Read Online Stork Alert by Delores Fossen - Free Book Online Page B

turned pale and sank down on the floor next to William. Tears sprang to her eyes. The nanny must have sensed something important was going on because she excused herself and closed the door behind her.
    Still babbling “Da-da,” Joseph squirmed to get out of Nick’s arms. Nick deposited him on the floor, and Joseph toddled toward his new found playmate and the stash of toys.
    Using Kelly’s arm, William pulled himself to a standing position and walked the rest of the way toward Joseph. The boys were nearly the same height and weight. Both could obviously walk and say a few words. But that’s where the similarities ended. William had curly blond hair and blue-green eyes. Joseph’s black locks were board-straight and on the wild side, and he had the Lattimer intensity down pat.
    Kelly caught on to William’s hand and tried to encourage him to go into her arms, but William wanted no part of that. Even though it went against what his heart wanted him to do, Nick eased down on the floor with the three of them. He caught William and turned him in Kelly’s direction.
    She slid her arms around William and pulled him to her.
    Her green eyes weren’t just tear filled. The tears began to stream down her cheeks. Joseph got in on the action. He snuggled into Kelly’s arms, too, and soon she held both boys.
    “Thank you,” she mumbled. And Nick realized she was talking to him.
    The boys quickly grew tired of the hugging and broke away so they could play with a stack of wooden blocks. Kelly and Nick sat there and watched. Well, he watched until he realized that Kelly’s tears weren’t going to stop anytime soon. He scooted next to her, took out his handkerchief and handed it to her.
    “William looks like me,” she said. Her teary gaze met his. “And don’t you dare deny it.”
    He couldn’t, even though he wanted to.
    She didn’t say a word about Joseph looking like him.
    “I didn’t think I’d feel this way,” she continued. “I’ve lost thirteen months with him, and it hurts so much that I don’t think I can stand it.”
    Nick had no trouble understanding that.
    “What are we going to do?” she asked.
    “We’re going to learn the truth.”
    Kelly shook her head. “And then what?”
    Nick didn’t know. Other than trying to protect all of them, he had no idea what they were about to face.
    “Greta, the nanny, will help you get settled in,” Nick instructed. He stood. “Get some rest. We’ll talk about this in the morning.”
    He only hoped by then he had some answers that could keep them all alive.

Chapter Seven
     
    Nick downed his third cup of black coffee and hoped the caffeine would kick in soon. He had a wicked headache from lack of sleep, and he needed all the help he could get to feel alert and awake.
    Sitting at his desk, he finalized the purchase of a prize Santa Gertrudis bull, signed some payroll checks and then got to work on what was really important.
    Beefing up security.
    He left an e-memo for Cooper to add more cameras and motion detectors to the perimeter of the ranch. It wouldn’t be foolproof, but he had to do something to make sure that nothing happened to Kelly and Joseph. That kidnapping attempt had shaken her to the core, and he couldn’t have a repeat of that.
    He glanced at the monitor when he saw some movement on the screen, and he spotted Kelly and Greta with the babies. They’d probably just finished bathing and feeding them. Kelly kissed both Joseph and William, she said something to Greta, and she left the room.
    Nick did some adjustments to the camera and watched her walk up the hall toward his office. She’d obviously showered and dressed. She wore black pants and a green top. A snug top that made him notice her breasts.
    Of course, everything she wore caused him to notice her breasts and her other interesting features. In the few hours he’d managed to sleep, he’d dreamed about her. During his waking hours, he’d thought about her, too. A lot.
    “Come in,” Nick