Nathan's Child by Anne McAllister Page A

I’m going to get this done.”
    â€œYou’re trying too hard. You need to relax. Come out to dinner with me.”
    â€œI can’t. I’ve got to work. But every time I try I start to think. And then I stop working. I don’t know what to do!”
    â€œKiss me.”
    â€œWhat?” She stared at him as if he’d lost his mind.
    â€œKiss me,” Hugh said. “Now.” He set the beer on the counter, took two steps across the room and hauled her into his arms.
    Carin was so amazed she let him. She wrapped her arms around him to keep her balance, and was the recipient of a deep hungry kiss.
    â€œHard at work, I see,” a voice drawled from the front porch. “Don’t let me interrupt.”
    Carin froze at the sound. But Hugh took his time finishing the kiss before he drew back and looked over Carin’s shoulder at Nathan.
    â€œNot a problem. We can continue later,” he said smugly. “Looking for Lacey?”
    â€œAs a matter of fact, I’m not. I’m looking for her mother. I came to see if you—” he looked pointedly at Carin and not at Hugh “—wanted to join us for dinner, seeing as how you’ve been working so hard all day.” Scorn positively dripped. “Figured I’d give you a ride over. Lacey thought it might save you a little time if you didn’t have to cook. Give you more time to paint.” His gaze narrowed and his tone became even more scathing. “But I see you’ve got other, more important things to do.”
    Carin flushed guiltily and was annoyed that she was reacting at all. It wasn’t his business what she was doing! Or with whom.
    â€œHugh stopped by after work and I took a few minutes’ break,” she began.
    â€œYou don’t owe me any explanations.”
    â€œYou’re damned right I don’t!”
    â€œSo don’t waste your breath. Are you coming with me for dinner or are you going to be too busy going to bed with lover boy?”
    â€œNow there’s a thought.” Hugh grinned.
    Carin glared at him, then at Nathan. “I’m going to paint, damn it. So you can both just get out of here now.”
    Hugh sighed. “Ah, well, I can wait,” he said easily, then bent his head and dropped a light kiss on her lips. He winked as he sauntered out the door past Nathan and down the steps. “See you later, sweetheart.”
    Nathan didn’t budge. “So, sweetheart, are you coming or not?”
    â€œNot,” Carin said. “I need to work.”
    Nathan regarded her through narrowed eyes. “You’d better work,” he said. “You’d better be painting your sweet little heart out.”
    As Carin watched, he turned on his heel and stomped down the steps. At the bottom of the steps he turned and looked back up at her. “I’ll have Lacey home at nine. So whatever you and lover boy get up to in the meantime, you be sure to be painting by then. Fair warning.”
    As he drove away, Carin stuck her tongue out at him.
    Â 
    Dominic called to see how it was going.
    â€œIt’s not,” Nathan said testily.
    Rhys called to offer advice.
    â€œIt’s not the same as with you and Mariah,” Nathan said with all the patience he could muster. “Mariah told you when she was pregnant. She wanted you to be part of Lizzie and Stephen’s life.”
    Obviously, his brothers talked to their father. Next thing Nathan knew the old man was on the phone.
    â€œWhat do you want?” Nathan growled.
    â€œNothing,” Douglas said airily. “Just called to shoot the breeze.”
    â€œUh-huh.” And pigs could fly. “And you’re not going to ask about my love life?”
    â€œDon’t have to, do I?” Douglas said. “I think it’s pretty clear from your tone that you don’t have one.”
    Nathan ground his teeth.
    â€œSure you don’t want me to come down and lend a