Business Arrangement Bride. Jessica Hart

elephant.

      ‘Does that mean I can never have another relationship?’ she asked innocently. ‘I’m a single mother, yes, but I might be on the lookout for a father figure for Bea.’

      She was only teasing, but a wary look sprang into Tyler’s eyes. ‘I’m not looking to take on another man’s child,’ he warned. ‘I want my own family, not someone else’s.’

      ‘Well, that’s us rejected, Bea.’ Mary heaved a soulful sigh. ‘It looks like it’s going to be just the two of us.’

      At the sound of her name, Bea took the elephant out of her mouth and beamed at her mother. Her smile was so sweet that Mary’s throat tightened with such a powerful rush of love that she felt almost giddy. Reaching down, she smoothed the baby’s hair with a tender smile.

      When she glanced up once more, she saw Tyler watching them with a strange expression. ‘It’s OK,’ she said patiently. ‘I was just joking!’

      ‘The condition of the deal is that our relationship is strictly a business one,’ he said gruffly, more disconcerted than he wanted to admit by the sight of Mary leaning down to her baby. For a moment there, she had looked almost beautiful, her face soft and suffused with love and, when she’d looked up, the grey eyes had still been shining.