Stephanie Newton - The Baby's Bodyguard

Ethan didn’t hesitate. This was a question he knew the answer to. “Now we get you somewhere we can keep you safe. Both of you. Somewhere with high walls and high-tech security. I know just the place. It won’t be long.”

He climbed the ladder to the bridge and started moving the boat forward, but his thoughts—those were with a black-haired social worker down below. One with a heart the size of the Gulf of Mexico and shadows that came into her eyes once in a while.

High walls and high-tech security, he’d told her. He hadn’t mentioned the team of highly trained security specialists his brother and his wife had staying on holiday at their bed-and-breakfast, Restoration Cove. If anyone could keep her safe, they could.

He just hoped it would be enough.

Kelsey held Janie close, peering out at their destination as Ethan let the boat glide into the pier. Lights gleamed from the windows of a gigantic house. Where had he brought her?

She heard his feet hit the deck after quick footsteps down the ladder. He tossed a line from the stern of the boat to a man waiting on the dock, all practiced, efficient motion.

When the bowline was tied off as well, Ethan met the man in the stern of the boat. A clasped hand, a bumped shoulder—they murmured an exchange that she couldn’t hear, but it was clear the man wasn’t a stranger to Ethan.

He turned to the door where Kelsey waited. “Kelsey, this is my brother, Tyler. And this is Restoration Cove.”

The baby was sleeping, so Kelsey nodded as she stepped closer. Ethan’s brother looked like him, but darker. Darker hair, darker eyes.

Tyler put a hand on her back as the boat rocked. “My wife, Gracie, is waiting for you in the kitchen at the main house. She has a room ready for you.” When she hesitated, he smiled. “It’s okay. We’ll be right behind you.”

Ethan made a sound of protest.

“She’s safe here, Ethan,” Tyler said softly. With his hand on Kelsey’s elbow, he helped her forward before turning back to his brother.

She walked down the long dock toward the shore, looking back only once as she felt Ethan’s eyes on her. He was deep in conversation with his brother, but he watched her.

Ethan had suffered a huge loss, one he was still reeling from. And yet he wanted to protect her. He wouldn’t have brought her here if he hadn’t thought it was the safest place for them.

As she got closer to the main house, she realized it was huge. A mansion. The door flew open, spilling light onto the marble terrace. A blonde in cropped sweatpants, an SBPD T-shirt and flip-flops stood in the door.

Janie stirred in Kelsey’s arms, but despite the events of the evening and all the moving, she settled back to sleep.

“I’m Ethan’s sister-in-law, Gracie. Come on in. I put a porta-crib in one of the guest rooms. My husband picked the room. It’s not the nicest—there’s no balcony—but it is roomy, and apparently, sniper-proof.”

At Kelsey’s quick, wide-eyed look, Gracie stopped in the middle of the hall. “I’m sorry. I’m so used to the law enforcement types we get around here. I forget you’re a layperson.”

“You’re not?”

Gracie started up the stairs. “Not really. I’m a forensic psychologist, or was, until Tyler and I opened Restoration Cove. I still work on call with the Crisis Response Team as a hostage negotiator.” She pushed open the door to one of the guest rooms. “And I work as a counselor here.”

Kelsey walked into the room. As Gracie had said, there was plenty of space for the porta-crib, which had been placed on the wall closest to the hall. The headboard of the bed was upholstered in a pale blue-and-brown scroll print. The fluffy white comforter had a cornflower-blue throw casually tossed at the end that, at first glance, Kelsey was pretty sure was cashmere.

“You do have your own bathroom,” Gracie said softly, as she gestured to a door at the opposite end of the room.

Soft light shone from the lamp on the desk angled into a corner. It was beautiful and cozy without being girly. Luxurious and understated.

Kelsey gently laid the toddler in the crib. Janie opened her eyes and blinked, saw Kelsey, and smiled. Oh, boy. If she really woke up now, they were in for an all-nighter. Kelsey laid the tattered piece of blankie next to Janie’s face and patted her on the back. With a sigh, the toddler rolled over on her tummy and tucked the blankie under her chin, her eyes fluttering shut again.

With every child Kelsey rescued from a dangerous situation, she felt a tug on her heart. A responsibility that went beyond just a job. She had defenses, of course—she had to or she wouldn’t be able to do her job at all.

But this little girl, all sixteen point two pounds of her, had wormed right under those defenses in about ten seconds flat.

Gracie waited at the door. Kelsey turned to her, tucking one bare foot behind the other, aware her appearance didn’t quite measure up to her surroundings.

“You’ve had a tough day.” Gracie’s eyes were kind, and without warning Kelsey’s burned with tears.

She pressed her fingers to them. “You have no idea.”

“Believe me, I know how it feels. Come on, I’ll give you the nickel tour, and if you like, we can join the guys for some tea.”

As they left the room, Gracie closed the door behind Kelsey. “Don’t worry about her. She’ll be fine. We have great security here.”

“That’s what Tyler said. Why?” She followed Gracie down the hall to another door, which opened into a small sitting room.

“The real reason is that last year my sister tried to kill me.” Gracie looked back at Kelsey and rolled her eyes. “Try to say that without freaking somebody out. We had the security system put in after that, and since then, we’ve upgraded.”

She let Kelsey walk into the room before her. “We’re a bed-and-breakfast, as you can tell, but we have a special mission. We cater to law enforcement officers and agents and their families who need a place to rest and recover.”

“I’ve never heard of anything like it before.”

“When Tyler came out of the DEA, he needed a place to figure out life. The Cove did that for him. We figured maybe it could be that for other people too. We have all the amenities of a high-end resort, but we also have counseling services available for those who request it. And occasionally, we provide a safe house if there’s a need.” Gracie dropped into a chair and curled her feet underneath her. “Like I said, we have excellent security.”

“Thank you for taking us in.” Kelsey sank into a comfy wide sofa and dropped her head into her hands. “It’s not the first time I’ve been under attack by armed gunmen, but I certainly didn’t expect it in my own home.”

“No one ever expects violence. What happened the last time? Was it another case?”

Life had taught Kelsey at an early age to roll with the punches, put the past behind you. She’d had to, to survive. The attack on her village in Rwanda wasn’t something she talked about—ever. She was obviously more affected by the events of today than she thought, for that event to be up front, right there, in her mind. “It was a long time ago. I lived overseas with my parents. Things are different in third-world countries.”

She slanted a look at Gracie, whose blue eyes didn’t miss anything.

“If you want to talk about it, that’s literally what I’m here for. Sometimes it helps to talk.” A wry smile curved Gracie’s lips. “And, according to Tyler, sometimes it helps to beat the living daylights out of something. He leads a hand-to-hand combat class on the back lawn every morning. Because I insist, we also have tai chi on the beach at sunset. You know you’re welcome here, Kelsey.”