Read Online HeartStorm (HeartFast Series Book 3) by Linda Mooney - Free Book Online Page B

pregnancy. Their daughter lay in her arms, asleep within the white blanket wrapped around her.
                Star leaned her head back against the seat, and a smile graced her lips. “I know you're there, Udo. I felt your presence the moment you arrived.”
                Hunter dropped the shield and knelt in front of his wife, his eyes drawn to the tiny bundle in her arms. This time he could see the baby's face. The features that were so much like Star's, yet at the same time hinted at his own. Before he could ask, Star answered.
                “Her eyes are like mine.”
                Violet eyes. Beautiful eyes.
                He hesitated slightly, and again Star second-guessed him. “Here. You hold her.”
                “I...uhh...” He held out his arms, and Star handed the infant over to him. Gingerly, cautiously, he gathered the baby against his chest, unable to take his gaze away from the little miracle.
                “She's...so small!” His voice cracked at the realization that he had a daughter. That he was a father. After the horror of losing their first child, and the dangerous demands of their job, he had almost given up hope of having a family.
                Leaning forward in the chair, Star ran a hand through his short brown curls, then did the same for their daughter. She chuckled softly. “My two curly tops.”
                He lifted his face to meet her lips in a soft, sweet kiss. A kiss that spoke of love, but without the fiery prelude for lovemaking. Reluctantly, he watched as she sat back and watched his interaction with the baby.
                “I had a feeling you would ditch the transport to arrive before the others. How did the mission go?”
                “It went well. Successful.” He grinned. “We may have a new Guardian prospect on board.”
                “Oh?” She gave him a quizzical look.
                “He's a young man named Wooly.”
                Star giggled. “Wooly? Is that his first or last name?”
                “Last, as far as I know. The kid's a genius when it comes to communications and all. Commander's going to be quite shocked to discover what all he can do. Terrin, he juiced the emergency signal through the crashed ship's lone surviving engine's power coils in order to break through that ion storm. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have been able to be with you when you gave birth.” He glanced down at the sleeping infant. “Callaura.”
                “I'm looking forward to meeting him,” Star admitted.
                "I would have been back sooner, but I stopped by Mom and Dad's to tell them about their grandchild." He gave her a trembling smile. "They're anxious to meet her."
                "When Doctor Perlakian says it's all right for me to travel, why don't we go for a short visit?" Star suggested. "Or maybe they'd consider coming here."
                "I think we may be seeing them sooner than that. Mom was going to call the starliner port to get departure dates after I left."
                Lifting the baby to his shoulder, Hunter searched for a way to broach the next subject. Their love, their friendship, and their marriage was based on honesty and being forthright for each other. Knowing it would be best if he told her now, rather than wait until Transport Three was due to dock, he spread his internal sensors around the woman and prepared himself for her reaction.
                “There's another person on board. Someone we were reluctant to bring with us, but there are mitigating circumstances.”
                She lifted an eyebrow at him but remained silent.
                “Terrin, he's your father.”
                Her first response was denial. “Who? My father? Can't be. Are you