And most likely, the little girl's mother had eventually glanced down expecting to find her daughter by her side, and was met with the shocking discovery that her little girl was gone. No doubt, her mother was hysterical with worry.

The little girl started crying again, making Grey feel helpless and way out of his element. The first thought that drifted though his mind was, what would Mariah do? The answer came easily. She'd comfort the little girl.

Forcing himself closer, despite how the girl's sobs shook him up, he hunkered down in front of her. She was so little, so vulnerable. So sweet and innocent. Without thinking, he gently brushed a soft strand of hair from her face, startled by the odd protectiveness that rippled through him.

He swallowed hard. Oh, man, if he experienced such sensitivity and empathy with a child he didn't even know, he could only imagine how much more powerful the emotion would be with his own child.

His child. The child Mariah carried. The revelation sent his mind reeling.

"My name is Grey," he said, attempting to establish some familiarity between them and chase away her apprehension. "What's your name?"

"B-B-Brandi," she stuttered.

He smiled, the last of the tension easing from his body. "Well, that's a beautiful name for such a pretty little girl. What do you say you come with me and we'll go look for your mom?"

Her gaze turned skeptical, and she swiped her tears from her cheeks. "I'm not supposed to go anywhere with strangers."

"That's a very good rule," he told her, knowing he'd want his own child to be just as educated. "But I don't want to leave you here all by yourself. There's an information booth a little ways from here, and I'm sure they can locate your mom for you, but you have to come with me."

He straightened, held out his hand and waited, knowing there was little he could do if Brandi refused to go with him. If she didn't, he resolved to stay with her until someone found them.

Tentatively she reached out and placed her tiny, soft hand in his much larger one, believing his promise. Believing and accepting him. That first touch and the way she curled her fingers so hopefully around his hand made his heart catch in his chest. Those big blue eyes, just moments ago brimming with tears, now shone with a trust that nearly brought him to his knees. She was depending on him to deliver her safely to her mother. There was no way he was going to let her down.

Adjusting his long stride to meet her much shorter one, he walked with her to the information booth and reported the incident to the young woman working there. The woman assured him that the little girl had been reported missing, and that security and the girl's mother were searching the plaza. Picking up a two-way radio, she called off the pursuit.

"They're at the other end of the plaza," the young woman said. "As soon as they locate Brandi's mother, they'll be here." She glanced over the counter at the little girl clinging to Grey's side. "Would you like to sit behind the counter with me until your mother gets here?"

Brandi shook her head and curled her fingers tight around Grey's hand. "No, I want to stay with Mr. Grey."

The woman glanced at Grey, and deciding he met with her approval, she smiled. "Very well."

Spotting an ice-cream shop across from the information booth, Grey glanced back at Brandi and said spontaneously, "What do you say we get an ice cream while we're waiting?"

A beatific smile wreathed the little girl's face, and she nodded eagerly. "I like chocolate," she announced.

Grey laughed. "Then chocolate it is."

Minutes later they were sitting side by side on a wooden bench next to the information booth, each holding a single-scoop chocolate ice-cream cone. The simplicity of the situation seeped through him, warm as sunshine. He couldn't remember the last time he'd eaten an ice-cream cone, and that he was doing so with a child, and enjoying it bewildered and delighted him.

He was going to be a dad. The startling thought rushed out of nowhere, but it came with an abundance of emotion and a yearning he'd tried his best to ignore since learning Mariah was pregnant with their baby. A child conceived out of the love he and Mariah shared.

The longing for the impossible grew stronger with each passing day. Today it had surpassed anything he'd ever experienced, all because of a lost little girl. To help her, he'd played a role, a parental role he hadn't believed himself capable of. He'd been gentle and patient, despite his fears. And once they'd gotten over their initial wariness of one another, the rest had come naturally.

The prospect of raising a child made his insides clench with apprehension, but the thought of missing the opportunity to share in special moments like this with his son or daughter hurt much, much more. His own childhood had been less than ideal, full of painful memories that he'd never forget, that would always be a part of who he was. But as a result of what he'd experienced, he never, ever wanted his child to feel the kind of hurt and disillusionment he had. Never wanted his son or daughter to think he didn't love them.

And he would love them, he realized with startling clarity. Already did. He wanted to experience their smiles and laughter. To play ball with a son, or attend his daughter's ballet recital. Dammit, he wanted to be a part of their lives on a daily basis and share every stage of their development.

He wanted to make a difference to them, just as he'd made a difference to this little girl who'd so openly trusted and accepted him.

You're a better man than your father ever was. You're kind, gentle and loving… Mariah's words whispered through him, soothing the last of his doubts. She believed in him. She was strong, nothing even remotely close to his own weak, spineless mother. Mariah loved fully, without reservation, without conditions.

And she loved him. How could he fail with her by his side, guiding him and learning the ropes of parenthood right along with him?

He'd been a fool to walk away. What Mariah wanted was so simple, and something he'd yearned for his entire life, but had done his best to deny: to be part of a family, one filled with hopes and heartaches, good times and bad, respect and trust…and love.

He wanted it all. But would Mariah forgive him for being such an idiot and not realizing sooner that everything he'd ever wanted in his life started and ended with her?

Brandi patted his arm to get his attention, and he glanced from the chocolate handprint on his sleeve, to the little girl's face, smudged with sticky ice cream. He waited for a spark of irritation over the stain she'd left on his shirt, something to indicate he truly was his father's son and had a temper to match, but the only thought that came to mind was that his shirt was washable.

Pure relief flooded him, and at that moment, he knew he'd fight until his last breath for Mariah and his child.

"Thank you, Mr. Grey," Brandi said softly, gazing up at him with something akin to adoration. "You're very nice, and I like you a lot."

A lump the size of a baseball lodged in his throat, and he cleared it away before he embarrassed himself. "And you're the sweetest little girl I've ever had the pleasure to meet." He tapped his finger on the tip of her nose, and when she giggled, he melted inside.

"Brandi!"

The frantic cry caught both Grey and Brandi's attention. When Brandi saw her mother running toward her, she scrambled off the bench and flew into her mother's arms.

The woman was crying and squeezing the little girl fiercely, protectively. "Thank you so much for taking care of my baby," she said, meeting Grey's gaze over her daughter's head. "One minute she was right next to me, and the next, she was gone. I've never been so scared in my entire life!"

Grey smiled, clearly picturing how he'd first found Brandi, crying and so frightened. "I think the feeling was mutual."

The reunion was sweet. And so were the strange but wonderful emotions sweeping through Grey. He knew he'd never see the little girl again, but he would never forget her.


"Buckle up."

Mariah cast Grey an annoyed look, but did as he requested, considering he was already backing his Cherokee out of the parking spot next to her BMW. She never knew what to expect from him anymore, since the day he'd barged into her office two weeks ago demanding she allow him to be a part of his child's life. She couldn't help but wonder what had brought about the sudden change of mind.

She sighed, feeling impatient and weary. "Grey, you can't keep kidnapping me every time we get into an argument."

He slid on his sunglasses and merged into traffic. "I'm not kidnapping you."

"Then what do you call that stunt you pulled back in the parking lot? "Get in the car and please don't make a scene," she said, reciting his exact words.

A grin curved his mouth. "Hey, I was polite about it. There were people around-I didn't want them listening to our conversation. Since you didn't argue and got into the car, I figured you felt the same way."

She ground her teeth at his logic. "Jade will be expecting me back at the office in an hour."

"Jade can wait. This can't." He stopped the car at a red light, and glanced at her. "We need to talk, Mariah."

She could only see her reflection in his glasses, but his intense gaze burned through the lenses like a laser. She'd been so emotional lately, she knew she'd bawl when that "talk" made her think about how hopeless and tangled their situation was.

"I don't want to talk," she said, her tone firm.

"Fine, then you can listen."

She didn't want to listen to what he had to say, either, but other than jumping from the vehicle, she had no choice. Determined not to say a word or contribute to this conversation in any way, she focused her attention out the passenger window.

He turned onto the freeway on-ramp. "You know I want to be a part of my child's life-"

Her head snapped around and she cut him off before he could complete his sentence. "I told you I wouldn't deny you that." So much for being quiet and unresponsive.

A small smile quirked the corner of his mouth. "Good, because I'm not giving you a choice."

She bristled in irritation. Who did he think he was that he could make ultimatums like that? The baby's father, that's who. He had every legal right to demand equal time with his child.

"I want to be a part of your pregnancy, too."

"You do?" she asked doubtfully and a little suspiciously.

"Yeah." Excitement laced his voice. "I can go with you to the doctor's appointments, can't I?"

"Yes." She nearly choked on the word, but knew she couldn't deny Grey the chance to hear the baby's heartbeat, and maybe see the baby move within her belly. She blew out an aching breath. Sharing the stages of her pregnancy with Grey was going to be joyful, as well as painful. She wondered if she'd survive this new unorthodox relationship they were establishing, one based on their mutual responsibility to the child inside her and nothing more.

"And how about those classes where they teach you to relax and breathe that funny way?"

"Lamaze." That's where she firmly drew the line. La-maze was too personal and intimate an experience, one that required touching. How could she concentrate on her breathing technique in class when the man she loved but couldn't have was rubbing her back or gently caressing her belly? Her focus would be on him, not the lessons she needed to learn.

"Jade is going to be my coach," she said, hoping to dispel any notion or obligation he felt to be by her side during those laboring hours.

"No way," he said adamantly. "No offense to Jade, but I want to be there when the baby's born."

Feeling drained and uncertain about this whole part-time parent stuff, Mariah rested her head on the seat. "Grey, you don't have to do this-"

"I want to do this. I insist on doing this." He exited the freeway and came to a halt at the Stop sign at the base of the off-ramp. He transferred his gaze to her for a second to give her the full effect of his grim expression. "You're not going to make my participation in this baby's life difficult, are you?"

She shivered in apprehension, wondering if he'd go so far as to sue for custody if he didn't get his way. "Of course not," she said, her temper rising. "I just don't want you to think that I'm going to make demands on your time."

He smiled very slowly, erasing that intimidating expression. "You won't have to, because I'm going to be around a lot."