Nolan Buchanan, one of three billionaire brothers, is the cool head with a charming smilebut hes about to have his world tipped upside down. Hes used to getting what he wants andmaking no apologies but Nolan Buchanan will soon discover that what is most precious in lifecannot be bought.

Find out how the next Buchanan billionaire is brought to his knees in this sequel to thebest-selling series, Bought By The Billionaire Brothers, by erotic romance author Alexx Andria,

The Buchanans Baby

By Alexx AndriaCopyright 2013 by Alexx Andria. All rights reserved.

*This story is intended for mature readers only.The following novella of approx. 30,000 words is a work of fiction.Want a FREE read from Alexx Andria? New subscribers to her newsletter will receive their choiceof one of three erotic short stories guaranteed to set your Kindle or Nook on fire!Interested?Just click on the link and you will be whisked away to the sign up form. Easy-peasy!http://eepurl.com/klhFH

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-1- Nolan Buchanan, one of the three owners and CEO of Buchanan Enterprises, stared at the

scrawl on the paper in his hand, openly perplexed and rapidly growing agitated. Was it possible? Was this some sort of trick? There were plenty of people who wanted a piece of a Buchanan, but onlyan idiot would stoop to something so easily disprovedunless it was no ruse and they had the DNAto back up their claim. Sweat dampened his brow and he wiped it away as he dropped the paper tothe table and stalked away, needing a moment to collect himself.

You look as if youve just seen your past flash before you and youre about to fall over in afaint, his twin brother Vince joked as they passed in the expansive hallway of their family home.When Nolan didnt offer a rejoining quip, Vince double-backed and followed him with a subtlefrown. Whats wrong? he asked. Is it Penny? Oh, shit. Its Penny, isnt it? Wheres Dillon? Shesnot due for another month! I warned Dillon she was doing too much in her delicate state but he didntlisten Just as Vince started to jabber about Pennys recent mad dash to repaint the nursery for thethird time as if he were the father instead of Dillon, their older brother, Nolan gripped his arm tightlyand shook his head.

Its not Penny; shes fine, he assured his twin, still not able to fathom the gravity of thesituation if it were true. He lifted his gaze to Vinces and said, Youre not going to believe this frankly, Im having a hard time believing it myself, butI just got an anonymous note in the mailsaying that Im a father.

Vinces eyes widened then he shook his head in disbelief. No way. Its a shake-down formoney, he said. Father to whom? And who is the alleged mother?

Yeah, thats what I thought, too, he agreed. What do you think I should do?Was there a name attached to this supposed baby mama?No. Just that Id find her working as the sports trainer for a minor hockey league team called

the San Jose Juggernaut.There was no contact information?Nolan shook his head. Should I just ignore this and see if its a hoax? Maybe itll just go

away if I dont give it any attention. Vinces dubious expression mirrored Nolans gut instinct and hesighed, knowing what he had to do. Looks like a trip to San Jose is in my near future, he said.

I could go with you, Vince offered. I could use a change in scenery. Besides, Im jumpy asa long-tailed cat in a room filled with rockers with Penny waddling around, changing this andchanging that when she ought to put her ass in a chair and relax. I dont know how Dillon deals withher right now.

Nolan nodded but his mind was moving too quickly in a myriad of different directions to addhis opinion on their stubborn, very-pregnant sister-in-law when he was fighting the urge to lose hislunch on the Italian tiles.

A child?Its probably a hoax, Vince said, trying to ease his fear but it wasnt working and worse,

Penny herself appeared from the living room, munching on one of her repulsive ice cream, corn chip,and mustard concoctions that she swore was delicious.

Whats a hoax? she asked, around a spoonful, looking to the twins for an answer. Sherubbed her round belly and groaned, causing both Nolan and Vince to rush to her side in case sheneeded help but she swatted them both away with open irritation. Youre both as bad as Dillon. Imnot going to break. You treat me like glass. Im fine, she assured them with a smile. This baby is not

coming anytime soon. Now, answer my question. What do you think is a hoax?Nolan shot Vince a look, reluctant to tell Penny just yet but he could tell she wasnt going to

let him off the hook without an answer so he simply cut to the chase, saying, Im fairly certain its aruse to shake me down for some money but someone sent me an anonymous note saying that I fathereda child. Just saying the words made his knees shake a little. He cleared his voice and straightened,But Id have known if Id fathered a child. I mean, Im always careful.

Penny narrowed her stare at him and he shifted under her assessing gaze. The thing aboutPenny was, she wasnt simply his sister-in-law shed once been his and Vinces lover, too. Longstory. They didnt talk about it anymore Dillon had already threatened to remove their eyeballs ifNolan or Vince so much as dared to gaze in memory at her lovely breasts but in that one look,Nolan saw a wealth of knowing and he flushed. I always check to make sure protection is used insome form or another, he said in a low tone. I would never be so foolish as to play without a safetynet.

You have to find out if its true or not, she said adamantly. How old is this child?The note didnt say, just that Ill find the mother working for the San Jose Juggernaut, a minor

league hockey team, as a sports trainer.Well, that settles it; were going on a road trip. She turned and started to waddle away,

presumably to pack and Nolan groaned and caught her arm gently. What? she asked, frowning. Ican travel, she insisted.

Im sure you can but Id rather handle this on my own, he said, hoping he didnt hurt herfeelings. Please dont cry, he prayed. Since her pregnancy, Penny had burst into tears at the oddestmoments. One time he found her sobbing over the toaster oven because her toast was too dark on oneside. Dillon had responded by throwing out the toaster and immediately buying her a new one,desperate to stem the tears in anyway possible. It mightve seemed extreme but Nolan wouldve donethe same. Penny was precious to them and now she was carrying the next generation of Buchanan.

His knees trembled again. Was there another Buchanan out there? Was it a boy or a girl? Hescrubbed his hands over his face, focusing. I need to handle this privately, love. Besides, didntDillon promise you a quick getaway to Napa for a spa pampering day?

She brightened. Oh! Thats right! He did, she agreed, remembering. Sorry, Nolan. I needthat spa day. My back is screaming. You think you can handle this on your own?

He nodded. I do. Its probably nothing. Ill be back before you know it.Okay. Let me know how it turns out. She smiled and waddled away, her mind likely already

focused on full-body massages and chocolate-dipped strawberries, which was fine by Nolan. Adistracted Penny at this stage in her pregnancy was a good thing.

You dodged a bullet there, Vince said, chuckling.Dont I know it. I love her butSay no more. So, do you want my company or would you rather go solo? he asked.Actually, I think Ill handle this on my own. Besides, arent you supposed to be at the club

tonight? Something about a new sub to introduce to the dungeon?Vince grinned broadly. Yeah, I can hardly wait.Yeah, hed rather spend time in pursuing something pleasurable as well but he knew he

couldnt rest until he put to bed this ridiculous claim. He forced a grin for his brothers sake andperhaps for his own. Its nothing. And when I find out who thought pulling this ruse was a good idea,Im going to give them a taste of Buchanan justice.

Vince nodded in support. Go get em, bro.

Feeling far more confident than he did a moment ago, Nolan strode from the room to make thearrangements. Perhaps with some luck, hed be back within a day or two and he could catch a littleentertainment with his brother.

Bolstered by that cheery thought, a true smile more fitting for his easy-going nature found hislips and he started to whistle, his mind already forming all the appropriately cruel ways to ruin thismisguided fool whod dared to threaten a Buchanan.

Ow! Youre killing me!Shannon Garrity ignored the outraged bellow of the hulking beast of a man, affectionately

known on the ice as Killer and continued to carefully rotate the mans leg to see how badlydamaged it was. Judging by the reaction of her player, it was pretty bad. She sighed and gave Killer alook that conveyed the unfortunate news she was about to share and the man started to plead I canstill play! but she shook her head sadly. Sorry, but that legs going to have to heal if you want tohave any chance of playing next year. Youre benched effective as of today. Im sorry, Carl. Sheplaced a hand on his shoulder with compassion. Next stop for you is the doctor for an MRI notthe bar, okay?

Carl, six-foot four-inches of solid muscle but not a lot of brain, nodded like a child whodbeen caught before hed even put his plan into motion and hopped from her table to grab his crutches.She watched as Carl made his way out of the small room she used for examining team injuries andCeCe, her intern, walked in holding Aubrey, Shannons nearly three-year-old daughter. There sheis, Shannon cooed, accepting the toddler from CeCes arms. Thanks for going to pick her up. I gotswamped and wasnt able to break away to get her, she said.

No problem, CeCe said, smiling. Shes such a cutie.Yes, she is, Shannon agreed, rubbing her nose with her daughters and causing her to giggle.

Her laughter lit up the days that were a challenge, such as today. She hated this time of year draftcuts. She tried not to get too attached but some of the guys she worked with were like oversized kidsand she adored them all. Many had dreams of moving onto the NHL but some just werent cut out forthe next level. She always winced when she saw the empty lockers after the cut players received theirnotice.

Is there anything else you need? CeCe asked and Shannon shook her head. Okay, if youdont mind, Im going to cut out a little early. I have some studying to do.

No problem. Shannon smiled and collected her stuff to leave. Im actually done for theday. Ill see you bright early tomorrow, right? We have assessments to do on the players.

Yep.CeCe, a young college grad with her eye on landing a position similar to Shannons, was the

typical college coed if one went by stereotypes. The girl had curves and wasnt afraid to use them ifthe hungry gazes from the players were any indication. Shannon had tried to talk CeCe about theimportance of separating business from pleasure but the bottom line was, Shannon was a temporaryfixture in her life until she moved on to bigger pastures.

With Aubrey on her hip, she navigated past the locker rooms and popped out the backside ofthe rink to walk toward her car. A strange prickling sense caused the hair on the back of her neck tostand up and she glanced around, to survey her surroundings. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, shekept walking, although she picked up her step a little bit. After fastening Aubrey in her car seat, shehopped into her little sedan and headed home.

You're being a silly goose. And paranoid. The more miles she put between herself and thatfeeling, she realized she'd been silly. No more late-night movies about crime dramas, she reasoned toherself.

Turning up the radio, she perked up when she and Audrey's favorite song came on. Shannonsang while Aubrey kicked her feet and giggled and by the time Shannon pulled into her smallapartment complex, shed completely forgotten about the weird sensation she'd had back at work.

Tomorrow was Friday. Aside from a full day at work, her plans were pretty static. Later thatnight, after tucking Aubrey into bed, she poured herself a glass of wine and slowly savored the firstsip. She loved her life but there were times when she wished things had happened a little differently.She certainly hadn't expected to become a mother so young and so early in her career. But even as shelamented her quiet nights from time to time, she knew she wouldn't trade Aubrey for anything in theworld. The child was her everything.

She carried her wine glass to the living room and sank into the sofa. Her friend Georgia hadsuggested that she put up an online dating profile so she could get some, "adult time" but even asShannon desperately wanted a little companionship now and then, she couldn't fathom introducingsomeone into Aubrey's life that was simply transient. So, for now, Shannon's needs were met by hertrusty and ever faithful vibrator.

Shannon took another healthy sip and leaned back against the sofa cushion, feeling thatfamiliar yearning as she closed her eyes, picturing a scene from the past that always managed to warmher engine nicely.

It'd been a purposefully chance encounter she'd been looking for someone to scratch an itchas a reward for all her hard work and studying to graduate at the top of her class in order to land acoveted position with the Juggernaut and she'd known the minute he'd walked into the club that shewas going to have him.

He'd oozed charm and easy-going grace but beneath that laid-back exterior, she'd seen thecarnal hunger in his eyes that spoke to the hunger curling itself around her bones. She hadn't playedcoy or hard-to-get; she'd played to win.

"Like what you see?" she'd asked boldly when he'd openly assessed what she had on displaywith the tight, form-fitting short dress. She knew she had a great body years of competitiveswimming had carved away any extra fat, leaving behind lean muscle and judging by his slow grin,he agreed. "Attached?" she'd asked, getting straight to the point.

"No. You?""Would it matter?""Not really," he admitted, moving a little closer, his gaze caressing her body as if he already

had the right. "I don't pity any fool who would leave someone like you unattended in a place like this.His loss would definitely be my gain if you were attached." There was something arrogant yet plainlysexy about the way he'd perused her body and it'd sparked a fire inside of Shannon that had begun toheat her body with a flame she hadn't felt in a long time. College had been long and filled with hoursof study and tests and she was feeling reckless. He had just the kind of build she enjoyed tall butnot overly so, with lean muscle, similar to her own, his posture emanating strength and virility. "Shallwe?" he asked solicitously and she accepted his hand as he lead her out of the loud, throbbing din ofthe club. The cool night air had kissed her exposed skin and goosebumps had rioted but he'dimmediately warmed her by rubbing her skin while they awaited the valet to return with his vehicle."What's your name?"

She slanted her gaze up at him, noting with delight his beautiful, soulful eyes, and said, "Does

it really matter? We both know this isn't for anything but sex." She looped her arms around his neckand murmured, right before lifting her mouth to his, "Do you have a problem with that?"

"Not at all," he answered, plunging his tongue into the shelter of her warm and ready mouth,eager to taste and touch. She melted against him, as his expert tongue plundered and conquered as shewillingly surrendered. "But I want you to know my name," he said.

"And why is that?""Because I want to hear you cry out my name when I'm making you cum, over and over again

until you're too weak to stand and when you leave in the morning, you'll know exactly whose cockfucked you within an inch of your life."

Shannon graced him with a smile, impressed. "All right, I'll bite. What's the name I will becrying out in sheer ecstasy?" she asked with light humor but the wolfish smile he returned, sent moregoosebumps tripping down her body as he pulled her tightly against him.

"The name's Nolan Buchanan, love; remember it because I'm going to make you forget allother men after tonight."

"Tall order," she challenged breathlessly. "But I like your confidence hopefully, it's notmisplaced or overblown."

At that, he'd laughed and she'd known, even then, that she was never going to forget that night.Shannon sighed in longing at the scorching memory.God, that man had made fucking an art. Shannon had never realized the many and varied ways

one could completely dissolve into the most earth-shattering orgasm but Nolan had delighted inteaching her many things, including the unparalleled pleasure of being penetrated in both places atonce. Even just thinking about it made her blush furiously but her legs scissored as she squeezed herthighs together, her core heating with slippery need.

"Have you ever taken a cock up your ass," he'd whispered against the shell of her ear as heheld her tightly against the hard ridge of his abdomen, his rock-solid cock, pressing insistently againstthe cleft of her behind. Her breathing was harsh as she tried to recover from their last round and shenodded as she swallowed, squeezing her eyes shut as the last waves of her orgasm slowly faded."How about two cocks at once?" his silky tone caused her to groan as she shook her head. "Well,you're in luck. I have something you're going to love." He whirled her around and he produced alarge, silicone cock that looked suspiciously like his own. Her gaze widened in question and helaughed without a hint of modesty, saying, "Yes, I had it molded using my own cock. Its amazingwhat you can discover on the Internet. Now," he advanced toward her with the dildo. "Come here,love. I want to stuff you full of Buchanan cock."

She gasped, intensely aroused by the idea and when he told her to lay down with her legs up,she laughed shakily and did as he instructed but covered her eyes with embarrassment as he threw herlegs over his shoulder and insert the dildo between her folds. She sucked in a tight breath as the dildostretched her passage but it bumped up nicely against her G-spot, abrading the sensitive patch withprecision, just as Nolans flesh and blood cock had done. And now for my favorite part hesmeared a dollop of cool lube on her tightly closed bud and then eased the thick, fleshy head of hiscock at her entrance. Come on, baby, let me in, he coaxed, gently pushing his staff past thesphincter, inch by inch, until the muscle stopped resisting and he slid in. Her stomach musclestrembled, overwhelmed by the sensation of being completely filled in both private places and hernipples hardened as intense arousal washed over her. It was so dirty and bad God, she loved it. Agroan escaped her, in spite of biting her lip to hold back her cries. Nolan grunted with pleasure as hertight hole squeezed his cock and he began to flex his hips against her. The dildo pressed unerringly

against her sensitive pleasure spot deep inside while Nolans cock began to tease the wildly arcingnerve endings within her ass and she began to lose control quickly.

Holy Jesus, she cried, shaking all over, sweat breaking out across her body as shethundered toward another orgasm, only this one threatened to break her in half when it came and theidea frightened and excited her. Oh God, she said, trembling. N-Nolan!

Thats right, baby, say my name, he commanded, gripping her legs tightly as he pushedhimself deeper inside her, the sound of their skin slapping together carnal music to her ears. Say it!

N-Nolan! Oh God, thats it, she cried, unable to hold back. It was coming and it wasgoing to be big. Everything clenched and exploded in a wondrous cacophony of sensational pleasureand she mightve blacked out for a moment because for a second, she lost all sense of time and space.When she came to, Nolan was jerking against her, his hips flexing in wild abandon as he lost himselfinside her quivering body. He cried out and withdrew, collapsing beside her and for a long moment,neither spoke. She couldnt have if shed tried. Stars were still exploding behind her eyes and herbody rocked with small avalanches of pleasure, clenching around the embedded dildo as ifdesperately trying to milk the silicone for its essence. Nolan slowly withdrew the dildo and she feltutterly bereft and empty without the pressure of both the dildo and Nolans cock inside her. GoodGod so fucking fantastic and what a way to celebrate.

Shannon finished her wine in a quick swallow and headed for her bedroom. Moments later,the muffled vibration of her trusty vibrator was the only sound in the apartment until she cried outhis name, lost in the memory of that one night with the hot stranger.

Nolan

-2- Nolan couldn't believe what he was seeing. The entire drive to San Jose, he kept telling

himself, this was all likely a ruse, some game to shake cash from his wallet. But as his gut tightenedwith instant recognition of the long-legged strawberry blonde, he remembered the night theyd spenttogether with frightening clarity. When shed said names hadnt been necessary, truthfully, he hadn'tbelieved her. Hed figured after a little pillow time, shed give up her identity mystery solved.Girls always wanted a second round with a Buchanan. And given how many times he'd made hersqueal, he had arrogantly assumed shed return begging for more. But that wasn't how the nextmorning had gone down at all.

"Where you going?" he asked sleepily when he realized she was no longer in the bed. Hefound her fully dressed and trying to find her shoes. "It's so early."

She smiled and, having found her shoes under the bed, slipped them on her feet and grabbedher purse. "I had fun but it's time to go. I have a full day on the schedule. She stopped to add, Youare great, by the way. I confess, I might have thought you were overstating your skills but I waswrong. You have reason to be arrogant."

It was then Nolan realized she was actually leaving. He sat up straighter. "You're reallyleaving? How about some breakfast?" he asked, throwing the sheets from his naked body. "Don'tleave just yet. We were just getting to know each other."

"I don't want to get to know you beyond what I already know," she answered sweetly."Besides, why ruin a beautiful memory?

He advanced toward her, his grin growing as surely as his cock. He felt fairly confident that ifhe could get her into his arms one more time, she wasn't going anywhere. But she must've realized thattoo because she danced out of his reach with a knowing laugh even as her gaze registered regret."Sorry. Tempting as it is, this was a one-shot deal." She blew him a kiss and quickly let herself out ofthe penthouse.

Nolan couldn't believe it. Women didnt willingly leave his bed. Most times he had to pushthem out when they became tediously attached. Here he was with a rock hard cock, ready for roundtwo and his partner had just tapped out. Damn. So this was what rejection felt like. Not veryappealing. Should he chase after her? A voice in his head countered, why? He didn't wantcommitment and neither did she. This was really the best of both worlds, so why did he feel soabandoned, as if hed been used? He forced a rueful laugh. Hell, he was becoming a woman. Theydboth enjoyed the night. Leave it at that.

And if the nagging sense that he should have followed her dogged his steps days after she'dleft, he ignored it.

Now, as he watched her from a distance, laughing and joking, seeming perfectly at homeamong the rough and brawny hockey players of the Juggernaut, he realized he should have listened tohis gut. His gaze strayed to the little girl perched upon the shoulders of one of the large players andher delighted squeal ricocheted through his heart. Was that his child? Was that little girl, with the softstrawberry blond curls, a Buchanan? There was only one way to find out. And yet, his feet refused tomove.

If that kid was his, what would that mean for his life? He could walk away from this right nowand pretend hed never received an anonymous note. Whoever had sent it hadn't asked for any moneyand thus hadnt given any contact information. There was no need to chase after this, right? The kidlooked happy, well taken care of. And he really didn't know if the kid was his. Plus, he recalled,

theyd used protection. In fact, they went through half a box of condoms. There was no way that cutelittle kid was his. Someone had played a very unfortunate joke and they were going to pay.

Nolan watched as the woman and the toddler separated from the players as the men headedfor the ice rink and she headed for a backdoor into the building. He broke away from the shadows andquickly followed. The musty smell of a high school locker room assaulted his senses and he grimacedat the unpleasant scent. That was one thing he did not miss about high school or college. Hed playedenough sports to remember that distinct odor of sweat, burnt muscles, and pure exhaustion to last hima lifetime. As the sport trainer, he supposed it was appropriate for her office to be near the lockersbut he was shaken by the pinch of something too close to possessiveness for his comfort as herounded the corner. He could hear her talking to the toddler with softly animated tones and heremembered the sound of her cries as he rode her lean body all those many nights ago. Not helpful, hereminded himself as he crossed the threshold into her office. When she saw him, she actually yelpedand nearly dropped the toddler in surprise. "Nolan" The strangled whisper told volumes. Shetightened her hold on the child, who turned to stare at him with her finger in her mouth. "What are youdoing here?" she asked, her eyes darting past him. "You shouldn't be here.

There are a lot of places I shouldnt go but here isnt one of them.Please, Nolan. This is my job. I cant get into this with you right now.Too bad, he said, not willing to budge. I have some questions and youre going to answer

them. A surprising shock of awareness rippled through Nolan as he stared at the woman he last sawthree years ago. His gaze returned to the toddler who was about three years old and that sickeninglurch in his gut returned. He stared harder at the little girl and his brain quickly began picking out theeasy similarities between himself and her fair features. "She mine?" he asked in a hard tone. When thewomans lips tightened as if refusing to answer he repeated the question only this time his gazenarrowed with unrestrained anger. "Is she mine?"

"No."He wanted to believe her so he could walk away but the sad truth was he knew she was lying.

He could plainly see Buchanan traits in that child. "You're lying.""What are you doing here?" she asked plaintively, her eyes growing wet. "How did you find

me?""Funny thing about that. I didn't find you. Someone sent me an anonymous note saying I had a

kid. Honestly, I thought it was a ruse to shake me down for some money. But I see now that whatevertheir motives, it had nothing to do with money. Surprisingly."

"And you think I sent that note?" she asked incredulously. "Well, I didn't.""I'm beginning to realize that. Regardless of who sent the damned note, don't you think it

might've been prudent to let me know I had fathered a child?""No." She lifted her chin. "I never had any intentions of you knowing.""And why is that?""I'd rather not talk about this right now," she said, smoothing her daughters curls. "Please go.

I'll call you later, I promise.""I don't even know your name," he retorted with a shake of his head. "At the time, the mystery

hadn't bothered me because it was a little exciting but now I realize that was pretty stupid.""I didn't get pregnant on purpose," she nearly hissed, her eyes flashing with indignation. "But

I'm not about to talk about this with you right now so get out. I promise I'll call you later. Leave meyour number and we will set up a time to talk but I'm not going to have this conversation with youwhile I'm holding my daughter at my place of employment. Got it?"

"Is this guy bothering you, Shannon?" A deep gravelly voice asked from behind Nolan. Nolanturned and saw a mountain of a man giving him a hard look. "You were asked to leave. If you don'twant your pretty teeth rattling down the back of your throat, I'd suggest you do as she asked."

Shannon graced the big man with an appreciative smile but said, "it's okay, Rocky. He wasjust leaving." Rocky stared Nolan down before walking away slowly, clenching a fist andpurposefully crushing it against his palm with clear intent. Nolan didnt want to leave but he had nodoubt that Rockys threat wasnt idle. And since Nolan had no wish to swallow his front teeth at themoment, he plucked a business card from his wallet and tossed it to her desk.

"I expect a call. Shannon." His gaze strayed to the toddler one last time and his kneeswobbled. Eyes identical to his own stared back at him. Nolan stepped away, his heart hammering."This isnt over. Not by a long shot."

He left her with that promise and walked away, his brain frozen in place.He had a kid. Holy fuck. He had a kid. Shannon's hands fluttered as she handed Aubrey off to CeCe, her nerves completely shot. How

did he find them? Who would have known that Aubrey was Nolan Buchanan's child? Precious fewknew Aubrey's paternity and the ones who knew, would never betray her. When shed found out shewas pregnant, Shannon had been stunned. They'd use protection she was sure of it. But there wasno mistaking that eight weeks after that one night with Nolan Buchanan she was most definitelypregnant. And since thered been no one after Nolan, and in spite of all attempts to be responsible,Shannon had found herself pregnant from a one-night stand. A little digging into Nolan Buchanan'sreputation, had uncovered plenty of evidence proving that he would make a terrible father. She wasn'tabout to subject her child to a spoiled rich boy who treated people as disposable. Her one savinggrace had been shed never given Nolan her name.

But he knew now. One look at Aubrey and he'd known. Just as she had. Of all the dumb luck,Aubrey had been born sharing her father's genetics. And she was such a beautiful baby. Everywherethey went Aubrey elicited oohs and aahhs over her precious strawberry blonde curls and heraristocratic, China doll features. What was she going to do? Crossing a Buchanan was tantamount totangling with a lion. But she wasn't about to hand over her child to a man who was a stranger.

"Are you okay?" CeCe asked. "You look like you're about to be sick."Shannon cast CeCe a wan look. "Probably because I feel like Im going to barf. Did you know

that man who just left?" she asked. At CeCes shake of her head, Shannon muttered, "I'm pretty surehe's the devil. And I think that devil wants my child."

"Why would he want Aubrey?" CeCe asked, frowning."Unfortunately because he's her father."CeCe's mouth formed a silent oh and Shannon dropped into her chair. Who hated her so

much that they would reveal Aubrey secret paternity? I shouldve known this day would come. Fromwhat I know about the Buchanansthey dont give up anything that belongs to them without a fight.

He doesnt seem that bad, CeCe ventured cautiously, earning a black look from Shannon.Im just saying, he seems clean-cut and hes really good-looking. How bad could he be? Maybe givehim a chance.

Absolutely not. The devil was the prettiest angel in heaven, remember?CeCe sighed and shook her head as if Shannon were being dramatic and maybe she was but

Shannon wasnt about to latch loose of her child without drawing blood first. Well, if you cantwork it out amicably, I guess youre going to need an attorney. If you want I can do the team

assessments while you find a good one.God, CeCe was right. She needed a damn good attorney if she was going to stand a chance

against Nolan. She looked to CeCe. Do you think you can handle the assessments on your own? sheasked, taking Aubrey back.

Of course. I did get a degree in this stuff, her intern reminded her with a smile and Shannonnodded with relief.

Youre right. Thank you, CeCe! Just leave your notes and Ill go over them tonight.And with that, Shannon hurried from the office, intent on finding the best attorney her money

could buy. How can you tell? Vince asked over the phone, confused. Dont all babies, sort of, look

alike?She looks like me with strawberry blond curls, Nolan said, wiping away the sweat that kept

beading his brow. Perhaps he was having a heart attack. What does it feel like when youre about tohave a coronary? Or a stroke? I might be having both.

Calm down. First things first: get a paternity test. Your mind could be playing tricks on you.Chances are this kid isnt even yours.

No. I know she is. I can feel it in my bones. Nolan cradled his head in his free hand. Idont know the first thing about being a father. What if I suck at it? Our own father was a dick. Maybeits genetic and I dont have a chance.

Stop. Dont compare that man with yourself, Vince said, surprising Nolan with his sterntone. Our father was a dick. End of story. His actions dont have to have anything to do with you. Butyou know, it doesnt sound as if shes eager to have you be in the kids life. Maybe you ought to justwalk away.

Walk away? he repeated, uncomprehending. What are you talking about? Shes my kid. Imnot walking away from her.

Im just saying, you said yourself that it seems as if the woman is taking good care of thebabyand the mom doesnt really want you aroundmaybe it would be best if you bailed.

No, he said, shaking his head. He wasnt sure of many things right now but he knew for afact he wasnt walking away from a child hed inadvertently created. Then a thought occurred to himand he groaned. I dont even know her name, he said, feeling like a shit. Im already a bad father; Ididnt even think to ask her name!

Jesus, Nolan, stop whining like a pussy and get yourself together. If you really want the kid tobe in your life, then do something about it and make it happen. Youre a fucking Buchanan for cryingout loud. Sic the lawyers on her and take the kid from her. Its simple. Do you really think she canafford the legal fire power shes going to need to protect her rights once you put the Buchanan fortunebehind an attorney? Vince took Nolans silence as agreement and continued with a slightly grufftone, adding, Honestly, I think youre crazy for chasing this down. You have an easy out and yourenot taking it. What kind of life are you prepared to offer this kid? Suddenly, youre going to be a stay-at-home dad? I dont see that happening.

What are you saying? Nolan asked.Nothing. Im just sayingthink about it, man. This shit is big life stuff. No playing around.If Isabel hadnt died, you said you wouldve raised her child, even though it wasnt yours,

Nolan reminded his twin.

Yeah, well, I was young. I didnt know what I was offering.So you think I should just walk away.Vince waited a beat then said, Hell, Nolan, I dont know. You should do what your gut says

but I know what I would do in this situation.Youd leave.YeahNolan quieted, not sure what to think and his twins counsel hadnt helped much. So, after

Isabel died, you never considered the possibility of having kids? Ever?No, man. I never did.But there was something to Vinces voice that caught at the edge of Nolans memory and

Nolan remembered the ashen expression on Vinces face when news of Isabels suicide had reachedthem. Something had died inside his brother that day so it was possible that Vince was telling thetruth. After Isabel, Vince would never be the same. Sadness swamped Nolan for his brothers hiddenpain but there was little that could be done at the moment, particularly when Nolan had his ownproblems to solve.

Ill be in touch, he promised and hung up.He and his twin were closer than most almost obscenely so, at times having fucked the

same woman at the same time at their most debauched but he couldnt take his twins advice andwalk away. Not from his daughter.

Daughter. The word caused him to shiver.He didnt know if he was cut out to be a father but hed sure as hell have to find out.

-3- How much? Shannon asked the plain-faced attorney, distressed. Five thousand is a lot of

money for a single mom. Can I make payments?Sorry. The point of a retainer is to provide up front funds for the attorney to do their job.

While I sympathize with your situation, I can tell you, youre going to spend a lot of money and stillend up with 50-50 custody unless you can prove the father is unfit in some way. The attorney sighedand leaned back in her leather chair. If you want my advice and this is for free make nice withthe father. Maybe hes not as bad as you think.

Shannon swallowed the bubble of panic stuck in her throat. She didnt want to share her baby.Not with him. He doesnt even live in the area. Shouldnt that make a difference?

He has enough funds to secure transportation, yes? Shannon nodded miserably. NolanBuchanan could fly around the world for the weekend if he chose. Then, no. His location will notmatter in the eyes of the court. Miss Garrity, I know this isnt the ideal situation but Id hate to see youspend money you dont have for a fight thats destined to swing his way. The best thing you can do istry and be friends with this man because hes going to be around for the next sixteen years as a co-parent of your child.

Noooo! Shannon wailed in her mind, unable to believe this twist of fate. Everything had beengoing so smoothly until someone a vicious, little demon of a person had let the beans spillabout Aubrey. Shannon had a nice apartment in a neighborhood she liked, a dream job, and a daughterwhom she adored. And now, Nolan Buchanan threatened everything.

Shannon hated him with the force of a thousand suns. If Nolan thought he was going to take herdaughter without a fight, he had another thought coming because shed fight like a badger with everyweapon available to her if necessary. I dont care how much it costs, she said to the attorney, herchin lifted. Will you take a check?

As long as it clears, the attorney said dryly, adding with a resigned sigh. Maybe you oughtto take a day to think this over.

She didnt need to think, she needed to act. She had the money stashed in her savings account.True, shed been saving to buy a new car because her beat-up sedan was starting to show its age, butshed rather ride the bus than give up without a fight. Will you take the case or not? she asked.

Ill take it, the attorney answered, shaking her head, plainly believing Shannon was afoolish girl. But dont say I didnt warn you when youre sitting in court crying because you spent somuch money for so little outcome.

Duly noted, Shannon said, standing to leave. I expect you to do your best to win, though.Ill do what I can. In the meantime, dont pick fights with the father. Make nice, if you can.

Itll make things more smooth down the road.Shannon accepted the attorneys advice with a barely noticeable nod and then left, anxious to

get back to Aubrey.Make nice with Nolan? What did that mean? Take him to dinner, chat casually about the

weather? Try to forget that every sexual fantasy shed entertained since that night featured him? Hercheeks burned at that private admission. That was before he was a reality, she reminded herself. Itwas fun to fantasize about being with Nolan again when there was absolutely no chance of ithappening ever again. And now that he was trying to take her child from her? Hell no. She wouldnttouch him for real or in her mind for all the money in the world.

As far as she was concerned, Nolan Buchanan was Public Enemy No. 1.

Nolan didnt have a single memory of his father that wasnt clouded over with a veneer ofdisdain. When he was younger hed often wished their childhood was more like the other kids his agerather than the cold, over-privileged existence of his youth. Hed yearned for a father who played ballwith him or taught him something of value rather than the workaholic who rarely noticed his childrenat all unless they were underfoot. The Buchanan children had been raised by a succession of nannies most of which their father had slept with at some point or another and later, when they were tooold for nannies, theyd all been shipped off to private boarding schools. Sure, theyd received thebest education money could buy but somewhere along the way, theyd missed out on some veryimportant lessons. He knew his sexual appetites were excessive but until now that hadnt mattered.He loved women all shapes and sizes and his pursuit of women had been one of his mostpleasurable activities but he had to admit, after seeing how happy Penny and Dillon were, he had towonder if he was defective because the idea of settling down made him a little queasy.

How was he supposed to raise a daughter? He knew how to woo a woman, to bend her to hiswill so he could do all manner of filthy things to her, but he didnt know the first thing about being agood father to a little girl. For the first time since he was a young boy, he was uncertain as to how toproceed. The coward in him wished he could do as Vince suggested and simply walk away, dustinghis hands free of the whole mess. But that wasnt possible. Just the idea of never knowing how hislittle girl was faring or who was raising her made him want to howl with something he couldntdefine. What the hell was happening to him? Was he losing his damn mind?

Maybe he was overthinking the situation. He was dealing with a woman, first and foremost.He knew women. If he could get Shannon on his side, the rest would fall into place. Maybe he couldbe a good part-time father and his life wouldnt have to change all that much. Nolan began to warm tohis current track of thought. Yeah, he could be a weekend father and be on his best behavior for thattime and still be an amazing father to his little girl. Of course, shed want for nothing. Hed make sureof that. The best of everything for his girl. Top shelf, all the way. Relief at having puzzled through hisdilemma made him laugh as his shoulders let go of their tension. He rotated his arm and grimaced. Heneeded a massage immediately. But first, he picked up the phone and dialed the first florist he found.

Id like to order a dozen of your most exotic, expensive roses, he said to the florist.Certainly, the florist responded with a note of excitement. And where should we send

these beautiful flowers?Have them delivered to the San Jose Juggernaut hockey team, care of the sport trainer,

Shannon.Last name, sir?He paused, frowning. He didnt have her last name. He pulled his phone and quickly did an

Internet search for the sport trainer information for the San Jose Juggernaut and smiled in triumph.Garrity. Shannon Garrity, he answered.

Excellent choice. A note perhaps to accompany the gift?Write, To New Beginnings, he said, liking the sound of that.And who shall I say the flowers are from?Shell know.Very good.Nolan gave the florist his credit card number and hung up feeling smug. Hed been going about

this all wrong. He shouldve used his tried-and-true methods of softening a woman to his will. Sweetcharm had never failed him before; he had no reason to believe it would fail him now. For the firsttime since hed received that anonymous note, he felt as if he could breathe. He chuckled at how

twisted up in knots hed been when the solution had been staring him in the face from the start. Gladto have a clear plan that made sense, he turned his mind to other pressing matters. After a fewbusiness calls regarding Buchanan Enterprises, and a quick update to Vince, he realized he had theday to himself and ringed the hotel for a massage therapist.

Perhaps if he were lucky, he could persuade the massage therapist to throw in a happy endingas well. On the heels of that pleasurable thought, he hummed a merry tune as he walked into theshower.

CeCe entered Shannons office carrying the biggest, most amazing bouquet of exotic roses

Shannon had ever seen and she wondered which player CeCe had received them from but when CeCeput the flowers on Shannons desk with a delighted smile, Shannon eyed the roses warily. Whatsthis? she asked.

What do they look like, silly? Theyre the most beautiful roses Ive ever seen. Someonelikes you, CeCe said, giggling. Who are you dating and does he have a brother?

Im not dating anyone, she answered, frowning as she plucked the card and read themessage. To New Beginnings. She dropped the card as if it were poison. Ugh. Theyre from him.

Him who?She graced CeCe with an impatient look. Nolan Buchanan.Ohh, your baby daddy.God, dont say it like that, Shannon groaned, eyeing the flowers with open distaste. Shed

never been a rose type of girl, preferring tulips. You can have them. I dont want them.Are you kidding me? Whats wrong with you? CeCe asked. Theyre gorgeous.Theyreinappropriate. I shouldnt be accepting gifts from Nolan when Im about to take

him to court.Yeah, but maybe hes just trying to make amends for the way he came off yesterday. Maybe

you ought to cut the guy some slack.Shannon narrowed her gaze at CeCe. Maybe you should mind your own business. Realizing

the snap in her tone, Shannon immediately apologized, saying, That was uncalled for. I know youdont understand why but Nolan isnt the kind of man I want to encourage, even with the slightest,seemingly harmless gesture.

Its okay. I get it. CeCe shrugged and picked up the flowers, admiring their beauty. Theylllook just as nice on my desk as they would on yours. Besides, it always looks good for an availablewoman to have flowers on her desk.

And why is that?CeCe smiled as if she thought Shannon were helplessly clueless (which maybe she was, who

knows) and answered, Because everyone knows if a man thinks a woman is unavailable, it simplymakes him want her more. Nothing is more pathetic than a sad, lonely woman hoping for a date. If youact as if you have more dates than you know how to juggle, your value goes up.

Shannon stared at her intern, appalled. Why would you want a man who would even think ofdating someone who is already taken? Case in point, Nolans comment to her the second theyd metand decided to leave the club together. He hadnt cared if she were attached as long as he got what hewanted. At the time, she hadnt cared and to be honest, his bold approach had been sexy but now?Reprehensible.

Life is for the living, Shannon, CeCe said walking away with the flowers. Try itsometime.

Shannon glowered at CeCes retreating backside and muttered to herself, That girl is going toend up with an STD before shes twenty-five and then returned to her work, going over theassessments for the coach. She loved her job but someday she hoped to land a position within theNHL. She was willing to travel to Calgary, too, if it meant getting a position with a major hockeynetwork. The minors were good for building a name but the real money was in the professionalleague. She sighed, someday itll happen. She was good at her job and she knew her stuff. Just stayfocused, she told herself.

Someday, all of this trouble would fade into memory because her life would be amazing.Until then, she had to slog through the manure and push past the ass in her way.

-4- Nolan double-checked the address hed managed to find for Shannon Garrity and adjusted his

sleeve cuffs before the door opened. The apartment complex was clean and in a decent neighborhoodbut, shed likely jump at the chance to have a home of her own, which hed gladly provide provided she move closer to him. He smiled, pleased with himself and the plans he had in mind.He couldnt wait to see Shannons expression when he told her how he was going to change her lifefor the better.

But as the door opened, Shannon sucked in a sharp breath and a scowl followed. What areyou doing here? she asked, plainly unhappy to see him at her doorstep.

It took a moment for him to adjust to her stance and he thought perhaps she hadnt received theflowers but as he took in her completely hostile body language, he had a sinking feeling his flowershad ended up in the trash. You didnt like the flowers? he asked.

They were beautiful and inappropriate. Why are you sending me flowers? she asked.I thought it might serve as an apology for coming on so strong. I overreacted to a stressful

situation and my temper overrode my good sense. I was hoping the flowers might make up for theuncomfortable altercation between us. She nodded grudgingly, seeming to accept his reasoning butshe didnt invite him in as hed hoped. We have a lot to talk about, dont you think? he ventured.

Yes, I suppose thats one way to look at it.Is there another way?Well, you could just leave us alone and go about your life as you did before and well do the

same.Cmon now, what kind of man would I be if I did that?I wouldnt blame you, she said, almost in earnest. I mean, the situation was dropped in

your lap seemingly out of nowhere. I wouldnt blame you in the least if you wanted to walk away. Iswear, I wont ever come after you for child support.

I will provide for my child, he said, not liking where this was going. No Buchanan wouldever go without.

Aubreys not a Buchanan, Shannon said stiffly. Shes a Garrity.Not for long, he said, waving away her comment. I need to establish paternity with a

routine DNA test and then itll be a simple thing for the lawyers to change her name.I dont want to change her name, Shannon said, her jaw setting. She was born a Garrity and

shell stay a Garrity until the day she marries and decides to hyphenate.What is wrong with you? Shes my child and shes going to have my name. End of

discussion.Is this part of your apology, too? Coming over to my house and trying to push your name onto

my child? Because if so, your apology sucks.He bracketed his hips, growing angry that Shannon wasnt falling in line with his plan. He

opened his mouth but quickly shut it as he tried to refocus. Can I come in, please? I really dont wantto have this private conversation in front of the whole world.

Id rather not.Shannon, I am her father and Im not going anywhere. We can do this the easy way or the

hard way and trust me, Id rather do this in a way that works for us both. We can be on the same side,you know. And if youd let me, we could be friends.

Trust is required for friendship and I dont trust you.

Thats not fair, you dont know me.She looked away and he knew hed made a point. Score one for me. Shannon stepped away,

relenting. Okay, but only for a minute. I dont bring men home. I dont want to confuse Aubrey.He smiled, happy with her admission. He didnt like the idea of strange men being around his

daughter. And, now that he was around Shannon again, he remembered all those feelings hed pusheddown when shed left so abruptly. It was the chase he craved, he told himself when his gaze snaggedon her tight, pert behind nothing more. Hed forgotten what a sweet ass she had but now there wasno escaping what hed sampled that night and as he recalled, hed been more than willing to goanother round or two but shed called it quits prematurely. But just as he began entertaining memoriesof that sordid night, Aubrey toddled in carrying a ragdoll and his breath caught in his chest. Shannonscooped up the child and held her tightly, as if he might rip her from her arms and run away with her.Shesvery pretty, he said, the awkward compliment not even close to conveying what he feltwhen he looked at Aubrey. She was quite possibly, the most beautiful child in the world. He couldsee himself in her features but enough of Shannon to give her a soft feminine side. As if she knew hewas talking about her, Aubreys cupid bow lips split into a wide smile that revealed a dimple in thevery same place as the one on his right cheek and he could only stare for a long moment. She lookslike me and you, he said when he could speak again.

Mostly you, Shannon admitted, smoothing the strawberry blond curls. Except for the haircolor. Thats mine.

SoI have to askwhat happened? I know we used protection.She sighed and settled into a chair, still holding Aubrey on her lap. I dont know. All I can

guess is that one of the condoms had a minute tear or hole and since I wasnt on the pill, one of yourindustrial sperm managed to hit the mark.

One in a million odds. If Id known earlierI didnt want you to know, she said. I had enough to deal with, I didnt need another

problem to solve. Id just gotten my job with the Juggernaut when I realized I was pregnant and Ididnt want to deal with everything that came with custody battles and whatnot. Besides, I reallydidnt see you as the type who was interested in settling down.

Accurate assessment, he realized but it pinched that she hadnt wanted him in the babys life atall. You didnt even give me a chance, he pointed out quietly. I mightve wanted to be a part of herlife from the start.

Im sorry. Your feelings were the last thing on my mind, she admitted with a shrug. I hadan infant to care for and a career to protect. Can you say that you wouldve settled down if youdknown?

No.Well, thank you for your honesty but you prove my point. Raising a child isnt something you

do on a whim because you think it might be fun. Its hard work. She had colic for the first threemonths of her life and she screamed bloody murder for no discernible reason. Nothing I did worked.All I could do was hold her while she screamed. It was awful.

He shuddered at the thought of a screaming infant but then he felt guilty for not being there. Heshould have that experience under his belt if itd happened to his child. Its true I didnt ask for thisbut now that I know about her, I cant walk away. Give me a chance to show you that Im not a badguy. I can be a good father.

I cant let you audition for the role of Aubreys father, no matter how good your intentions.Aubrey is my life. Shes everything I never realized I wanted until I saw her little face. I cant take the

chance that youll change your mind when things get tough. He was perplexed until she added,When I found out I was pregnant, I knew it was yours because I hadnt been with anyone else since.So I did a little checking around. It wasnt hard to dig up some unflattering stuff.

Like what?Are you sure you want to know? At his determined nod, she continued, Youre a player

who likes to party all the time and youve left a string of broken hearts in your wake, as well assomeone who killed herself off the roof of your building. I cant expose my daughter to that life. Youhave to understand, I want a traditional upbringing for my daughter and you simply cant provide thatwith your background and your lifestyle.

At the mention of Isabel, Nolan felt a wave of shame. Shannon didnt know the half of whatdhappened with Isabel and hed prefer to keep it that way. I wouldnt bring Aubrey to the club. Whatdo you take me for? he asked, a bit more sharply than he intended. He drew a deep breath and triedagain. Im just saying, I would not take Aubrey anywhere that wasnt appropriate for a child and Ima bit offended that you would imply that I would.

She bit her lip and nodded. That one small gesture sparked a memory that he immediatelypushed away. He didnt need to remember how sexy shed been or how shed become even sexiersince hed seen her last. He fought to keep his gaze focused when he was overwhelmed by the urge toallow his gaze to drift to her belly, intensely curious and strangely aroused by the idea thatshed carried his child. Shaking himself free of the dangerous thoughts flitting through his brain likedrunken fireflies, he retrained his attention to the issue at hand.

I was scared, she admitted at last.Ah, fear, he could understand and fix. Im really not a bad guy, he said, the corner of his

mouth twisting in his signature half-smile that never failed to win him points. Give me a chance toprove it.

And how do you propose I do that?Let me show you that I can be a good father. Give me a few weeks to get to know Aubrey and

you can take those weeks to get to know me. Seem like a fair deal?Do I have a choice?Life is filled with choices, love. She stilled at his use of the endearment and he knew she

was remembering their night together. He clenched his teeth behind his lips, trying to quell the arousalthat flushed through his veins. He remembered quite vividly how shed sounded when she came,shattering in his arms until she could barely move a muscle. Hed been equally as spent. He shookhimself free of the memory and stood quickly. Text me so Ill have your number. Are you free thisweekend? We can take Aubrey to the park.

Okay, she agreed cautiously, rising. But first, you must agree to my terms.Such as?We meet here and I drive.He quirked a smile, perplexed by her terms. You know I can drive. I drove you to my place

when you stayed with me at the penthouse.Yes, I know you can drive and what you drive. Theres no room for a carseat and even if

there were, I dont feel comfortable trusting your skills with my child until I know you better.Fine, he agreed with a sigh. Ill be here Saturday around noon.Okay. Until then, would you mind staying away?That didnt play into his plans at all. Hed never had a woman treat him as if he had the plague

before and he sure as hell didnt like it either. But he agreed. Fine. He cast one final look at his

darling child and wondered how he was going to keep himself occupied until Saturday. UntilSaturday, then.

She nodded and let him out, closing and locking the door on his heels.How was he going to win over a woman who plainly didnt want him around? For the first

time in his life, he didnt have a clue but it was imperative that he find out.

-5- Shannon twisted beneath her shadow lovers firm body, gasping as he plundered her mouth in

the same insistent manner as his cock had penetrated her feminine heat. She groaned and gasped,clutching at his back, as he thrust against her, pummeling her with delicious friction that threatened toturn her inside out with pleasure. She shuddered, her nipples pebbled into hard points as they rubbedagainst the slightly furred chest of her lover, and she lost herself joyously to the sensation promisingto clench her womb with rhythmic abandon until she tumbled into a toe-curling orgasm but as she builtto that wonderful crescendo, her lover melted away into mist and she was left gasping and crying outin frustration as the good feelings dissipated with her lover and suddenly her eyes flew open to totaldarkness. She whimpered and rolled to her side, her body sweaty and unfulfilled as her pelvis areapulsed with unsatisfied need. Damn it, she said, returning to her back to stare at the ceiling. Thiswas all Nolans fault. If he hadnt shown up, she couldve went on using him for her sexual fantasieswithout shame or guilt but now that he was here, shed denied herself out of principle. And look whatthat had gotten her? Sexually constipated. She reached down and touched herself, barely flicking theswollen nub between her folds, and a riot of pleasure cascaded down her body. She closed her eyesand Nolan popped into her mental theater. Go away, she thought grouchily, determined to think ofanyone else aside from Nolan Buchanan. But her mind wasnt cooperating and she knew if shecontinued on this track, shed lose that loving feeling quickly. Resigned, she allowed Nolan into hermind and immediately her pulse quickened as her finger worked the pleasure nub with a deft touchuntil she shuddered under the brunt of a quick and fairly boring orgasm. She sighed and rolled to herside, grabbing her pillow and hugging it to her. Why couldnt she put Nolan in the appropriate placein her mind and leave him be?

Because against all odds, she was still attracted to him.And not in a pleasant, oh, hes cute sort of way but rather in a holy hell, I would fuck him in

the dirty stall of a club bathroom and Shannon couldnt really deal with that truth.There was no future with Nolan Buchanan. So why even go through the motions of getting to

know him?She sighed, closing her eyes, knowing the answer even if she wasnt willing to admit it out

loud.Deep downa tiny spark of hope pulsed stubbornly, refusing to die what if?What if, indeed? -5- If good intentions accounted for anything, Nolan was a damn angel. Hed planned to stay in the

hotel and watch Pay-Per-View or even catch up on his reading on his e-reader app on his smart phonebut the minute he saw his twin grinning from the peephole, he knew his night was not going to be spentinside that room.

What are you doing here? he asked Vince as he let him into the room. I told you to stayhome.

Yeah, but I heard the yearning in your voice that practically begged for me to come andrescue you so get dressed, slap some cologne across your face and lets see whats shaking in thistown. Theres sure to be a couple of hot bodies available for a little between the sheets action and I,for one, could use a little stress-relief.

What happened to your plans with the sub and the dungeon?Penny happened, Vince said wryly. She found out and gave me a ration of shit for trying to

drag Dillon out for a bit. Man, that girl has a temper. Funny thing, I think Dillon was relieved becausehis woman put the brakes on. If I didnt know better Id say Penny has neutered him.

Dillon? Nolan questioned but then he recalled the gooey looks their older brother often senthis pregnant wife and he knew Vince was right. Well, he seems to enjoy his neutered state so morepower to him.

Yeah, whatever. Cmon, Im getting antsy. I need a drink and someone to fuck and notnecessarily in that order.

Nolan laughed, enjoying the familiar thrill of the chase with his brother. They were hellionstogether and he loved the debauched circles his brother traveled without hesitation.

So hows it going with the kid? Vince asked as they walked downstairs to the lobby. Nolangrimaced, not wanting to talk about Aubrey or Shannon, not when he was about to do a whole lot ofthings Shannon would certainly use as fodder against him. That bad? Vince surmised, misreadingNolans expression. I told you to walk, man. Now youve got a mess to clean up. Think we couldoffer her money to go away and keep quiet?

For the last time, Im not bailing on my kid, Nolan cut in, irritated. I already told you that.And its not going badly, its just I dont want to talk about it right now. Okay?

Okay, okay, Vince said, holding his hands up in mock surrender. I was just curious.Yeah, I know. Were going to the park together on Saturday. Ive asked her to give me a few

weeks to get to know each other.A few weeks? What do you mean? Youre going to hang out here for a few weeks? What

about work?I think you and Dillon can handle things on your end. You can always email me or call with

any issues. But I need to get to know my daughter. Ive already missed out on so much. Vince shothim a curious look and he stared. What?

If I didnt know better Id say you were serious about this parenting thing.Well, I amI guess.You guess? Dont you think thats something you should be completely sure about before

starting?This is why I didnt want to talk about this right now.What about your baby mama? Is she cooperating or not?Mostly not. Shes not thrilled about me being the dad.Why the hell not? Vince asked, insulted. Shes damn lucky to have bagged a Buchanan.She doesnt exactly see it that way and Im not sure how to change her mind on that score."Screw this. What you need is a good time to get your mind off of all this crap with the kid.

When we get to the club, just relax. You deserve a night off."Nolan nodded, wondering if his brother was right. His whole body was tied up in knots that

not even the massage had helped. Well, it might have helped if they'd sent a pretty massage therapistwith an open mind but instead, hed received a burly matron with definite German ancestry in herblood as shed pummeled his back as if she were pounding bread. Frankly, he'd been a bit afraid ofthe burly frau and when it came time to tip, he tipped her well just so shed go away.

The minute they stepped into the club, Nolan allowed the booming sounds and chaotic energyto seep into his bones. Vince immediately flagged the waitress and ordered two whiskeys to get thenight started. Vince was already on the prowl, his practiced eye searching out something pretty, and

just a little on the healthy side. Vince loved women with a little extra padding on them. Personally,Nolan didn't care. He loved women of all sizes and never discriminated. But at the moment, the onlywoman on his mind was the one woman he didn't want to think about. Vince accepted the whiskey anddowned his in one quick gulp. Nolan did the same, grimacing at the taste. "Are you sure that waswhiskey? That tasted like moonshine."

"Well, they didn't have our usual brand so I made do with what they had. Besides, were nothere to judge their liquor cabinet. We're here to have a good time, remember? And even moonshinewill get us there, if you know what I mean."

Yeah, he knew. For some reason, Nolan wasn't in the mood for the usual hunt. However, hewas happy not to be sitting in his hotel room staring at the four walls. He was content to slog downawful whiskey and watch as Vince worked his magic on a fresh crop of ladies. Suddenly, he sensed apresence at his side and he turned and saw a short but stacked woman with a wide smile and sparklein her eyes that was hard to miss. "By a girl a drink?" she asked, dazzling him with a smile.

"Sure, why not." He signaled for the bartender. "Whatever she wants," he told the man."Sex on the beach," she answered, shooting him a coy look. He chuckled at the suggestion in

her eyes. Any other time, he would've pounced on that invitation but his libido was fairly dead at themoment. The girl accepted the drink from the bartender and took a sip before saying, "You have thelook of a man who doesn't know what he wants."

"Is that so? And you have the look of a woman who knows exactly what she wants."She smiled. "Want to get out of here?"It was on the tip of his tongue to politely decline but then he realized he had no reason to say

no. Here was a perfectly delectable woman, who was plainly interested, and yet he wasn't readilygobbling up what she had to offer. What the hell was wrong with him? Vince was right. He wastotally off his game. He tossed a few bills on the table for the tab and said with a grin, "Sure. Whatdid you have in mind?"

She grabbed his hand and tugged him towards the door. "I already told you," she answeredplayfully. "Sex on the beach."

"Sounds good to me."All he needed was the right motivation to get his head on straight, he told himself. As soon as

he had those big pillowy tits in his mouth, he'd forget all about Shannon and her lean body.He texted a quick message to Vince to let him he was bouncing with a hot chick and Vince

responded with a thumbs-up emoticon. Since Vince had driven them, they took the girls car. Sowhere is this beach?

Theres a private place I like to go to listen to the waves at night. Its pretty, she told him,smiling. He shrugged, enjoying the prospect of shutting his brain off and letting his cock make thedecisions. When they arrived, she went to the trunk and pulled out a blanket, smiling. I come here alot.

To fuck or to listen to the waves? he asked, half-joking.She sent him another dazzling smile as she answered, Both.He carried the blanket for her as they navigated the shifting sand and finally settled in a quiet,

secluded spot. Nolan spread the blanket and the woman nestled in beside him. She was delightfullypetite but full and curvy in all the right spots. Vince wouldve loved fucking this little morsel.Perhaps he shouldve introduced them. She was nothing like Shannon which was a good thing, hetold himself sternly as he forced a smile for the womans benefit. Whats your name? he asked, idlywondering if her nipples were a dusky rose or a chocolate brown.

CeCe, she answered, already plucking at the buttons on his shirt. Whats yours?Nolan, he answered, enjoying the kiss of balmy night air on his exposed skin. Do you

always pick up strange men at clubs?Only the ones I want to fuck, she answered simply and he laughed, appreciating her honesty.

He swallowed his next quip when she delved behind his zipper and her firm hand gripped his cockwith practiced experience. She smiled with approval at his girth and length, her gaze lighting withdelight at the prospect. You have a nice, thick cock, Nolan, she murmured, as she released him andgazed up at him. How good are you with your tongue?

No complaints yet, he answered, feeling that familiar tingle at the base of his groin asarousal finally started to awaken his sex drive. He lifted her short skirt to her hips and saw the plumplittle folds of her bare pussy hiding her clit. He lowered his head and nuzzled her flesh, closing hiseyes against the oddly dampening thought that this was a bad idea, and refocused on the fact that hehad his face two inches from a womans pussy generally speaking, his favorite place to be andhis cock was slowly hardening, ready for action.

Everything seemed right and perfect except it wasnt. Damn it, he thought to himself. Get inthe game!

Determined to feel more like himself in his own skin, Nolan purposefully lowered his mouthto her cleft and plunged his tongue deep inside. The minute he tasted her flesh, he was reminded ofhow Shannon tasted and how her unique scent had driven him wild. It was baffling how three yearshad gone by without a whisper of Shannon in his mind but now that hed seen her again, it was as ifhis brain was infected with some kind of virus and all he could think of was Shannon.

Oh yes! CeCe moaned, threading her fingers through his hair and yanking hard enough toirritate. Jesus, woman. Are you pulling weeds? He squeezed his eyes shut and tried to concentrate. Ifhe stopped now, hed never live it down. He had a reputation to protect at the very least. Working onauto-pilot, he listened to her breathy moans as a key to what she enjoyed and varying speed andtempo, he easily brought her to climax, but his cock had completely fallen asleep, going flaccid andpathetic like that of an 80-year-old man. He lifted his head and wiped his mouth, wishing he had someof that shitty whiskey right about now. CeCe gazed at him with sleepy, happy eyes until she realizedhe was buttoning his pants. What are you doing? she asked, sitting up suddenly, her expressionconfused. Were just getting started.

Im sorry, Im kind of tired. Would you mind if we went back to the club? I need to find mybrother and get back to the hotel.

Are you kidding me? she demanded, her stare losing her sparkle and turning hard. I thoughtwe were going to fuck?

Yeah, I had high hopes, too but it seems Im not as horny as I thought.Her gaze dropped to his groin and her mouth tightened as she scrambled to her feet, pulling

her skirt down and jerking the blanket out from beneath him. Find your own way back to the club,asshole! she hissed and stomped back to her car, leaving him standing on the beach.

Shouldnt it count for something that hed made her cum?Hmmguess not. This must be how women felt after theyd given a guy a blowjob and the

guy still blew them off. Not a nice feeling, he noted.But he knew there was no way he couldve faked sex when his cock plainly didnt want to

play.And now he was stranded on a beach with no clue as to where he was.He texted Vince but after ten minutes and no response, he started walking. He was half

tempted to call Shannon but the second the idea popped in his head he discarded it as dangerouslyludicrous. Why would he call Shannon? Explaining why he was stranded on a beach in the first placewasnt bound to make him look like the good guy that hed ardently professed he was. And, the ideaof admitting to Shannon hed just had his tongue in someone elses pussy made him squirm withsomething that felt a lot like guilt though why he didnt know. They werent a couple; she had noclaim on him.

Excepthe wanted her.There. He said it. He wanted her.He wanted her so badly he could think of nothing else and he didnt think it had anything to do

with the fact that she was his baby mama.Closure thats what he hadnt gotten with her and thats why he was obsessed.Thats it, he realized. He just needed some kind of closure. But how was he going to manage

that when there was no way he could see Shannon casually and then break it off when he bored of hercompany? He had his daughter to consider now. He couldnt just use his daughters mama for his ownpleasure and then discard her. He scrubbed his hands across his face and flagged a taxi once he hit themain highway.

So, he was right back where he started.Fucked and not in the feel-good way.Fabulous.

-6- For reasons she didn't really want to examine too closely, Shannon spent an inordinate amount

of time picking the right outfit for both herself and Aubrey. What did it matter? It wasnt as if theywere interviewing for a job. But when she spent an extra moment fixing her hair and making sure hermakeup was just right she resigned herself to the knowledge that she cared what Nolan thought.

Nolan arrived promptly and she was surprised to see a picnic basket in his hand. "What'sthat?" she asked, privately delighted that he'd been so considerate as to bring food. "You didn't haveto bring a picnic."

"I know I didn't have to. I wanted to. Besides, what if we get hungry? I, for one, am a big fanof food."

"So is Aubrey. She gets very grouchy when she's hungry," Shannon admitted, flashing Nolan asmall smile. "Okay, I guess were ready. Let's go." She leaned down to pick up Aubrey and she couldtell by the look in his eye that he wanted to offer but didn't. In a way she was glad, she wasn't readyfor him to hold her. Somehow, she knew if she saw Aubrey in Nolan's arms, the tears wouldn't be farbehind.

When they got to her beat up sedan, Nolan did a double take and stared hard at the old car,plainly displeased with her ride. "This is what you drive?" he asked. "Is this even safe?"

"Of course it's safe it's just not pretty." She opened Aubrey's door and winced when a loudscreech followed. "And it just needs a little WD-40 on the hinges." She made quick work of snappingAubrey into her car seat and then they climbed in the car. "I had plans to buy a new car this year butsomething else came up," she said, thinking of the $5,000 shed given the attorney. "But it's a goodcar. And besides, as long as it gets me from Point A to Point B that's all I need."

"All that's holding this car together is rust.""Every car in the Bay Area has some kind of rust; it doesn't mean it's not a good car," Shannon

insisted. "It gets good gas mileage and it's paid off, which makes it A-OK in my book."Nolan didn't seem to appreciate her logic but remained silent. She wasn't sure if she trusted

that silence. She could see the wheels turning in his mind and she didn't like the direction. "I like mycar, okay? Leave it at that."

She wasn't lying, per se. But she knew that the time had come for her to buy a new car. Lately,her trusty little sedan had been making frightening noises that sounded like something crucial wasabout to abandon ship. Please don't break down, not today, she prayed.

"So where are you staying?" she asked, making conversation as she drove in the hopes ofdiverting the conversation away from the obvious shortcomings of her vehicle.

"At the Fairmont," he answered, his brow still furrowed in thought as he watched the scenerygo by.

"Of course, a five-star hotel. When you can afford the very best why go with economy, right?""I didnt make the travel arrangements, my secretary did. But, yes, I usually stay in the nicest

hotels. They have better shampoo," he added with a wink that made her stomach muscles jump."Honestly, I don't care where I stay as long as the bed is comfortable. I don't usually spend all thatmuch time in the hotel anyway."

"It seems silly to spend all that money on a room that you're just going to sleep in," Shannonsaid. "Personally, I like to spend as little as possible on the hotel rooms so I have the money to spendon activities when I go on vacation."

"Where have you gone on vacation?" he asked.

"Well, nowhere lately but I have been to Oregon and Washington and someday I hope to go toCanada."

"What's in Canada?" he asked, interested.Should she tell him her goals of landing a bigger hockey gig? It seemed premature to start

sharing such personal details but she also knew that her plans would become evident eventuallyanyway if he remained in her life. She took a deep breath and answered, "Well, they have a majorhockey network there. And if I can't get into the NHL, Calgary has a hockey team that's prettyrespectable."

"So moving is part of your plan eventually?" he asked."Yes," she admitted. "I can't make a living at the minor leagues. I mean, I do okay but I'll want

to do better than okay. I want to be able to support Aubrey on my own without having to worry aboutsomeone else paying my way."

"If you need money I can give you some.""I don't want your money. Don't you think if I'd wanted your money I would've called you the

minute I found out I was pregnant?" She pointed out. "I accepted the role of single mother and I'vebeen doing just fine on my own. But in order to teach Aubrey how to be self-sufficient I have to beself-sufficient. And that means not accepting a handout from you."

"It's not a handout," he said, frowning. "If I'm her father I will gladly pay child support.""We have all that we need."What if I don't agree? My daughter deserves the best not just what paltry, bottom of the barrel

existence you can give her."Immediately offended, Shannon was tempted to stomp on the brakes and kick him out of her

car. "Are we going to fight all day or we are we going to try to have a nice day together because it'snot starting off well," she warned him. "I haven't decided whether or not you are a good influence onAubrey and throwing money at her is not going to prove to me that youre a good father."

"And forcing her to live in poverty because of your pride isnt a sign that you are being a goodmother," he pointed out equally irritated. "And I wouldn't just throw money at her. But I would likeher to have nice things. Is that so bad?"

She bit her lip, realizing that he'd made a fair point. She agonized when she couldn't buy thethings that Aubrey needed and had to scrimp and save for the simplest things, like extra diapers andnew clothes. Having Nolan around to smooth the rough spots would certainly be an asset. No! Don'teven go there. She was doing just fine on her own; she didn't need Nolan to save her or Aubrey."Lets just have a nice day, okay?"

"Fine." But judging by the way his lip compressed to a tight line, he wasnt finished with theconversation and it would likely come up again. So tell me about this park were going to," he saidafter a lengthy pause that nearly set her nerves on edge.

"When I was pregnant I liked to come here because it was quiet and not too many people useit but it has really pretty trees and a beautiful view as well as a play park for the kids. It's just becomemy favorite place and Aubrey's too so I thought you might enjoy it, too."

"Absolutely."Just as she said, the park was relatively quiet without a lot of traffic and as Nolan spread the

blanket to unpack the picnic basket she let Aubry toddle off to pick dandelions in the grass. Shepeered quietly at Nolan as he prepared their picnic and she wondered why he was trying so hard.Why couldn't he have been the deadbeat that she thought he was? It would've made everything easierby half. But he seemed to really want to be a part of Aubreys life and she was having a hard time

holding on to the reasoning for excluding him. "Are you seeing anyone?" she asked, telling herself theinformation was important to know for Aubrey's sake but in truth, she was curious for her ownreasons.

"No. I was seeing someone for a while but it didn't work out," he admitted. "I hope you likepotato salad."

"I love potato salad," she murmured. "Why didn't it work out?"Nolan shrugged. "It never does."His answer was flip but she sensed there was something else beneath that fatalistic answer.

Did she care enough to pry? Was it her business? She was afraid to be honest with herself. Luckilyshe was saved from delving too deeply into that topic when he turned the question around on her."How about you? Are you seeing anyone?"

"No. I'm a single mom; I don't have time to date.""If you had the time, would you date?" he asked."There are times I wish I had someone to spend time with for some adult conversation but I'm

so focused on my work and on Aubrey that I just don't know if I have room in my life for someoneelse on a permanent basis."

"I know how you feel. Sometimes relationships seem like so much work.""If you think a relationship is a lot of work you should try raising a child, she quipped wryly.He nodded, his gaze following their child. "I can't seem to stop thinking about her. I hate that

I've missed so much. When you told me that she had colic for three months I felt cheated for notknowing that simple fact about my child. I dont want to miss out on anything else."

"Nolan, being a father is so much more than you can even understand. Are you ready for thatkind of commitment?"

"I don't know," he answered, adding, "but does anyone ever know if they're ready? Did youknow you were ready to be a mother? Sometimes youre put into a situation and you're forced to beready."

"Yes, but sometimes people fail and kids end up getting hurt. I don't want Aubrey to end up onthe wrong end of that deal when you realize that you're not cut out to be a dad."

"Why do you assume that I'll fail?" he asked, pinning her with a stern stare. "Maybe Ill begreat at it."

"Maybe. She shrugged, then sighed. Maybe I'm not ready for you to be in the picture." Ittook a lot for her to admit that. Nolan seemed to acknowledge the big step shed taken in admittingthat fear and nodded in understanding. His quiet acceptance of her reasoning compelled her toexplain. When you said I didnt know you, you were right. But what I do know scares me. I dontapprove of the lifestyle you live. How can I trust you with our child? I have traditional values and Iknow you don't."

Nolan fell silent and returned his gaze to the child as she squealed and laughed, dancing in thesunlight. Without another word, Nolan climbed to his feet and strode toward Aubrey. Shannons firstinclination was to follow but for some reason she held back. When he knelt down to Aubreys leveland plucked a dandelion for her, the moment Aubrey's chubby little hand closed around the delicatestem Shannon's heart melted a little. Nolan looked so earnest, so desperate to get to know their tinychild that Shannon couldn't help but think that she was being too stiff, too rigid. Maybe she hadmisjudged Nolan and, in fact, had cheated him of a relationship with their child. Shed been so sureshe was making the right decision but in truth, she might have just been making a selfish one.

And that was a tough pill to swallow. Could Nolan be the father Aubrey needed? And if so,

where did Shannon fit in the picture?She squirmed in discomfort as she realized she wanted Nolan to want her, too.This is about Aubrey, she cautioned herself. Not you. Besides, Nolan had never said he was

interested in rekindling something with her. And that stung her pride. Nolan watched as Aubrey's eyes lit up with wonder as she ran as fast as her chubby legs

could carry her from one fascinating sight to the next. He followed to keep her safe but with each stephe realized he could never walk away from his child. Ever. And when Aubrey tottered and fell on herlittle bottom, he was there to quickly pick her up. He didn't hesitate and simply scooped her into hisarms. Aubrey grinned and stared into his eyes without fear. And if he worried that holding her wouldfeel awkward, he realized his fear was misplaced. Holding her felt like the most natural thing in theworld.

"Hello Aubrey," he murmured, taking in every detail of her precious face. "I think I'm yourdaddy."

"Da-da, Aubrey copied, smiling. Then she pointed. "More fowers, peez? And he gladlyhelped search for every tiny little wildflower on the grounds. Each squeal of delight was like a shockto his heart that he quickly came to crave. He'd see to it that she had fresh flowers every single day ifshe so desired. And by the time he walked back to Shannon holding Aubrey in his arms he knew therewas no going back. And judging by her expression, Shannon knew it, too.

They sat and ate their lunch, laughing at Aubrey and sharing what looked like an idyllicafternoon together but Nolan knew the questions swirling in his mind were likely as stark as thequestions swirling in Shannon's mind. They had a lot to work out and there were no easy solutions.

Shannon was right; their values were not remotely the same. How could they raise a childsomewhere in the middle? He knew it wasn't possible. So either he had to change or Shannon had tochange. And given the fact that he didn't have a solid argument as to why Shannon should change, heknew that the change fell on his shoulders. Could he be the man Shannon needed him to be in order tobe a good father to Aubrey? He honestly didn't know. And it scared him to think that he could loseAubrey because of his past.

"I want the paternity done right away," he said abruptly. "I dont see any point in waiting. Iwant to get it over with so that I can get her name changed immediately."

"I told you I don't want to change her name," Shannon reminded him with a scowl. "Her nameis Aubrey Garrity and it's staying that way."

"She's a Buchanan and shell have the Buchanan name. Besides, whether you like it or not,there are legalities to inheritance. She has to carry my name if she's going to be named my heir."

"I don't need her to be your heir. You can be her father and have different last names.""I'm not going to argue with you. In this, you will lose so don't waste your energy," he said

curtly. "Youve kept my daughter from me and I've missed out on so much. There are some things thatI will not compromise." He was being an ass, he could tell by the wounded expression on her face buthe couldn't help himself. He was angry and not only with Shannon. He was angry with himself fortaking the easy way his entire life. Unlike his brother Dillon who walked away from the familyfortune and went and made something of himself on his own, both Nolan and Vince had taken the pathof least resistance, which hadnt done much to build their character. He wanted better for his daughterbut he didnt know the first thing about providing a good example for her.

"Why are you picking a fight with me?" she asked. "We dont have to be on opposite sides.""Don't we?" He looked away. "You put me on the opposite side when you failed to tell me I

had fathered a child. I'm not trying to be the bad guy but you've already put me in the role."Her lip trembled and she looked away. "I was protecting Aubrey."It's my turn to think about Aubrey's welfare, too. And I feel it's in her best interest to carry my

name.""Well, I disagree."Nolan could tell Shannon would continue to stay on the opposite side of the argument and he

decided for Aubreys sake he would let the lawyers fight it out. Shannon had to know that she wasgoing to lose. When the paternity revealed that he was the father, his rights would go into effect.There was no sense in beating her over the head with the point.

Hed ruined the afternoon but there was no escaping the fact that he was pent up with anunnamable energy. He was angry, shamed, but worse, he was lost. When Shannon started packing upthe picnic he didn't stop her. An apology danced on his tongue but he knew it would fall on deaf earsand didnt bother.

The silent car ri