Rebecca Winters: And Baby Makes Three

She pulled it from her purse and handed it to Cole, who studied Catherine intently several seconds before looking at it.

“You’re right,” he eventually murmured. “She’s attractive in the way a girl is who’s standing on the brink of womanhood.”

Despite Terrie’s history, Catherine could tell Cole could see what Catherine had seen in her…a young, troubled teen in need of help. A girl much like Catherine had been once upon a time. The knowledge caused her to warm to him unexpectedly.

“Buck’s charm managed to turn her into one.” Catherine tried to keep the bitterness out of her voice, but failed. “She said he was her first experience, and that it was wonderful. He was wonderful. Tender. Again, those were Terrie’s words. I-I have to admit I was glad for that at least,” she stammered.

“You believed her?”

“Yes.” She drew in a quick breath. “Terrie had no reason to lie about him. Not after admitting to breaking several laws. But it doesn’t really matter. The fact is, she loved him and died of a broken heart long before the infection became impossible to stop.”

Reaching in her purse, she pulled out more photos. “These show Bonnie in the premie ICU, hooked up to all those tubes.”

He reached for them.

“Newborn pictures never do a baby justice, especially when they have as hard a time as Bonnie. You can see her swollen eye and how yellow she is there, poor darling.”

Silence filled the office while Cole took his time studying them.

“Here’s one I took of her two days ago. If this is any indication, she’s going to be a real beauty like her mother.”

While he examined it she said, “Am I allowed to ask a question now?”

Slowly he lifted his dark head. “Go ahead.” His voice grated.

“What’s his marital status?”

His face closed up. “He was married two months ago.”

“That news would have killed Terrie,” she whispered. “Assuming he is Bonnie’s father, I can’t imagine him wanting to claim her now. But on the outside chance that there’s a part of him wanting to do the right thing, then I-”

Before she could finish the rest of her sentence, Cole was on his feet, stunning her with the speed that had propelled his powerful body out of the chair.

“I have something to do before any more time passes.” He reached for his suit jacket, where he pocketed the photos. “I’ll call you in Reno to morrow,” he said, grabbing for his tie. “Give me your cell phone number.”

She wrote it on her business card and handed it to him.

He came around the desk and accompanied her to the door, moving with that careless male grace that distinguished him from other men. Like a wall of heat, she felt the sweep of those silvery flecked eyes.

“Your bill’s been taken care of. Have a good sleep and a safe trip home, Catherine.”

“Bonnie had her mid-morning bottle but she still fussed before going to sleep. She gets all excited when you come, and misses you when you’re not here. It’s amazing!”

Uh-oh.

“What’s her schedule like?”

“She’s eating every three hours.”

I know. I was there from the beginning.

Catherine had just driven in from Elko. Normally she would have gone to her condo and showered before starting her work day. But she hadn’t seen Bonnie for twenty-four hours. Driving to the ranch and back had made it feel like she’d been gone a week. Babies changed every day. She envied Carol Wilson for being able to take care of her on a round-the-clock basis.

Unable to restrain herself, she kissed the baby’s cheeks several times before raising up. “She looks con tented now. I’ll be by again tomorrow, Carol.”

The best part of Catherine’s job was to visit the foster parents and check on the babies. But her pleasure had become pain because Bonnie didn’t belong to her.

Assuming Buck was the father, and he wanted his daughter, then they had the God-given right to be with each other and Catherine would have to find a way to live with it.

But if he gave up all parental rights to her…

“She’s a sweetie pie,” Carol said, walking Catherine to the front door. “Makes me baby-hungry again, but Phil says three children are enough.” She winked. “Between you and me, this one’s going to be hard to give up. I swear I couldn’t do your job or I’d want to take every baby home with me.”

Catherine murmured something appropriate and hurried out to her car. The last thing she wanted was for Carol to witness her emotional turmoil. Already she was wondering how she would make it through the day while she waited for Cole Farraday’s phone call.

She had an idea the man could move mountains. When he called, he would have news for her, and he’d deliver it in that deep, cultured voice. Anticipating even talking to him again made her feel breath less.

AS IT turned out, she didn’t hear from him until she got home from work at six-thirty that evening. She’d just stepped out of the shower and changed into a T-shirt and jeans when her cell-phone rang. The caller ID indicated out of area, which might or might not be the call she’d been waiting for all day.

She clicked on, aware her pulse was racing. “This is Catherine Arnold.”

After a pause, “You do realize that in answering the way you do, you give any crazy out there more information than you might want him to know.”

Her hand tightened around the phone while a fire and ice sensation spread through her body. It was a little like eating crème de menthe on top of vanilla ice cream.

In truth no man had ever shown her this kind of concern before. She was so used to fending for herself. Cole Farraday’s unexpected comment reminded her he was that exceptional kind of male who would protect his own to the death.

What would it feel like to be loved and taken care of by a man like that for the rest of your life? Catherine couldn’t comprehend it any more than she could imagine what it would be like to have a mother and father, or siblings.

“You’re right, but since a lot of troubled teens phone me when they’re most vulnerable or des per ate, I want them to know they don’t have to go through a third party to find me.”

“Point taken, Catherine. No offense,” he murmured.

She sank down on the edge of her bed, attacked by a sudden weakness. “None taken.”

“Are you still at work?”

“No. I-I’m home.” Her voice faltered.

“Alone?”

Did he ask that question because he wanted to keep their conversation private, or was she hoping something of a more personal nature was behind it?

“Yes,” she said quietly. “Do you have news for me yet?”

“I do, but I need to see you in person.”

So the Buck he knew was Bonnie’s father! Otherwise he would have told her there was no DNA match and she could check at the hospital for the results herself.

Did it mean Buck wanted to see his daughter?

Torn by conflicting emotions, she jumped to her feet. “When can you be in Reno?”

“I flew in this morning.”

Her heart leaped. He’d been here all day? Now she wouldn’t have to wait until tomorrow. “Where are you?”

“I’m just leaving the hospital. For the sake of everyone concerned I’d prefer to meet you in private.”

Catherine felt the same way. After pressing her lips together she said, “Come to my condo. I’m in a fourplex south east of the hospital.” She gave him the address and instructions to get there. “It’s a little complicated.”

“I’ll find you.”

She had no doubt of it.

With a fluttery feeling in her chest, she clicked off before racing back to the bathroom to fix her freshly washed hair and change into a cotton shirt.