A Dad At Last by Marie Ferrarella

fashion.”
    He wanted to say something to negate her statement. To let her know—again—why he’d chosen to do what he had. And why he couldn’t let himself love her. The crucial word here was couldn’t. Because he could love her. So very easily. He could let down the barriers he’d erected around his heart and let himself love her. There was so much within her to love. The sweetness, the innocent purity that reminded him the world wasn’t all dark and forbidding. Wasn’t all shrouded in secrets for its own gain. Lacy had never wanted anything from him but his heart.
    But it was for her that he refused to let it happen. For her sake he kept himself in check. She needed someone vital, someone who could keep up with her. Someone she wouldn’t have to take care of someday while she was still young.
    â€œMy point exactly,” he finally said. “I don’t want you tainted. But I’m still willing to go through with it, Lacy.”
    Go through with it. He made it sound like he wasfacing a firing squad. Didn’t he see why she couldn’t accept? Why, even when it would grant her exactly what she wanted, to be Mrs. Connor O’Hara, she couldn’t “go through with it”?
    â€œFor the sake of my reputation,” she said quietly.
    He had the eeriest feeling that he was a man facing the calm before the storm. “For the sake of your reputation.”
    It took effort to bank down the sudden flare of anger she felt. Picking up the rag, she began cleaning again. Furiously. “Don’t trouble yourself. I can take care of my reputation just fine, thank you.”
    Maybe what was stopping Lacy from agreeing was that she thought he’d stand in her way, expect things from her. “You could still come and go as you please, if that’s what’s worrying you. As long as you’re discreet, there’s no reason—”
    She doubted if she’d ever been so insulted in her life. Did he think she’d been some kind of mindless floozy the night she made love with him? That she could just carelessly go from man to man while the son she’d borne slept peacefully at home with the man she’d created him with?
    â€œI think you should stop right there,” she warned him through lips that barely moved. “I wouldn’t go on if I were you. Not while I’ve got sharp tools within my reach.”
    Why was she getting so incensed? “I’m only thinking of you.”
    But not in the right way, she thought. She kept her back to him. “Do us both a favor and start thinking of yourself for a while. Like I said, I can take care of myself.”
    He was beginning to believe that she could. Connor regarded her in silence for a long moment. “Just when did you develop this independent streak?”
    She raised her eyes to his. “It was there all along. You just didn’t notice.”
    â€œI guess not.” Uncomfortable, he let the matter go and looked around. It was a big room. Lacy couldn’t be left to tackle it all by herself. “Anything you want me to do?”
    Yes, damn you, love me so I don’t feel like such a fool loving you.
    She shrugged indifferently. “Can’t think of a thing. Why don’t you go to your room and get properly dressed? I’ll have breakfast ready when you come back out.”
    He looked at what he was wearing. “What makes you think I’m not properly dressed?”
    â€œYou’re wearing the same thing you were wearing yesterday. I don’t ever remember you doing that,” she said offhandedly.
    Connor shrugged. “Maybe a shower’ll make me feel more human, at that.”
    â€œMake it a quick one,” she warned. “The hot water runs out after about three minutes. I learned the hard way. My whole body turned into one largegoose bump because I couldn’t rinse off fast enough.”
    â€œThanks for the warning.” He tried