The Father of Her Son. Kathleen Pickering

      

      Her life is not front page news!

      News anchor Evan McKenna knows a good thing when he sees it. And Kelly Sullivan and her son Matt definitely fall into that category. If Evan had his way, he’d be part of their little family. Only Kelly is proving resistant to his charms. He knows an attraction this strong is more than one-sided, so something else is keeping them apart. Despite his best efforts, he can’t convince her to tell him.

      Then Kelly’s past becomes a major news story, which puts Matt’s safety in jeopardy. Evan is willing to do anything to protect them. For the first time, his career takes a backseat to something more important—family and a future with Kelly. Now he just has to prove it to her….

      “Are you helping us for the ratings?”

      The look of absolute disgust on Evan’s face had Kelly regretting her words.

      “Low blow, Kelly. Why would you ask that?”

      She shrugged. “You’re a newsman. I just dealt with some pretty awful reporters, and a reporter with no conscience started this problem. Can you blame me?”

      “If I asked you to marry me, do you think I would betray you?” His voice lowered to almost a whisper.

      It seemed an honest enough question, yet she still couldn’t stop her doubt. “Offering marriage could be part of your plan.”

      He leaned back as if gauging the authenticity of her suggestion. “You’re kidding, right?”

      “You don’t understand how much trusting others in the past has hurt me. Matt and I were doing very well until now.”

      But a small part of her was beginning to think Evan was that one man she could trust.

      Dear Reader,

      One of the great perks of fiction writing is I have the opportunity to raise readers’ awareness of social issues within an entertaining platform. Most of my fiction is derived from real-life stories. I get huge satisfaction in creating challenges that my heroes and heroines meet head-on with dignity, grace and a good dose of humor to reach that wonderful happily-ever-after.

      The Father of Her Son came into being when chatting about the plot with my author friend Heather Graham. After listening to my idea, Heather said, “Did you know that if a woman is raped in the state of New York, gets pregnant and chooses to keep her child, the state will grant the rapist custodial rights to that baby?”

      That floored me! You will be glad to know that amendments are currently being tabled to change that law, but that very sad fact is all too true today.

      Then I thought of all those stories of politicians who have behaved in ways completely counter to their platforms and I started wondering: What if a nanny was raped by her employer, became pregnant and discovered that this dangerous man could gain joint custody of her baby and effectively control the rest of her life? What would she do? Me? I’d go underground. No one would ever know who the father of my baby was. And so, The Father of Her Son was born.

      I hope you will enjoy both Kelly Sullivan’s and Evan McKenna’s journey through this story. I loved writing it. I loved the opportunity to platform a law that is in dire need of change for the rights of women. I hope you enjoy this story. Please visit me at www.kathleenpickering.com and let me know!

      I am so grateful that you are out there, dear reader. And thank you for choosing to read The Father of Her Son. I am honored to spend this one-on-one time with you.

      With love,

      Kathleen Pickering

      The Father of Her Son

      Kathleen Pickering

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      ABOUT THE AUTHOR

      Kathleen Pickering believes stories, like myths of old, are excellent tools for teaching life lessons while entertaining. She loves “happily ever after” but believes her characters have to overcome their life challenges with dignity, grace and a good dose of humor to deserve that special ending. Kathleen draws her characters and stories from real-life situations and finds traveling to research her work an added perk. So beware. If she meets you, you may wind up in one of her novels!

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      To Tony Agius and Lisa Russell…who didn’t let life stop the love.

      Here’s wishing you every happiness!

      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 Sixteen

       Chapter Seventeen

       Excerpt

      CHAPTER ONE

      THE ATMOSPHERE AROUND the Manhattan newsroom offices at NCTV seemed unusually charged as Evan McKenna pushed