“You don’t strike me as the maternal type.”
“I’m not.” She told herself to think like Francie again. Her sister wouldn’t have been intimidated by Rex. “I’m the cool-auntie type. I plan to take her shopping and stuff.”
“With Quentin’s money?”
“He is her father.”
Brody barged full force into the kitchen, his gaze immediately locking on Kate. “What was with the ambulance?”
She was incredibly grateful to see him.
Rex gave him a glare. “Look who’s still hanging around.”
“Christina is sick,” she said, adjusting Annabelle in her arms. “Everything else is fine.”
“What kind of sick?” Brody asked.
“A fever, maybe only a flu or something. But she had passed out when I found her.”
“Are you all right?”
Rex came to his feet. “Does she look like she’s not all right?”
“I’m fine,” Kate said.
Annabelle’s suckling was slowing down, so Kate removed the bottle and raised her to her shoulder to burp her.
“She needs a change.” Kate was glad for the excuse to get out of the conversation.
“What are you doing here?” Rex asked Brody.
“I came to see Quentin.”
“Quentin won’t be up for hours.”
“I’m up now,” came Quentin’s voice as he sauntered into the room. “What’s going on?”
Kate jumped in before anyone else had the chance. “Christina’s sick. So I’m taking care of Annabelle.”
Quentin seemed to digest that for a moment.
She held her breath and waited. She wanted all the time she could get with Annabelle, and the more she hung around, the more opportunities she’d have to eavesdrop on Bert and Ernie. Not to mention Rex. She was starting to get suspicious of Rex.
“Oh,” was all Quentin said.
She let go an inward sigh of relief, taking his lack of interest as permission to stay.
Brody gave her a subtle look of approval.
“Welcome aboard,” said Rex, a mocking edge to his tone and a predatory glint in his eyes.
She was definitely going to have to be careful around him.
“Annabelle needs a change,” she announced.
Quentin inhaled and scowled. “You’re telling me.”
Kate hopped to her feet and headed for the hallway.
Brody stopped her with a gentle hand on her arm. His touch had a ripple effect across her body.
“You sure you’re okay?” he asked in an undertone.
“It’s all good,” she said.
Rex broke in. “What’s with the whispering?” he asked them.
She pulled her arm free. “Brody’s offering to change the baby.”
Brody made a show of surrender. “I’ll pick up formula, shake a rattle or move the car seat. But you’re on your own for the sticky stuff.”
“I guess I misunderstood,” she quickly told Quentin, adding a giggle for good measure.
Rex seemed to be getting far too suspicious. She and Brody were going to have to be careful to keep up their charades.
She gave Quentin a smile and thought airy Francie thoughts.
She held Annabelle up like an accessory. “I thought we’d go to the mall. I could pick us out matching outfits and get our picture taken. Or maybe I should get her ears pierced. She’d look darling, don’t you think?”
Before anyone could react to the outrageous statement, she breezed from the room.
* * *
The next day Brody watched Rex head up the main staircase. He knew where the man was going and he didn’t like it. Kate had moved into the mansion yesterday, taking Christina’s room, since it was connected to the nursery. Moving in was a good move from the perspective of spying, but now Rex was stalking her.
Brody took the stairs two at a time.
“Soundproof?” Rex was asking as Brody rounded the corner into the nursery.
“Sound dampening, anyway,” said Kate.
She was on the floor, a cutting tool in her hand, colorful rolls of material and cardboard cartons strewn around the room. Annabelle was cooing in the crib which had been pulled away from the wall. All of the furniture was moved toward the center of the room.
“What are you doing?” Brody couldn’t help but ask.
Redecorating seemed like an odd choice given their current plan of trying to have Quentin arrested. Then again, he supposed Quentin wouldn’t suspect she wanted to take Annabelle away if she was nesting in the nursery. If that was the plan, it was pretty good.
Rex gave Brody an annoyed frown. It was clear he wanted Kate all to himself. Too bad, because Brody wasn’t going anywhere.
“Quentin told me I could make a few changes.”
She was dressed in worn jeans, a plain red T-shirt and a pair of runners. Brody was sure this was the first time he’d seen her without makeup. Except for the purple hair, she looked like the perfect girl next door.
He found the look very sexy. Truth was, he found all of her looks sexy. This was just another in a long list.
“Wallpaper?” he asked.
There had to be easier means to accomplish the same objective.
“It has a sound barrier on the inside.” She pointed to the quarter-inch material. “And on the outside, well, you can see the pretty trees and birds.”
Brody wasn’t sure he followed her complete logic. But he was willing to go along with it.
“You’re going to need help with that,” he said.
If Rex stayed, Brody stayed.
“That would be great.” She gave him a grateful smile as she came to her feet, retrieving a measuring tape.
He had to admire her acting. Rex thought she was planning to freeload. Quentin likely did, as well. It was good to feed into their mistakes. It would keep them from thinking about other possibilities.
“I’ll give you a hand, too,” said Rex, rolling up his shirtsleeves.
No surprise there.
“Thanks,” Kate said.
Brody knew she was no fan of Rex, so he applauded her acting once again. Then he rolled up his sleeves, as well. He was far from a home decorating expert. But if she was determined to do this, he could provide brute strength.
Annabelle’s vocalizations grew louder, as if she wanted to participate in the conversation. She rolled from her back to her stomach, blinking at them.
As always, he was struck by her eyes—Kate’s blue eyes. Her cheeks were plump and rosy pink, and she had a soft halo of light hair. For a moment, Brody thought of his mother and her intense desire for grandchildren. She was anxious for an heir, and his parents were pushing his brother, Blane, to get married.
He suspected it was more than just the need for an heir to the earldom. His mother had a soft spot for both babies and children. Her charitable work focused on children, and there was nobody more enthusiastic about the annual summer children’s festival that took place on the grounds of the Calder estate.
“The directions say to start with plumb lines,” said Kate.
Annabelle picked that moment to cry out. Her little face screwed up, she quickly began to wail.
Kate glanced at her with worry, her hands already full. “Oh, baby. Does it have to be right now?”
Brody impulsively stepped forward. “I’ll get her.”
Kate looked surprised by the offer. “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.”
“Do you know what you’re doing?”
He frowned at her. But it was true that her instincts were bang on. He’d never held a baby before. Not that he was about to admit it. It couldn’t be too complicated. Annabelle was soft, warm and fragrant.
&
nbsp; His confidence faltered. She was a little too fragrant, and not in a good way.
She gulped down a sob, eyeing him with surprise and trepidation.
“Hey there, Annabelle,” he said softly, giving her what he hoped was a reassuring smile. “Something bothering you?”
She sniffed a couple of times, clearly deciding whether or not to keep crying.
“Your auntie’s busy right now,” he crooned.
He could hear Rex guffaw in the background, but he ignored him. Rex might be too macho to take care of a baby, but it was clear to Brody that holding Annabelle was the most practical thing to do to help Kate. And he was on Kate’s team now. He wanted Kate to know they were a team.
“You do know what’s bothering her, right?” There was amusement in Kate’s tone, laced with an obvious challenge.
“I can guess,” said Brody.
“You’re not scared?”
“I’m made of pretty stern stuff.”
“Okay, tough guy. Change table’s over there if you’re up for it.”
Rex laughed more clearly this time.
Brody had no intention of backing down. It would take more than a teeny, tiny little girl to do him in.
“I’ve got this,” he told Kate and received a twinkling grin in return. He realized he’d change a dozen diapers in order to put that expression on her face.
Then she turned her attention to Rex. But at least she wasn’t smiling at him. Brody was grateful for that. And a little smug, too.
“We’re working with nine-foot ceilings,” she said.
Brody muttered softly to Annabelle. “I’d say we’re working with a twenty-six-inch baby.”
“I heard that,” said Kate, laughter in her voice.
“Your auntie is a meddler,” he said to Annabelle, moving to the change table.
He knew they’d need a new diaper. He understood the concept of wet wipes. On the shelf below the table was an assortment of items, including a jar of diaper cream. And there was a covered trash can beside the table. He was sure he could work this all out.
He laid Annabelle down on the vinyl changing pad.
“Careful she doesn’t roll off,” Kate called.
“Careful you make your lines straight,” he called back. “Meddler,” he whispered to Annabelle.
Surprisingly, the baby smiled up at him.
“That’s the spirit,” he told her. Then he located a row of snaps down the inside leg of her stretchy sleeper.
He unfastened the garment and peeled it out of the way. She kicked her legs as soon as they were free, and she did try to roll. But he placed his palm on her tummy and gently held her in place.
He released the tapes on the diaper, memorizing their position for use with the fresh one. The smell immediately became stronger. He swallowed against a gag reflex, but he refused to give in.
Rex wasn’t so lucky. He made a choking sound in the back of his throat and bolted for the exit.
Brody smiled between shallow breaths. But he also discovered an error in judgment. He should have retrieved the wet wipes before releasing the fasteners on the diaper.
“Got a problem?” asked Kate.
“We’re fine.”
But then she was beside him, the blue box of wipes open in her hand, offering them to him.
“Thanks,” he said, taking one, shaking it out, and using it to make a pass over Annabelle’s bottom.
“I’m impressed,” said Kate.
“That I can clean a baby or keep my breakfast down?” He glanced meaningfully at the doorway where Rex had disappeared.
“Both,” she said.
“At least we know how to get rid of Rex now.”
“I expect he’ll be back.”
Brody helped himself to another wipe. “Oh, he’ll be back. Don’t encourage him.”
“Encouraging him is the very last thing on my mind.”
“Good.” Brody had suspected as much, but he was glad to hear her say it.
“Do you think he’s involved?”
“I’m not sure. He probably knows something. But I don’t get the sense he’s the key to anything. Don’t try to spy on him.”
The last thing Brody wanted was Kate trying to get close to Rex.
“But if an opportunity presents itself...” she said.
“No.” He realized his tone was sharper than he’d intended.
Annabelle’s face screwed up.
“It’s okay, little girl,” Brody crooned.
“I’m not saying I’ll do anything risky,” Kate said.
“Don’t do anything at all. He’s determined to make a move on you.” And Brody was equally determined to keep that from happening.
“If he does, I might be able to use that.”
“You’re not your sister.”
“Excuse me?” There was a challenge in her tone.
“I mean that in a good way.”
“Are you saying I’m naive and unsophisticated?”
“I’m saying you’re honest and...” He hesitated. “Okay, yeah, I’m saying you’re maybe a little more innocent than Francie.”
“I can take care of myself.” She snapped the lid on the wipes container and put it back on the shelf. “I was doing great the past few days.”
He dropped the soiled diaper into the trash. “But I’m here to help now, and we’re a team.”
“And you’re the captain?”
“I’m...” He wasn’t sure how to frame it. “I’m less vulnerable than you. I can’t stay here twenty-four hours a day. So you’ll be alone and unprotected.”
“Quentin’s here. And I don’t get the sense that Rex will try anything in front of Quentin. All I’m going to do is keep my ear to the ground.”
Rex took a diaper from the small pile. “I don’t trust Quentin to protect you. Keep your ear to the ground, by all means. But make sure that ground is nowhere near Rex.”
“Yes, sir. Would a snappy salute be in order?”
“Don’t be melodramatic.” He spread the clean diaper out beneath Annabelle.
“You’ve got it backwards,” said Kate.
“How do I have it backwards?” Brody wanted to end this conversation. It was getting them nowhere. “I’m a man. If push comes to shove I have a good chance of taking Rex. Add to that, he doesn’t have any sexual designs on me.”
“I meant the diaper,” she said. “You’ve got the diaper backwards.”
He took in the orientation of the snowy white diaper. “Oh.”
She reached out and turned it a hundred and eighty degrees. “There.”
“Right. So, all that other stuff...”
“I get it. I’ll be very careful. And I’ll try to keep my distance from Rex.”
“Try hard.”
“Yes, sir.” She gave him a mocking salute.
He shook his head as he folded the diaper around Annabelle and fastened the tapes. Then as he put her little feet back into the sleeper, he realized an oversight. “I forgot the cream.”
Kate lifted Annabelle into her arms. “Don’t worry. We’ll get it next time.”
His worry magnified as he gazed at Kate’s small frame, her fresh face, the cherubic Annabelle cuddled in her arms. His thoughts went to his mother again, and how incredibly delighted she would be to have a daughter-in-law and a grandchild that looked just like that. He paused and couldn’t help but smile—perhaps not so much the purple hair.
Kate gave Annabelle a kiss on the top of her head. “I just want this to be over.”
“So do I.”
He fought an urge to draw them both into his arms. He needed all this to be over so that his family would be financially secure. But he also wanted it to be over for Kate’s sake, as well.<
br />
He stopped abruptly on that thought. When this was over, the two of them would be on opposite sides of the world. He was finding it hard to get excited by that prospect.
Ten
The soundproofing wallpaper, along with some quilted wall hangings, a couple of enormous stuffed animals and a white-noise machine seemed to do the trick for Annabelle. Kate had also discovered the room was equipped with a high-end baby monitor that came with an earpiece. So, once Annabelle was in bed that night, she was free to join everyone downstairs.
She’d looked through Francie’s closet for something appropriate and had chosen a pair of purposely tattered denim shorts and a white lace top. Her midriff was bare. She’d spiked her short hair with gel. And her feet were clad in high-heeled white, chunky sandals.
She was ready to blend in and more than ready to hunt down Bert and Ernie.
“Hello, gorgeous,” said Rex as he approached her.
He handed her a glass of champagne, the drink she’d decided early on to identify as her favorite. She’d chosen it because it was weaker than a martini, and because it had the air of extravagance. Also, she didn’t mind the taste.
“Hi, Rex.” She mustered up a smile.
He edged up close and wrapped an arm around her waist. “You look like someone ready to have fun.”
“That’s me,” she singsonged. She desperately wanted to pull away, but she forced herself to endure the embrace.
“That’s what I like about you,” Rex whispered against her neck.
She caught Brody’s glare. She assumed he was angry with her for not staying away from Rex. But the glare was aimed squarely at Rex, and it was intent. For a horrible second she thought Brody was going to stomp over and tear Rex limb from limb.
She quickly put some space between herself and Rex, pasting a carefree expression on her face. “I’m going to look for Quentin. We can catch up later?”
Rex reached out and grasped her hand. “Not so fast.”
She forced herself to giggle in an effort to defuse the situation. “In these shoes? I guarantee you, I’ll be going really, really slow.”
Rex glanced down at her shoes, and she took the opportunity to pull away. She kept her momentum going, sauntering toward the pool, making sure she mixed with the crowd.
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