âChildren have a place and itâs anywhere Iâm not!â
It was one off-the-cuff remark. But when it goes viral, Alec McAvoy is labeled the playboy CEO of Best for Babyâwho hates kids!
Enter Julia Stillwell, image consultant extraordinaire. The widowed mom of two has a knack for changing public opinion, and sheâll teach Alec all he needs to know. But once they start this makeover, they donât want to stopâ¦and thatâs when one little kiss leads to many, many others!
So now Juliaâs worked her magic, but is Alecâs transformation only skin-deep? Or can this hunky executive convince her that he is ready to become a family manâso long as itâs with Julia?
MUST LIKE KIDS
If a car could scream âno kids,â his wouldâa slick black sports coupe with tinted windows.
Alec unfolded himself from the car, still dressed in a suit. Dark designer lenses shaded his eyes. His appearance said âimportant.â It said, âI wield power.â
He looked like anything but a fun-loving family man.
âI told you to change your clothes,â she said.
âI didnât have time to stop off at my apartment.â
âYou might want to lose the suit coat.â
âNo need to say that twice.â
As Alec shrugged out of it, she tried not to stare, but her gaze was pulled to the firm upper body showcased in the tailored cotton dress shirt. When her gaze returned to his face, she realized he was watching her. One side of his mouth was lifted in amusement.
Heat that had nothing to do with the broiling sun suffused her face.
Julia cleared her throat. âAnd the tie, tooâ¦â
ONE
âChildren have a place and itâs anywhere Iâm not.â
Even before the reporterâs eyebrows lifted, Alec McAvoy knew the words were going to come back to bite him in a place that would make sitting uncomfortable.
He laughed uneasily. âThatâs off the record, right?â
âThis is an interview, Mr. McAvoy. Nothing is off the record,â the woman interviewing him replied blandly, although he got the feeling she would be grinning broadly the first chance she got. She was young, new to her job and looking to make her mark as a journalist. He had just handed her a golden opportunity.
âRight. But you understand that I was just joking when you asked me if I liked kids? Of course I like kids. Theyâre great. Wonderful.â
Especially when they were quiet, preferably sleeping or strapped into strollers when out in public. This time he managed to keep the thoughts to himself.
âJoke or not, I find it a telling response coming from the head of a company that specializes in products for infants and children.â
To use the vernacular of the little ones to whom Best For Baby, Incorporated catered, Alec was in deep doo-doo.
No amount of backpedaling or flirtingâand, yeah, heâd resorted to that before the interview was throughâchanged the end result. When the article hit the internet via American CEO magazineâs online edition, it contained his flippant remark. The reporter had included his explanation that it was a âjoke.â Her use of quotation marks around the word only served to make it sound more insincere. But what elevated his statement from gaffe to truly damning was the reporterâs inclusion of an interview sheâd conducted with Alecâs ex-girlfriend, Laurel McCain. No doubt Laurel had relished the chance to tarnish his reputation after their ugly breakup six months earlier. Sheâd wanted a ring and the title of Mrs. Alec McAvoy. Heâd simply wanted out.
âAlec is uncomfortable around children,â his ex claimed in the article. âWe were together for nearly two years, and I can count on one hand the number of times my children were included in our outings.â
No mention of the fact that sheâd preferred it that way.
âWas I surprised when he was named the new head of Best For Baby back in January? Yes. Extremely,â Laurel went on to say. âDonât get me wrong, Alec is a smart businessman, but as a mother, I always thought Best For Baby was about more than the bottom line.â
Within hours of appearing online, the story was picked up by a couple of high-profile bloggers. Mothers everywhere were appalled, outraged. It was shared on Facebook, tweeted about on Twitter and went viral.