was she. Hadn’t Stella said he liked hot women?
    Christa returned to the desk and made a list for her weekend relief. She checked receipts from breakfast and lunch against credit card slips and cash. This done she locked them in the safe.
    At ten she removed the cash and receipts from the dining room register. Peggy glared. Christa ignored muttered comments. After locking the money in the safe she locked the office door.
    Christa stepped onto the porch. A hand grasped her arm. She gasped.
    “Don’t panic.”
    “Mark.”
    “We have a problem to solve. I’ve seen him. He is my son.” As he spoke he drew her down the steps. “I want to know what happened ten years ago to make you run away. I want to know why you never told me you were pregnant.”
    She met his gaze. In the light from the inn and the