by Sandy James
“Stupid hospital,” he mumbled to himself as he paced. “Stupid HIPAA. Stupid CPS.”
Child Protective Services. An agency he’d never thought he’d encounter since he’d left teaching. Yet a CPS worker had been summoned not long after Robert was asked to leave the ER room where the nurse and doctor were treating Emma’s head injury.
He calmed his unwarranted anger. These people were only doing their jobs. Hell, he was a man with an injured child who wasn’t any relation of his. If he was totally honest with himself, he’d admit he’d have reacted the exact same way. They were doing what they believed was best for Emma.
CPS was stepping in because a nearly year-old girl had fallen and hit her forehead against the corner of an open cabinet door while in the care of her aunt’s boyfriend. Poor Emma had a nice-sized goose egg above her left eye, and she hadn’t stopped crying until the nurse in the ER took her from Robert.
Then Emma had screamed.
Maybe when she was older, he’d be able to look back and laugh as he told the story of how Emma had called his name for the first time when he’d rushed her to the ER and she’d been taken from his arms. Not only had she called for him—Bobber—but she’d also damn near squirmed her way out of the nurse’s grasp to get back to him.
With her first birthday only weeks away, he and Beth had been worried because Emma didn’t talk much. Even when she wanted something, she tended to use her own unique version of sign language to let them know what she needed.
Well, she was damn well talking now.
“Robert!”
He stopped grumbling and pacing to watch Beth jog across the small ER parking lot. He shook his head at his inability to stop watching her breasts bouncing as she moved.
“Where’s Emma?” Beth was out of breath, and her eyes were wide with panic.
“She’s still in the treatment area.”
“Why aren’t you with her?”
As Beth tried to step past him, Robert grabbed her arm. “Because we can’t go back there. Not yet.”
She glared at his restraining hand. “Why?”
Dropping her arm, he laced his fingers through hers. “She got hurt while I was watching her, so they want to investigate if it was an accident or deliberate injury.”
Beth blinked a couple of times, the only indication she’d even heard his words. “Are you joking?”
“About this?” He shook his head.
“They can’t possibly think you’d hurt Emma on purpose.”
“Yeah, well…” He’d been devastated by the veiled accusation, and he hadn’t been able to shrug them off. No matter how he tried to justify their actions, those actions hurt him. Deeply.
Hurt Emma?
Not in a million years!
He frowned. “I guess they want to err on the side of caution.”
“On the side of ridiculous.” Beth tugged his hand, leading him back through the doors and into the ER receiving area. She strode right up to the desk and rapped on the glass window.
The clerk in a navy-blue smock with a Hudson County Hospital patch glanced up, smiled, then hit a button as she spoke into a microphone. “May I help you?”
“Yes, you can. Please open the doors to the treatment area so I can get back there and see my daughter.”
“What’s your daughter’s name?” the woman asked, her fingers poised over the keyboard of her computer.
“Emma Rogers.”
The clerk tapped out some information before frowning at the screen. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you to remain in the waiting area until one of the nurses calls your name.” She pointed at a set of huge double doors. “Keep an eye on those. A nurse will come talk to you soon.”
Beth narrowed her eyes as her face mottled red. “To heck with that!” She rapped on the glass with her knuckles. “Hey, lady. I want to see my daughter. Now.”
The clerk let out a dramatic sigh and hit the button again. “Yes?”
“I want to see my daughter.”
“Ma’am…”
“Please.”
With another weighty sigh, the clerk said, “I’ll see what I can do.” She hurried out of the cubicle.
Robert winced at the agony in Beth’s voice. This was all his fault. Not once in all the weeks Beth and Emma had lived with him had he witnessed the baby on two legs without him or Beth helping her. But she’d come toddling right across the kitchen floor as he’d made her lunch. A big smile lit her face when he’d grinned at her and called her a “big girl,” and she’d sped her steps. Unable to handle walking that fast, she’d stumbled and fallen headfirst against a cabinet he’d left open.
“I’m sorry, B,” he whispered, squeezing her hand.
“It’s not your fault they’re acting like buttholes. I have no clue why I can’t see Emma. What happened?”
Before he could explain the accident or why the hospital wasn’t leading her straight to Emma, the clerk came back and took a seat at her desk. “The nurse will be with you in just a moment to take you back to the treatment area.”
“Thank you.” Beth brushed away a stray tear.
No sooner were the words out of her mouth than the doors opened. A woman in purple scrubs stepped through. “Family of Emma Rogers?”
Robert hurried over, Beth walking fast enough to beat him there.
“I’m her mother.”
The nurse eyed Robert warily. “You’re the man who brought her in?”
He wanted to scream that he was Emma’s father but bit his tongue. He wasn’t. Nor had Beth asked him to be. Not once. “Yeah.”
“Follow me.”
* * *
Beth’s anger burned like a hot coal in her stomach until she saw Emma. Once she stepped through the sliding door to the treatment room and saw Emma, she relaxed. The baby was smiling at a nurse who was talking to her in a low voice and letting Emma play with a fabric book in her lap.
“Hey, Em.” Beth approached the bed cautiously, not wanting to startle either of them.
Emma’s head popped up. She grinned at Beth, then craned her neck, clearly trying to look past her to Robert.
“Bobber!” Emma clapped her hands, a radiant smile on her face.
Bobber. A baby’s way of saying Robert.
Emma’s first real word, and the girl had no idea how much she’d wounded her mother.
Robert put a hand on her shoulder. “See? She’s got a helluva goose egg.”
Of course she saw the big bump on Emma’s forehead. What was making Beth crazy was having no idea how a baby who’d only crawled was able to strike her head that hard against anything. “I see it.”
“Do you want to hold her?” the nurse said, her gaze shifting between Beth and Robert.
Robert knit his brows. “You’re not going to call the CPS worker again?”
The nurse shook her head. “She released her to your care.”
“CPS?” Beth felt as though she’d walked into the middle of a movie and was having difficulty figuring out the plot. “They actually called CPS in on this?”
Robert drew his lips into a grim line. “They thought I’d abused her.”
Her whole body stiffened in fear. “Are you kidding me?”
He shook his head.
That’s all she needed, a file at CPS that contained possible abuse. She’d never be able to adopt Emma now. The need to know the whole story near to drowned her. “What in the heck happened, Robert?”
“Bobber!” Emma squealed.
Robert went to Emma and lifted her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a sloppy kiss on the cheek that made the nurse laugh.
“She’s fine,” the nurse said. “The doctor will be in soon to give you discharge instructions.” She tousled Emma’s hair before she left, closing the sliding door behind her.
Beth rubbed Emma’s back, her already fragile heart shattering when Emma arched away from her touch. Choking back the urge to weep, she tried to hide her hurt as she gently brushed her fingertips over the
knot on Emma’s forehead. “Can you please tell me what happened?”
Why the question made Robert smile was beyond Beth. “Our girl was walking.”
“What?”
“She toddled into the kitchen when I was making lunch. I’d left a cabinet door open—”
Beth narrowed her eyes.
“I know, I know. That always makes you mad. Sorry. Anyway, I talked to her, and she tried running. She stumbled and went headfirst into the edge of the cabinet door.” He kissed Emma’s forehead. “Bobber’s sorry, Emma.”
“Bobber,” the child cooed, laying her head against his shoulder and putting her thumb in her mouth.
As soon as Beth got them both home and could get a moment to herself, she was going to cry a river. She’d missed Emma’s first word and the first time she’d walked. It was also painfully obvious that the baby loved Robert and wanted nothing to do with her new mother. Somehow Beth would have to try harder to win Emma’s love, because Emma held Beth’s heart in her tiny hands, just as she held Robert’s.
Did Emma realize how lucky she was to have a man as good as Robert Ashford love her as deeply as he did? And did Robert realize he was every bit as lucky to have a baby as special as Emma return that love?
“You okay, B?”
“Fine.”
“B… Don’t lie to me.”
Thankfully, the doctor chose that moment to slide the door open and step into the treatment room. “Ah, Emma’s parents are here. Glad to see we got everything cleared up.”
Since Robert didn’t correct him, neither did she. The doctor, who appeared to be so young he might’ve passed for a senior at Douglas, went through his spiel about caring for a child with a minor head injury, had Beth sign some papers, then told them to have a nice day.
Once they were outside, Robert nodded toward his SUV. “I’ve got her car seat. Want me to put it in your car?”
Beth shook her head. “Take her home. I’m going to stop to get a few groceries so I can make a nice dinner.”
“I thought we were going to Pizza Parade tonight. Emma loves the train that brings the drinks.”
“Not tonight. I’ll just make us something.” The idea of people seeing Emma’s injury and then looking at Beth as though she’d caused it turned her stomach. “She needs to rest and relax.”
He let out a chuckle. “You know our girl. Rest and relax aren’t in her vocabulary.”
No, but Bobber sure is. “We can at least keep her doing calm things. You know how much she loves us reading to her.”
“Then I’ll read to her all night if I have to.” He shifted his gaze to Emma. “Bobber’s sorry, Em. I wouldn’t hurt you for the world.”
Emma was practically asleep in his arms and didn’t respond to his heartfelt apology.
“We’ll see you at home?” he asked.
“Yeah, I’ll be there soon.”
He brushed a kiss over her mouth, easing some of her hurt. The spontaneous display of affection showed he might really care for her and not just Emma.
The hike to her car was long enough to allow Beth’s emotions to take control. By the time she slid behind the steering wheel, a few tears were sliding down her cheeks, falling and making dark spots on her light blue skirt. She fought the need to cry herself out. Robert and Emma didn’t need to see exactly how devastated and jealous she was, his kiss all but forgotten. She’d bury her feelings deep enough they no longer showed.
Emma had arched away from her touch. That simple movement was like a knife plunged into Beth’s heart. Not only did the baby love Robert more, but she didn’t even want Beth to touch her.
She searched for a tissue, wanting to hide behind it so people in the parking lot wouldn’t stare at her. She finally found one in her purse and held it to her face. Not giving in to her emotions, she slipped into a numb emotional state accompanied by soft hiccups. Tears wouldn’t fix anything.
It truly didn’t matter whether Emma loved her or not. Beth was her mother now. She’d do everything she could to love and protect her. Shoot, there were a lot of girls who didn’t appreciate their mothers, so many it was almost cliché.
Maybe love would follow. One day.
She also decided she’d broach the topic of Robert adopting Emma. Whether he wanted to be her father or not, Emma had taken him into her heart and accepted him in that role. He’d be a fantastic father, and he loved her like a daughter.
They might as well make it legal.
Chapter Thirteen
“Emma’s finally down.” Robert stepped into the master bedroom, expecting Beth to already be in bed, if not asleep.
She was in bed, but she was most definitely not asleep.
Kneeling in the middle of their king-sized bed, she was dressed in a bit of black lace that could barely be called a nightie. The meager light came from candles she’d scattered around the room, and the sheets had been turned back in invitation. She’d set the perfect seduction scene. Her boldness was belied by the way she nibbled on her bottom lip.
His body’s response was damn near instantaneous.
This greeting wasn’t at all what he’d expected. Beth had been silent, almost sullen after they’d gotten home from the hospital. She’d brought groceries and made them a nice pot of spaghetti, one of Emma’s favorites. While Emma ended up using the sauce more as fingerpaint than food and babbled contently, Beth had picked at her own plate, not even trying to make her usual pleasant conversation.
He hadn’t realized how accustomed he was to sharing meals and chats with his new family until Beth had been so quiet. Robert had assumed she was mad about Emma getting hurt, perhaps even blaming him for not watching her well enough. Judging from the way she was beckoning to him now, he’d been wrong.
“B-B? W-where did you get that, um, nightgown?” He swept his polo over his head and dropped it on the floor, not wanting to waste a moment of time before making love to her.
“I’ve had it for a while, actually. I was just waiting for the right person to wear it for.” Her voice was husky, downright sultry.
He whipped his belt from the loops and shoved his jeans and boxers down to his ankles. He almost fell as he tried to kick them off and walk to the bed at the same time. After catching himself against the mattress, he turned to sit and kick off his clothes and socks.
Beth moved behind him, running her warm hands over his back and up to his shoulders. She started rubbing out the tense knots that had formed there because of the day’s high drama. Her own pleasant scent mingled with the Dior perfume she favored. She’d definitely put a lot of thought into this interlude.
“You’re tight,” she murmured, working on the knots as she leaned closer to run her tongue around his ear.
In the month they’d been together, she’d never been the one to initiate sex. Not that Robert had any doubt of her desire for him. She was the most responsive and open partner he’d ever had, and he treasured how she made him feel like the best lover in the world by being so vocal about her pleasure. But he’d always been the one to reach for her first. His ego reveled in this new, daring part of her personality.
She smoothed her palms down his chest as she rubbed her breasts against his back. Her hot breath brushed his ear. “Do you want me?”
Had he not been afraid she’d think he was being crude, he would have led her hand right to his erection. “Oh yeah, B. I want you b-bad.”
“Then come to bed.” Beth backed away, the mattress shifting as she moved.
Robert had to resist the urge to scramble after her, flip her onto her back, and drive himself right inside her body. He’d never craved a woman like he did his Beth, and that craving grew more intense each time they made love. So different from any other lover. Once or twice in the sack, then he’d grown bored and downright restless.
Beth had him bewitched in a way he knew he might never shake. And he was ready for that. He’d grown weary of playing the field and of worrying about ending up alone—his worst nightmare. She’d given him all the r
ight reasons to finally settle down, from letting him be Emma’s surrogate father to the way she filled his life with passion.
She shook her head when he reached for her, grabbing his shoulders and pushing him to the mattress. “On your back, mister. I want to play first.”
“That sounds intriguing.”
“I sure hope so.”
She straddled his hips, leaned down, framed his face in her hands, and gave him the kiss he’d been craving. Her tongue swept into his mouth, stroking his and beginning the dance he loved. Thrust and then parry. Retreat and then surge forward. Kissing her was always so consuming, and he lost himself in the moment, knowing only Beth. Her scent. Her touch. The way she made him burn.
Easing back, she gave him a seductive smile before nuzzling his neck, sending shivers racing over him. She nipped him, soothing each sting with a loving lick. Her lips branded his skin. His collarbone. His chest. His stomach. Then her fingers wrapped around his stiff cock as she moved her face over his hips.
“B… You don’t have to—”
Her gaze found his. “I know, but… I want to.” She licked the crown and shot him a salacious smile.
Robert fisted his hands in the sheets, a low moan spilling from his lips. He couldn’t even find a word to tell her how wonderful she was making him feel.
With a rather arrogant chuckle, she ran her tongue from root to tip before taking him deeply into her warm, wet mouth.
The women he’d slept with had always acted like going down on him was a loathsome chore. That, or they let him know just how much he owed them for the privilege. He’d never make the mistake of comparing Beth to those other women again.
If he was correct in his assessment, she enjoyed the act. The small sexy sounds she made. The smile on her lips whenever he growled or moaned. The way she squirmed, rubbing her breasts against his legs. All of it told him she was almost as enflamed by the act as he was.