"An abandoned infant brings change and unexpected love to two strangers."
Reviewed by Kay Quintin
Posted July 31, 2012
Romance Series | Romance
Strangers claiming a Denver cab at the same time and
discovering an abandoned infant inside, begin an unplanned
relationship. Zack Harrison, a son and part owner of the
Harrison Hotels conglomerate, is in Denver attempting to
close a deal. Trinity Matthews is a feature writer for
Story Magazine. With a winter storm moving in child
protection cannot come for the infant until the next day.
Zach is willing to keep the baby girl but is grateful when
Trinity offers to help. Zach suggests they take the cab to
his cabin until she can be picked up. Trinity has a soft
spot caused from her own abandonment as an infant and being
the product of rape. She was also raised in the foster care
system with a less than appropriate foster mom.
Calling the 3 month old infant "Bonnie" they proceed to
fall in love with the baby as a fierce blizzard sets in
causing electricity to be lost and making the fireplace a
cozy essential. Sparks fly and an instant
attraction stirs their libidos. The sizzling sex is
staggering and causes the rich ladies-man to take a second
look. An early unexpected visit from the social worker
claims Bonnie as the young mother waits in the car for her
daughter. Reluctantly releasing Bonnie
Zack insists on leaving contact information with
the mother in case of an emergency. Returning to their own
lives in New York isn't the ending they expect when the girl
calls for help. Off to Denver they go least expecting the
proposal they received. Now both Zack and Trinity are
wondering if this is truly the temporary arrangement they
thought.
Robyn Grady has created a most amusing and beautiful tale
of two opposites and what the love of a child can do. The
plot is clever and STRICTLY TEMPORARY will leave you with a
very warm
and fuzzy feeling. Good things do happen to those that
leave their hearts open for change. A tiny abandoned infant
clutches the heart and brings out the best in the characters
of this tale. I will look for more stories by Robyn Grady
as I truly enjoyed this well written read.
SUMMARY
Discovering an abandoned baby in the backseat of a taxi was
not on hotelier Zack Harrison's agenda. Luckily, a stunning
stranger comes to his aid—and piques his interest. But
before Child Services can arrive, a snowstorm strands the
trio in Zack's luxurious Colorado cabin. Trinity Matthews wants to resist Zack's advances, but his
care and concern for her and the baby soon have her melting.
As the snow falls and the heat sizzles, it's not long before
Trinity's sleeping in his bed. And she finds herself
wondering if their temporary arrangement could have
permanent effects.
ExcerptCool. Unruffled.
Nothing rattled Zack Harrison's cage.
He viewed Denver's unseasonal snowfall this afternoon as
a picturesque bonus more than an inconvenience. Today's
setback with regard to his latest acquisition strike was
another challenge, not a reason to rant. Achieving a goal
should involve effort, Zack decided as he shrugged into his
overcoat, thanked the concierge and collected his
briefcase. He'd simply need to get more... inventive was
the word.
However, his patience was sorely tested when it came to
the press. Last month's beat–up was nothing short of
laughable. Apparently he was a fiend who left
underprivileged families homeless in order to expand his
evil empire. And what about that recent piece questioning
his treatment of an ambitious actress he'd been seeing?
Without exception he treated women with respect but, from
the get–go, he and Ally had agreed upon "fun and
casual," not "if I don't see a diamond ring, I'll expose
your darkest secret." As if blackmail would work. Unlike
his father and siblings, this Harrison didn't give a rat's
behind what people thought.
But on this late–spring afternoon, as he strode
from the hotel's entrance, yanked open the waiting cab's
back passenger door and zipped inside the toasty cabin,
Zack's calm fled and he jumped back in his seat. He took a
moment to adjust and study his unexpected company before
leaning forward to tap the driver's shoulder.
"Your last fare forgot something."
The cabbie angled around. "A wallet?"
"No," Zack said. "A baby."
The other back door swung open. A cool rush whooshed
inside along with a woman wearing a hooded cherry–red
coat. She set a matching overnighter on her lap and
promptly slapped the door shut against the howling drifts.
Blowing warmth into her cupped hands, her attention
shifted. Beneath the red hood, curious eyes the color of
new violets slid from the infant car seat carrier up to
Zack and back again.
He considered her face, those eyes, and his chest grew
unusually warm. He hadn't met this woman before and yet
something in her glittering gaze had him wondering if he
knew her. Perhaps he'd simply like to.
"I was in such a hurry, I didn't see you get in," she
said, wrapping her manicured hands around the lip of her
case. "Actually I couldn't see much at all. Crazy, isn't
it? All this snow, I mean."
A slow smile hooked one side of his mouth as Zack's gaze
drank her in. "Yeah," he said. "Crazy."
"It seems like the concierge called a cab ages ago. I
walked to the curb to see if I could hail one down. I
thought it might never come."
Zack's smile faded. He'd stolen her ride? When he'd
checked out a few minutes ago, the front desk had organized
a cab. Exiting the hotel's foyer, he'd merely assumed.
He leaned forward again, spoke to the driver. He'd pick
off this easier problem then take care of that other more
complicated baby matter next.
"Are you answering a call?"
"Just back from dropping a fare at the airport." The man
behind the wheel pushed a maroon beret back on his brow
before flicking on the meter. "Thought I'd swing in here
and try my luck. No one's going out in this weather ‘less
they have to."
"The airport." Red Riding Hood tipped forward,
too. "That's where I'm headed. I need to get back to New
York for an interview first thing tomorrow. I'm a features
writer for Story Magazine.'" Her bright look said, You've
heard of it, right?
Acting suitably informed and impressed despite his
aversion, Zack nodded and said, "Of course," a moment
before she dragged back the hood. The shadow framing her
face lifted and Zack forgot to breathe.
Other than her cheeks, which were flushed a healthy
pink, her complexion was as flawless as porcelain. Her
hair, a luxurious mane, rested like a sable mantle over two
slim straight shoulders. Her violet eyes were so vibrant
their light penetrated and illuminated places he hadn't
known existed.
He'd dated some beauties in his time, women who drew
attention when they floated into a room and were
comfortable exerting their power over the opposite sex. But
Zack couldn't recall having met a female whose company
literally left him short on air, and not only because of
something as superficial as looks. In the clear depths of
her eyes...the poised yet innocent manner with which she
listened and spoke.
Quite simply, this woman glowed.
After today's unproductive meeting with the owner of
this building he was ready to kick back and get
home—home being the two–story private cabin he
chilled at whenever he stopped in town. But the delectable
Red was obviously in a hurry, eager to leave Denver and its
freak weather behind. He'd be happy to play the gentleman
and wait for another cab.
Which also meant she and the driver could work out
between them what to do about this baby, who, thankfully,
was still sound asleep. Peaceful.
Zack looked harder.
Almost too peaceful. He had the damnedest urge to check
each tiny finger curled over that wrap to make certain they
were warm.
Red was peering at the baby, too. "I see you have a
little one to worry about. She's gorgeous." She sighed then
drew away. "I'll ask the concierge to call and see where my
cab is."
As she turned to find her door's handle, Zack's muscles
clenched and he caught her sleeve. Red couldn't leave. She
had it all wrong.
When her gaze hooked back—unsure,
concerned—he released her arm and coughed out a
hoarse laugh at the same time he glanced at the baby.
"This isn't mine.""
The cabbie grunted. "Sure as heck ain't mine."
The woman blinked two sets of generous lashes and her
lips twitched as if she wanted to smile but didn't
dare. "She looks a little young to travel alone."
She. Zack had to ask.
"How do you know it's a girl?" The carrier, blanket and
bonnet were as white as the snow piling up on the sidewalk
and road.
"Well, her face is so sweet." Expression melting, Red
curved the back of her hand over the baby's bonneted crown
and a tiny pair of lips pursed in and out as if she were
dreaming about dinner. "Rosebud mouth," Red went on. "Cute
and tiny. She's too pretty to be a boy."
The driver drummed his thumbs on the wheel. "Meter's
running, folks."
"Of course." Gathering herself, Red pulled away. "I'll
let you go."
For a second time that day, Zack's calm evaporated. But
now his mouth went completely dry, and sweat broke on the
back of his neck. This afternoon was supposed to finish
with a quiet brandy in front of a toasty fire, not tossing
a hot potato like this around. He didn't even like
babies.... Or, more correctly, they didn't like him.
"What are we supposed to do with her?" he asked.
"Not we, pal." The cabbie slotted the shift into gear.
His voice deep, Zack spoke to the man who clearly wasn't
his "pal."
"I told you, she isn't mine."
Red slanted her head and a stream of sable spilled over
one shoulder. "What's she doing here then?"
"Beats me. Who'd you drop off last?" he asked the driver.
"An eighty–year–old man with a cane." The
cabbie slid his beret back again. "He was flying out to see
family in Jersey, and he wasn't carrying no bassinet."
The cabbie's expression said, Don't know your game, son,
but don't try to dump your problems on me.
Zack growled. How many times did he have to say it? The
baby wasn't his! At least it seemed that Red believed him.
Her face had lost all color as if every drop of blood
had rushed to her feet. Her question came out a struggled
whisper as though she shouldn't speak the words too loud
for fear they might be true.
"Do you think someone abandoned her?"
"Guess the authorities will have to figure that out."
Zack didn't like the situation—not a bit. He knew
less than zip about babies and had every intention of
keeping it that way. Marriage and its inevitable
complications were the furthest things from his mind. But,
in this matter.
Ah, hell, what choice did he have? Red was in a
legitimate hurry and—no getting around it—he
had been the one to make the find. Either the guy behind
the wheel could outact Tom Hanks or he sincerely had no
clue. God only knew how a baby could end up alone in the
backseat of a cab.
Zack's gaze roamed the small sleeping form, those
rosebud lips, that button nose, and his heart swelled and
dropped. Some things you simply couldn't shrug off.
After flexing his fingers, he slid a firm grip around
the unharnessed car seat's handle.
"I'll bring her to the police station." His voice was
hushed now. He didn't want to wake her and maybe have her
cry. "They can call Child Services."
"But they could take ages to collect her."
"I only know a baby doesn't sleep forever and I don't
carry spare diapers around in my breast pocket."
Red quietly searched around the foot of the
blanket. "There's a bottle here," she said, "some formula
and a few diapers, too."
"The officers at the local precinct will be most
appreciative."
She lifted an eyebrow. "I'm sure they'll be eternally
grateful."
Zack narrowed his eyes at her. What was she after? He
was a businessman, for Pete's sake, not a
babysitter—no matter how cute the kid.
The driver adjusted his rearview mirror. "Should I drop
you two lovebirds off at a cafe so you can nut this out?"
"We're not lovebirds." Zack gripped the carrier's handle
more tightly while Red held his gaze for an interminably
long moment.
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