Millionaire's Instant Baby
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Reaching into the narrow rear of his car was awkward, but she managed to get Chandler into the seat and fasten the harness. He slept through the whole process, but Emma felt positively out of breath by the time she straightened.
Kyle caught her elbow when she swayed. “You okay?”
She nodded and slid herself into the passenger side. A sinfully soft leather seat cradled her like loving arms. She gathered in the trailing hem of her ankle-length broomstick skirt, and Kyle pushed the door closed before heading up the steps again. She heard the slap of her wooden screen door and in moments he reappeared with the diaper bag.
He strode around to the driver’s side and set the bag in the back next to Chandler, then slid behind the wheel with an ease Emma couldn’t help but envy.
The engine came to life with a low throaty growl, and he backed away from the garage, her apartment, her car and her hold on reality.
She bit her lip, turning her eyes away from the sight. It was a gray dawn, and Penny’s house was still dark. She hadn’t even told her what she was doing. She’d have to call her. Make some type of explanation.
Kyle shifted gears, and when his hand inadvertently brushed her thigh, Emma jerked. He glanced at her without comment as he drove out of the alley onto the morning-quiet street.
Emma swallowed, the silence in the car weighing her down. She stared out the side window as they passed the diner and headed east. She wasn’t surprised. Naturally a man like Kyle would have his home in the wealthier section of town. Eastridge. She’d once had hazy dreams of living in one of the sparkling new homes with a three-car garage and a pool out back. Living in one of the homes as Jeremy’s wife.
They drove through the exclusive area. Passed the discreet sign that directed individuals to the outstanding Benderhoff facility. She stifled a sigh and looked over her shoulder at Chandler.
“We’ll be there in a few minutes,” Kyle said.
Emma nodded, and surreptitiously rubbed her palms down her thighs.
“Baxter will probably have breakfast waiting. I’ve got to go to the airport for a while. A few hours. But then I’ll come home and we can do some shopping.”
Who was Baxter? “Shopping?”
“For the nursery. I had a decorator in for most of the house.” He turned down an unmarked road, taking them into the rising sun.
Emma looked out the back window at the residential area they’d left behind.
“Something wrong?”
“No. I…well, I assumed you lived in Eastridge,” she admitted.
He shook his head and kept driving. And Emma, who had lived in Buttonwood for several years, realized she didn’t have a clue where they were. The paved road, only wide enough to accommodate two passing cars, curved and climbed. Then they rounded a sharp outcropping of rocks and shot down again, straight toward a spectacular house that seemed an actual part of the ridge that overlooked Buttonwood.
Kyle pulled up into a drive that was narrow simply because two-thirds of it was being excavated. He parked in front of the house before turning to look at Emma. He hoped she liked it. Only because he wanted her to be comfortable here, he rapidly assured himself. But she was facing out the side window and he couldn’t see her reaction, except for the fingertips she drummed silently against her thigh, which was draped with her purple-and-pink skirt. “I realize it’s not Eastridge, but do you think it’ll do?”
Her fingers went still and she looked at him. “It’s big.” Then her eyes widened slightly and her cheeks colored. “And…lovely.”
He smiled faintly. “Did you expect a circus tent or something?”
“No. No, of course not.” Her lips pressed together for a moment. “Who is Baxter?”
“Baxter?” Kyle looked beyond Emma toward the house. How to describe the man. His conscience? His friend? “My housekeeper,” he said after a moment. “But he’d say butler. He’ll be crazy about Chandler. You’ll probably see more of him than me, actually.”
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