Whose Baby?

Kelly Manning was staring up at him through the clear glass storm door. “I’d just about decided that I’d have to make another visit to the ranch,” she greeted. She wiped her paint-splattered hands on an equally paint-splattered rag.

The comment was friendly enough, but he heard the nerves simmering right there beneath the surface. The wait had obviously put her through hell. Little did she know it’d done the same to him.

“Did I come at a bad time, Ms. Manning?” he asked.

“Well, that’s the polite thing to ask, but you and I both know there is no good time for this.” She held open the storm door. “Oh, and drop the Ms. Manning part. Kelly will do.”

“Nick,” he reciprocated.

Without the door between them, Nick could see what she was wearing. Faded, well-worn jeans that rode low on her hips and a snug little stretchy top the color of a chili pepper. It outlined her breasts. Of course, her breasts were the last things that Nick wanted to notice. He was going to have to ignore the fact that she was attractive.

Damn attractive.

It was the lust factor. It had to be. Why his body began to hum and simmer when he was around this woman, he didn’t know. He didn’t want to know, either. Nick just wanted it to stop.

“Come in.” She stepped aside so he could enter.

The place didn’t smell like paint, even though she’d obviously been working on an oil portrait just a couple of yards away from the door. Instead, he caught a whiff of baby powder.

And her.

Something distinctly female. Somehow, it was that unique scent that cut through everything and made its way to his nose. Nick reminded his nose not to get any bad ideas to pass on to the rest of his body.

He forced his attention away from her and looked around the simply furnished room. It evidentially did double duty as a living area and studio. It was clean, uncluttered and efficient. A lot like the woman who owned it. What was missing was the baby, Joseph. But there were two rooms just off to his left. One of them was probably the nursery.

She motioned for him to take a seat on the perky floral sofa. “Why did you think the guards were necessary?” she immediately asked.

Nick blinked. “Guards?”

She pointed to the window. “The one up the street who followed me home the other night. Either he or his partner has been sitting out there the entire time. They’ve changed off shifts and cars, of course, probably so they wouldn’t be so conspicuous. It didn’t work.”

This time he suppressed the blink. “The guards are just a precaution.”

“You know, you do that a lot—avoid answering very direct questions.” She dropped down into the chair across from him and tucked her feet beneath her. “If the guards are here to keep an eye on me, to see if I’m up to anything criminal, then they’re wasting their time and your money.”

“That’s one of the reasons they’re here,” he admitted. “But I was also concerned about your safety.”

“How admirable of you.” And she didn’t sound as if she meant it. “But my safety won’t be an issue once I prove that William is my son. Both he and I will be safe then.”

Nick wouldn’t bet on that.

Since this visit was getting more uncomfortable in just about every way possible, he held up the test kit with William’s DNA sample. It was clearly labeled to prevent a mix-up with the other kits.

She stared at it a moment before she tossed her paint rag on the lamp table and took it from him. “Is that what I think it is?”

“Yes.” Nick didn’t add more. He let her take the lead.

“Wow.” She flexed her eyebrows. “I would have liked to have been a fly on the wall when you finally made the decision to go through with this.”

“It would have been a very boring event to witness.” The battle had all been within. He could say the same about the particular battle he was fighting now. All within. Well, except for that blink.

“No gnashing of teeth?” she asked.

He shrugged. “Maybe some. But I figured this was the fastest way to disprove your allegation.”

“Ah, so you’re back to thinking I’m a liar. Of course, ‘disprove your allegation’ sounds so much more civil, doesn’t it?”

“I thought so,” Nick said, playing along with her sarcasm. He extracted the blank, sterile kits, as well. “One is for you. The other is for Joseph.”

She eyed the vials much as she’d eyed him at the ranch. As if they were deadly. In so many ways, they could be.

Kelly didn’t waste any time. She opened one kit and wiped the swab on the inside of her cheek. She placed it back in the vial and used a pen from the drawer to label it. “I’ll take a sample from Joseph as soon as he wakes up from his nap.”

So, the baby was there at the house. Nick didn’t know if that was good or bad. He’d prepared himself for either and knew no amount of mental preparation would help him for what he might face.

She carefully placed the test kits on the table. “I’m trying really hard not to be terrified of you, but I’m failing. You scare the heck out of me.”

Her honesty had a way of breaking down his defenses. Not good. He couldn’t allow that. “Terror isn’t always a bad thing. My reputation—”

“I didn’t mean your reputation as a ruthless, cutthroat businessman. I’m talking about Joseph.” Kelly moistened her lips and took in a quick breath. “Despite my need to learn the truth about the swap, I’m sick with fear over the possibility of losing Joseph.”

But that was all she said about what she was feeling. As far as she allowed the emotion to go. Another breath. Another moistening of her lips. Another flex of her eyebrows. And the display of emotions was over. She tucked them neatly away much as she did the stray blond lock of hair that she lifted off her cheek and slid behind her ear.

“So, what juicy things did the bald guy find out about me?” she asked.

Nick chose his answer carefully. “Cooper was thorough, as he always is.”

“You did it again. You evaded the question.”

She smiled. It was laced with nerves, but it still lit up her whole face. He felt another quick punch of lust. Fortunately for him, the smile faded as quickly as it’d come. Obviously, she too remembered there was little about their situation that warranted a smile.

“Let’s see. If he was thorough, as he always is, then you know I was raised by my aunt because my parents died when I was a kid,” she went on. “That wouldn’t have necessarily reinforced the concerns you have about my potential criminal tendencies. But the two-day stay in the psych ward would have given you a few troubled moments.”

Surprised by her stark honesty, Nick nodded. “A few.”

She leaned forward a little. “I don’t owe you this, but I’ll tell you, anyway. It happened. I could provide you with a lengthy recount of why, when and where, but I’m sure you already know the when and where parts.”

“And I guessed the why.”

“Yes, I’ll bet you did.” She paused and glanced at the vials. “You appear to be a smart man, and I don’t consider myself an idiot, so here goes. For one moment, assume that I’m not lying. That there was indeed a baby switch. What happens when we get the results from these tests?”

Nick was trying not to think of that nightmare.

“I’d prefer to wait for the results,” he insisted. “I think once we have those, there won’t be a decision to make. Because I don’t believe there was a switch.”

“But you’ve thought about it. A lot. I’m sure of that. So have I. If they confirm what I already know in my heart, I’ll ask for custody of William.” She snared his gaze. “But then, Joseph’s father could do the same for him. If his father is anywhere around, that is. Or if he even wants custody.”

That seemed like her attempt to get him to speculate or confess, but there was no way he could engage in that particular discussion. Thankfully, he didn’t have to put her off. The two sounds happened almost simultaneously. Nick’s phone rang, and the baby started to cry.

On a ragged sigh, she grabbed all three of the test kits and got out the chair. “I’ll be back.” And she disappeared into one of the other rooms.

Nick stood, as well, trying to get a glimpse of Joseph and her, but she pulled the door partly shut behind her. He answered his phone while he walked closer.

“What is it, Cooper?” he asked, knowing that was the only person who’d be calling him. Nick peered into the nursery and saw Kelly leaning over the crib. The baby stopped crying and began to babble instead.

The room was decorated with butterflies and birds. Bright primary colors. Kelly’s artwork, no doubt. During the background check, he’d learned that she wasn’t just a photographer but an artist, as well.

“I found a possible glitch,” Cooper informed him.

Hell. This wasn’t what he needed right now. “Go on.” Nick kept his voice as soft as possible so he wouldn’t alert Kelly. She took out the swab, mumbled something under her breath and then reached down toward the baby. Joseph made a protesting little sound and kicked at the covers.

“This one might be a real problem, sir,” Cooper continued. “There’s a P.I., a man named Denny Spencer. He was a close friend of Ms. Manning’s late husband, and I think he might have been the one who buried her psych records. Anyway, yesterday he was poking through the police files that were retrieved from the Brighton Birthing Center—the place where both William and Joseph were born.”

Nick watched as Kelly put the swab back into the sterile holder and laid it on the changing table. So, she’d gone through with it after all. There was no way she could know just how potentially critical, and dangerous, the DNA on that swab was. He needed to get it to a secure place as soon as possible.

“I don’t think this Denny Spencer’s made too many waves,” Cooper explained. “Yet. But I think we need to silence him with a payoff. Or else I could set up a few obstacles to keep him occupied elsewhere.”

“Neither.” Nick left the rest unsaid. If Spencer was a friend of Kelly’s, then it would only make the man more suspicious if someone tried to buy him off. “Put him under surveillance.”

Kelly murmured something to the baby. Something with a soft, rhythmic cadence. It seemed to settle Joseph because his babblings no longer seemed to be of protest. He appeared to be trying to mimic what she was saying. It was a familiar activity since William and he did the same thing.

“Keep me informed,” Nick told Cooper. He clicked off the phone in the middle of Cooper’s goodbye and slipped it back into his pocket.

“It’ll take me a couple of days to get back William’s DNA test,” Kelly whispered from the nursery, snaring Nick’s gaze from over her shoulder.

“You understand the need to keep all of this in the strictest confidence?” he asked.

“Of course.”

Her assurance wasn’t nearly enough. He’d take hers and Joseph’s DNA samples before he left, and a private lab, one that he controlled, would do both tests. As a further precaution, he was the only person who would get the real results. Any information after that would be filtered through him. It wasn’t an honest approach, but it could save Kelly Manning’s life.

He glanced in the nursery again. Kelly took a diaper from the stack next to the crib and started to change Joseph. Nick managed to get just a glimpse of the boy. But that glimpse had his imagination racing.

Dark hair. Not brown. But black.

Nick’s color.

Of course, plenty of babies had black hair.

Why couldn’t he put this out of his mind? There was only the possibility that Meredith had lied to him. A small possibility, since to the best of his knowledge she hadn’t lied to him about anything else. And she wouldn’t have taken on something like this by herself if—

“Heck, you might as well come in,” Kelly offered, interrupting his latest round of argument. “You’ve already given me a full body search, panties and all. Plus, I showed you my C-section scar. Seems a little late for modesty in the diapering department, doesn’t it?”

It seemed a little late for a lot of things.

He took a few steps closer and stood in the doorway, but Nick didn’t actually enter the room. It was best to keep some distance between them.

“You look shell-shocked. Did you get bad news from that phone call?” She looked away from him to continue diapering duty.

“Not really. Just a possible inconvenience.”

Kelly made a sound of contemplation. Paused. And made another sound. “Have you given any more thought to me seeing William?”

“No.” Not true. Nick had given it plenty of thought but decided it wasn’t going to happen. “I figured after the test results—”

“That I’d slink away, carrying my lies with me? Wrong. Because, you see, I’m not lying. And as much as you distrust me, I don’t trust you, either. You have the power and the money to doctor test results.”

He couldn’t possibly deny that because it was the truth. “You have the power and apparently the inclination to cause waves that shouldn’t be made.”

Her mouth went into a flat line. It was in contrast to the soft babbling sounds the baby was making. “I have a right to know if William is my son.”

“And I have the right to protect him.”

She huffed, finished diapering Joseph and turned to face him. “So we’re back to where we started. Don’t get me wrong, William’s safety is important to me, too. But I’m just not convinced there are real issues here. I mean, if you’ve proven he’s not your biological son, then why would he still be a threat to Eric?”

“Because as you so succinctly put, I have the power and the money to doctor test results.”

“Did you?” she fired back.

“No.”

Another huff but not an indignant one. This one was from frustration. “You know the truth, don’t you?”

Best to go for the sarcastic approach again since she seemed to be very good at detecting lies. “I know many truths. Did you have one particular in mind?”

“The truth. About Joseph. Now, I want you to cut through all these evasive tactics and tell me what you know.”

Nick stood there staring at her, but he couldn’t stop the idea from dominating his thoughts. Meredith and he had been lovers. The timing was right. Plus, Meredith would have known about the danger of giving birth to his child.

“I’m still waiting for an answer,” Kelly reminded him several moments later.

But he barely heard the reminder. Because at the exact moment she was speaking, the baby caught onto the crib railings and pulled himself to a standing position. He wore denim overalls and white cotton shirt. Joseph turned his head in Nick’s direction, and just like that, their gazes connected.

Nick’s breath froze in his lungs.

Joseph’s face was round. Almost chubby. And he grinned. Just grinned. Showing his dimples.

Nick had seen photos of himself as a baby. But he didn’t need the actual photo to know there was a strong resemblance.

“Meredith was your friend,” Kelly continued. She scooped up the baby in her arms. “So you must have some idea of who Joseph’s father is.”

Yes.

Unfortunately, that idea wasn’t a good one to voice. To anyone. Not even her. Just the hint of it would ultimately put all of them in danger. But it was especially dangerous for the child she held.

His child.

The heir he couldn’t have.

Chapter Five

“Well?” Kelly prompted her visitor. He’d done it again—Nick had gone to la-la land while she was waiting for an answer to one of the most important questions she would ever ask.

He blew off her question and headed for the kitchen. “I need a drink of water.”

Before she could follow him, Nick opened several cabinet doors, located a glass and helped himself to some tap water. He certainly looked as if he needed it, too. And was it her imagination that he looked a little shell-shocked? Kelly didn’t let that prevent her from pressing for an answer.

“Do you know who Joseph’s father is?” she asked.

Nick set his now empty glass on the counter and looked her straight in the eye. “No.”

She frowned. “That’s scary, you know that?”

“What?”

“Lying while maintaining direct eye contact. A lot of people wouldn’t be able to do it, yet you managed it with surprising ease.”

Now he frowned. “Who says I’m lying?”

“Me.” Kelly planted a kiss on Joseph’s cheek. “Meredith trusted you enough to raise her son. I can’t believe she wouldn’t tell you who the father is.”

“Perhaps I’m keeping a confidence that Meredith asked me to keep.”

Kelly nodded and shifted Joseph to her left hip. She went closer to Nick. “Yes. I thought of that, even though I can’t imagine why a dying woman would want to keep something like that a secret.”

“She had her reasons, I’m sure.”

That was all he apparently intended to offer. It was a clear signal that her mini-interrogation was over. Well, it was over as far as he was concerned. Kelly made sure Nick noticed her frown when she walked past him on the way to the pantry. Too bad she didn’t give him a wide enough berth. Her left breast grazed him. Hardly enough for her to notice.

But she noticed.

It sent a strange, unwanted curl of heat through her body, that she quickly pushed aside.

Figuring he had a new playmate, Joseph reached for their guest, specifically the buttons on his white shirt. Kelly managed to step away before Joseph could latch on.

Her visitor certainly wasn’t exactly dressed like a wrangling cowboy, though she knew for a fact that he was a real rancher. He wore a black suit. A suit that fitted his butt, thighs and chest extremely well.

And she hated that she’d allowed herself to notice something like that.

The suit wasn’t exactly stodgy, either. It was as expensive as they came and it had a GQ look to it. His white dress shirt was unbuttoned at the throat and upper chest, and he wore it as naturally and easily as he had his tux. She figured he’d be equally at home in his cowboy clothes and had a minifantasy about how he’d look in jeans.

Hot, no doubt.

Kelly mentally kicked herself. Jeans fantasies. Mercy, she was definitely not thinking straight.

Nick followed her to the pantry, carrying his undeniable presence with him. Why did the kitchen suddenly seem so small?

She took out a jar of toddler food, grabbed a spoon and bib and was about to put Joseph in his high chair when the phone rang. Cradling the phone between her ear and shoulder, she gave Joseph an adjustment on her hip. He didn’t seem to like that because he fussed.

“Kelly?” It was Denny Spencer, and just from that one-word greeting, she could tell that he didn’t sound pleased. “Is Nick Lattimer there?”

Only because she wasn’t up to an argument—and there would be an argument—she considered lying. But in all likelihood, Denny had already seen Nick’s car. Hence the reason for the call.

“He’s here,” Kelly verified.

She met Nick’s granite, blue-gray gaze when she answered. He lifted his eyebrow. A question, of sorts. Kelly ignored him and turned away. However, she couldn’t ignore Denny. He immediately started to curse.

“Have you lost your mind?” Denny demanded.

“I just want the truth,” Kelly reminded him.

“Well, you won’t get that from Nick Lattimer. He’s doing everything he can to stop you. And me,” Denny insisted.

Kelly was about to ask what he meant by that, but Joseph fussed even louder. She tried to slide off the high chair tray so she could get her son seated, but Joseph didn’t cooperate with that, either.

Nick came to the rescue.

As if he’d done it a thousand times, and maybe he had, he took off the tray, eased Joseph from her arms and deposited the baby onto the seat.

“Finish your call,” Nick insisted.

Kelly’s first instinct was to say no, but Nick just took over. He snatched up the bib, put it on Joseph and proceeded to feed him. She would have protested if he hadn’t been so darn good at what he was doing. And if Joseph hadn’t stopped fussing. Not only did he stop, her son began to wolf down the baby beef stew mixture, and he gave Nick the reward of a grin.

Only because she was watching the two so closely did she see the softness in Nick Lattimer’s eyes.

Yes, softness!

It was both surprising and a little frightening. Because that wasn’t the look of a care giver. It was the look of someone who genuinely loved children. She prayed that didn’t mean he would give her a custody fight to keep William.

“Did you hear me?” Denny snarled.

Actually, she hadn’t. “Could I call you back? Things are a little hectic right now.”

That earned her another raised eyebrow from Nick, probably because it was a lie. Joseph had settled nicely into his feeding and wasn’t fussing.

“No. You can’t call me back,” Denny countered. “You need to hear this, and when you do, I’ll come over there and throw Nick Lattimer out of your house.”

Since Denny was talking quite loudly and since she didn’t want Nick to overhear any part of this conversation, Kelly walked toward the nursery. She didn’t close the door because she wanted to keep an eye on her baby, but she did lower her voice to a whisper.

“What do I need to hear?” she asked.

“I’ve been investigating what went on at the Brighton Birthing Center, but suddenly everyone is stonewalling me. I can’t get access to the records, and no one is talking. One guess as to who’s responsible for that—Nick Lattimer.”

Kelly couldn’t deny it. Her visitor certainly had the power and resources for stonewalling. Better yet, he had a motive. He thought all of this digging for the truth would alert his brother, Eric. And that brought her to something that could put an end to any possible threat from Eric Lattimer.

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