Accidental Family (The Baby Bet: MacAllisters Gifts #14) Read online

  “What a pair we are. Special things are worth waiting for, or however that saying goes.” David laughed.

  “You might regain your memory before we’re able to—” Patty started.

  “Shh. We’re living in the moment, remember? And in this moment at hand I’m going to kiss you again before Sarah Ann and Tucker wake up from their naps.”

  “Good idea.”

  The kiss ignited all the heat and passion of the one before, but now there was more. There was a sense of anticipation of what was yet to come intertwined with the desire.

  There was a depth of understanding, of rightness, of knowing they would cherish this gift they had given themselves, and the memories of all they would share. They were in a place where neither of them had been before.

  And it was good.

  Dear Reader,

  Well, June may be the traditional month for weddings, but we here at Silhouette find June is busting out all over—with babies! We begin with Christine Rimmer’s Fifty Ways To Say I’m Pregnant. When bound-for-the-big-city Starr Bravo shares a night of passion with the rancher she’s always loved, she finds herself in the family way. But how to tell him? Fifty Ways is a continuation of Christine’s Bravo Family saga, so look for the BRAVO FAMILY TIES flash. And for those of you who remember Christine’s JONES GANG series, you’ll be delighted with the cameo appearance of an old friend….

  Next, Joan Elliott Pickart continues her miniseries THE BABY BET: MACALLISTER’S GIFTS with Accidental Family, the story of a day-care center worker and a single dad with amnesia who find themselves falling for each other as she cares for their children together. And there’s another CAVANAUGH JUSTICE offering in Special Edition from Marie Ferrarella: in Cavanaugh’s Woman, an actress researching a film role needs a top cop—and Shaw Cavanaugh fits the bill nicely. Hot August Nights by Christine Flynn continues THE KENDRICKS OF CAMELOT miniseries, in which the reserved, poised Kendrick daughter finds her one-night stand with the town playboy coming back to haunt her in a big way. Janis Reams Hudson begins MEN OF CHEROKEE ROSE with The Daddy Survey, in which two little girls go all out to get their mother a new husband. And don’t miss One Perfect Man, in which almost-new author Lynda Sandoval tells the story of a career-minded events planner who has never had time for romance until she gets roped into planning a party for the daughter of a devastatingly handsome single father. So enjoy the rising temperatures, all six of these wonderful romances…and don’t forget to come back next month for six more, in Silhouette Special Edition.

  Happy Reading!

  Gail Chasan

  Senior Editor

  Joan Elliott Pickart

  ACCIDENTAL FAMILY

  For my daughters

  Books by Joan Elliott Pickart

  Silhouette Special Edition

  *Friends, Lovers…and Babies! #1011

  *The Father of Her Child #1025

  †Texas Dawn #1100

  †Texas Baby #1141

  Wife Most Wanted #1160

  The Rancher and the Amnesiac Bride #1204

  ΔThe Irresistible Mr. Sinclair #1256

  ΔThe Most Eligible M.D. #1262

  Man…Mercenary…Monarch #1303

  *To a MacAllister Born #1329

  *Her Little Secret #1377

  Single with Twins #1405

  ◊The Royal MacAllister #1477

  ◊Tall, Dark and Irresistible #1507

  ◊The Marrying MacAllister #1579

  ◊Accidental Family #1616

  Silhouette Desire

  *Angels and Elves #961

  Apache Dream Bride #999

  †Texas Moon #1051

  †Texas Glory #1088

  Just My Joe #1202

  ΔTaming Tall, Dark Brandon #1223

  *Baby: MacAllister-Made #1326

  *Plain Jane MacAllister #1462

  Silhouette Books

  *Her Secret Son

  ◊Party of Three

  ◊Crowned Hearts

  “A Wish and a Prince”

  Previously published under the pseudonym Robin Elliott

  Silhouette Special Edition

  Rancher’s Heaven #909

  Mother at Heart #968

  Silhouette Intimate Moments

  Gauntlet Run #206

  Silhouette Desire

  Call It Love #213

  To Have It All #237

  Picture of Love #261

  Pennies in the Fountain #275

  Dawn’s Gift #303

  Brooke’s Chance #323

  Betting Man #344

  Silver Sands #362

  Lost and Found #384

  Out of the Cold #440

  Sophie’s Attic #725

  Not Just Another Perfect Wife #818

  Haven’s Call #859

  JOAN ELLIOTT PICKART

  is the author of over eighty-five novels. When she isn’t writing, Joan enjoys reading, gardening and attending craft shows on the town square with her young daughter, Autumn. Joan has three all-grown-up daughters and three fantastic grandchildren. Joan and Autumn live in a charming small town in the high pine country of Arizona.

  Dear Reader,

  It is time to once again bid farewell to the MacAllister family. They came into my life and yours for the first time in 1995 with Angels and Elves, Forrest and Jillian’s story, which introduced the ever-growing MacAllister clan.

  Now, as we leave the MacAllisters to get on with their happy lives, Forrest and Jillian are grandparents, their triplet girls all having found true love.

  I want to thank all of you who have written to me over the years to say you were enjoying the MacAllister series as well as my other books. I can’t begin to tell you how much those letters mean to me.

  Will the MacAllisters be back to visit you in the future? I really don’t know. Only time will tell if they start whispering in my ear, urging me to share what has transpired as yet another generation grows into adulthood.

  I hope you enjoy Patty and David’s story as they deal with dark painful pasts that threaten to keep them from stepping into the sunshine of a future they might share together.

  Thank you again for your continued support.

  Warmest regards,

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter One

  Patty Clark maneuvered her eight-year-old compact car through Ventura’s heavy going-to-work traffic. It was a picture-perfect September day, and the glowing California sun in a brilliant blue sky dotted with puffy clouds promised to warm the chilly morning.

  In the back seat, three-week-old Sophia slept peacefully in her secured carrier despite the fact that her three-year-old brother Tucker was chanting with the volume set on high.

  “Sarah Ann, Sarah Ann, Sarah Ann,” Tucker yelled happily. “I’m gonna see my bestis friend Sarah Ann. Right, Mommy? We gets to go to Fuzzy Bunny and I can play with Sarah Ann, Sarah Ann, Sarah Ann.”

  “Yes, that’s right, Tucker,” Patty said, laughing. “We’re going to the day-care center today, but remember it’s just this one time because Mommy doesn’t work there anymore. They need my help because they don’t have enough caregivers right now to take care of you busy bees.”

  “And I get
s to play with Sarah Ann,” Tucker shouted.

  “Hush, sweetheart,” Patty said. “You’ll wake Sophia and she’ll probably cry all the way to the Fuzzy Bunny. We don’t want that to happen.” She paused. “Tucker, it’s been a little more than three weeks since we went to the center every day. We don’t know for certain that Sarah Ann still goes there. I don’t want you to be disappointed if you can’t play with her.”

  “She’ll be there,” Tucker said, bouncing his hands on his booster seat. “Her daddy bringed her all the time. Remember?”

  “Yes, that’s true,” Patty said, “but Sarah Ann started coming to the center only two weeks before we stopped going. Maybe her daddy doesn’t bring her anymore.”

  “Yes, he does,” Tucker said, frowning. “I know he does. Sarah Ann likes being at the Fuzzy Bunny and her daddy smiled at her ’cause she likes it. I’m going to play with Sarah Ann, Sarah Ann, Sarah Ann.”

  Patty tuned out Tucker’s excited mantra, realizing that her son was not going to accept the fact that his “bestis friend” might not be at the Fuzzy Bunny that morning.

  Her daddy smiled at her.

  Tucker’s words echoed in Patty’s mind as her thoughts drifted back to the two weeks that David Montgomery had brought his daughter to the center before Patty had left to give birth to Sophia.

  Oh, yes, she mused, the handsome-beyond-belief Mr. Montgomery had, indeed, smiled at his daughter before leaving her in the morning and when he picked her up at precisely 5:45 p.m. He did not, however, share that smile with any of the caregivers, nor take a moment to say the standard “Have a nice day” to the staff. His focus had been on Sarah Ann and that was that.

  Except… Well, yes, there had been that very brief exchange between herself and David Montgomery on her last day at the center.

  It had all started when Susan, one of the other caregivers who was delightful to work with, had rushed up to Patty before David Montgomery arrived with his daughter.

  “Today is the day,” the attractive Susan had said. “I can feel it in my bones. This morning when David Montgomery delivers little Sarah Ann, he is going to smile at me. I’ve done everything but stand on my head to get that handsome hunk of a man to acknowledge my existence with more than a quick nod and a frown. But I have these vibes, Patty. I do. Today he will smile…at me.”

  Patty had laughed. “You’re positive about that, Susan?”

  “Yes, I am,” she said, nodding decisively. “We know he’s a single daddy because there was no Mrs. Montgomery listed on the application blank he filled out for Sarah Ann. I am a single mommy. Therefore, it makes perfect sense that gorgeous David should get to know gorgeous me, which would go much more smoothly if the darn guy would smile at someone other than his daughter.”

  “Like you, for example,” Patty said.

  “Exactly,” Susan said. “He’s been bringing Sarah Ann here for two weeks now. Enough of this grumpy stuff.” She paused. “Oh, there they are now, coming in the front door. This is it. Today is the day. Watch me in action.”

  Patty followed slowly behind Susan, deciding that if the determined Susan actually managed to get David Montgomery to smile at her it was worth witnessing. He was, indeed, an extremely good-looking man.

  He was tall, had black hair like her own, wide shoulders, long, muscular legs that were outlined to perfection in the faded jeans he wore, and the most incredible blue eyes she had ever seen. It was no wonder that Susan was all a-twitter over the I-only-smile-at-my-daughter David Montgomery.

  “Good morning, Sarah Ann,” Susan said brightly, stopping in front of the pair. “And good morning to you, Mr. Montgomery.” Susan beamed.

  David Montgomery nodded, then turned his attention to Sarah Ann.

  “Have fun, sweetheart,” he said, smiling. “I’ll see you later. I love you.”

  “Love you,” the little girl said, then dashed off to join in the fun, her short black curls bouncing.

  David’s frown slid back into place as he watched Sarah Ann go without a backward glance at her daddy. Susan turned, rolled her eyes heavenward as she saw Patty standing there, then stomped off.

  “Mr. Montgomery?” Patty said.

  “Yes?” He switched his gaze slowly to Patty.

  “I’m Patty Clark,” she said. “This is my last day here and I just wanted to tell you how much I’ve enjoyed getting to know Sarah Ann. She’s a bright, happy little girl.”

  “Thank you,” David said, smiling. “I appreciate you saying that. I think she’s very special, but I’d be the first to admit that I’m very prejudiced when it comes to my daughter. But please call me David and I’ll call you Patty.”

  “All right, and I feel the same prejudiced way about my son,” Patty said, laughing. “And I’m sure I’ll do the same when this little girl arrives.” She patted her stomach.

  “You and your husband must be excited about having another child,” David said.

  “I’m… I’m not married,” Patty said. “I’m divorced. But, yes, I’m certainly anticipating holding my daughter for the first time in just a few weeks. I…”

  “Mommy,” Tucker said, running to Patty’s side.

  “What can I do for you, sir?” Patty said, tousling Tucker’s dark silky hair.

  “Can Sarah Ann come to our house to play on another day?” Tucker said. “Sarah Ann is my bestis friend.”

  “We’ll see, Tucker,” Patty said. “But I can’t promise.”

  “’Kay,” he said, then ran off.

  “So that’s Tucker,” David said. “Sarah Ann talks about him at home a great deal.” He chuckled. “She says he’s her bestis friend the same way Tucker said bestis.”

  “Picking your bestis friend is very important when you’re three,” Patty said. “Well, I must round up my group. Have a nice day, Mr. Montgomery… David. It was a pleasure chatting with you.”

  “I enjoyed talking with you, too, Patty,” he said. “Goodbye.”

  As David turned and left the building moments later, Susan rushed to Patty’s side.

  “I don’t believe it,” Susan said, planting her hands on her hips. “He smiled at you, Patty. He even carried on an I’m-a-human-being conversation. That rotten so-and-so. What have you got that I don’t?”

  Patty laughed. “A fat stomach. I’m what you would call safe, Susan. Women who resemble beached whales are not generally known to be on the make, so to speak. You, my dear, are just too pretty. Hence, you’re a potential nuisance to a man who no doubt has women fainting dead out at his handsome-beyond-belief feet.

  “The fact that David Montgomery hasn’t even smiled at anyone except me, the blimp, says he’s focusing entirely on his daughter at this point in time. Get it?”

  “I guess so,” Susan said, scowling. “But I sure don’t like it. What a sad waste of machismo.” She smiled again. “Well, there’s hope. The man can’t stay grumpy forever, for crying out loud. Did you see that smile, Patty? It just lit up his face and…” Susan flapped one hand in front of her face. “I’m over-heating.”

  “Well, cool down and gather your wee ones,” Patty said, laughing. “It’s time to get organized here. With Marjorie at the dentist I’m in charge of this place for the moment and heaven forbid we don’t stay on schedule. Shoo David Montgomery out of your mind.”

  “Easier said than done,” Susan said. “Okay. I’m off to do my thing with nary a thought of hunky David. Today…ta-da…we finger-paint. Oh, ugh. I’m not in the mood for that mess.”

  Patty splayed her hands on her lower back, then shifted her gaze to the door David had disappeared through.

  There was a time long, long ago, she mused, when she would have daydreamed about a man like David Montgomery just as Susan was. But those days were over. Forever.

  “Green light, green light, green light,” Tucker yelled from the back seat, bringing Patty back to the present with a thud. “Go, go, go.”

  The driver of the car behind Patty honked the horn as though thoroughly agreeing with Tucker that Patty
should get a move on. She pressed on the gas pedal while ignoring the warm flush on her cheeks.

  That had been a ridiculous trip down memory lane, she thought with a mental shake of her head. Why she had relived that conversation with David Montgomery she didn’t know. Well, enough of this nonsense.

  Minutes later Patty was entering the Fuzzy Bunny, her arms full of Sophia in her carrier, her purse and a packed-to-the-brim diaper bag. Two caregivers waved from across the room. Tucker made a beeline for his favorite corner of the large sunny area where brightly colored, chunky wooden blocks waited to be turned into magical creations. Susan hurried to Patty and took the carrier containing a still-sleeping Sophia.

  “Hello, pretty girl,” Susan cooed at the baby, then shifted her attention to Patty. “Oh, cripe, look at you. You’re skinny as a post already. Not a lump or a bump in those slacks you’re wearing. How did you do that? Do you know that a woman asked me when my baby was due and I was standing there holding a newborn Theresa in my arms? Talk about depressing. Even worse is that was seven years ago and I still haven’t shed the last ten pounds I gained during that pregnancy. Grim.”

  “You have a…lush figure, Susan,” Patty said, smiling. “Very womanly.”

  “You’d make a good politician,” Susan said, laughing. “Tell ’em what they want to hear.”

  “What I want to hear,” Patty said, “is that David Montgomery is still bringing Sarah Ann here. Tucker is so excited about seeing his ‘bestis friend’ again and will no doubt pitch a royal fit if she doesn’t show up.”

  “Oh, sexy David will be here with daughter in tow,” Susan said, “and frown in place. The man has not smiled at anyone except his kiddo since he had that chitchat with you. Do you think it would help if I tore off my clothes when he arrives? No, forget that. The extra ten pounds I spoke of is not an inspiring sight to behold. Anyway, it’s great to have you here today, Patty. Where do you want me to put Miss Sophia?”