For the Sake of His Child

For the Sake of His Child
Bonnie K. Winn

After tragedy deprives her of the two people she loves most, Brynn Alder decides to leave her old life behind and start over in Texas Hill Country. Here she'll help troubled kids get their lives in order–it's the only way she can make sense of everything that's happened to her.But she knows that she'll be able to help only if she doesn't get emotionally involved. Of course, that's before she meets Jake McKenzie and his daughter, Andrea.Jake wants to be a good father, but he needs Brynn's help. And when circumstances force him to stay at the isolated ranch with Brynn and Andrea, emotions build and refuse to be denied.

“Andrea’s starting to heal. Thanks to you.”

Brynn’s anxiety was still strong. “Partially. Some of it’s in her. But the most important step is still up to you.”

Jake looked puzzled. “And you don’t think I’ll do my part?”

Wanting so much for Andrea, Brynn battled between diplomacy and truth. “I know you’ll do everything in your power right now because you’ve nearly lost her. But what about later on? Will the next project in Kenya mean more than Andrea’s sense of stability?”

“That was a low blow.”

“I didn’t mean it to be. I’m just trying to be realistic. Your job takes you far away. And I don’t think Andrea can bear that anymore.”

He blinked. “You’re saying I have to choose between my career and my daughter?”

Dear Reader,

In the life of a writer, fact and fiction occasionally race along hand in hand. And when emotion begs to join them, a story grows. Such was the case in For the Sake of His Child.

Blessed with the world’s most wonderful friends, I’ve shared some of their generosity and experiences. Perhaps you’ll recognize yourself in the pages. Friends reaching out to friends. What could be better? Unless maybe it’s the love such friends find with the men in their lives. Men we cherish as we shop, talk endlessly over lunch and, even better, when we go home at night.

Please join me as I celebrate the unmatched joys of romance, friendship, single parenting and the quest for that one special love.

And to my own Mr. Right, keep the lights on, sweetheart. I’ll be home soon.

Sincerely,

Bonnie K. Winn

For the Sake of His Child

Bonnie K. Winn

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

To Jean Baker, for friendship, for giving, for sharing,

for always caring. I miss you, Texas girl.

And to Laura Shin, thank you.

CONTENTS

PROLOGUE

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

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

PROLOGUE

San Antonio, Texas

GLANCING IN THE REARVIEW mirror, Kirk Alder accelerated. The same dark green car remained close behind. The one that had tailed him from his studio.

Searching his memory, Kirk was almost positive the car hadn’t been there before then. Not at the house, not at—

The deceptively fast Cadillac sped even closer.

Kirk reached for his cell phone. Cursing, he realized he’d left it behind at the studio, stashed in his camera bag. His mission had been so urgent he hadn’t bothered with either.

Speeding up again, he wished he’d driven the Eclipse. The van’s steering was clumsy and he didn’t want to try any evasive maneuvers with the boxy vehicle. But it was Brynn’s day out with Sarah. His wife and daughter loved the sleek lines of the Eclipse and they’d taken off for a day of shopping early that morning. And at the time he hadn’t thought he’d have to evade a pursuer.

He glanced ahead on the freeway, spotting the exit he needed not too far away. Switching lanes at the last minute, he hoped to outwit the driver behind him. But the Cadillac stuck right behind him on the two-lane overpass.