Whose Baby Is This?

“If you want to do what’s best for your niece, stay and help me find the man who’s hurt both our lives.”

He wanted her to stay? “But what can I do? Bri was the one who knew you…or whoever you say was masquerading as you.”

“Please, just stay and talk to the private investigator I’ve hired.”

The phone interrupted him. After a few minutes Matt hung up. “Sorry, that was Harry Douglas, the hospital administrator, reminding me about the big fund-raiser at the end of the month.” His dark eyes bore into hers. “That’s another reason I want to clear this up. I don’t want any bad press coming to Riverhaven.”

He sounded so convincing. “I understand that. And I’m not going to make any trouble. I only came to fulfill a promise to my sister.” She started to get up. “Now we can all get on with our lives.”

He held out a hand to stop her. “But you won’t believe me unless we find the thief. Please, you have to stay.”

“I can’t just hang around in a motel room while you try to come up with another story.”

“I told you there isn’t another story,” he argued. “But this isn’t finished. I don’t want you coming back in a few years and starting this up again.”

“You think I’d do that?”

His eyes searched hers. “I’m not sure. I’m not sure of anything anymore.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “Look, you don’t understand. Riverhaven is a research hospital. We rely heavily on grants and people’s generosity. My career started here. I’ve made a name for myself as a cardiothoracic surgeon. I don’t need any scandal.”

Matt walked to the window and looked out. Damn. He hated losing control. And he wasn’t about to lose the success he’d worked so hard for. It was unfair. And not just to him, but to the baby. He swung around and stared at Tara. “Look, we’ve got to resolve this.”

There was a knock on the door, and a middle-aged man walked in. He was dressed in a pinstripe suit. He had black wavy hair and wore wire-rimmed glasses. His smile was almost a sneer. “Well, Matt, aren’t you going to introduce us?”

“Tara McNeal, this is Ed Podesta…my lawyer.”

“Hello, Ms. McNeal.”

Tara tossed a hurt look at Matt, and he suddenly felt he’d done something wrong.

“Mr. Podesta,” she said.

Ed dropped his briefcase on the desk and picked up a file. “These the blood tests?”

Matt nodded. “They’re inconclusive.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Tara said. “Dr. Landers doesn’t want to be Erin’s father. And I’m leaving.”

“Wait, Tara,” Matt called to her. “If you don’t stay, you’ll always wonder about the truth.” He looked at his lawyer for some help.

“And Dr. Landers doesn’t need the threat of you showing up later on, claiming paternity.”

Tara shook her head. “I told him I wouldn’t do that.”

“Then extend your stay to allow for one more test.”

She frowned. “What test?”

Matt spoke. “There’s one test that will prove I couldn’t possibly have fathered the child. A DNA test.”

Tara blinked. “That’s what you’re looking for, isn’t it? A way to get out of accepting the fact that you’re Erin’s father.”

“I’m not—”

“He’s not.” Ed Podesta interrupted. “Let me handle this, Matt.” The lawyer turned to Tara. “It looks as if Dr. Landers’s word isn’t good enough for you. And for the future, a DNA test will protect everyone involved.”

Tara glanced at Matt. “Don’t DNA tests cost a lot?”

“I’ll pay.”

“But…”

“Look, Ms. McNeal,” Podesta began, “Dr. Landers wants to find out who Erin’s father is nearly as much as you do. And when the test eliminates him, then perhaps we can find the man who’s managed to disrupt several lives.”

Tara turned to Matt. Suddenly this all seemed so sordid, so clinical. But there was a baby involved. She had no choice.

“Are you with me?” Matt asked.

She nodded. “Do we need to go back to the lab?”

Matt turned to Ed. “DNA testing has to be done at a larger facility.” He glanced away. “There’s another catch. It’s going to take awhile to get the results.”

“How long?”

“It could take four weeks.”

Tara didn’t like that. She hoped everything would be straightened out so she could head home. “Okay, we’ll do the test and then we’ll have to go back to Phoenix. You can call me when the results come back.”

“I’d like you and Erin to stay here,” Matt said.

Her mouth gaped open. She didn’t have the money to stay in Santa Cruz. “There’s no way I can afford it. Besides, I don’t want to keep Erin in a motel room.” She shook her head. “No, it just isn’t possible.”

Matt nodded. “I understand. But you agree to the test, right?”

“I think it’s a good idea.”

“And will you talk with the private investigator?” Matt asked.

Tara shrugged. “All right, but I don’t think I’ll know anything that will help.” Good heavens! She was beginning to sound as if she believed his story.

He smiled. “You might be surprised at what you know. Anything your sister told you about the man she knew could possibly help us.”

Tara stared at Matt Landers, wondering what he was up to. “Maybe this will all backfire on you.”

He glared at her. “Things can’t get any worse than they are now.”

Tara had agreed to meet in the coffee shop next to the motel that evening with Matt and his private investigator, Jim Sloan. She had fed Erin, and the baby was sleeping peacefully in the carrier beside her in the booth. But for how long? She checked her watch. It was after eight o’clock. Glancing toward the door of the restaurant, she began to think this was a crazy idea.

At a larger, state-of-the-art lab that afternoon, they’d taken blood and saliva samples for the DNA test. Matt had asked that they meet later with Sloan. He wanted to know if she knew anything.