Read Online Baby Love by Catherine Anderson - Free Book Online
Authors: Catherine Anderson
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let the question go unanswered. But he finally said, "No, " his voice gruff with emotion. "I, um—lost them in a car wreck. "
Maggie's stomach clenched, and she wished with all her heart she had never asked. She started to say she was sorry, but the words seemed so trite that she chose to say nothing at all. Her gaze flew to Jaimie.
She didn't think she could bear it if something happened to him.
"It's been over two years, " he told her. "For a long time, I knew exactly how long ago, right down to the hour and minute. But then I hocked my watch. " He
BABY LOVE 53
laughed, softly and bitterly. "A good thing, I guess. Counting the minutes I'd been without them was kind of morbid. And it didn't do any good. "
Maggie's mouth felt as dry as powder. She still didn't know what to say.
"But hey, life goes on, " he said more brightly, his gaze still fixed on the baby. His mouth curved in a slight smile. "Right, little fella?"
He plucked the nipple from the baby's mouth and held up the nearly empty bottle. "You finished that off in nothing flat. Next time, I better fix you more. "
He set the bottle on the nightstand and shifted the baby back to his shoulder. When Jaimie emitted a loud burp, Rafe grimaced. "Christ! Right down my collar!" He smiled and winked at Maggie. "I guess I don't remember everything about babies. Rule number one when you burp a kid: always wear protective gear. "
He laid the baby on the bed and disappeared into the bathroom again. A moment later, he came back with a disposable diaper and wet washcloth.
"I'll change him, " Maggie said, struggling to rise.
He glanced up. "I can handle this just fine. You see to yourself. You can get that coat off, for starters, before you melt. It's getting warm in here. "
She pushed weakly to her feet and wrestled with the sheepskin, which felt as if it weighed a thousand pounds. Once she managed to shrug one shoulder free, the garment plopped heavily around her feet.
Perspiration filming her body, she stared down at it, too exhausted to pick it up.
"I'll get the coat later, " he assured her. "Jaimie's already nodding off to sleep, so it's not as if he needs you for anything. You just concentrate on shucking your clothes, all right?"
Her clothes? Maggie glanced from the coat to the dingy T-shirt she wore. Of course he expected her to undress. Why hadn't she thought of that? She imagined stripping off and standing before him naked. The very
54 CATHERINE ANDERSON
thought was so humiliating that she wanted to die. Oh, God. What was she doing here?
Don't think, she told herself firmly. Just shut it all out. Concentrate on Jaimie. He's got food in his tummy, and he's warm and dry. No matter what it costs you, his needs are being met, and that's all that matters.
She fixed her gaze on the opposite end of the room where the bathroom was located. One foot in front of the other one. You can do it. The walls seemed to lean inward as she circled the end of the bed. She glimpsed her reflection in the filmy mirror and thought she saw two of herself.
"Easy, honey. I've got you, " a deep voice murmured next to her ear.
Not two of herself. Rafe was beside her. She felt his big hands clasping her elbows, and though she longed to pull away, she let him support her weight instead. Oh, God. This was so embarrassing.
"I'm sorry, " she said in a voice that didn't sound like her own. Pathetic was how it sounded.
"No worries. "
Once in the bathroom, he guided her to the toilet, then reached around her and quickly unsnapped her jeans. The sound of her zipper made alarm bells go off in her mind. "No. I can—by myself. Please. "
"I know, " he assured her. "I'm just getting you lined out here. Then I'll leave. Can you hold onto the vanity so you don't fall?"
Maggie grabbed the Formica edge of the countertop with both hands. "Yes, " she said weakly. "Got it. Fine, now. I'm fine. "
She heard him swear under his breath, and for a terrible moment, she feared he might insist on
Maggie's stomach clenched, and she wished with all her heart she had never asked. She started to say she was sorry, but the words seemed so trite that she chose to say nothing at all. Her gaze flew to Jaimie.
She didn't think she could bear it if something happened to him.
"It's been over two years, " he told her. "For a long time, I knew exactly how long ago, right down to the hour and minute. But then I hocked my watch. " He
BABY LOVE 53
laughed, softly and bitterly. "A good thing, I guess. Counting the minutes I'd been without them was kind of morbid. And it didn't do any good. "
Maggie's mouth felt as dry as powder. She still didn't know what to say.
"But hey, life goes on, " he said more brightly, his gaze still fixed on the baby. His mouth curved in a slight smile. "Right, little fella?"
He plucked the nipple from the baby's mouth and held up the nearly empty bottle. "You finished that off in nothing flat. Next time, I better fix you more. "
He set the bottle on the nightstand and shifted the baby back to his shoulder. When Jaimie emitted a loud burp, Rafe grimaced. "Christ! Right down my collar!" He smiled and winked at Maggie. "I guess I don't remember everything about babies. Rule number one when you burp a kid: always wear protective gear. "
He laid the baby on the bed and disappeared into the bathroom again. A moment later, he came back with a disposable diaper and wet washcloth.
"I'll change him, " Maggie said, struggling to rise.
He glanced up. "I can handle this just fine. You see to yourself. You can get that coat off, for starters, before you melt. It's getting warm in here. "
She pushed weakly to her feet and wrestled with the sheepskin, which felt as if it weighed a thousand pounds. Once she managed to shrug one shoulder free, the garment plopped heavily around her feet.
Perspiration filming her body, she stared down at it, too exhausted to pick it up.
"I'll get the coat later, " he assured her. "Jaimie's already nodding off to sleep, so it's not as if he needs you for anything. You just concentrate on shucking your clothes, all right?"
Her clothes? Maggie glanced from the coat to the dingy T-shirt she wore. Of course he expected her to undress. Why hadn't she thought of that? She imagined stripping off and standing before him naked. The very
54 CATHERINE ANDERSON
thought was so humiliating that she wanted to die. Oh, God. What was she doing here?
Don't think, she told herself firmly. Just shut it all out. Concentrate on Jaimie. He's got food in his tummy, and he's warm and dry. No matter what it costs you, his needs are being met, and that's all that matters.
She fixed her gaze on the opposite end of the room where the bathroom was located. One foot in front of the other one. You can do it. The walls seemed to lean inward as she circled the end of the bed. She glimpsed her reflection in the filmy mirror and thought she saw two of herself.
"Easy, honey. I've got you, " a deep voice murmured next to her ear.
Not two of herself. Rafe was beside her. She felt his big hands clasping her elbows, and though she longed to pull away, she let him support her weight instead. Oh, God. This was so embarrassing.
"I'm sorry, " she said in a voice that didn't sound like her own. Pathetic was how it sounded.
"No worries. "
Once in the bathroom, he guided her to the toilet, then reached around her and quickly unsnapped her jeans. The sound of her zipper made alarm bells go off in her mind. "No. I can—by myself. Please. "
"I know, " he assured her. "I'm just getting you lined out here. Then I'll leave. Can you hold onto the vanity so you don't fall?"
Maggie grabbed the Formica edge of the countertop with both hands. "Yes, " she said weakly. "Got it. Fine, now. I'm fine. "
She heard him swear under his breath, and for a terrible moment, she feared he might insist on
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