Read Online Baby Benefits by Emily McKay - Free Book Online

spoke.
    “Here’s the thing, Derek. You put Messina Diamonds first.”
    “I do.”
    “Always. Without fail. Without question.”
    His gaze narrowed slightly. “What’s your point?”
    “You are so dedicated to Messina Diamonds, you never even consider what you might want. You completely suppress your own emotions because to you, they’re just not important. And therefore, neither are anyone else’s.”
    She watched him carefully, looking for signs of dawning realization. For some glimmer of understanding that for years she’d been pouring not just her time and energy into her job, but her heart into it, as well.
    But instead of the flash of insight she’d expected to see, his jaw clenched. She’d pissed him off.
    In nine years, she’d seen just about every emotion flicker across his face only to be quickly repressed. For him, anger wasn’t yelling, ranting or—God forbid—anything as uncouth as throwing things. The maddest she’d ever seen him involved clenching his jaw, shoving his hands deep in his pockets and speaking in a very low voice. Which was exactly what he did now.
    “I’m Messina Diamond’s CEO. More people depend on me than you can possibly imagine. Therefore, what I want and need isn’t important.”
    “More than I can possibly imagine?” she asked. “Don’t think for a minute I don’t know exactly how many people you employ. I do know. And I know that they depend on you. I know that the job you do is important. And don’t get me wrong, your dedication is admirable.”
    It was, without a doubt, one of the things she most admired about him. And probably—fool that she was—one of the reasons she’d fallen in love with him in the first place. But sadly, men completely devoted to their work did not make good objects of affection.
    “The problem is,” she continued before he could interrupt, “you work so hard to repress your own emotions that you’re convinced no one else has emotions, either. But guess what, buddy, normal people—even five-month-olds—have emotions. In fact, they’re probably far more sensitive to moods than most adults you deal with.”
    Derek looked unconvinced. “So you’re telling me that it’s my fault Isabella doesn’t like me.”
    “I’m sorry to say it, but yes.”
    “Again. She’s five months old. She can’t even speak. And if I had to hazard a guess, I’d say she doesn’t understand much, either.”
    “Exactly,” she agreed. “If she can’t understand what you’re saying, how do you think she knows how you feel?”
    “I’m guessing she doesn’t.”
    “And that’s where you’d be wrong. She knows what you’re feeling by watching your expressions, by listening to the tone of your voice. By looking in your eyes.”
    Derek looked skeptical. “You can’t seriously expect me to believe she can do all of that.”
    “You can believe whatever you want. I’m just telling you what’s been scientifically proven. One of the first skills infants learn is how to read moods and emotions. It’s something Isabella is good at, regardless of whether or not you believe she’s capable of it.”
    “But—”
    “Hey, we can argue about this all day, if you want, but keep in mind you hired me to help with this precisely because you don’t know anything about babies. So why not let me do the job you’ve hired me to do and teach you what I know?”
    She infused as much confidence as possible into her voice and just prayed he wouldn’t press her for details. The truth was she was just making stuff up. She had no idea whether or not anyone had scientifically proven infants could read emotions. But Raina knew in her heart it was true. Surely anyone who’d ever held a baby in their arms and gazed into her eyes would agree with her.
    “If you don’t believe me, just look at Isabella.”
    Derek’s stony gaze dropped from Raina to his daughter. Isabella clung tightly to her shirt with her little face buried against Raina’s neck. “What about