A Valentine for Harlequin's Anniversary by Catherine Mann Page B

of the baby’s life.”

    He’d spent half his childhood without his father. Damned if he could give up so much as a day with his kid. “How can you even ask that? You know I—”
    “Apparently I didn’t know you very well at all, flyboy.” She backed away. “Take the papers, please.”
    He bypassed her freaking papers to step nearer until he could smell the sweet scent of her shower still clinging to her. He angled closer, a whisker away from brushing her mouth with his. All the while careful to keep his hand off her stomach because only an idiot wouldn’t realize she probably thought he was just romancing her because of the kid.
    His kid.
    Vince’s gut went tight as he remembered standing at his father’s funeral holding that folded flag while his mother cried. He swallowed hard, shut his eyes and reached for the oblivion he knew he could find in McKenzie’s kiss…

Chapter Four
    McKenzie closed her empty Big Mac box, wondering how she’d managed to hold strong and duck Vince’s kiss back at her condo.
    There wasn’t a super-size big enough to satisfy the hunger leaving her dizzy even an hour after she’d come a hair’s breath away from lip locking with the man who’d shattered her heart five months ago. A man who now wanted her out of duty. A big part of why she hadn’t told him about the creepy calls and letters.
    Because then he would stick to her side like glue, even though she’d already notified the police and installed a security system.
    Sure, it appeared Vince had planned to see her. But how could she trust him for more, long-term duty after the way he’d dumped her cold with no real explanation?
    Duty. The baby. And why oh why had she chosen McDonald’s with children everywhere? Each rug-rat squealing down the slide reminded her of families and all she couldn’t have with Vince and this child she carried.
    She couldn’t avoid talking any longer. Vince had actually been far more patient than she’d expected. But then he had always been steady, focused, full-speed ahead while she struggled to find level footing in relationships. Vince’s surety soothed her after her marriage that had united two equally absentminded professor types.
    Except Vince had then dumped her in a shocker moment. And that still pissed her off, no matter what his reasons for coming back now.
    “I want you to be a part of our child’s life.” She was careful to say our as she flipped to the next page in her folder splayed open on the booth table. “Your name will be listed on the birth certificate. I’m even okay with him or her having your last name if you wish. I would like to pick the first name though, and you could choose the middle name.”
    Hard, handsome angles of his face tensed ever so slightly. “Are you finished?”
    She closed the file and flattened her hands on the table to keep them from reaching to smooth the persistent cowlick in his jet-black hair. “I’m sure there will be plenty more to discuss, such as visitation schedules, but I won’t cut you out of Junior’s life.”
    “What about your life? Will I be ‘scheduled’ to see you too?”
    “You already decided that five months ago, flyboy.” Oops. Way to go showing her bruised heart.
    “I’d like another chance.” He leaned forward on his elbows, muscles straining the sleeves of his chambray shirt. “Not just because of the baby.”
    Snort. Right. Hadn’t he noticed the PhD after her name? “Vince, I’m sorry but—”
    “Listen, please. If not for us, then yeah, for the kid. I only want a chance to convince you. I have a week’s leave coming to me, so let’s spend the time together. Valentine’s Day’s around the corner and maybe you’re made of heartier stuff than me, but I think it would blow monkey chunks to spend it alone, especially when I’ve got this first-sized lump in my chest just thinking about how I messed things up for us.”
    Stop being sweet! “A week, huh?”
    “A week of dates—and talk.” His head