Read Online PARADISE COVE (PARADISE SERIES Book 1) by Patrice Wilton - Free Book Online
Authors: Patrice Wilton
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that's all."
"I don't want to cause you or your family any trouble." He glanced at the woman and her husband, then swore softly. Sean got to his feet, and led Kayla from the bedroom.
"What?" she asked. His firm touch was oddly comforting.
"Change of mind.” He scowled and released his hold on her arm. “This isn't fair for me to put you in this situation. Hell, I rescued them. I’ll take them back to the boat, deliver the baby there. It's better not to involve you in this. I wasn’t thinking beyond their long-term safety. I should have considered yours, too. Go back to bed, Kayla."
She heaved a sigh, and kept her head lowered. “Give me a moment. I have to think.” Her mind swirled. This was dangerous business.
Of course she wanted to help! Yet neither of them knew the legal implications. Paradise Cove Cottages might lose their operating license for assisting Sean and the Cuban immigrants. She couldn’t risk that. If he went back to the boat, all she had to do was return to her own cabin and pretend this never happened. She didn't have to worry her mom and sisters over this. All was good.
Kayla lifted her head, having made her practical decision. Their eyes met and her heart shifted. A cloud of doubt dissipated as she held his unwavering gaze. He was a good man. Brooding and dark, but courageous and strong. He cared deeply about these people. Having saved them once, he was fighting to save them again.
She sighed, and her shoulders slumped in surrender. She couldn't do what he asked.
"Leave them be." Kayla straightened her shoulders, going into management mode. "A few hours won't matter. Tell me what you need. More towels? Hot water. Help me here. I've only seen this done on TV."
His brown eyes lit up, and she was struck again by that zing she’d felt at the pool yesterday. He had a wide sensual mouth that looked particularly good spread in a big grin. "Vinegar to treat the jellyfish bites, and tweezers to help remove the tentacles. Sheets to protect your floor. A jug of water. Food. It could be a long day, or night."
"Forget the floor. Put that poor woman on the bed. I have an old comforter that I'll bring and she can lay on that. You can save them both, can't you? No one is going to die."
Something dark flashed across his face. "No one will die."
"What kind of doctor are you?"
"I'm a cardiac surgeon. A specialist. I haven’t delivered a baby since med school." He shrugged. "But I'm sure I'll remember enough."
She nodded and backed down the hall. "Hopefully, my family will agree to let them stay. But only for a few hours." She turned and raced to get supplies.
***
Sean released a long breath. He sure hadn't expected Kayla’s understanding, figuring he might have to carry Juanita back to his boat and deliver the baby there. The cabin was a hundred times better than the narrow, rocking boat, and it was going to be tricky enough.
Juanita was delivering two months early, and the woman was both in shock and in poor health. It was obvious that she and the boy were malnourished. The father was wiry, without an extra ounce to spare. He had no idea when they’d eaten their last good meal.
He told Miguel what was going on, telling him to get his wife comfortable, and then left to make breakfast. It was going to be a long morning and they would all need some nourishment. He made a large pot of coffee, and glanced in his refrigerator, wishing he'd bought a dozen eggs. He had some Egg Beaters, milk, cheese and bread for toast. That would have to do.
He put the first three items in a bowl, whisked it and had it simmering on the stove when Kayla waltzed back in. She was carrying the comforter, towels, a water jug, and extra sheets and dumped them on the sofa. "Is that coffee I smell?"
"Help yourself." He took down an extra cup from the cupboard, and offered her some milk, not having bought cream or sugar. "How did your family take it?" He turned off the back burner, then grabbed some plates and set them near
"I don't want to cause you or your family any trouble." He glanced at the woman and her husband, then swore softly. Sean got to his feet, and led Kayla from the bedroom.
"What?" she asked. His firm touch was oddly comforting.
"Change of mind.” He scowled and released his hold on her arm. “This isn't fair for me to put you in this situation. Hell, I rescued them. I’ll take them back to the boat, deliver the baby there. It's better not to involve you in this. I wasn’t thinking beyond their long-term safety. I should have considered yours, too. Go back to bed, Kayla."
She heaved a sigh, and kept her head lowered. “Give me a moment. I have to think.” Her mind swirled. This was dangerous business.
Of course she wanted to help! Yet neither of them knew the legal implications. Paradise Cove Cottages might lose their operating license for assisting Sean and the Cuban immigrants. She couldn’t risk that. If he went back to the boat, all she had to do was return to her own cabin and pretend this never happened. She didn't have to worry her mom and sisters over this. All was good.
Kayla lifted her head, having made her practical decision. Their eyes met and her heart shifted. A cloud of doubt dissipated as she held his unwavering gaze. He was a good man. Brooding and dark, but courageous and strong. He cared deeply about these people. Having saved them once, he was fighting to save them again.
She sighed, and her shoulders slumped in surrender. She couldn't do what he asked.
"Leave them be." Kayla straightened her shoulders, going into management mode. "A few hours won't matter. Tell me what you need. More towels? Hot water. Help me here. I've only seen this done on TV."
His brown eyes lit up, and she was struck again by that zing she’d felt at the pool yesterday. He had a wide sensual mouth that looked particularly good spread in a big grin. "Vinegar to treat the jellyfish bites, and tweezers to help remove the tentacles. Sheets to protect your floor. A jug of water. Food. It could be a long day, or night."
"Forget the floor. Put that poor woman on the bed. I have an old comforter that I'll bring and she can lay on that. You can save them both, can't you? No one is going to die."
Something dark flashed across his face. "No one will die."
"What kind of doctor are you?"
"I'm a cardiac surgeon. A specialist. I haven’t delivered a baby since med school." He shrugged. "But I'm sure I'll remember enough."
She nodded and backed down the hall. "Hopefully, my family will agree to let them stay. But only for a few hours." She turned and raced to get supplies.
***
Sean released a long breath. He sure hadn't expected Kayla’s understanding, figuring he might have to carry Juanita back to his boat and deliver the baby there. The cabin was a hundred times better than the narrow, rocking boat, and it was going to be tricky enough.
Juanita was delivering two months early, and the woman was both in shock and in poor health. It was obvious that she and the boy were malnourished. The father was wiry, without an extra ounce to spare. He had no idea when they’d eaten their last good meal.
He told Miguel what was going on, telling him to get his wife comfortable, and then left to make breakfast. It was going to be a long morning and they would all need some nourishment. He made a large pot of coffee, and glanced in his refrigerator, wishing he'd bought a dozen eggs. He had some Egg Beaters, milk, cheese and bread for toast. That would have to do.
He put the first three items in a bowl, whisked it and had it simmering on the stove when Kayla waltzed back in. She was carrying the comforter, towels, a water jug, and extra sheets and dumped them on the sofa. "Is that coffee I smell?"
"Help yourself." He took down an extra cup from the cupboard, and offered her some milk, not having bought cream or sugar. "How did your family take it?" He turned off the back burner, then grabbed some plates and set them near
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