Read Online The Baby's Bodyguard by Stephanie Newton - Free Book Online
Authors: Stephanie Newton
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sure. Not sure anyone knows, actually. He’s pretty private. But he’s the best and if he comes up with a lead, I’ll follow up on it.”
She started to protest, but remembered the sleepy baby in her arms. Someone had to be Janie’s protector from right here. Last time she checked, she’d been the one elected. It was her job. It was also her passion. She wasn’t going to let any child be alone in the world without someone to stand with them, for them.
A tap came from the doorway. She looked up to see Ethan’s brother. He held a tray with a couple of pots and some mugs. “I wasn’t sure if you’d like coffee or tea.”
“Tea.”
“Coffee.”
She and Ethan spoke at the same time.
Tyler laughed and slid the tray onto a side table.“Luckily I brought both. And a fresh cup of milk for the little lady.”
“Milk.” Janie perked up.
“Another word. Either she’s picking them up really quickly, or the stress she felt at changing environments and caregivers is easing enough for her to start talking.” Kelsey took the sippy cup from Tyler and held it out for Janie.
“I’ll take her while you drink your tea.” Ethan took Janie and settled her on his lap. She leaned against his chest and bounced her feet, sipping out of her cup.
Kelsey’s eyes were stinging again. She must be more tired than she thought. Or it could be that the sight of the big lawman taking such gentle care of Janie made her heart ache. “I need to get the medication that the doctors prescribed for her to keep her heart rate stable. Be right back.”
“Your feet—” Ethan started to get up, but Kelsey hobbled away, disappearing through the door into the bedroom.
“She might be stubborn enough to handle you.” His brother Tyler kicked back in his chair with a superior look on his face.
“Now look, just because you’re all cozy and happy with Gracie doesn’t mean you have to start in on me.” Ethan caught Janie’s eyes drooping. Evidently, she did, too, because her little head popped up and she slid off his lap onto the floor.
“I’m not starting in on you, just joking around. You can be a little testy.” Tyler poured a cup of coffee andhanded it to Ethan. “This might help. Though you might want to reconsider the caffeine.”
“I’ve been held at gunpoint twice in two days, shot at one of those times. Forgive me for being a little ‘testy.’” He glanced at his brother. He knew Tyler was teasing but the jabs hit a little close to home. Kelsey was the first person Ethan had gotten close to in a long time, but there was a reason for that. He wasn’t looking for love. How could he be?
“Ethan, in all seriousness, why are you doing this? I understand helping her escape last night. I’m all for helping out people in need or obviously we wouldn’t have Restoration Cove, but it seems like—”
“You think I feel like this is my shot at redemption for losing Charlie and Amy.”
“Do you?”
Ethan stood and stuck his hand in his pocket, noting Janie’s guarded expression as he did. He pulled out the picture of Charlie that he’d printed after he found all the baby pictures and tossed it into Tyler’s lap.
His brother picked it up and studied it. “I don’t understand. What is this?”
“It’s a picture taken of Charlie two weeks after the night he supposedly died.”
“Supposedly …”
“Yes. He was kidnapped, Tyler.”
His brother stared at the photo. “I don’t even know what to say to this. You’re sure?”
“As sure as I can be without seeing him face-to-face. I don’t know how, but this little baby is my connection to finding him.” Ethan stared at the picture fora moment. “And if I had any doubts, they disappeared when I got a call this morning from one of the men I was investigating for human trafficking. Tyler, I haven’t heard the slightest thing about this case until Janie, and now suddenly I’m getting a call from Tony Cantori?”
“I don’t know what to say.” Tyler
She started to protest, but remembered the sleepy baby in her arms. Someone had to be Janie’s protector from right here. Last time she checked, she’d been the one elected. It was her job. It was also her passion. She wasn’t going to let any child be alone in the world without someone to stand with them, for them.
A tap came from the doorway. She looked up to see Ethan’s brother. He held a tray with a couple of pots and some mugs. “I wasn’t sure if you’d like coffee or tea.”
“Tea.”
“Coffee.”
She and Ethan spoke at the same time.
Tyler laughed and slid the tray onto a side table.“Luckily I brought both. And a fresh cup of milk for the little lady.”
“Milk.” Janie perked up.
“Another word. Either she’s picking them up really quickly, or the stress she felt at changing environments and caregivers is easing enough for her to start talking.” Kelsey took the sippy cup from Tyler and held it out for Janie.
“I’ll take her while you drink your tea.” Ethan took Janie and settled her on his lap. She leaned against his chest and bounced her feet, sipping out of her cup.
Kelsey’s eyes were stinging again. She must be more tired than she thought. Or it could be that the sight of the big lawman taking such gentle care of Janie made her heart ache. “I need to get the medication that the doctors prescribed for her to keep her heart rate stable. Be right back.”
“Your feet—” Ethan started to get up, but Kelsey hobbled away, disappearing through the door into the bedroom.
“She might be stubborn enough to handle you.” His brother Tyler kicked back in his chair with a superior look on his face.
“Now look, just because you’re all cozy and happy with Gracie doesn’t mean you have to start in on me.” Ethan caught Janie’s eyes drooping. Evidently, she did, too, because her little head popped up and she slid off his lap onto the floor.
“I’m not starting in on you, just joking around. You can be a little testy.” Tyler poured a cup of coffee andhanded it to Ethan. “This might help. Though you might want to reconsider the caffeine.”
“I’ve been held at gunpoint twice in two days, shot at one of those times. Forgive me for being a little ‘testy.’” He glanced at his brother. He knew Tyler was teasing but the jabs hit a little close to home. Kelsey was the first person Ethan had gotten close to in a long time, but there was a reason for that. He wasn’t looking for love. How could he be?
“Ethan, in all seriousness, why are you doing this? I understand helping her escape last night. I’m all for helping out people in need or obviously we wouldn’t have Restoration Cove, but it seems like—”
“You think I feel like this is my shot at redemption for losing Charlie and Amy.”
“Do you?”
Ethan stood and stuck his hand in his pocket, noting Janie’s guarded expression as he did. He pulled out the picture of Charlie that he’d printed after he found all the baby pictures and tossed it into Tyler’s lap.
His brother picked it up and studied it. “I don’t understand. What is this?”
“It’s a picture taken of Charlie two weeks after the night he supposedly died.”
“Supposedly …”
“Yes. He was kidnapped, Tyler.”
His brother stared at the photo. “I don’t even know what to say to this. You’re sure?”
“As sure as I can be without seeing him face-to-face. I don’t know how, but this little baby is my connection to finding him.” Ethan stared at the picture fora moment. “And if I had any doubts, they disappeared when I got a call this morning from one of the men I was investigating for human trafficking. Tyler, I haven’t heard the slightest thing about this case until Janie, and now suddenly I’m getting a call from Tony Cantori?”
“I don’t know what to say.” Tyler
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