Baby Battalion

“We need to locate Victor Bellows or Wes Bradley or whatever he’s calling himself.” He remembered something Tess had said about the father-son relationship. “We need research on Victor’s background, his childhood and teen years. Who were his friends? His teachers? His doctors? Who influenced his life? I want to know why he and Bart were estranged.”

“I’m on it,” she assured him. “In the meantime, I know exactly where you should start.”

“Why am I not surprised?” Amelia had an uncanny knack for anticipating what they needed. He wasn’t sure if she was psychic or just so much smarter than everybody else that she was mentally two steps ahead.

“Lila Lockhart and Bart were good friends when Victor was growing up. I’ll bet she can tell you a lot. And she’ll be arriving at Pierpont House tomorrow.”

“Good call. Thanks, Amelia.”

He disconnected the call. Once he had the rest of the CSaI team operating at full speed, Nolan would be free to do the most important job of all—protecting Tess and Joey.

ON THE DRIVE back to her office, Tess sorted through the notes she’d taken at the Zamir house. Every little detail—from the calligraphy on the place cards to the fresh basil for the pesto—had to be exactly right. If she organized properly now, she could set aside these preparations until after the Smithsonian event that would be occupying all her time for the next four days.

“It’s a good thing I have my Christmas shopping done,” she said. “The only trick now is to keep Joey from finding his presents.”

“My mom used to wrap our presents and keep them locked in the trunk of her car,” Nolan said. “Worked pretty well.”

She remembered Joe telling her exactly the same story. So many little things about Nolan reminded her of him. “My mom wasn’t that tricky.”

“Did you find the presents?”

“Sometimes.” During the holiday season, she missed her family. “This is the second year in a row that Joey and I won’t be going to Chicago to share Christmas with my mom. Last year, the weather was too awful and the airport was closed. And there’s no way I can leave this year. Not with Governor Lockhart’s event.”

“Do you have any other family nearby?”

“We’re scattered all over the place,” she said. “How about you? Do you stay in touch with your family?”

“Bart is the closest thing to family in my life.”

Even if she disregarded his physical scars, Tess would have guessed that Nolan had suffered a lot. Sure, he was tough and more masculine than any man had a right to be. But there was also an aura of sadness and abandonment.

She asked, “Are you staying at the Pierpont House with Governor Lockhart’s entourage?”

“I’m in a hotel near the Smithsonian.”

Which probably meant he’d be alone tonight. Tess was struck by an impulse. I want to ask him to come over for dinner.

That idea was completely out of character. She seldom went on dates, and she never ever made the first move. Not that she thought there was anything improper about a woman asking a man out. It just never occurred to her.

Being a single mom and running a business took up all her energy. Her days were packed full from the moment she got out of bed until she collapsed at the end of the day. She didn’t have time.

Tess inhaled a breath and looked out the window at cloudy skies. Time wasn’t the issue, not really. She used to throw together last-minute dinner parties at the drop of a hat. When she and Joe first moved into their house, he was always bringing home other marines on leave with nowhere else to go. They’d done a lot of entertaining.

Her life was different now. Less spontaneous. More responsible. Oh my God, that was pathetic. She was hiding from a social life and turning into a hermit. She might as well hang out a “Closed” sign. I’m going to ask him. The worst that could happen was he’d say no.

She screwed up her courage. “If you’re not doing anything else tonight, I’d like for you to come to my house for dinner. Nothing fancy, but I’m a pretty good cook.”

“I’d be delighted,” he said. “I’ll bring wine.”

She was so happy that she nearly clapped her hands. Nolan was only one person, but this would be a party. Unlike all the events she planned for other people, this was her party. She’d be the guest of honor. Actually, he was the guest. But she intended to enjoy every minute.

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