Read Online Redeeming Rafe by Alicia Hunter Pace - Free Book Online
Authors: Alicia Hunter Pace
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kidnapping above all other things.
Even so, the last thing Rafe wanted to do was go to a party for Nickolai Glazov and Noel Verden. Not that he had anything against them. They were nice people, but he was in no mood to party—not that he ever was. That was more Gabe’s thing. But he was afraid if he declined, Abby would make him babysit since, as a bridesmaid, she was definitely going to the party. He still hadn’t made up his mind if he was going to Louisville for the wedding this weekend.
On the one hand, it was something to do; on the other, it was too much to do.
After much handwringing and debating, Abby had caved to Emory and Gwen’s insistence that the kids be left behind with sitters for the weekend. A three-hour drive that would likely turn into four if the kids were with them would be a disaster and go down from there.
They had hired some woman from Nashville, whom Dirk had thoroughly vetted, plus a college student who sat for Dirk and Gwen from time to time, and the two high school girls who were watching the kids tonight. That was almost one adult per child. They wouldn’t notice if Rafe was around or not.
But at least he didn’t have to go far for this party, since it was being held downstairs in the original formal rooms of the house. Now if he could just sneak past the nursery …
“Daddy!” That would be Bella.
Damn it all to hell. Why had he agreed to pay to have that Dutch door installed? He actually knew the answer to that question. Abby had wanted it, and when she’d asked, her breasts had looked particularly alluring, so he’d agreed and made a quick exit. Yesterday, when he and Gabe had come upon her rolling around on the ground with those babies, he’d wanted to push the kids aside and join in.
But that could never happen. Condom or not, sex led to babies, and he couldn’t ever do that again. What he was going to do about sex was something he’d figure out later. Maybe a blow-up doll, but with his luck, nine months later balloons would appear—twin balloons that needed food, clothes, and impossible to assemble cribs.
“Daddy!” Bella repeated.
She had spied him just like she did every single time he walked by, because the top part of that nursery Dutch door stayed open all the time. What had the Dutch given the world, anyway, besides complicated doors? Tulips. Dutch ovens. Dutch apple pie. He didn’t need any of that.
“Daddy!” Alice joined in.
Now, they were banging on the bottom part of the door and squealing like they were happy to see him. Which they were. Giving out cookies had made them like him, when he’d only thought they would helped him escape.
He peeped over the top of the door.
“Hello, girls,” said. “I’m your uncle Gabe.”
Bella shook her head. “No, no, no, no. Daddy!”
Couldn’t fool her, or Alice either, any more than he could ever fool Camille.
The other three kids—Phillip, and Gwen and Dirk’s two, Julie and Carter, were across the room playing with the two high school girls who were watching them.
Alice held up her arms to be picked up. He patted her head.
She stood on her toes and stretched her arms. “Up.” And she smiled. Exactly like Camille.
He had to bend over farther to pick Alice up than he’d had to bend for Camille. She’d died before he and Gabe had their growth spurts, though they had been taller than other boys their age at the time.
Alice even smelled like Camille had. Was that some kind of universal baby smell, or was it the powder and soap?
She pulled at his nose.
I wish I were free to love you.
Where had that come from?
“Should I take her?” The girl—Hannah was her name—held out her arms for Alice. “So you can get to the party?”
“Uh … yes.” He handed Alice back over the open door.
“No!!! Daddy!” she whimpered.
Cookie time. He reached into his pocket and brought out the Ziploc bag. The others must have picked up the scent, because suddenly there were four little hands reaching
Even so, the last thing Rafe wanted to do was go to a party for Nickolai Glazov and Noel Verden. Not that he had anything against them. They were nice people, but he was in no mood to party—not that he ever was. That was more Gabe’s thing. But he was afraid if he declined, Abby would make him babysit since, as a bridesmaid, she was definitely going to the party. He still hadn’t made up his mind if he was going to Louisville for the wedding this weekend.
On the one hand, it was something to do; on the other, it was too much to do.
After much handwringing and debating, Abby had caved to Emory and Gwen’s insistence that the kids be left behind with sitters for the weekend. A three-hour drive that would likely turn into four if the kids were with them would be a disaster and go down from there.
They had hired some woman from Nashville, whom Dirk had thoroughly vetted, plus a college student who sat for Dirk and Gwen from time to time, and the two high school girls who were watching the kids tonight. That was almost one adult per child. They wouldn’t notice if Rafe was around or not.
But at least he didn’t have to go far for this party, since it was being held downstairs in the original formal rooms of the house. Now if he could just sneak past the nursery …
“Daddy!” That would be Bella.
Damn it all to hell. Why had he agreed to pay to have that Dutch door installed? He actually knew the answer to that question. Abby had wanted it, and when she’d asked, her breasts had looked particularly alluring, so he’d agreed and made a quick exit. Yesterday, when he and Gabe had come upon her rolling around on the ground with those babies, he’d wanted to push the kids aside and join in.
But that could never happen. Condom or not, sex led to babies, and he couldn’t ever do that again. What he was going to do about sex was something he’d figure out later. Maybe a blow-up doll, but with his luck, nine months later balloons would appear—twin balloons that needed food, clothes, and impossible to assemble cribs.
“Daddy!” Bella repeated.
She had spied him just like she did every single time he walked by, because the top part of that nursery Dutch door stayed open all the time. What had the Dutch given the world, anyway, besides complicated doors? Tulips. Dutch ovens. Dutch apple pie. He didn’t need any of that.
“Daddy!” Alice joined in.
Now, they were banging on the bottom part of the door and squealing like they were happy to see him. Which they were. Giving out cookies had made them like him, when he’d only thought they would helped him escape.
He peeped over the top of the door.
“Hello, girls,” said. “I’m your uncle Gabe.”
Bella shook her head. “No, no, no, no. Daddy!”
Couldn’t fool her, or Alice either, any more than he could ever fool Camille.
The other three kids—Phillip, and Gwen and Dirk’s two, Julie and Carter, were across the room playing with the two high school girls who were watching them.
Alice held up her arms to be picked up. He patted her head.
She stood on her toes and stretched her arms. “Up.” And she smiled. Exactly like Camille.
He had to bend over farther to pick Alice up than he’d had to bend for Camille. She’d died before he and Gabe had their growth spurts, though they had been taller than other boys their age at the time.
Alice even smelled like Camille had. Was that some kind of universal baby smell, or was it the powder and soap?
She pulled at his nose.
I wish I were free to love you.
Where had that come from?
“Should I take her?” The girl—Hannah was her name—held out her arms for Alice. “So you can get to the party?”
“Uh … yes.” He handed Alice back over the open door.
“No!!! Daddy!” she whimpered.
Cookie time. He reached into his pocket and brought out the Ziploc bag. The others must have picked up the scent, because suddenly there were four little hands reaching
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