"Learning to be a Daddy"
Reviewed by Ellen Hogan
Posted December 14, 2012
Romance Contemporary
Claire is an employee of Dysart Adoption Agency. Bella has
been in her care since her parents died awaiting the arrival
of her guardian. Matt Patterson was named legal guardian of
his ex-wife's daughter. He has no clue how to deal with a
baby and asks Claire for help. So, Claire answers THE
BILLIONAIRE'S BABY SOS and decides to help Matt learn to
care for Bella. It is not a hard decision for Claire
because she sees a lot of her father in Matt and wants a
better childhood for Bella than she had. Matt wants to do
the right thing for Bella and needs all the help he can get.
Besides the addition of Bella in his life, Matt must also
deal with meeting new siblings and finding a place in the
family to fit in. Claire wants a family of her own and
wonders if she will ever have what others have.
Claire had a neglectful childhood, her father would rather
work than acknowledge she was around. Matt knew the
relationship between him and his father was not a good one
and he learned why during an argument when his father told
him that Matt was not his son. Both main characters had
flawed childhoods and want better for the baby left in
Matt's care. Claire is a patient teacher and Matt is eager
to learn how to care for Bella. They work together in
harmony with sparks flying all around. Ms. Meier brings a
lot of emotion to both of the main characters. As each
remembers their past readers can't help but empathize
with both of them. There are also some cute and funny
moments along the way. The storyline is totally believable
because such a situation could very well happen. THE
BILLIONAIRE'S BABY SOS is a very
quick and easy read that will linger long after the last
word is read.
SUMMARY
Help! Nanny Needed... Successful CEO Matt Patterson isn't called the Ice Man for
nothing-he's built up his multibillion-dollar company
through cool decision-making and a ruthless reputation. But
now he has a new challenge to face-fatherhood! Finding himself guardian to gorgeous baby Bella, Matt's more
comfortable in the boardroom than changing a diaper. Lucky,
then, that social worker Claire Kincaid agrees to play
temporary mom. Happy families might never have been in
Matt's plans, but Claire and little Bella are opening his
eyes to a life that money could never buy... Needed: the perfect wedding date! Trying to move on from a disastrous engagement, Sophie
Morgan needs a date for her best friend's wedding...and
fast! And what quicker way to find a man than speed dating?
Only, it's bar manager, Dan Halliday, who catches Sophie's
eye. Dan can't resist helping a damsel in distress, so he offers
her a deal-a few shifts in the bar in exchange for the
date-no strings attached. But when pretence leads to
passion, they both get more than they bargained for. And
it's too late to have any secrets between them....
ExcerptStill quiet, Matt followed Claire down the hall. She
held Bella on one arm as she marched to her door, fishing
her keys out of her coat pocket. Before he reached her, she
had the door open and was inside.
The exposed brick walls and hardwood floors
continued throughout her open–floor–plan
apartment. Her kitchen was new, dark cabinets with slim
silver handles, stainless steel appliances. The chic dining
area, including a table and trim buffet, flowed into her
living room space which had red sofas facing each other and
an overstuffed red print chair with matching ottoman.
"Wow."
She spun to face him. "Wow?"
"Your apartment." He glanced around. "It's so
modern." He looked around some more. "I really like it."
Nerves prickled her skin. Her breath whooshed out. She
hadn't wanted his opinion to matter, but it had and that
bothered her. He might be a nice guy with Bella, but he was
also blunt and self–important. Guessing he was only
trying to make nice after being rude to her, she grudgingly
said, "Thanks."
"I had a similar condo for a while." He smiled as if
remembering. "Right after I got my first job. Thought I'd
hit the big time because I started off earning six figures."
She gaped at him. "How does somebody ‘start off' earning
six figures?"
He strolled around the room. "I went to my interview
with two five–year plans. One was for the company
interviewing me. The other for their competitor."
She frowned. "So?"
"So, it never hurts to understand what the other guy is
thinking." He chuckled. "They said I showed initiative."
"It sounds like initiative but I wouldn't know. I've
never been a business person, never even thought about
wanting to be one."
He strolled over. "You're more of the sensitive type."
He took a step that brought them so close she could almost
feel the heat from his body. "But we've already discussed
this."
"Yes..." She hated the tremble in her voice. He was just
so damned good looking. "We have."
"But we're really not even, you know."
"Even?"
"About what we know about each other. You have a nice
condo. You like working with kids. And that's all I know
about you."
"I don't exactly know a lot about you."
He chuckled. "You've been through my house." He caught
her gaze. "In my bedroom. You know I was divorced but my
ex–wife and I stayed close enough that she gave me
custody of her child. You've seen my car collection, met my
driver. Know that I give my employees long vacations when I
travel for business. You know more about my personal life
than most women I date."
Her skin flushed. A pulse started low in her belly. So
did an unwanted sense of anticipation. It meant something
that he was telling her things, or letting her see things
about his life through his home. And right now, they stood
so close he could kiss her – or she could kiss him, if she
wanted.
She swallowed. Suddenly grateful for the protection of
the baby on her arm, she said, "Why do you want to know
about me?"
"I think you know."
"Because I know so much about you?"
"Because there's something between us." He took another
step, forcing her to shift Bella to the left or let the
poor baby get squished.
"I don't like unusual things. I don't like unexpected or
unpredictable things."
Her breath lodged in her throat. They absolutely could
not get any closer.
"So you don't like that you feel something for me?"
"No. I do not."
"Well, thanks."
He chuckled again. "You should thank me. You shouldn't
want me to be interested. I don't date. I take lovers. I
hurt women foolish enough to feel anything for me."
She took a step back, putting plenty of space between
them, believing the air had been cleared and they were
moving on. "Thanks for the warning." She handed the baby to
him, but stopped short of giving her over. "You know, we've
been carrying Bella around all day. It might be a good idea
to let her roam a bit." She stooped and put the baby on the
white shag carpet between the two red sofas. "How's this,
sweetie?"
Patting the thick carpet, Bella gurgled up at her.
"Are you sure she'll be okay down there?"
"I've had her on this carpet plenty of times." She
rose. "But you're going to make sure she's okay while I'm
gone."
"I am?"
"Yes. I'll be five minutes, tops, while I gather a few
things. You just have to make sure she doesn't go too far
or bump her head or anything like that."
He glanced around. "Okay." He caught her gaze
again. "But we're not done talking about this attraction."
"I think we are. You've warned me off enough that I'm
not even worried about it."
"Liar."
She snorted a laugh. "What? You think you're so
irresistible that ..."
He caught her by the waist and hauled her to him. Before
she could take her next breath, his lips were on hers. Soft
yet demanding, they moved over her mouth until she found
herself opening her lips beneath his. He took advantage.
His tongue plunged into her mouth.
Desire ripped through her, as her body became boneless.
Her arms snaked around his neck. He tightened his grip on
her waist and the kiss went on...
And on...
Sending sensations careening through her body, making
her long for more.
Until Bella screeched.
Claire bounced away like a teenager caught kissing on
the front porch by her parents.
Matt sucked in a breath. "Sorry."
With arousal pulsing through her, his apology didn't
make sense. She blinked at him. "Sorry?"
"The kiss wasn't supposed to go that far. It was to
prove a point." He rubbed his hand across the back of his
neck. "I was hoping that ..." He winced. "I thought if I
kissed you we'd see the attraction was ordinary, and
we'd..."
His words acted like water on a campfire. "You hoped I
was a really crappy kisser?"
He winced. "Something like that."
She gurgled a sound of disgust. This guy couldn't be any
more infuriating if he tried. How could she be so attracted
to him? "I'm going to get my things."
She turned to walk away but he caught her arm.
"I am sorry. But everything's getting confused. I'm
trying to tell you that I'm not a family man, not the
settling down kind. Being with Bella is making me look like
I might be...or maybe I should be. But I'm not."
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