Secret Baby (The House of Morgan, #2)

by Victoria Pinder

  She nodded, though she didn't seem sure.

  Vicki pressed her free hand hard against the kitchen counter. It took all her energy not to hold on to the girl for dear life and not let go.

  "I think you are my mother." Clara beamed at her. "Were you at war, like Daddy?"

  Vicki shook her head, let go of the counter, and went down to her knees. Her arms tried to swing around her baby, but she pressed her shoulder on the counter wall. "No, sweetheart. I'm Victoria, but please call me Vicki. I'm your new nanny."

  Her daughter's eyes narrowed like Colt's. Vicki stilled as her daughter asked, "Are you sure?"

  Vicki nodded faster. "I'm Victoria Morgan. And you?"

  Clara twirled and giggled. "Clara Collins. You related to Uncle John and Uncle Peter?"

  "Yes." A smile broke out on Vicki's face. "They are my brothers."

  Clara's eyebrows squished together like Colt's had back in math class. Her chin lifted and she said, "At Aunt Alice's, I asked Daddy if you were my mommy, and he didn't say no."

  Vicki froze. Every cell in her body wanted to tell the truth. Colt would throw her out if she said too much, too soon, but that wasn't enough. With time, they'd have to build trust and work together. Vicki's mind raced, but then, with a wide-eyed grin, she answered, "Your dad was surprised to see me again. We knew each other from childhood, and the last time we talked, we had a big fight. We talked everything out now like adults, and we're friends again."

  The girl came closer, placed her warm, soft hands on Vicki's face, and stared. "I hope you stay. I like you better than Belle."

  Then, before Vicki could ask her what she meant, the girl reached out with her small arms and hugged her. Her tiny body pressed close, and all Vicki could smell was peaches as she hugged her daughter back. Her hug was like heaven. Clara was perfect. Vicki closed her eyes and inhaled again.

  Unsure what to say and to not break the hug, Vicki squeezed tighter. Her body screamed that she held her little girl now, and it was like she'd entered a different world. Her brain heard Colt's feet pounding behind her, but she couldn't stop.

  Clara giggled and broke their hug. Vicki gazed at her in wonder. Her legs were shaky as she tried to stand.

  Vicki's mind screamed to claim her place in the girl's life right now, and if this arrangement failed, she'd do whatever she could. Clara deserved a mother. Vicki knew what it was like to grow up without one.

  Clara went to her father and tugged on his pant leg until he leaned down to her, and then they both whispered. Colt had an enormous smile, and Clara giggled.

  Vicki straightened her skirt, and then her lips parted as she stared at the stovetop across from her. The food was burning. A gasp came out of her mouth as she ran toward the oven. Colt beat her there, and he grabbed a glove for the oven. She swallowed as her heart raced. He drained the oil out of the pan and dropped the blackish potatoes on a plate. He shook his head, a smile on his face. "I knew you'd burn breakfast."

  She placed her hand on her hip to say something, but then stepped toward the oven. Her biscuits were too dark, and she cringed. "The biscuits are a little too brown, but we'll just scrape that part off."

  Clara went and took a seat at the table, but Colt stood there and laughed.

  "How do you know Miss Vicki, Dad?"

  He continued to laugh. "She was Aunt Alice's friend when she was a girl."

  "I told you, Clara." Vicki laughed as Colt placed the frying pan on the counter and continued to smile.

  Clara said, "Doesn't mean she's not my mommy. No one said no."

  Vicki pressed her lips together as they both stopped laughing. One day, Colt wouldn't know how to stop the boys that came to the front door. Their gazes met, and then he nodded to his daughter. "Vicki's your new nanny for now, sweetheart."

  Clara's gaze searched the room as she asked, "So what's in your bag? Toys?"

  Vicki couldn't believe that she was so easily distracted.

  Clara walked and jumped up to the counter to look at the bag.

  "That's mostly pictures and things I intended to show your father later." Vicki met his stare, and he stopped laughing. She swallowed, and then took the plates over to the table. "Let's just eat."

  Colt followed with the rest of the plates. "Your new nanny and I are friends, Clara. She's here to play with you today, but she'll tell me everything if the schemes get out of hand."

  Vicki shook her head at Clara, and her daughter winked.

  "Pictures are boring."

  Vicki took a seat at the table, smiled, and her heart beat fastened. She scooted her seat toward Clara, as Colt set down the plates. Her daughter smiled as Colt added food to her plate. "What are we playing today?"

  What child games did she know? Vicki cringed until an idea hit. She hoped to fill her daughter in on as much as possible of her life. "I make and design wedding dresses now for a living. I also play a few instruments. I was always good at art and coloring."

  "I want to learn how to make pretty dresses." Clara's voice went up an octave. "Vicki is already cooler than Belle."

  Colt dropped his fork onto his plate. "Hey now."

  Vicki coughed and deflected their attention. "What are you good at, angel? We can play whatever you want."

  Colt stood and went back into the kitchen. "I need another spoon."

  Clara had her father's devil-may-care smile. "Riding my horse."

  "Not today, sweetheart. It's supposed to rain," Colt said from across the room. "Inside games."

  His daughter's shoulders shook, and then she whined, "I know you said that, but—"

  Vicki saw how both of them understood where to push and where to stop. She kept her hands in her lap.

  Colt poured small glasses of juice and carried them to the table. He pushed a glass at Clara. "No buts."

  Then he handed Vicki a glass.

  Clara's mouth opened, and Vicki knew she'd argue. So instead, Vicki asked, "It's supposed to rain?"

  His eyebrows lifted. "Remnants of a hurricane that the mountains in Puerto Rico broke up. Don't you pay attention to the weather?"

  With a shrug, she sighed. "No. The news is boring, and someone usually mentions a hurricane. Besides, it's hot and sunny in Florida every day."

  He stared at her, then shook his head and found the silverware. "My oranges need the water."

  Need was a word she'd not use near Colt. She sipped her juice and then placed the glass on the table. "So it's a bad rain today. I understand. I'm up for any inside games that Clara wants to do."

  Colt nodded as he slid into his seat.

  Clara crossed her arms. Then she let them go and smiled. "Daddy, Vicki is prettier than Belle, and nicer. And I still think she's really my mommy."

  Without a word, Colt gulped his orange juice and swallowed. Vicki stared at his Adam's apple. Then he tilted his head at his daughter. "Hey now, kiddo. Be nice. You've only met Belle twice, and both times we were in a hurry. Lay off until you get to know her. She'll be here in a few days."

  With a scowl, Clara moved the fork and knife together to one side of her glass, with well-trained manners. "I don't want a stepmother. I want my mommy."

  Vicki's heart raced. Clara had her mother, though she stayed silent. She'd missed so much of her daughter. Then Colt told them both, "I want to marry a woman who loves me."

  Heroes like Colt deserved love.

  Clara crossed her arms and argued with her dad. "You don't make sense. I don't need a stepmom when I just found my real mom."

  Vicki refused to miss another moment. She set her jaw. "You're getting two women, not one, Clara. I'm not going anywhere now that I am here, and Colt has every right to marry Belle."

  "So you are my mother." Clara's eyes brightened, like she'd won.

  "Stop." Colt dropped the plate in front of their daughter. "Eat your breakfast and play nice. Vicki's my friend, but she's your nanny for the next few weeks. Then Belle will be your stepmother, and everything will be fine."

  Clara flashed Vicki that devili
sh smile.

  Vicki said, "Tell your dad that you love him."

  Clara's mouth opened, but she did as she was asked. "I love you, Daddy."

  Vicki's heart grew warm in her chest. She sat here and wondered if this was what a real family was like. If so, she approved.

  #

  A bolt of lightning shot in the ominous sky. Then the wind played with her hair. The hurricane remnants were more like an oncoming major storm.

  Vicki wiped her hands on her skirt, then helped her daughter off the swing. Raindrops pelted them, but she held Clara's hand and ushered her inside the ranch. The storm would be bad soon. As they neared the door, Vicki hoped Colt was home. She led them into the house. As she closed the porch door, thunder boomed in the air, and they jumped up the last step.

  Clara's face went white.

  Vicki reached down and brushed her wet hair as she told Clara, "Let's check the weather online, sweetheart."

  "Dad said rain."

  "He did. So far, he's right." Vicki's gut said more. She stayed quiet and unlocked the door to the house. The wind raced, and rattled the door open in a gust of wind.

  Something was definitely off. Living in the summer of Florida, the storms could be torrential and fast and powerful. But a microburst of wind mixed with the warm waters of the ocean, and a hurricane could restrengthen to a full-blown storm with the right ocean temperatures in the gulf. Vicki led Clara to the living area and away from all windows.

  Clara shook her head then took off in a run down the hall. Vicki followed, and Clara rushed straight to her bedroom. Vicki stayed on her heels and asked as the girl opened her closet, "What's happening?"

  The lights flickered. Clara she crawled further into her closet. "I want to get something. Give me a few minutes."

  "Okay." They were at her home, but goosebumps grew on Vicki's arms. Right now it was only rain. From the door, Vicki called out to Clara's feet, which were all she could see. "I'm checking the computer for the storm. I'll need a minute."

  Clara crawled out and then sat on the floor with a doll.

  Vicki told her stiff shoulders to relax as she walked into the living area and grabbed her phone in her bag.

  With her phone in hand, she flew toward Clara but waited in the hall outside her baby girl's room. Clara had settled on the floor with a few dolls and played silently. Vicki's breath hitched for a few seconds as she stared at her little girl. Colt's house was built to code to withstand a hurricane after Andrew, yet Vicki's skin felt electric. She glanced at her phone, clicked a few places to get to the weather, and inhaled as she read exactly what she'd feared. The storm had grown into a category five hurricane. In her life she had never lived through one that strong. Andrew had wiped out Homestead back in 1992, and she was in the epicenter of that destruction.

  No. Superstition said a hurricane didn't hit the same place twice. Vicki knew she held on to hogwash theories, but it was all she had.

  She stepped in the room and almost tripped over a doll. The toy squeaked, and she struggled to keep her balance. Then she stared at the windows. They were in serious danger. She rushed out the door and called into Clara's room, "Sweetheart, I'm going to go outside and close the shutters. Stay here."

  "Okay." Without a blink at her, Clara moved her doll like they were having a private conversation.

  Where was Colt? Did he know the storm had changed? She grabbed her purse and dialed his number. No one answered.

  Vicki gulped and ran outside, and the wind hit her so hard in the face that the brutal force slapped her. She clenched her jaw and ran to the side of the house. The wind tossed her hair into her eyes and she couldn't see, but she reached for the shutters. Then she accidentally bumped into a large, muscular shoulder.

  The smell of oak trees and oranges surrounded her as he blocked the wind. Colt's hands brushed her sides and held her steady. "What are you doing, woman?"

  "Don't call me woman or princess."

  "Now is not a good time."

  Yeah, there was a storm. Next to him, she unlatched one of the hooks on the blinds. "You weren't anywhere I could see, and I needed to close the blinds. It's a category five."

  "It can't get bigger now."

  She wavered in her stance. "I'm scared."

  "The center is supposed to be far north of here." He unhooked the other side and twisted the bottom of the shutter into the wall. She held it steady as best she could as he hooked the shutters closed. Once he finished, he yelled over the wind, "I'll finish and be inside soon. Go watch Clara."

  At least the predictions didn't have them in the line of fire. "Do you have a generator?"

  "Victoria Morgan is scared?"

  "I already told you that." The wind blew at her back and knocked her into his arms again. "Do you, Colt?"

  His chest warmed her backside, but then she lunged herself off him, and adjusted her stance as the wind pelted her.

  He turned toward another window shutter. "It's a cat five, but hundreds of miles from here. Let's hope it stays that way."

  Her hair flew in her face. "Colt?"

  The wind didn't matter now that heat rushed through her. "Yes, I have a generator. Now go in and keep Clara calm. She hasn't survived that many hurricanes."

  "None of us have. Colt—-" She didn't know what she'd say. At home, she'd have Peter's staff to take care of safety details. At worst, she would have to call and someone would show up to take care of everything. The woodsy smell of Colt calmed her. He stepped further down the house to get another window closed, and she ran inside.

  The front door flew open and slammed on the outside wall. Vicki turned around and tugged that door closed. Her muscles ached, but she won. Then she turned around and saw Clara. Her daughter stood in the hall holding a doll's hand. Clara came running to the door, but Vicki turned to use all her muscles to close it. The moment Clara came close, Vicki won her battle with the door. With the wind howling outside, Clara tugged on her arms. "I want to show you my dresses to pick one to wear. I want to be as pretty as you."

  Now? Vicki's heart spiked at the girl's glow of happiness. If Clara was distracted, she'd not be worried. Vicki's lips trembled as she opened them to speak, and she lowered herself to her daughter's level to meet her gaze. "You're prettier, sweetheart. Let's go see what you have."

  The girl raced to her room, and Vicki chased after her. Clara threw open her closet to pull out a dress. Without stopping, Clara kicked off her shoes, which flew halfway across the room and landed in the pile with her other shoes. Vicki could never have done that. Without a thought, Vicki knelt down and straightened the shoes out. "Good aim."

  Clara had no modesty, because she dropped her clothes in a heap on the floor and showed off her superhero Underoos like it was normal. Vicki held her tongue. Perhaps for children it might be normal, but she had no idea. Instead of asking, she bent over and picked up the discarded pile to sort. Clara threw her dress on the top of her head. Vicki finished her sorting, and placed the dirty clothes in the hamper.

  Clara's wail made Vicki turn around fast to see her daughter, then she stifled her laugh. Her daughter's arms flailed around with the dress over her face. Clara yelped, "Help me. I'm stuck."

  On her knees, Vicki scooted over to her and helped tug the dress down. Clara lifted her arms until she could see, and then wrapped them around Vicki's neck to hug her.

  Colt walked in the door and Vicki stood. As she gazed down, she saw Clara making a duck face. Colt shook his head, and their daughter laughed. "She's turned into a prissy girl that fast with you?"

  Vicki's heart leapt. She gazed behind him. The window was now black from the shutters. "Stop. She's showing me how pretty she looks in a dress, and she's beautiful. So try again, Dad. Go out, then come back in and tell your daughter she looks amazing."

  His brown eyes gazed at Clara with a shiny stare. Vicki's heart squeezed in her chest. She's missed out on all of this. Then he stepped backward and smiled. "Bossy as ever."

  At the door he stepped into th
e hall, and then turned to look at his daughter. "Clara, sweetheart, you're beautiful, no matter what you wear."

  The little girl smiled and twirled. Vicki sat on the side of the bed and averted her gaze. She'd not cry now. Her chest ached a little that she'd missed out on five years of her daughter's life. Her eyelids went gummy and she feared tears would form on her face again.

  Clara came over to her and wrapped her arms around Vicki. "Don't cry. You're pretty too. Dad is just stupid over that meanie Belle."

  Colt's voice went up an octave. "Hey now."

  Vicki's chest had a flutter, and her hands trembled. Then she met Colt's warm eyes as he stared at her like he cared. "I won't cry. I'm being silly. I'm usually lighthearted and fun."

  Clara brushed Vicki's hair, and she lost track of everything else.

  "She's still skinny, but Vicki was always one of the gorgeous society misses in the country." Thunder crackled in the air, and Colt's face became more serious. "And I need to talk to your nanny for a minute, sweetheart."

  Clara narrowed her eyes, but said nothing.

  He offered her his hand to help her stand. She accepted and depended on his strength to lift herself. And stranger still, the heavy layers of doubt dropped off her shoulders in that second. Her lips parted, but she was unsure what to say. Her heartbeat became stronger in her ears, but she managed to sound normal as she said to Clara, "Be right back."

  They stepped into the hall, and he closed the bedroom door behind her. "The storm will be a rainstorm mostly, but I'd feel better if you stayed the night, Vicki. Or are you running away into the hurricane?"

  Her fingers ached to touch him, but she didn't dare. Instead, she lowered her gaze from his strong shoulders and answered, "I'll stay, though I didn't bring anything to sleep in."

  "Good. I have supplies." He walked down the hall and waved for her to follow him. With a shrug, she complied. He continued his path across the hall to a closed door. "This is your room for the night. You already know the bathroom. I'll get you something of mine to sleep in, and I'll rustle up a toothbrush."

  With a nod, she caught that sexy gleam of his gaze again, and she smiled and met his stare. "Thank you."