Page 30 (1/2)

“Is that a threat?”

“I will be part of my son’s life, one way or another”

Glaring at hie I don’t care how rich or powerful you are Family is what matters Not money”

And as Stavros looked down at her in the coldbecame crystal clear

He had little experiencetricky relationships In the past, if a , he’d simply ended the relationship

So think of it as a business deal He coolly reassessed the situation A hostile takeover He looked down at the tiny dark-haired baby He wanted to be a steady, permanent part of his child’s life Clearly, the best way to do that was to marry Holly But she didn’t want to marry him She didn’t want his money She didn’t want his name

So how best to negotiate? Hoin?

He could brutally fight her for custody With his deep pockets, his lawyers would crush her But inexperienced as Stavros ith long-term relationships, he didn’t think this would ultimately lead to a happy home for their child

How else could he get leverage?

Then he realized She’d just revealed her weakness Family is what matters, she’d said And she’d shown that belief in every aspect of her life She’d given up college and her own dreaiven up years of her life for that worthless sister of hers She’d quit her job and fled to Europe when she’d thought she needed to protect her baby

How could he use her own heart against her?

A sudden idea occurred to him Itelse

But Holly already looked as if she were ready to turn on her heel and stalk away, taking their child with her He needed some way to spend time with her To make her calm down and see reason And he could think of only one way

Since she was none too pleased with her sister at thather to New York wasn’t an option

But Freddie had a grandfather