The Bodyguard’s Baby

by Debra Webb

Relief bolstered Laura’s sagging resolve. “Thank you, Detective, that would be wonderful.”

  “I’ll call my wife,” he suggested quickly.

  “You take good care of that fine little boy,” Elsa said quietly.

  Laura’s gaze connected with the dark brown eyes of the older woman who had brought Robby here. “Thank you. I’ll do my best.” Belatedly, Laura shifted her attention back to Detective Ingle. “Is she going to be in trouble?”

  “Don’t you worry none about me,” Elsa argued.

  Ray shot Elsa a smile then turned back to Laura. “Apparently since her instincts were on the money, no charges will be pressed. And she won’t lose her job,” he added quickly. “But she will be on probation with Mrs. Flannigan for a while.”

  Elsa poohed Ray’s comment. “Mary Flannigan will consider herself lucky I’m back. She couldn’t get along without me.”

  Laura smiled down at Elsa. “I’m sure she couldn’t.”

  Knowing she couldn’t avoid the inevitable any longer, Laura turned back to Nick. She steeled herself. It was impossible to read what he was thinking at the moment. “I’ve been on the run for a long time, Nick. So much has happened.” She hugged Robby to her heart. “I need some time to pull myself together, before you take any legal steps to share custody.” When he hesitated, Laura added quickly, “I’m not asking for forever, just a few weeks to figure out what happens next in my life.”

  Nick’s gaze was intent on hers for several seconds before he answered. “All right. I can live with that as long as you keep me posted of exactly where you are and how—” his gaze moved to Robby “—and how my son is doing.”

  Laura stiffly nodded her agreement.

  It was over.

  She had gotten Robby back safe and sound.

  She was safe.

  But she had lost Nick.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Two weeks had passed. Nick had not tried to see Robby or taken any legal action, giving selflessly the time Laura had requested. She knew it was difficult for him. He called every day. Each time he asked the same question, how was his son? And then, how was she? Did he really care? Laura wondered. The way she did about him. She couldn’t blame him if he didn’t. And she certainly couldn’t expect him to put off being with his son much longer. She could hear the growing anticipation in his voice with each call. Laura gazed forlornly at the salad on her plate. Though she felt more rested than she had in years, she had no appetite. Laura looked at her baby seated happily in the Ingles’ brand new high chair, where he played with his food. His smiles and excited baby words let her know that Robby, too, was happy and rested. Laura’s gaze shifted to her very pregnant hostess. Joy Ingle watched every move that Robby made with glowing anticipation.

  Ray had been right. This time with Robby had done his wife a world of good, and greatly boosted her caregiving confidence. Laura was glad she had come. If only she could find that kind of happiness in her own life.

  The doorbell chimed.

  Joy frowned. “Who can that be? It’s too early for Ray to be home for lunch,” she said, glancing at the clock on the wall.

  “I’ll get it.” Laura pushed to her feet. “I’m through anyway.”

  Joy smiled. “Thank you. I’ll just bask in your son’s eating antics.”

  Laura returned her smile, then headed for the front door. She breathed a sigh of satisfaction as she moved through the Ingle home. Ray and Joy were so much in love. When their baby came, he would lack for nothing in that department. Laura lifted a skeptical brow. Or any other department for that matter. She only wished Robby were going to grow up in a home filled with love and both his mother and father. How on earth would they ever manage sharing him? And if Nick married someone else?

  Laura pushed the disturbing thoughts aside and paused in front of the door. Still cautious, she peered through the viewfinder. She didn’t recognize the man waiting outside the door. Tall and handsome, he had dark hair and wore an impeccable black business suit.

  Laura opened the door a crack, leaving the security chain in place. “May I help you?”

  “Laura Proctor?”

  Laura studied his steady gray gaze. “Yes.”

  “My name is Ian Michaels. I’m an associate of Nick’s at the Colby Agency.” The European accent, coupled with his dark good looks reminded Laura of James Bond.

  She shook off the silly notion. Laura remembered the name. Nick had called him frequently, but she had never met the man. “Do you have any ID?”

  “Of course.” With practiced grace, Mr. Michaels removed the case containing his picture ID and held it up for Laura’s inspection. “I have some news regarding your case.”

  Laura frowned. “Why didn’t Nick come?”

  “He thought you would be more comfortable if I took care of the final details.”

  Laura moistened her lips instead of allowing the frown tugging at her mouth to surface. Nick didn’t want to come. He didn’t want to see her. She supposed she really couldn’t blame him. Laura had done a lot of thinking in the past two weeks. She had made a serious error in judgment. She should have trusted Nick. It was wrong for her to keep his son from him. Now she would face the consequences.

  She removed the chain and opened the door. “Come in, Mr. Michaels.”

  He smiled. “Call me Ian.”

  Laura nodded and closed the door. She led the way to the living room and sat down on the sofa. Ian settled into a chair facing her.

  “Laura, is everything all right?”

  Joy hovered near the door, her expression wary.

  “Yes,” Laura assured her. “This is Ian Michaels, a friend of Nick’s.”

  Ian stood. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Ingle.”

  Laura watched the wariness melt from Joy’s expression, only to be replaced by pure feminine appreciation. James Bond, all right, Laura decided.

  Joy backed away from the door. “I’ll just get back to Robby.” She smiled. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Michaels.”

  Ian nodded. After Joy had gone, he sat down again. He settled his gaze back on Laura. “Canton has been caught,” he said quietly. “He’s being held by the authorities in Georgia awaiting extradition to Mississippi to face murder charges related to Dr. Holland’s death.”

  Relief rushed through Laura. “Good. I’ll breathe a lot easier knowing he’s behind bars.” Canton represented the last hurdle to a normal life.

  “Nick has taken the liberty of upgrading security at your family home near Bay Break. You may return there whenever you’re ready. He also suggested that you acquire a dog. A large dog,” Ian added with a slight smile.

  Laura couldn’t help the answering smile. “Robby would love a dog.”

  “Good,” Ian said with obvious relief. “Because Nick has already taken that liberty as well. A Mr. Rutherford is caring for the animal until you return.”

  Laura’s smile widened at the thought of Mr. Rutherford. She hadn’t seen him in ages. The day he had stopped by and talked to Nick she had been sleeping. Maybe it was time to go home. She swallowed tightly. Of course, it would never be the same. Doc was gone. And she still wasn’t sure if she could forgive James Ed. He had called twice to check on her through Ray. With all that had taken place, James Ed had resigned as governor. According to Ray, James Ed had decided to return to practicing law.

  “Detective Ingle tells me that James Ed has been cleared of all suspicion.”

  “That’s correct,” Ian confirmed.

  Laura nodded. “I guess we’ll work things out someday.” For the first time in her life, Laura felt truly alone. She forced the thought away. She had Robby. She didn’t need anyone else. Nick’s image sifted through her mind, making a liar out of her.

  “Mrs. Leeton has also been located. She has confessed to her part in your son’s kidnapping.”

  Laura blinked back the moisture. “That’s good.” How could people she had known and trusted all of her life be so evil?

  “It appears that James Ed and Sand
ra did not go through your entire trust fund. There is some money left.”

  Laura frowned. “I assumed he used all the money.”

  “Most of it,” Ian explained. “But he has insisted on putting back all that he could. In fact, he plans to sell his private estate to add to that amount.”

  “I’m glad that some of the money is still there,” Laura said with relief. Though she had her education, the idea of leaving her son with anyone after all they had been through was unthinkable, though she knew mothers did so everyday. After losing him once, Laura wasn’t sure she could take the chance of leaving him in anyone else’s care. “But I’d rather he didn’t sell his home for me. If you would see that he gets that message I would appreciate it.”

  “Certainly,” Ian offered. He paused for a moment. “Laura, the situation between you and Nick is none of my business, but I think you’re both making a serious mistake.”

  Laura lifted her chin and leveled her gaze on this handsome stranger who seemed to read her entirely too well. “I don’t know what else I can do. Nick doesn’t appear to be interested in working anything out. Whenever he calls to check on Robby he never asks if I would like to talk about my plans. I have no idea what he wants. And, frankly, I’m tired of worrying about it.”

  Ian considered her words for a time. “Nick is suffering, too. He wants to do the right thing for his son. He’s convinced that there is no hope for a relationship between the two of you, but he doesn’t want to hurt you by taking legal steps.”

  Laura sat very still. “Did he tell you that?”

  “Not in so many words. But I know him. He won’t risk hurting you. But each day that passes knowing he can’t be with his son, destroys another small part of him.”

  Laura shot to her feet. “Thank you very much, Mr. Michaels, for making me the bad guy.” Suddenly restless, she paced back and forth in front of him.

  Ian stood. “That’s not my intent. I only wanted you to know that Nick—”

  “Look.” Laura’s hands went to her hips. “I know I made a mistake, okay? I admit that. But it’s done. I can’t undo it. If Nick can’t get past this, then what am I supposed to do?”

  “You could start by telling him what you just told me,” Ian suggested. “Nick doesn’t want to take a wrong step where you and Robby are concerned. He’s waiting for you to make the first move. He cares a great deal for you.”

  Laura’s gaze connected with his. “And if you’re wrong?”

  Ian smiled, a lethal combination of confidence and masculinity. “I’m rarely wrong.”

  And somehow Laura knew he was right.

  Laura locked the door behind Ian when he left. She sagged against it and heaved a beleaguered sigh. The first move. A knowing smile tilted Laura’s lips. She had learned her lesson about not going out on a limb to trust the people she cared about. She would make a move all right.

  All Nick Foster had to do was react.

  NICK SHOVED the completed files into the out basket on his desk. Hell, it was Friday. If Mildred came up with any more paperwork for him today, her long-standing position at the Colby Agency would be in serious jeopardy. Nick smiled. The surface gesture felt strange on his lips after so long with nothing to smile about. The agency wouldn’t be able to function without Mildred. She kept everyone straight, including Victoria.

  Nick closed his eyes and allowed the images that usually haunted him free rein. Hell, it was late, he was tired. Why not add insult to injury? The memory of making love to Laura always surfaced first. Nick’s fists clenched in reaction. The feel of her soft body beneath his. Her taste, her sweet smell. How would he live the rest of his life without being with her that way again? How would he live without her?

  But he had ruined any chance of that with his arrogant pride. Nick had slowly, but surely come to terms with Laura’s actions. She had been protecting her baby. Fear had kept her from coming to him. It still stung that she hadn’t trusted him. But Nick had to remember that Laura had only been twenty-two at the time. Too young to make all the right decisions. Hell, he was thirty-four and he still screwed up regularly. Case in point, his handling of the situation with Laura.

  Robby’s chubby cheeks loomed as big as life in Nick’s mind. His son. It still humbled him to think that he had a son. A son that wouldn’t even know him at this rate. Nick had to do something. But what?

  Laura apparently had no intention of ever speaking to him regarding her personal plans. He had given her every opportunity by always asking how she was when he called to check on Robby. What was he supposed to do? If he took steps to gain visitation rights he would only be making bad matters worse. How could he take Robby from his mother and bring him all the way to Chicago for weeks at a time? Nick knew he couldn’t do that to Laura. There had to be a solution.

  There had to be one, he repeated, as if the answer would come to him from his sheer determination.

  But he had probably blown it with his unforgiving attitude.

  A soft knock sounded at Nick’s door. He looked up to find the subject of his reverie standing in his doorway. Stunned, Nick pushed to his feet.

  “Laura.” His first thought was that something was wrong.

  “Hello, Nick.” She smiled, Nick’s breath caught. “May we come in?” She shifted Robby to her other hip.

  The little boy looked as if he had grown considerably in the past two weeks. How could Nick allow one more day to go by without having his son in his life? He was not above begging at this point. But he wouldn’t hurt Laura. The decision to work something out had to be hers. Her entire life had been spent with people manipulating her and telling her what to do. Nick wouldn’t do that. He couldn’t, no matter what it cost him personally.

  Nick jerked himself to attention. “Yes, please, come in.” He moved around to the front of his desk, his gaze riveted to the squirming baby in Laura’s arms. A colorful diaper bag hung over one shoulder. Between the bulky coat, the diaper bag, and the baby, Laura was barely visible.

  “Have a seat,” Nick offered belatedly.

  “No.” Laura shook her head. “I need to say this right now before I lose my courage.”

  Nick’s gaze connected with hers. Confusion formed a worry line between his brows. She had come all this way without calling first. “Is something wrong?”

  Laura met his gaze head-on. “I’ve done a lot of thinking, Nick. And you’re right. It was a mistake for me to keep Robby from you. I should have trusted you. I was wrong.” She looked away for a moment. “But it’s done and I can’t take it back.”

  “Laura, I—”

  She held up her free hand, halting his words. “Let me finish, please.”

  Nick relented with a nod. Anticipation stabbed at his chest. Could Laura possibly want to try again? Would she give him a second chance to prove that he loved her? And he did love her—with all his heart. He loved his son, too.

  “I’ve decided that Robby needs to get to know his father. Enough time has been wasted already.” Laura blinked, but not before Nick saw the uncertainty in her eyes.

  She took the two steps that separated them and dropped the diaper bag at his feet. She thrust Robby at him. Surprised by her action, Nick put his arms around his son with the same uncertainty that he had seen in Laura’s eyes. All else ceased to matter when Robby clung to Nick’s chest. His little hands fisted in Nick’s shirt. A foreign sensation seized Nick’s heart. Nothing had ever felt like this before.

  This was his child.

  “So,” Laura said, drawing Nick’s awestruck attention back to her. “Here he is.” She blinked again and backed toward the door a step. “Instructions are in the bag regarding what he likes to eat, and what he’s allowed to drink. I’m at the Sheraton. Call me if you need anything, otherwise I’ll pick Robby up on Monday.” Moisture shining in her eyes, Laura whirled toward the door and started in that direction.

  She was leaving.

  Panic seized Nick. She couldn’t do this—he didn’t know the first thing about taking care o
f a baby. “Laura,” Nick called to her swiftly retreating back. And, besides, he wanted her to stay. “Don’t go,” he added quietly. Robby bounced in Nick’s arms, as if adding his agreement.

  She paused at the door, then turned slowly to face him. Tears trekked down her cheeks. “Everything he needs is in the bag. You don’t need me,” she said, her voice quaking.

  Nick swallowed with extreme difficulty. His arms tightened instinctively around the little boy in his arms. “Yes, I do. We do,” he amended quickly. “I was wrong. You were afraid. You did what you thought was right. And I can’t hold that against you.”

  Laura crossed her arms over her chest. She swiped at the moisture dampening her cheeks. “None of that matters. I just want to do what’s right for Robby now.”

  “So do I.” Nick took a step in her direction. “But I want us to do it together.”

  Hope flashed in Laura’s surprised gaze. “You do?”

  He smiled. “I thought I made that pretty obvious a couple of times while we were in Bay Break.”

  Laura pushed her hair back, her hand trembling visibly. “I was afraid that it hadn’t meant as much to you as it did to me. I can’t be sure if you feel the same way I do.”

  Nick reached out and touched one soft cheek. “It meant the world to me—you mean the world to me.” His heart ached at the worry etched across her beautiful face. “It’s been hell giving you the time and space you asked for. But this had to be your decision.”

  Her expression grew suddenly solemn. “I love you, Nick.”

  “Could you put up with me for the rest of your life?” he suggested softly.

  “Are you asking me to marry you?” Her eyes widened with anticipation.

  “Absolutely.” Nick leaned down and kissed those sweet lips. Her arms flew around his neck and she kissed him back. “Is that a yes?” he murmured when he could bear to break from her sweet kiss.

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  Robby added his two cents worth in baby talk. Nick and Laura laughed. Nick stroked her cheek with the pad of his thumb. His fingers curled around her neck and pulled her closer. “I love you so much, Laura,” he told her softly. “I’ve loved you since the day I first laid eyes on you.” Robby squirmed between them. “And I love our son.”