Читать книгу Desire Collection: October 2017 Books 1 - 4 - Джанис Мейнард, Maureen Child - Страница 12

Three

He made it a question. Having Dani wear his clothes and wear them so damned well made it hard for him to think about babies and responsibility. He’d been attracted to her for a long time, but he knew better than to get involved with an employee. He’d learned that lesson the hard way. It wasn’t one he would soon forget.

It was imperative that he get rid of Dani before he did something stupid—imperative for two reasons. One, he didn’t need the temptation of having his charming, cheerful, cute-as-the-proverbial-button assistant underfoot outside of office hours. And two, he felt guilty as hell for ruining her holiday plans. Maybe they were still salvageable. She said she hadn’t planned to leave until tomorrow, and Gainesville was not even two hours away.

Unfortunately, the massive and almost unprecedented winter storm was the wild card in this scenario. And then there was the baby. If he did the right thing and sent Dani home for Christmas, he’d be stuck caring for an infant. The notion was more than a little terrifying.

“Another shirt would be helpful,” Dani said quietly, not meeting his gaze.

“Follow me,” he said gruffly. The condo had two guest rooms. One he used as a home office. The other was furnished simply and elegantly in shades of amber, chocolate and ivory.

He’d hired a professional to do the whole condo when he bought it. Everything but the den. That was his and his alone. The huge comfy couch, big-screen TV and gas fireplace were things he had purchased on his own. Except for sleeping, he spent most of his leisure hours in the den. Ah, who was he kidding? He worked in there, as well. Creating boundaries had never been his strong suit.

In the guest room, Dani explored, the baby still in her arms. But the little girl was waking up.

Dani grinned and kissed the baby’s head. “Hey there, Peaches. Mr. Nathaniel is showing me around. You want to sleep in here with me?”

It was tempting, very tempting, to let Dani rescue him. But such cowardice would be wrong on several levels. He took the baby from her and shook his head. “Take a shower if you want to. Get ready for bed. Then you can help me get everything set up in my bedroom for the night.”

“Okay.” Dani’s eyes were big as saucers. Maybe she was worried about the innocent baby.

“I won’t let anything happen to her,” he said. The defensive note in his voice was unavoidable. As unpalatable as it seemed, he had to at least acknowledge the possibility, however slim, that Peaches was his. “We’ll give you some privacy,” he said. “When you’re ready, come find us.”

* * *

Dani returned to the foyer and gathered all her things. If she hung the dress and tights carefully, they might be wearable again. At the drugstore, she had bought toothpaste, a toothbrush and some facial cleanser. Fortunately—because of the Christmas party—she had made sure that morning to put mascara and other makeup in her purse for touch-ups.

After a quick shower, she rinsed out her bra and panties and hung them on the towel bar. Then she put on the sweatpants sans undies and spent a few minutes blow-drying her hair. It was thick and shoulder length, maybe her best feature. Because it was still a little damp when she was done, she left it loose. Whenever Nathaniel remembered to give her a second shirt, she would change into that for the night.

Barely half an hour had elapsed by the time she went in search of her host, forty-five minutes at the most. It wasn’t hard to locate him. All she had to do was follow the sound of screaming. Little Peaches had a great set of lungs.

Dani stopped dead in the doorway of Nathaniel’s bedroom, taking in the scene with openmouthed awe.

Nathaniel’s head shot up and he glared at her, his expression hot enough to melt steel. “If you dare laugh, you’re fired.”

She swallowed hard, schooling her face to show nothing more than calm interest. “I wouldn’t dream of laughing.” It was maybe the biggest lie she had ever uttered. Poor Nathaniel.

Peaches had experienced what those in the parenting world not-so-fondly call a blowout. A poop so big and messy it squirts out the sides of the diaper and into every crevice imaginable. It was clear Nathaniel had made a heroic effort to remove the dirty diaper and replace it with a clean one, but he was taking too long, and poor Peaches was mad.

Dani grabbed several wipes out of the container and began cleaning the spots Nathaniel had either missed or hadn’t gotten to yet. The baby was stark naked. Nathaniel had poop on his hands, his sweatshirt and if she weren’t mistaken, a smudge on his chin. He was wild-eyed and flushed.

Her heart squeezed in sympathy. Most parents had nine months to get used to the idea of a baby. Nathaniel had been tossed in the deep end. If Peaches weren’t his at all, this whole experience was even more unfair.

“I’ll pick her up,” Dani said. “You start getting rid of all the nasty stuff and throw your comforter in the washer.” She was afraid the bed covering was beyond redemption.

Carrying the baby into the bathroom and using the sink as a miniature bathtub was her next step. Fortunately, the little one stopped crying when she saw herself in the mirror. Dani adjusted the water temperature and grabbed a washcloth.

The bottle of liquid hand soap on the counter would have to do for now. Moments later, she wrapped the sweet-smelling infant in one of Nathaniel’s big, fluffy towels and returned to the bedroom.

Nathaniel had just finished cleaning up the mess that was his mattress. He held out a fresh diaper. “You can do the honors.”

“Of course. I can’t believe this Ophelia person left you with nothing. We don’t even have another outfit for the baby.”

“I turned up the thermostat. And I put her sleeper in the wash with all the rest. It will be ready in a couple of hours.”

“I guess that will have to do.” Since Peaches was sucking on her fist, it seemed another bottle was in order. “I’ll feed her again. Your turn in the bathroom.”

When she turned to walk away, Nathaniel put his hand on her shoulder lightly. “Thank you, Dani. I know my thanks is not enough, but I want you to know I’m grateful.”

They were standing so close together she could see the dark stubble on his chin. It was the end of the day. That made sense. His brown eyes were deep pools of melted chocolate. He smelled of soap and a tiny hint of aftershave and maybe even a whiff of baby poop. Dani bit her bottom lip. Why had the baby chosen now to be docile? A diversion would be helpful.

“You’re welcome,” she said quietly. “I know this isn’t easy. You’re doing the right thing.”

He shrugged. “It’s not as if I had a choice.”

“Even without the snowstorm, I think you would have taken the child. Because you have to know...one way or another.”

“Who made you so smart?”

“Not smart. Just realistic. You’re not the kind of man to walk away from a responsibility, unpleasant or otherwise.”

“It’s more that that,” he said.

His hand was still on her shoulder, fingers splayed, though she wasn’t sure he noticed. “How so?”

“What if Peaches is mine? Birth control is never a hundred percent. What if this little girl is my only shot at having a child?”

“You don’t think you’ll get married one day?”

The hour was late. It had been a very strange day. Nathaniel was practically embracing Dani and the baby. She wanted to lean into him and rest her head. She was tired and confused and very afraid of doing something she would regret.

It took everything she had to step back and break the spell. “I shouldn’t have asked you that,” she said hastily. “I’m sorry, Mr. Winston.” She used his last name as a shield, but it was flimsy armor at best.

You can’t put a genie back in the bottle, though. Nathaniel gave her a pointed look as if he saw right through her attempt to be businesslike. “I think we have to concentrate on what’s important here. If you and Peaches are really okay for the moment, I’ll jump in the shower. I still smell like a diaper pail.”

“No, you don’t,” Dani protested, laughing. “But yeah, we’re fine. Take your time.”

On her way to the den, the doorbell rang. No one could come up without going through the reception desk downstairs, so this must be the delivery from the drugstore. She pressed the intercom button and waited for confirmation just to be sure.

After the young teenager unloaded all the baby paraphernalia in the foyer, Dani tipped him well and sent him on his way.

“This is it, Peaches,” she said, bending down to pick up the smallest package of diapers. “I hope I did the math right. This has to last us until the snow melts or your mama shows up, whichever comes first.”

Of course, it didn’t take a genius to guess that Ophelia was probably snowed in wherever she was hiding out. It was creepy to think a woman like that had been watching as Nathaniel and Dani spotted the infant carrier for the first time. What would she have done if the two of them had walked away? She must have been relying on the decency of human nature. Even so, Dani would never have left her own baby in such circumstances. It was too risky.

She wandered back to the den and spread an afghan on the thick carpet so the baby could have tummy time. Peaches was very mobile already and trying her best to sit up. No signs of any bottom teeth poking through. Dani guessed the little girl was about five months old, maybe six.

As the baby played with a rattle from the drugstore, Dani stretched out beside her and leaned back on her elbows. It was a strange feeling to be a guest in her boss’s home. Definitely outside the parameters of their usual interactions. Up until today, she’d had no clue where he lived.

Now, suddenly, everything was different.

When Nathaniel reappeared, his hair was damp and he had ditched the clothes the baby had desecrated.

“Much better,” Dani teased, telling herself her heart wasn’t beating faster.

He grinned, the sudden smile taking her by surprise. Her boss was more serious than playful as a rule. “Is it still Friday?” he asked, leaning a hip against the arm of the sofa. “I feel like we’ve fallen through the rabbit hole.”

“Still Friday. I’m guessing your life isn’t usually so tumultuous?”

“You could say that.” He raked both hands through this hair. “I shouldn’t have dragged you into this.”

“Look at it this way. You probably saved me from being stranded on the side of the road. At least I’m safe and warm and dry.”

“What a testimonial. Have you called your family yet?”

“Yes. I told them I was staying with a friend and that I would check in again tomorrow.”

“Let’s hope we don’t lose power.”

“Bite your tongue. That’s not even funny.”

“I wasn’t joking. If we do get ice on the back end of this thing, the situation could get dicey.”

“Oh, goody. Something to look forward to.”

He cocked his head, his lips twitching. “How have I never noticed what a smart mouth you have?”

“I’m always deferential in our work environment.” She smiled demurely, astonished to realize they were flirting. Of course, with a baby between them nothing could happen. But still...

Nathaniel stood up to pace. She was beginning to recognize his signature mood when he was agitated. He did it occasionally at work, but it was more pronounced on his home turf. “Is she getting sleepy?” he asked. “When should we put her to bed?”

“How should I know? Do you have work you need to do? You might as well let me take care of her for the moment. It’s not like I can go anywhere.”

“I know, I know. And I’m sorry.”

“Quit apologizing, Nathaniel. Humility doesn’t become you.”

“Ouch.” He squatted and rubbed the baby’s tummy, his gaze pensive. “She doesn’t look like me, not even a little bit.”

The non sequitur betrayed his inner turmoil. Dani felt her heart squeeze. “In my experience, babies this age rarely look like anybody but themselves, Nathaniel. Don’t torment yourself. Until you know for sure, she’s just a baby.”

“I suppose.” He glanced sideways at her. “Go on to bed, Dani. I’ll come get you if I get in trouble.”

“You promise?”

“I do.”

* * *

Nathaniel sighed beneath his breath. Hopefully Dani didn’t realize how completely out of his element he was. He had learned long ago—while earning his stripes in the business world—never to show fear. He could negotiate with the baddest of the badasses. What he didn’t know how to do was take care of a helpless human. Little Peaches was so damned fragile.

He scooped her up. “Here’s the thing, kiddo. I need you to cut me a break tonight. I’ll feed you and change your diaper, but you need to sleep. That’s what babies do.”

The little girl stuck a thumb in her mouth and stared up at him, unblinking. What was she thinking? Did babies think about anything?

After turning out the lights, he carried Peaches to his bedroom and surveyed the furnishings. As far as he could tell, the most important thing was to keep the kid confined. He knew it was dangerous to put her in his own bed. After getting out of the shower earlier, he had spread a sheet on the soft carpet and surrounded it with several wooden chairs. He’d probably be awake all night worrying about the kid, but he’d survive.

Fortunately, the baby had worn herself out playing with Dani. All it took was a few circuits around the bedroom with Peaches on his shoulder, and gradually her little body went limp. He crouched and laid her in the makeshift bed. Poor kid. She should be with her mother right now. It was impossible not to think about the marked differences between Ophelia and Dani. One woman was self-centered and flighty...the other generous and dependable.

At one time in his life, he had assumed all women were self-centered. His mother had taught him to believe that. It wasn’t true, though. God willing, this little sweetheart would grow up with kindness in her heart.

On a normal evening, he was awake until after one. Tonight, that was a luxury he couldn’t afford. Stripping down to his boxers, he climbed into bed, stretched out on his back and exhaled. What a hell of a day.

It was impossible not to think about the fact that Dani was sleeping in his guest room just down the hall. He liked and respected her. In recent months, he’d stumbled upon another feeling he couldn’t, or wouldn’t, acknowledge.

Dani deserved to find a man who would put her first, a man who would be happy to settle down with her and create a normal family life. That man wasn’t Nathaniel. He’d certainly never experienced such a thing as normal in his formative years. All he knew was work and more work. That focus had propelled him to the top of his career. Given his long hours and his absolute refusal to date anyone remotely connected to New Century Tech, his options for meeting women were limited.

Loneliness and sexual hunger had been to blame for his hookup with Ophelia when they met at a conference. It had taken less than forty-eight hours for him to figure out that she was a narcissist and incredibly high maintenance. He’d broken off the relationship before it started, but perhaps the damage had been done.

The prospect of co-parenting with Ophelia for the next twenty years was daunting. Depressing, even. But if Peaches were his daughter, he would suck it up and be the best damned dad he could be. Never would he make that sweet little girl endure the kind of childhood he had experienced.

Unbidden, his thoughts returned to Dani. After seeing his father’s life ruined years ago, Nathaniel had forged ironclad rules for his own business relationships.

That line in the sand had never been difficult to preserve until Dani walked into his life. She had become necessary to him. He told himself it was nothing more than a good working partnership.

Now, in the darkness and privacy of his bedroom, he acknowledged the possibility that he had been lying to himself. She was here. Now. Sleeping under his roof and making him think about things that were definitely not conducive to relaxation.

Arousal tightened his body and fractured his breathing. Damn it. He rolled onto his side and told himself he wasn’t a slave to his urges.

Yawning, he tried converting foreign currencies in his head. It was better than counting sheep. Eventually, exhaustion claimed him...

* * *

The waning hours of the night turned into a long, wretched dream. The baby woke him every forty-five to ninety minutes. He knew she was disoriented and unsettled. Thankfully, each time he picked her up and cuddled her, he was able to coax her back to sleep.

At 5:00 a.m., though, the volume of her cries told him she was hungry again. Carrying her into the kitchen, he found one of the premixed formula bottles and uncapped it. He would have to learn how to mix the powder, but not while it was still dark outside.

Earlier, he had thrown on a robe with his boxers. Now he and Peaches settled on the sofa in the den. Pulling an afghan over both of them, he leaned back and watched as the baby gobbled down her meal. He remembered Dani mentioning the need for burping. When the bottle was half-empty, he hefted the baby onto his shoulder and patted her back. Peaches didn’t like being interrupted, but her loud belch told him he’d done the right thing.

While the infant finished her formula, he reached for the remote and turned the TV on with the volume muted. He had a million channels to choose from, but nothing interested him. He wanted a distraction...some assurance that the world still spun in its normal orbit. Skipping over infomercials and weird sports channels, he landed on an old movie, a Christmas film.

He had never seen it all the way through, but he knew the general premise. A man unhappy with his life wished he had never been born and then had a chance to see what the world would have been like without him.

The scenario hit uncomfortably near home for Nathaniel. He had no close friends by design. As head of the company, he knew better than to build relationships that might backfire on him. Because he worked all the time, there was no opportunity for socializing even if he had wanted to. Other than a couple of guys he occasionally played racquetball with at the gym, he was a loner, and he liked it. Mostly.

By following a rigid set of rules for his personal life, he kept his days running smoothly. This blip with Ophelia only proved what it cost to deviate from his usual behavior.

Again and again, he wondered what he would do if Peaches were his. Again and again, he shut down that line of thinking. Until the truth came out, speculation served no purpose.

Too late, he realized he should have changed the kid’s diaper before giving her a bottle. Now she had sucked down the last ounce of formula and was out cold. Fortunately, Dani had already stocked most rooms in the house with diapers and wipes. Thank God for her babysitting experience. At least one of them had some exposure to infants. Otherwise, the situation would have been far worse.

Luckily for him, Peaches slept through the diaper change, even though he fumbled and cursed and struggled with the seemingly simple task. He was able to return to his room, tuck her back into the little protected corner and fall into his own bed, facedown, unconscious in seconds.

The next time he surfaced, the clock said seven. He had a hangover headache, and he hadn’t even had a beer last night. Stumbling to his feet, he visited the bathroom and then moved stealthily toward Peaches’s corner on the floor to check on her.

The nest was empty. Panic flooded his chest for half a second before common sense intruded. The chairs were intact. Dani must have the child.

He found them both in the kitchen. Dani had fixed a pot of coffee, God bless her, and she was sitting at the window, baby in arms, drawing pictures in the condensation on the glass.

She looked up when Nathaniel entered the room. “Good morning. It sounded like this little stinker gave you a rough night.”

He winced. “You heard us?”

“I’m a light sleeper.” She shrugged, her expression guarded. “I decided that if you wanted help, you would ask, so I didn’t disturb you. You’re a very capable man.”

Pouring himself a cup of coffee and gulping it with no thought for scalding his tongue, he snorted. “Didn’t feel like it last night.”

“Poor Peaches. I guess she knew she was in a strange place.”

“Getting stranger by the minute. Have you heard a forecast?”

She nodded glumly. “The official totals are twelve to fourteen inches so far, with more, north of the city. It’s supposed to change over to freezing rain in the next couple of hours. The governor has declared a state of emergency. All roads are virtually impassable because of abandoned cars, including major interstates.”

“So you’re stuck with me?” He tried to smile, but the knot in his chest made it hard to breathe.

“It looks that way. But on an up note, I’ve already talked to my family. They’re all stuck, too, except my Chattanooga sister. The storm stayed south of them. My parents have decided we’ll simply postpone Christmas until at least the twenty-seventh. It’s supposed to be sixty-two and sunny then.”

“Welcome to winter in the South.”

“Exactly.”

He had no clue how to act, what to say or do. This bizarre scenario was unprecedented. Nausea swirled in his belly, and he felt light-headed.

Blaming it on the lack of sleep was less worrisome than admitting he was afraid to be trapped with Dani. Sitting there with a warm smile on her face, wearing his shirt and holding a child who was possibly his baby, she personified everything he feared, everything he had avoided for so long and so well.

He hoped like hell his unease wasn’t visible. He didn’t want to give in to temptation, but he sure as hell didn’t want to hurt her, either.