Nobody's Baby Page 3

  Kate tilted her head to one side, eyes questioning.

  Maggie reached out and patted Kate’s hand. “I’m sure what Rio meant to say is that you’re welcome to come. We’ll swing by your place so you can ride with us. That way you’ll be safe. Right, Rio?”

  He nodded and checked the glowing numbers on the microwave, calculating the time zone difference in his head. Those brothers he’d taken on safari might be able to help. He still had their business card somewhere. “Excuse me. I have some phone calls to make.”

  * * * * *

  The next morning, Kate had her athletic shoes on before she thought to check out the window for reporters. She pulled the edge of her living room drapes forward and peeked out. Damn. There were even more of them lining her sidewalk today than the previous evening and that hadn’t been fun. They’d followed her to the front door, clamoring for interviews.

  Something big and dark moved at the edge of her view. She leaned her cheek against the wall to get a better look. Standing at the edge of the tiny landing in front of her door was a bald body-builder type facing the street. Dressed all in black and with dark glasses on, he looked every bit the part of a hit man or maybe a menacing bodyguard. After years of fending for herself and shouldering responsibilities far beyond her years, Kate almost laughed at the idea of her with a big ol’ meaty man-protector in tow.

  She grabbed two bottles of water and was about to reach for her keys when her cell rang. “James and Allie” came up on the display and her pulse hit a bump. She’d have to change the listing to Hawthorne House right away. After setting the waters on a nearby table, she tapped her phone. “Hello?”

  “Kate.”

  “Yes?”

  “Rio. Don’t go out this morning until your protection detail gets there.”

  She bristled at his command. As if he had the right to tell her what to do. “And if I don’t want to wait?”

  “Think of someone other than yourself. Dealing with the press on your own will result in stress, which Mom says isn’t good for the baby. Stay put.”

  She sighed, unsure why she’d baited him. He might be infuriating at times, but that was no reason to alienate him. “Of course I wouldn’t do anything to harm the baby. There’s already a guy on my doorstep who looks like he could be a pro wrestler.”

  “Good. Let me speak to him. No, wait. Make him show you his I.D. first.”

  “You think?” She rolled her eyes and lowered the phone, not waiting for Rio’s response. Rather than open the storm door, she raised the glass panel on the screened portion of it and called out, “Excuse me. May I see some identification?”

  The big dude flicked a glance over his shoulder, then resumed his watch as he backed toward her door. He produced a business card along with an official looking I.D. and pressed them against the glass.

  “Thank you.” She lifted the phone to her ear. “Photo I.D. and card says he’s Toby Foxe of the Bridgerton Agency. Satisfied?”

  “Yes, but I still need to speak to him.”

  Kate unlocked the storm door and opened it enough to insert the phone through. “Mr. Hawthorne would like a word.”

  After a few terse answers and yessir’s, Toby returned her phone and assumed his original position. With his dark glasses, it was impossible to tell whether he’d looked directly at her or not. Since her phone was still open, she raised it to her ear. “Still there?”

  “You’ll be safe with Toby.” Rio hesitated before saying. “Don’t leave home without him.”

  Was the serious Rio Hawthorne making a joke? Kate wasn’t sure, but his voice had been less terse. It felt weird to have someone taking care of her for a change. “I won’t, but just so you know, I didn’t expect you to go to this expense on my account.”

  “I’m protecting the Hawthorne heir. It just happens to be inside you at the moment.”

  “Right.” How silly of her to have thought otherwise. Hadn’t she learned a long time ago that the only person she could truly rely on was herself? “Bye, Rio.”

  She retrieved the water and her keys and stepped outside.

  “Hey, Kate. This dude won’t let me in.” Her youngest brother, Dean, a long-suffering expression plastered on his face, stood a few paces from Toby. The next thing she noticed was that he needed a shave and haircut. His dark blond hair was longer than she’d seen it in awhile, the curls going every which way. Not her business any more. He was on his own.

  “It’s okay, Toby. He’s my brother.” She waved Dean in and dumped her keys and the water bottles on the couch. “Why are you here? Aren’t you supposed to be in class this morning?”

  “Geez, Kate, relax. I’m eighteen now. I don’t need mothering and my scholarship isn’t in danger. My professor got sick at the last minute so class was canceled. Then Zach called and wanted me to check on you.”

  “He did? You’re not just saying that for my sake?”

  “He did, but I wasn’t supposed to tell you.”

  “I can tell you’re all torn up over breaking your brother’s confidence,” she said with all the sarcasm Dean deserved. “How is he?”

  “Zach? You want to know, call him. I hate being the go-between. I’m really here because I saw something I wanted to ask you about.” He held up a section of newspaper with a picture of her making her way though reporters. “What’s up with this?”

  The headline read, “hawthorne surrogate upset after meet with family.” How misleading. She’d been upset because they were blocking the entrance to her half of the duplex. Kate snatched the paper from him. Good grief. Her stomach was huge.

  “Is the family giving you a hard time? Is that guy out there to protect you or to keep tabs on you?”

  “Oh, don’t you start believing the gossip, too. Rio sent him over to keep the press away.” That wasn’t entirely accurate, but her brother didn’t need to know that. He looked genuinely concerned for her. Maybe he was gaining some maturity after all.

  “Who’s Rio?”

  “The baby’s uncle and guardian, now that ... well, you know.”

  “Yeah, it was on the news last night. Tough break. You okay?”

  “I’m adjusting. The baby is fine. In a few weeks, Rio will take charge of his nephew and I’ll start classes as planned.”

  “Good. Zach figured you’d be wigging out, afraid of getting stuck with the baby.”

  No way she was admitting any such thing. Dean would tell Zach, feeding his belief that she was repeating history. Just because she’d played the role of mom to her brothers didn’t mean she was abandoning them by pulling back a little, regardless of what Zach thought. She smacked Dean lightly on the six-pack abs he was so proud of. “Betcha I can still graduate before you do.”

  Dean frowned, his blue-gray eyes smoky with concern. “You sure you can do an accelerated program after popping out a baby? You don’t look so good, Kate.”

  She supposed he meant well, but his lack of tact made her want to smack him harder. “Gee, thanks, Mr. Charming. Your foot-in-mouth disease must be real popular with the girls.”

  “Whatever. I do okay.”

  Kate had no illusions as to his meaning. “You’re using protection though, right? You can’t be too care—”

  “I know. I know. You tattooed it on my brain. I’m careful, okay?”

  “Okay.” She pulled him down for a quick hug but her belly got in the way.

  Dean pulled back with an exaggerated shudder. “It’s so weird seeing you pregnant. I know you were doing a good thing for those people, but now ... Isn’t it going to be hard giving him up to this guy?”

  “This fetus was never mine, so no. I’m looking forward to the freedom. Don’t get me wrong. I love you and Zach and I don’t regret keeping us together, but I’ve had enough responsibility to last me for years to come. Now it’s time for what I want. I don’t know why Zach can’t understand that.”

  “He’ll come around. I think he just feels guilty that you put your life on hold for us.”

  “You unde
rstand though, right? I don’t have a scholarship like you guys. This delivery will give me my chance.”

  “I heard that.” Dean nodded and ducked his head.

  Kate recognized the move. “What’s bothering you?”

  “Not just me. Zach had the same thought. This is blowing up. If Mom sees the papers and realizes you’re connected to money, she’ll be calling with another sob story.”

  “I wouldn’t fall for it if she did, but it’s unlikely she’ll see anything. Last I heard, she was cruising the Mediterranean on some rich guy’s yacht.”

  A sound of disgust puffed from Dean’s lips as he checked his cell. “Time’s up. I have to get back for my next class. I’ll tell Zach you’ve got the Hulk standing guard and relay Mom’s situation so he can chill.”

  “The Hulk has a name. It’s Toby, and we were just about to enjoy a morning walk.” She reopened the door. “Don’t be a stranger.”

  Dean skirted around her as if her belly had cooties. “Same. See ya.”

  He ran past the reporters, giving them little chance to catch his likeness with their cameras. Kate sighed. A year ago, he would have hugged her goodbye. Even though they were siblings, she, Dean and Zach had faced a lot more than teen angst together. They’d all grown up too fast, but hadn’t gone wild with the unexpected freedom from parental direction after their mom had taken off. Instead, they’d developed a system to dodge the child welfare workers as much as possible and, in fighting to stay together, formed a stronger bond than most.

  This new distance had been her doing, with her practiced speech about abdicating her mom responsibilities and needing to live her own life separate from them. She’d botched the delivery, making it sound like she couldn’t wait to be rid of them. Zach, always the more volatile of the brothers, hadn’t taken it well and had practically cut all ties with her.

  That wasn’t what she’d wanted at all, but didn’t know how to make it right when Zach refused to take her calls or see her.

  The need for a bathroom break roused her from her regrets. Once that was done, she scooped up her keys and water bottles again, then locked the door behind her. “Toby, I’m Kate, and you’re about to earn your paycheck.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “I need some exercise.”

  “Where to, ma’am?” He edged in front of her, partially blocking her way as the reporters scrambled around and cameras clicked from the edges of her lawn.

  “I go for a three-mile walk every morning about this time. I’m not going to get fat and flabby because some reporter wants a story, so let’s go.”

  Toby complied with her wishes, and Kate was grateful for his presence. Cameras continued clicking rapidly as they passed by. Others stuck microphones in her face and followed, asking questions, some of them so ridiculous her mouth fell open.

  Was the baby okay? Was it really the Hawthorne heir?

  Did she have an affair with James? Was this really their love child?

  Was she going to fight the Hawthorne’s for the baby or give it up for adoption?

  Did she have plans to marry the baby’s guardian so she could be its mother?

  Through it all, Toby guided her forward, parting the crowd like a bulldozer. At one point, she could swear he growled. When the group closed in behind them, he rounded on them and issued orders to back off. Kate tensed, but after several frightening moments, the crowd left en masse with cell phones to their ears, running to their vehicles to report ... what? She was afraid to guess.

  When Toby took her elbow and they started her route, she was surprised to find her insides were shaky and her heart was thumping as if she’d already run the three miles at a fast clip. Now she needed the exercise to reduce stress levels before her doctor visit.

  * * * * *

  “Rio?” His mom’s voice carried up the stairs. “Rio! Pick up the extension. The doctor’s office is calling about Kate.”

  Hearing the alarm in her voice, he snatched up the home office extension, sending his mouse and papers flying across the desk. “I’m here.”

  “Mr. Hawthorne, this is Liz at Dr. Krieger’s office.” She went on to explain that Kate’s agreement included medical updates to the parents, but ...

  “I understand. I’m the baby’s guardian, so you can contact me from now on.” He winced, wondering how much detail Allie had required in the reports. “This is just routine stuff, right?”

  “Yes, sir. Blood pressure, the baby’s growth progress, that sort of thing, and there’s usually nothing significant to report.”

  Rio sat up straighter. “Usually. But this time is different?”

  “Miss Morrisey’s blood pressure is somewhat elevated, and she’s showing signs of edema or swelling in her hands and feet.”

  “Has she put the baby in danger?” Before, the idea of a baby had been nothing more than an annoyance, but James and Allie had entrusted the most precious thing in their lives to him. He couldn’t let anything or anyone — not even the woman carrying it — cause harm to their child.

  “There’s no danger at this time, but Dr. Krieger feels Miss Morrisey should reduce her current levels of stress as soon as possible. We’ve seen the newspapers. Losing the baby’s parents suddenly was bad enough, but having the press hounding her is compounding the problem.”

  Oh, hell, the press. Were they getting worse? He’d gone straight to his computer to take care of some business this morning, only stopping by the kitchen for a mug of coffee. “Tell Dr. Krieger I’ll make sure Miss Morrisey takes care of herself, even if I have to send her into seclusion.”

  Liz thanked him and ended the call, leaving Rio sitting there wondering how difficult Kate was going to be about this. The woman was beyond stubborn. Getting her to cooperate could be like trying to herd feral cats.

  He took the stairs at a fast clip and darted outside to retrieve the newspaper. Halfway down the driveway, he heard the buzz of people shouting. Rio stopped and stared, taken aback by two young guys draped over the iron gates, filming him. Others shouted questions so fast he couldn’t discern one from the other. Hyenas closing in for the kill.

  All this over an orphaned baby. Granted, the circumstances weren’t ordinary, but this was nuts. No wonder his mother and Kate had thought him naïve. He’d been traveling the Serengeti too long, out of touch with the world.

  It angered him to think of Kate having to endure this. Stubborn or not, she looked delicate, especially in her current condition.

  Thank goodness for those locked gates and the two-way mail and paper slots in the stone wall that ran around the property. He grabbed the contents from both and returned to the house without acknowledging the pack outside the gates.

  His mother hovered inside the front door. “Is Kate okay, and the baby?”

  “For now, but the doctor is concerned about her stress levels. Those hyenas out there aren’t helping.”

  “Hyenas?” Margaret glanced around his shoulder and frowned. “I see what you mean. Should we move Kate in here with us? I doubt her place has this kind of security.”

  Have her live with them? That was something Rio hadn’t considered. “I doubt Kate would ...” He broke off, whistling at the headline.

  dozens offer to adopt nobody’s baby

  “Oh, my lord,” his mother said. “Rio, you need to put these stories to rest.”

  “How?”

  She looked at him as if he’d suddenly sprouted feathers and quacked. “Call a press conference. Tell them James and Allie’s child already has a home with you.”

  “That matter hasn’t been settled. I thought we could talk about this again, work something out between us.”

  Margaret stilled, reproach in her eyes. “No. We can’t. I don’t understand your reluctance to honor your brother’s wishes. James readily split the Hawthorne fortune with you because he loved you and considered you his brother. If not for him and Allie and what they meant to our lives, then do it because of what Bear brought to your life. Honor his memory by being the same
kind of influence in this child’s life.”

  “And if I can’t?”

  “You can.” Her eyes softened. “Son, you’re a good man, much more like Bear than Hank. Believe that.”

  Rio wanted to, but memories of Hank’s drunken rages rose every time he got angry, reminding him how much of his old man he’d inherited. Even Bear’s strong influence couldn’t cancel out genes.

  Margaret patted his arm. “You’ll see. Now that that’s settled, what are you going to do about Kate?”

  Right. Kate. He didn’t like the idea of bringing her here to stay in this house with her scary-round tummy but had to admit it made some sense. The baby’s safety was his responsibility now. “I’ll go get her this afternoon.”

  * * * * *

  After her doctor visit, Kate was exhausted and tried to nap, but her cargo decided it was time to play. She rubbed her swollen belly until he quieted, then dozed until intermittent thumping woke her, followed by the doorbell.

  Swinging her legs around sent her head spinning. Sheesh. The Hawthorne heir was definitely having an impact on her equilibrium these days. Little brat. Kate patted her tummy in apology. Thank goodness all of this would soon be behind her.

  Another muffled knock came from beyond her bedroom door.

  “Yeah, yeah. I’m coming. Give a beached whale a break, okay?” she groused to the empty room without heat. She made it to the front door without further incident and opened it to find Rio standing there, his brows drawn together in a scowl. The fierce look didn’t go with his relaxed attire of jeans and a sweater. He absolutely had the body to carry off the thin mock-turtle look, damn him. She couldn’t wait to be svelte again.

  “Why didn’t you answer the door?” he asked.

  “I just did and might’ve sooner if I’d known you were coming.” She waved him in and shut the door, his neat appearance making her self-conscious. And because his presence shouldn’t affect her one way or the other, the feeling grated. “A phone call wouldn’t have killed you, although that would have woken me, too.”