Free Desperately Seeking Dad by Marta Perry Page B

all.
    She’d told herself she could ignore the attraction she felt for Mitch. Unfortunately, it didn’t seem to be working. That attraction kept popping to the surface every time they were together.
    Well, if she couldn’t ignore it, she could at least control it. She’d remind herself twenty times a day, if she had to, that he wasn’t the kind of man for her, even without the complication of Emilie’s parentage.
    The doorbell rang. Kate, her hands full of casserole, nodded toward the front hallway. “Would you mind getting that, dear? It’ll be Mitch, I’m sure.”
    â€œOf course.” Carrying Emilie, she walked down the hall. This was a good chance to test her resolution. She swung open the door.
    â€œCome in, please. Kate’s almost ready.”
    Mitch stepped into the hallway, seeming to fill it. “Hey, there, Miss Emilie, are you ready to go to church?”
    Emilie bounced and held out her arms to him.
    â€œLet me take her.”
    Anne started to turn away just as he reached for the baby, and his hands clasped her arms instead. For a moment they stood touching, the baby between them.
    Mitch’s large hands tightened, their warmth penetrating the soft wool of her sweater. They were so close that she could see the network of lines at the corners of his eyes, the sweep of his dark lashes, a tiny scar at the corner of his mouth. Those chocolate eyes fixed on hers, and she could hear his breathing quicken. She had to fight the urge to step forward, right into his arms.
    She took a deep breath, released Emilie to him, and stepped back. “I’ll just get our coats.” Astonishing, that her voice could sound so calm.
    Obviously reminding herself twenty times a day wasn’t going to be enough.

Chapter Six
    I t was a good thing Anne had pulled away when she did, Mitch decided as he drove them to the church. A very good thing. Because if she hadn’t, he just might have kissed her.
    Disaster—that’s what it would have been, plain and simple. The woman already suspected him of seducing a young girl and leaving her pregnant. What would she think of him if he tried to kiss her?
    He pulled into the church parking lot and found a space. He’d better get his head on straight where Anne was concerned. The best way to deal with his inappropriate feelings was to solve Anne’s problem for her so she could leave, as soon as possible. And the next step in doing that was to get the information from Pastor Richie himself, and do it without arousing anyone’s suspicions.
    â€œLooks like a good turnout.” He held open the door to the church’s fellowship hall.
    â€œGoodness, half the town must be here.” Kate bustled in, depositing her picnic basket on the nearest table. “Now, Mitch, why don’t you get one of the high chairs for Emilie before they’re all gone. I’ll find us a nice place and introduce Anne around.”
    A warning bell went off in his brain as he went reluctantly in search of a high chair. Who did Kate have in mind for Anne to meet? He could think of at least a half-dozen gossips of both sexes he’d just as soon she avoided.
    He’d have to keep an eye on her while looking for a chance to talk to Simon Richie before she did. Right at this moment, he could use a little help.
    And there it was. With a sense of relief, he spotted Alex Caine’s tall, lean figure. Alex, like Brett, was a friend he could count on. He’d help keep Anne out of trouble.
    He deposited the high chair, muttered an excuse to Anne, who seemed to be avoiding his eyes, and worked his way through the crowd to Alex.
    â€œAlex. I’m glad to see you.”
    His friend, leaning on the stick he sometimes used since surviving a plane crash a year ago, gave him a sardonic look. “Don’t you mean you’re surprised to see me?”
    He grinned. “That, too.” Another legacy of the accident seemed to be that