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She’d le portions for future reen vegetables froarden, it would be a hearty iven that it was still late suhtfully warm

She gave atheeh role at the best of ti here for an interview to join the—then—er household staff, she’d felt as if she’d found home for the very first ti and had

Ten years later, that hoer’s assertion that Riley was not her husband’s son Party A, whoever he was, had no idea what can of worms he’d upended

Legal advice, that hat she needed But legal advice ca that she wasn’t in a position to pay, and she wasn’t about to use the firm that had handled the Connell family affairs for over a hundred years Not when they were the very people who’d see her and Riley removed froo away

She shook her head She’d been Ja of the word Riley was their son Connell Lodge was Riley’s home for his lifetime The archaic trust that held the property only allowed direct descendants of the original James Connell, who built the property back in the early 1900s, to live there As Jaical son, Riley and she—as his ht to be there

A chill of foreboding ran down her spine But what if a mistake had been made?

God, she hated this whole situation and the horribly vulnerable position it had put her in If she had to leave right now, all she and Riley would have were the clothes on their backs and the very small amount of money left in her bank account She had no skills other than being darn good at keeping the lodge in order and providing for their guests, and while she could competently skipper the boat moored at the end of the private pier, their charter license had long since lapsed Jaht-after fishing guide, while all she’d ever wanted was a hoe was that home

Losing the very roof over her head was not an option Soo away

A na childbirth classes and knew the other woal practice in South Lake Tahoe alhter Maybe she could help, or at least be able to advise Erin on the best route to take without costing a small fortune She’d make enquiries in the next few days, sound the woetting to the trustees who handled Connell Lodge—at least, not before she knew exactly where she stood, however shaky that ground may be

Riley chose thatin his fist and sent up an alhty wail of protest She unbuckled him from the rocker and lifted him in her arms but he was determined to be inconsolable

“Shh, Riley-bear, shh,” she murmured as she held him close and peppered his little face with kisses, but he wasn’t having any of it

From experience she knew there was only one way to soothe him With one eye on the old-fashioned board, decorated with bells that were connected to the main rooms, she settled in a kitchen chair, unbuttoned the top of her blouse and adjusted her clothing so he could nurse Riley latched onto her with gusto, and Erin wiped his chubby little cheeks of the tears that had stained them

“Oh, Riley, your ti to be down for his dinner soon and I don’t think he’ll be i his meal with you attached to me like this”

“I’m happy to wait”

The voice fro Riley off her She swiftly guided hied her blouse a little more modestly

“I’ in her cheeks as she saw exactly where Sa for me”

“I didn’t” Sam limped the rest of the way into the kitchen and pulled out a chair at the table “I went to the dining roo there alone didn’t really suit Do you mind if I eat here, with you?”