Read Online Her Only Protector by Lisa Mondello - Free Book Online Page B

three-year-old bunk with me.
    â€œJohnny, the baby, had colic. I learned real quick how to take care of him so I could get a good night’s sleep. He wasn’t much older than Ellie when he came to live with us.”
    â€œWow, five kids in two bedrooms.”
    Gil shrugged. “It wasn’t so bad. Here, let me give it a try,” he said. Strong, capable hands reached for the baby.
    She was tired and it would have been easy to hand the baby over to someone with real experience. But she held back. “Why don’t you show me?”
    A flash of anger crossed his face and then it was gone. “You don’t trust me.”
    â€œTrust is a big thing for me,” she answered quietly.
    â€œI’m sure it is.”
    Ellie was getting louder now.
    â€œSit right here with me while I hold her. I’m not going to steal her away.”
    Sonny realized then that she was holding Ellie tightly, as if she’d be snatched away at any moment. This is what it had come to, she realized. The fear Eduardo Sanchez and his cohorts had instilled in her—and her whole family—made it impossible to know who to trust.
    His dark eyes searched hers. “What are you afraid of, Sonny?”
    Reluctantly, she placed the crying baby in his arms. “You are going to stay in the room, right?”
    With a crooked grin, he said, “Ellie’s sticking with you, Sonny, because I don’t do diapers.”
    She laughed nervously and settled into the seat near him, watching as he put the baby upright against his chest, resting her head on his shoulder. With long soothing strokes he rubbed Ellie’s back. The baby continued to cry a little, but she was definitely calming down.
    â€œCute train pajamas,” he said, examining the clothes Cooper had purchased earlier. “Not very little-girl-like.”
    â€œCooper said there was slim pickings at the store. Wait until you see tomorrow’s outfit. Ninja turtles.”
    Gil chuckled.
    â€œI’m just grateful to have a change of clothes in case she spits up,” Sonny said with a shrug.
    She watched with admiration as Gil switched Ellie easily from one shoulder to the other.
    â€œYou do know babies,” she said as Ellie finally stopped crying.
    Gil smiled. “I never would have made it through high school if I hadn’t figured this out.”
    She laughed and felt some of the tension inside her ease.
    â€œWhen a baby has colic, it’s best for them to sleep upright. I spent a lot of nights stretched out on an old recliner in the living room with Johnny on my chest.”
    â€œWhy didn’t your mother or father take care of the baby?”
    He was quiet a moment, his expression tense as he leaned back against the sofa. “They had their own stuff to deal with,” he said. “Mom was real close to my aunt. She took her death hard.”
    It was amazing. The man who had grilled her so doggedly earlier—who had refused to leave her be at the airport—was perfectly at home with Ellie in his arms.
    â€œYou’re staring.”
    Startled, she looked away. “Am I?”
    â€œYes.”
    Heat crept up her cheeks. “I was just thinking how you could possibly be the same man I met at the airport.”
    â€œThere’s no difference, really. Just another face.”
    She wanted to say she liked this face better, but since he’d managed to get Ellie to sleep—her mouth slightly puckered open, her face so serene—she decided to keep it to herself.
    â€œYou want to say something.” He wasn’t asking a question, she noticed. He was probably reading her expression, which, given her tired state, was the equivalent of reading her mind.
    â€œThank you.”
    He frowned. “That’s it? Nothing else?”
    With a heavy sigh she said, “I’m so tired I can’t even sleep.”
    He made a move to lean forward with the baby still on his shoulder. “Why don’t