Free A Baby by Chance by Cathy Gillen Thacker Page A

prepared for it.
    For a moment, Madison looked as if she had the same fears. Not about him this time, but about herself. And Chance’s heart went out to her. He and Madison were both sure of themselves when it came to their work. They were both damn good at what they did. It was their relationship with each other—flirtatious and hotter than a firecracker one minute, totally over the next—that was a mess. He hoped they could keep their beefs with each other away from their child. Because if they couldn’t, if they continued to feel as passionately about each other as they did now, liking each other a little too much one minute, loathing each other the next...
    “So if this long-distance, two-parents-who-are-strangers thing doesn’t work out,” Chance continued, figuring Madison of all people would appreciate his direct approach, “if it turns out it’s somehow less confusing for him or her to have one parent, then I promise you I’ll do the decent thing and step aside.” I sure as hell won’t want to, Chance added silently, but I will. “The bottom line here is we do what is best for our child. Not what is best for me or you,” he said firmly. He knew firsthand how complicated life could be. He was determined he would spare their child any hurt, and he would see Madison did, too.
    “Why not make it simple then?” Madison challenged, chin lifting, perverse enough to take everything he had said the wrong way. “Step aside right now.”
    “Before we’ve even given it a shot?” he countered, mocking her sarcastic tone.
    Madison lifted her hands, palms up, on either side of her. “Think of the time it will save!” That said, she spun on her heel and marched toward his pickup.
    Chance swore heatedly as he watched her provocatively swaying backside. So much for trying to tell her what was on his mind. Not about to let her have the last word, now or any time, Chance cut her off before she reached the passenger door. “Don’t you think you’re overreacting here?” He’d just been trying to cover all possible eventualities. She didn’t have to assume it was actually going to come to the worst-case scenario. She needed to be prepared to deal with it, the same way he was prepared to deal with lame horses and droughts and blizzards on the ranch.
    Madison whirled. Her green eyes were hot with temper. She poked a finger at his chest. “You’re not the only one who suffered through a miserable childhood, Chance Cartwright! I grew up listening to parents make excuses about why they had to keep on making us all miserable,” she continued furiously, her hand curling in the sweat-damp fabric of his shirt. “Nothing ever changed. And you know why?” Using her grip on his shirt, she shook him lightly. “Because neither of them ever wanted things to change!” Releasing her hold, she shoved him away. “I’ll be damned if I’m ever going to live that way again. Never mind our baby! Our baby needs a daddy who will love him or her from day one on. No excuses! No halfhearted efforts! Because you’re right, Chance. Anything less guarantees only hurt for our baby, and that being the case, why even start down that road?” Giving him no chance to work in a word edgewise, Madison shoved her hands through her hair. “It’s not as if I don’t have enough on my plate as it is.” Grabbing her sunglasses off the top of her head, she angrily waved them around in the air. “Thanks to you and your stubborn refusal to fulfill your duties as spokesperson, I’m about to lose the Ranchero truck account and the vice presidency right along with it.”
    Chance heard the fear in her voice. He blocked her way. “Are you telling me your job is in jeopardy?” he demanded roughly. He knew how important her career was to her. This must be killing her.
    Madison bit her lower lip and regarded him truculently. “Let’s just say when you get yourself let out of your contract, I’ll definitely be on my way down the career ladder if