Mommy For A Minute

Mommy For A Minute
Judy Christenberry

The last thing Lauren McNabb wanted was another child to care for–not after she'd raised her six siblings.The last thing Jack Mason wanted was another woman to come into his daughter's life, then leave. But when Jack showed up to renovate her Yellow Rose Lane apartment with his three-year-old in tow, Lauren fell for little Ally– and the handsome carpenter.But he didn't want "The Shark," as she was known in legal circles, around his child. Lauren was certainly beautiful, and after years of being alone, he thought kissing her felt like heaven. But could the workaholic attorney go back to her busy career and still be a mother…as well as a wife?

Mommy for a Minute

Judy Christenberry

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

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 One

Damn! This wasn’t going to go well. Jack Mason shifted his almost-four-year-old against his shoulder as he rang the bell at the Yellow Rose Lane fourplex.

“Ally, I need you to be really quiet and stay next to Daddy this morning, okay?”

“Okay, Daddy.” Her voice didn’t show any concern. She probably had no idea what he was asking, but he’d keep her out of the way. He certainly didn’t want her running into The Shark’s sharp bite.

The apartment door swung open and Jack was suddenly face-to-face with the dreaded Shark. At least he thought he was. He sure hadn’t expected her to open the door with a smile. “I’m looking for Miss McNabb.”

Dark eyes flashed at him, darting from his face to Ally’s and back again. “I’m she.”

“I’m Jack Mason. Judge Robinson recommended I contact you about some cabinetry work you wanted done.”

“Yes, come in, Mr. Mason and…” She paused, staring at his child.

“Um, this is my daughter, Allison. Her child-care facility closed suddenly this morning and I couldn’t find a sitter. But she’ll stay by my side and she won’t cause any problems.”

“All right,” the woman said calmly, swinging the door wide, as if bringing a child to work was normal. She indicated that he should be seated, so he settled on a white couch that made him a little nervous. He perched Ally on his knee, whispering for her to be still.

“I’m not sure exactly how you work, Mr. Mason, but Judge Robinson raved about the quality of your work.”

“That’s very kind of him. I’d like to start by asking some questions about what you have in mind, the kind of wood, the length of time available, things like that.”

“Of course.” She watched him juggle the child while taking out pen and paper. “Isn’t it going to be difficult to hold her and write?”

Jack glared at her. He didn’t care how pretty she was. She had no business telling him how to do his job. “I’ll manage.”

She didn’t argue with him, but her gaze remained focused on his child.

“Are we only talking about one room?” he asked.

“Yes. My third bedroom. I have a month off work and I’d like to be settled in at the end of the month.”

“All right. Do you have a particular type of wood that you’d like me to use?”

“I believe you used oak in Judge Robinson’s office. I liked that a lot.”

“I want to draw, Daddy,” Ally said, reaching for the pen.

“No, sweetheart. Daddy has to write now.”

“But, Daddy—”

“No, Ally, not right now.”

Ally frowned but didn’t protest again. He held her a little closer.

“Do you want something similar to Judge Robinson’s home office?” he asked Ms. McNabb in his best professional tone.

“Yes, I do. Except I would like more storage space.”

“What kind of storage space?”

“Some bins with sliding drawers. Nothing fancy. Why don’t I show you the space while we talk. That might make everything more clear.” She stood, assuming he’d agree.