by Noelle Adams
For a few moments, she gazed out at the winter wonderland beyond the tinted glass windows. She was surrounded with a white calmness, so different from the unceasing din of Palm Beach. Life will be very different for these children in Palm Beach, she thought, turning her attention to Alyssa who was now fiddling with her locket again. “Where’s everybody?” she asked.
“Jason’s in his room and Miss Libby is in Stasia’s room.” Alyssa clapped her hand over her mouth, her eyes opening wide. “Shhhh.” She brought her lips close to Kaya’s ear. “Miss Libby says be quiet ‘cause she’s putting Stasia to bed.”
Kaya chuckled. “Now you tell me after all that screaming you just did.” Thank God the house was huge, and that the nursery was on the second floor on the opposite side of house.
“I thought I heard you.”
Kaya smiled at the freckled-face redhead descending the stairs. She’d known Libby for less than twenty-four hours and she already felt as if they were close friends.
Kaya had felt very welcomed since she’d stepped off the plane in Manchester to find a Fontaine Enterprises jet, albeit a small one, waiting to fly her to Granite Falls. She’d arrived at L’etoile du Nord to meet Libby and Steven, Ethan Bennett—whom she learned was Jason’s best friend—and his mother, Adrianna. She’d also met Pastor Reuben Kelly and his wife Samantha from Granite Falls Community Church. They’d all raced to the house the night Michael and Lauren died, and had stayed with the children until Kaya arrived.
If it was one thing that was made clear to Kaya right away, it was that the children had a strong support system in place. They’d shown up in the time of a crisis, and Kaya was grateful for the time they’d spend with her and the children, but once they felt that she could handle the situation, they’d returned to their families and lives. Pastor Kelly had a church to run and Samantha had other clients to attend to. Adrianna had two more children at home—a toddler and an infant—and Libby had a previously scheduled bridal dress fitting.
If Kaya were to be honest with herself, she’d admit that after everyone went home last night, leaving her all alone with a screaming infant, she’d been tempted to catch the first flight back to Florida this morning. But when Alyssa had crawled into her bed in the early hours of dawn, wrapped her arms about her neck and told her that she loved her, all thoughts of running had been vanquished from Kaya’s mind. This situation was different from any she’d ever faced, and she knew she was already messing up, big time, but she wasn’t a quitter. She wasn’t going to quit these kids just because her circumstance looked impossible to overcome.
“Is she sleeping?” Kaya asked, jutting her chin at the monitor in Libby’s hand.
Libby set the monitor on the marble table in front of the sofa and sat down beside Kaya. “I got her to take a couple ounces of formula. That will hold her for a little while. She misses nursing.” She rolled her eyes in Alyssa’s direction.
Kaya nodded her understanding. Samantha had instructed them not to say anything to Alyssa about her parents’ deaths until Bryce was back. Samantha thought he should be the one to tell her since he’d been like a father to her for her entire life. Only now did Kaya understand the gravity of those words. Would Samantha testify on Bryce’s behalf in a custody battle?
Kaya swallowed and smiled at the child sitting on her lap. “Alyssa, can you go play with your dolls for a while? I need to talk with Miss Libby.”
“I wanna stay with you.” Alyssa tightened her hand around Kaya’s waist. “I’ll be quiet and not interrupt.”
“I know you’ll be quiet, but I need to talk about some grownup stuff with Miss Libby. It’s just for a little while. Okay?”
Alyssa pouted and reluctantly climbed off her lap. “Will you play dolls with me?”
“In a little while.”
“Okay, Auntie Kaya. Don’t forget, now.”
“I wouldn’t. I promise.”
Alyssa skipped across the floor and descended three short steps that led into a playroom near the kitchen area.
“So, how did your meeting with Steven go?” Libby asked.
“Interesting.” Kaya noted the sparkle in Libby’s eyes at the mention of her fiancé. Kaya never felt enthusiastic when she spoke about Jack, thought of him, or even when she was with him. He seemed more like an old familiar friend than a fiancé. The sight of him caused her no real delight, just a warm comfortable feeling, like she would get from slipping on a cozy sweater on a chilly evening, and being grateful that it still fit, and could do its job.
But her heart was pounding out of control at the mere thought of Bryce Fontaine. Her fingers still tingled from his touch, and those gnawing pangs in the core of her belly were back at the memory of his dark probing eyes, sexy brown lips, and bronzed giant stature.
The man had set her on fire with just one look.
Kaya let out a harsh breath. “Is he always so damned arrogant?”
“Who, Steven?” A frown wrinkled Libby’s forehead.
“No. The godfather.”
“Oh.” Libby split a wry, freckled smile. “You met Bryce.”
“Collided with Bryce would be a more accurate account.” Kaya had to bite back her impression of the man since Libby worked at Fontaine Enterprises as head of the accounting department. “Why didn’t you tell me this house belonged to him?”
Libby shrugged. “I assumed you knew. Didn’t you and your sister talk?”
“I wish we did. Then I might understand why Bryce thinks her children belong to him. He went ballistic when he heard I’d inherited them and that I was taking them to Florida with me. For a minute there I thought he was the biological father instead of the godfather.”
Libby dropped her gaze and her expression turned somber.
“What is it, Libby? Is there something I should know, besides what I don’t already?”
“Bryce loves these kids, Kaya. It would break his heart if you took them away from here.”
“So do you and Steven, but I don’t see you going into a rage over it.”
“It’s different for Bryce. Ever since—”
“Ever since what?” Kaya prompted when Libby stopped.
“Bryce experienced a horrific heartbreak a few years ago, Kaya. It changed him in more ways than any of us anticipated, even his parents. He still hasn’t recovered from it. Just go easy on him, okay? I know he can be a real pain in the ass sometimes, but his heart is always in the right place.”
That was hard for Kaya to believe after the way he’d tried to pay her off. She should have known there was something profound driving that man. He’d been warm and charming when she’d first met him, then in the space of a heartbeat, he’d turned into a raging tyrant. Now Libby was telling her that the omnipotent Bryce Fontaine wasn’t that invincible after all. He was human and vulnerable like the rest of them.
“What happened to him, Libby?” The depth of Kaya’s curiosity, the force of her need to know more about the man who rubbed her in all the wrong ways, surprised even her.
“I shouldn’t have said anything.” Libby shot to her feet and clasped her hands over her mouth as if to keep more gossip from spilling out.
Kaya followed her up. “But you did. And you can’t leave me hanging like this. Maybe, if I know what’s going on in his head, I could better understand his irrational behavior.”
“Would it change your mind about taking the kids to Florida with you?”
“I don’t know.”
Libby eyed her speculatively. “Just forget I said anything. When and if Bryce wants you to know about his past, he’ll tell you. Please, don’t tell him that I mentioned it. He trusts very few people in this world, and two of them just died. I don’t want to give him a reason not to trust me.”
“Okay, I wouldn’t. I wouldn’t say anything.” Accepting that any more discussions about Bryce were over, Kaya walked to the fireplace and stretched her hands toward the leaping flames behind the glass-enclosed hearth. Libby was clearly concerned about ruining her relationship with
Bryce. Not only was the man domineering and intimidating, he had his entourage of loyal disciples to protect and defend him.
In spite of the internal havoc he was already causing to her being, and the obstacles he could place in her path to retaining custody of the children, Kaya couldn’t help but wonder about the painful experience Bryce had suffered.
Whatever it was, she was certain that he didn’t want her pity or her sympathy. He wasn’t the kind of man to wear his heart on his sleeve, either. She’d only spent a few minutes in his presence, but she already had him figured out. Bryce Fontaine wasn’t the kind of man who would let anyone know he was hurting, emotionally or physically. He was proud.
Sensing someone was watching her, Kaya gazed across the wide open space of the first floor. Sure enough, Jason was standing in an informal dining area off the kitchen, observing her. Even from a distance, she felt the disdain in his silver-grey eyes.
He was the most light-footed child she’d ever known. She could hear Alyssa coming from a mile away, but Jason made his presence known only when he was ready. Several times yesterday, she’d caught him eyeing her like a full-bellied cat would eye a bird with a broken wing—not knowing whether or not to be bothered.
Unlike Alyssa, he’d been wary of her, but politely civil when she first arrived. But last night it all changed when she’d offered to tuck him in. He’d screamed at her, telling her that she was not his mother and to leave him alone. Then he’d slammed his bedroom door in her face.
He’d given her a glimpse of Little Kaya. After her father walked out on her, she’d become filled with rage. Nadine had tried to beat it out of her, to no avail. As Kaya thought about it, she realized that it was only after Nadine abandoned her and she was placed in foster care that her anger began to subdue. She wasn’t mad at the world; she was just mad at Nadine. It was Nadine’s fault that her father had left. Kaya wished her father had fought for her, like Bryce was prepared to fight for Jason and his sisters. Oh, to know love like that.
Jason sauntered up to Libby, ignoring Kaya altogether. “Miss Libby, when are Uncle Bryce and Mommy and Daddy coming home?”
“Soon, Jason.” Kaya gave Libby a silencing shake of the head.
“Yeah, soon,” Libby backed her up.
She didn’t want him to know that Bryce was back, not until she figured out how to deal with the man. As she watched Jason’s shoulders droop, Kaya felt like someone was snipping little pieces of her heart out with a pair of giant scissors. His moment of truth was near.
“Can I stay at your place until they come home?”
Libby rested her hands on his shoulders. “I’ll tell you what. I have to go into town to run some errands. Would you like to come along for the ride? We can stop at Mountainview Café and have a bowl of Miss Eloise’s homemade clam chowder that you love.”
“Okay, and maybe if Ethan is there, I can see him?”
“Yeah, maybe.” Libby ruffled his curly black hair.
Kaya wished she could have been the one to cause the hint of a smile that flitted across Jason’s face. She knew that deep down inside, he was a sweet kid. She wanted so much to put her arms around him, tell him that she loved him.
“Ethan’s grandmother owns the café,” Libby told Kaya.
Kaya nodded. “I see.”
“Run on upstairs and put on some warm clothes.” Libby tugged on the sleeve of Jason’s T-shirt. “We don’t want you getting sick.”
He left without giving Kaya a second glance.
“I don’t mean to take over,” Libby added when they were alone again. “But he’s been cooped up in this house for two days, now. It’s school winter break, and he would have been out on the ski trails with his father every day if—” She shrugged. “You know.”
“I understand.” Kaya placed a hand on her shoulder. Nobody seemed to want to utter the words, “dead” or “died”. “You know them better than I do. I get it.”
“Auntie Kaya, me and my dollies are ready for tea,” Alyssa called from the playroom.
“I’ll be right there.”
Libby cleared her throat. “Um, my sister asked me to pick up my niece, Courtney, from daycare. She’s Alyssa’s age, and if you don’t mind, I’d like to take her with me, too. Anastasia is asleep and I’m sure you could use some rest.”
“What do I tell Bryce when he comes knocking?” She could just imagine his ire at not finding his children at home.
“Use the time to talk. Get to know him. He’s a good man, Kaya. You’ll see that once you get past his hard exterior.”
Kaya doubted that very much. “I feel awful you’re using your week off from work to help me out when you have a summer wedding to plan,” she said.
“I’ll have plenty of time for wedding plans. The kids are much more important right now.” She gave Kaya’s arm a comforting squeeze. “Jason will come around. Just give him time.”
Time? Time was one luxury Kaya didn’t have. Not with Bryce Fontaine breathing down her neck.
*
As she paced the nursery with a screaming Anastasia in her arms, Kaya wondered why Bryce still hadn’t shown up with the sheriff and the town’s two cops in tow.
On the other hand, she was grateful he hadn’t. With Jason and Alyssa gone, she’d used the alone time to get some important things done—like asking the undertaker to use his least expensive caskets since she now knew that the funeral cost was coming out of her pocket. She would love to give her sister and brother-in-law a more glamorous burial, but she had to watch every penny she spent from now on.
She’d also called Jack at his job, and was holding until he got off the line with a supplier when Anastasia’s whimpers came through the monitor. She’d hung up with semi-regret. She wasn’t looking forward to having a conversation about her new charges with Jack. He didn’t really like kids. Needy and annoying were his constant description of them. Dah!
She’d agreed to marry him—not because she also disliked children, but because she wasn’t planning on having any. She’d been too afraid that she’d turn out to be as despicable a mother as Nadine. But now that she’d inherited three little ones, Kaya knew she’d do everything in her power to see that they were loved and well taken care of. She could only hope that Jack’s attitude towards children would change once he met hers.
“Hush, baby,” Kaya whispered as Anastasia hit a higher note, causing a horrendous ringing in her ears. She’d changed her, tried to feed her, unsuccessfully, then sang, terribly off-key, every lullaby she could pull from her childhood memories. But Anastasia refused to be comforted. As a last resort, Kaya had finally called Dr. LaCrosse, the children’s pediatrician, only to be told that he was on his honeymoon. The physician who was filling in for him was in surgery and he would call her back when he was out. She was still waiting.
“Please, Stasia. Stop crying,” Kaya begged, rocking her gently in the crook of her arm. “I wish I knew what was wrong with you, but I don’t. Please—”
“Why is she screaming like that? I heard her all the way from the courtyard.”
Kaya tensed at the deep voice rising above the piercing cries. She spun around. Bryce’s imposing figure hugged the doorway. He’d shaved, and changed into jeans and a pullover shirt that lay snugly against the hard muscles of his flat stomach, wide powerful chest, and broad shoulders.
She’d told herself that nothing he did or said would shake her confidence. But as she gazed into his censuring eyes, Kaya’s heart began to pound with fear of the trouble he could cause her.
He pushed away from the door, picked up a pink blanket from the changing table and draped it over his shoulder. “You told me she’s been fussy, not that she’s been trying to start an avalanche around us. Give her to me.” He towered over Kaya, arms outstretched.
“I can handle it.” Kaya tightened her hold and backed up a step. His demand to give Anastasia to him was tantamount to the one he’d made in Steven’s office to hand over custody of all the children to him. “I don’t need your help,
” she said tersely.
“Oh, really?” he drawled, his eyes laced with skepticism. A humorous smile played at the corner of his mouth as he took in her petite framed swallowed up in one of Lauren’s huge sweaters.
Kaya took another backward step, only to discover he’d cornered her between the crib and a chest of drawers. Realizing he was not going to move, she pressed her bare feet into the lambskin throw rug and held her ground. As unbearable as the screams were, it would be worse if Bryce proved he was more adept than her at handling a fussy baby. It would be one more weapon he could use against her in court.
Kaya’s mind fast-forwarded. “Your Honor, when I walked into the nursery, Miss Brehna was holding the screaming infant, little Anastasia. It was clear that she had no idea what she was doing, and that the child had been crying for quite some time. If I hadn’t shown up when I did, I— I—” His voice would crack deliberately. “I tremble to think what could have happened to that baby. We’ve heard of young inexperienced mothers who have shaken their babies…” A tear would slip from his eye. “I thank God that I got there in time to prevent another tragedy.”
Bastard!
“Kaya, just give her to me. Come on.”
Kaya shook her head and rewound to the present. She glared at Bryce and tightened her hold on Anastasia
“This screaming isn’t good for her lungs, and quite frankly it’s hard on my ears.” Bryce reached out again, his dark eyes daring her to disagree with him.
Kaya glanced down at the red-faced, squirming child in her arms, wanting so much to be the one to give her comfort, to get her used to the idea that her auntie Kaya, and no one else, was now her sole provider. Pride tempted her to ignore Bryce, but sensibility pushed her to hand over the baby since all of her novice attempts at calming her had failed. “Okay. Okay. You can have her.”
As she placed Anastasia in his arms, Bryce’s scent, his nearness, and the brush of his fingertips against her arms sent a host of dizzying sensations rushing through Kaya. Their eyes locked, and somewhere in the blackness of his, Kaya detected a flash of lust. Elemental need. Unadulterated want. She knew that look. She’d encountered it many times from a multitude of men. But she’d never been this terrified of her reaction to it.