used to like to say.”
“So, maybe she was planning on giving up her baby to keep that space? ” she asked.
“Either that, or she reasoned that because of my dangerous job, I wouldn’t make a good father.” This time, Luke retrieved Christopher’s duck. “What Taylor didn’t know was that I was up for a promotion that would essentially mean a desk job. I got that promotion, but within the same hour I learned that Taylor was dead.”
Elaina made a soft sound of sympathy. “If Taylor planned to give up your baby, then the adoption might have been legal.”
Ah, so that’s where this was going. Luke didn’t let it go far. So much for pouring out his heart and spilling his guts. Elaina had taken all those bits of info so she could try to clear her conscience.
“Taylor’s intentions might have made that part of it legal, but the paperwork and the process weren’t.” He stared at her. “Do you have any doubts that your late fiancé was capable of an illegal adoption?”
“No,” she said, but the admission was laced with frustration. “In hindsight, I think Kevin was capable of just about anything.” She aimed her finger at him. “I won’t go through that again, and that’s why this attraction thing between us won’t go any further.”
Luke didn’t doubt the smoldering glances he’d been giving Elaina, but he hadn’t noticed Elaina sending any his way. Of course, he was aware of the uncomfortable tension between them.
“How do I know the attraction is real on your part?” he asked. “You could be faking it.”
She looked genuinely surprised and offended. “And why would I do that?”
“Because you think it’ll help your cause.”
“My cause? ”
Luke figured he was about to put his foot directly into his big mouth. “You must be trying to figure a way to keep custody of Christopher.”
Yep. Definitely foot in mouth. Her eyes narrowed, and her mouth tightened. “I’m so glad you said that, because it reminds me of why I dislike you. Not everyone has ulterior motives for what they do, Luke Buchanan. Trust me, I had my fill of that kind of stuff when I was with Kevin.”
Christopher started to make fussing noises, and he rubbed his eyes. Elaina jumped to her feet, grabbed a towel and scooped him up in it. “Bed time,” she announced.
Well, there were definitely no more smoldering looks between them, and the air had chilled. She turned her back on him and went into the nursery.
“He won’t like this part,” she grumbled as she placed Christopher on the dressing table.
Learning from his mistake, Luke shut up and watched her diaper the baby. Though he considered himself a smart man, he figured that would take a while to master the technique and all the steps. Christopher wiggled, squirmed, fussed and generally did everything but cooperate. Yet, Elaina managed to get the baby dressed for bed in only a couple of minutes.
She kissed Christopher on both of his chubby cheeks and lay him in the bed. She covered him with the quilt and began to hum softly. Luke recognized the tune: “Lullaby and Goodnight.” While she hummed it, she lightly rubbed the baby’s stomach. Like the dressing routine, it only took a couple of minutes before Christopher closed his eyes.
Since there was a night light in the corner of the room, Luke turned off the overhead light. He made his way to the window to look out, to check the yard one more time. He’d lost count of just how many times he’d done that in the course of the afternoon and the evening.
He’d check many more times throughout the night.
“See anything?” Elaina whispered.
“No. It’s all clear.”
Christopher was no doubt asleep because she moved away from the crib. “I’m exhausted. I’m going to try to get some sleep.”
It was early, but Luke knew how she felt. It’d been a long day, and even with the extreme fatigue, neither of them would get much sleep.
She walked toward the hall. “I’ll get some pillows and blankets
“So, maybe she was planning on giving up her baby to keep that space? ” she asked.
“Either that, or she reasoned that because of my dangerous job, I wouldn’t make a good father.” This time, Luke retrieved Christopher’s duck. “What Taylor didn’t know was that I was up for a promotion that would essentially mean a desk job. I got that promotion, but within the same hour I learned that Taylor was dead.”
Elaina made a soft sound of sympathy. “If Taylor planned to give up your baby, then the adoption might have been legal.”
Ah, so that’s where this was going. Luke didn’t let it go far. So much for pouring out his heart and spilling his guts. Elaina had taken all those bits of info so she could try to clear her conscience.
“Taylor’s intentions might have made that part of it legal, but the paperwork and the process weren’t.” He stared at her. “Do you have any doubts that your late fiancé was capable of an illegal adoption?”
“No,” she said, but the admission was laced with frustration. “In hindsight, I think Kevin was capable of just about anything.” She aimed her finger at him. “I won’t go through that again, and that’s why this attraction thing between us won’t go any further.”
Luke didn’t doubt the smoldering glances he’d been giving Elaina, but he hadn’t noticed Elaina sending any his way. Of course, he was aware of the uncomfortable tension between them.
“How do I know the attraction is real on your part?” he asked. “You could be faking it.”
She looked genuinely surprised and offended. “And why would I do that?”
“Because you think it’ll help your cause.”
“My cause? ”
Luke figured he was about to put his foot directly into his big mouth. “You must be trying to figure a way to keep custody of Christopher.”
Yep. Definitely foot in mouth. Her eyes narrowed, and her mouth tightened. “I’m so glad you said that, because it reminds me of why I dislike you. Not everyone has ulterior motives for what they do, Luke Buchanan. Trust me, I had my fill of that kind of stuff when I was with Kevin.”
Christopher started to make fussing noises, and he rubbed his eyes. Elaina jumped to her feet, grabbed a towel and scooped him up in it. “Bed time,” she announced.
Well, there were definitely no more smoldering looks between them, and the air had chilled. She turned her back on him and went into the nursery.
“He won’t like this part,” she grumbled as she placed Christopher on the dressing table.
Learning from his mistake, Luke shut up and watched her diaper the baby. Though he considered himself a smart man, he figured that would take a while to master the technique and all the steps. Christopher wiggled, squirmed, fussed and generally did everything but cooperate. Yet, Elaina managed to get the baby dressed for bed in only a couple of minutes.
She kissed Christopher on both of his chubby cheeks and lay him in the bed. She covered him with the quilt and began to hum softly. Luke recognized the tune: “Lullaby and Goodnight.” While she hummed it, she lightly rubbed the baby’s stomach. Like the dressing routine, it only took a couple of minutes before Christopher closed his eyes.
Since there was a night light in the corner of the room, Luke turned off the overhead light. He made his way to the window to look out, to check the yard one more time. He’d lost count of just how many times he’d done that in the course of the afternoon and the evening.
He’d check many more times throughout the night.
“See anything?” Elaina whispered.
“No. It’s all clear.”
Christopher was no doubt asleep because she moved away from the crib. “I’m exhausted. I’m going to try to get some sleep.”
It was early, but Luke knew how she felt. It’d been a long day, and even with the extreme fatigue, neither of them would get much sleep.
She walked toward the hall. “I’ll get some pillows and blankets
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