The Stranger's Sin

“Doesn’t that mean live long and prosper?” Kelly asked.

“Not in this case,” Chase said. “In this case it means Toby just kicked some baby butt. Didn’t you, sport?”

The baby laughed louder, making it impossible not to join in. With Chase’s face creased in a smile and laugh lines showing around his eyes, he barely resembled the man who’d questioned her with such fervor the night before. Her inability to understand Mandy deepened. The woman hadn’t left only her baby, she’d left Chase.

“I hope you slept okay,” he said.

“I did,” she said, surprised it was true. Since her arrest, a good night’s sleep had been an elusive commodity. “But you should have woken me when you got back.”

“I tried,” he said, “but you couldn’t hear me over your snores.”

Horrified, she put a hand to her mouth. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know I snored.”

“You don’t,” he said, laughing. “In fact, you hardly make a sound. But you should have seen your face when you thought you did.”

Toby joined Chase’s laughter, although he couldn’t possibly have understood the trick Chase had played.

“You think that’s funny, do you, Toby?” She ruffled the boy’s blond head. “Don’t tell anyone, but I do, too.”

“Whew. That’s a relief.” Chase wiped a hand across his brow. “I’d hate to insult the woman who did me such a huge favor.”

“It was nothing,” she said.

“It was most definitely something. You stayed with Toby so I could get my dad to the hospital.”

“Your neighbor told me it was heartburn,” she said. He’d phoned the house when the results of the EKG had come back, explaining that his father’s heart had checked out fine.

“We didn’t know that at the time,” he said. “If it had been a heart attack, you might have saved his life. You were great. I panicked.”

“You didn’t panic.”

“I did.” He blew breath out his nose, his jaw clenching. After a few moments, he said, “My mom died of a heart attack not even a year ago. When I saw him standing there, clutching his chest…Well, all I could think was how much I didn’t want to lose him.”

Her own heart softened at the sorrow that laced his words. “I’m sorry about your mother, but you would have done fine even if I hadn’t been here.”

“Probably.” He met her eyes. “But I’m glad you were here.”

Toby cried out something incomprehensible, but made it understood he was less than pleased that he’d ceased to be the center of attention.

“Easy there, sport.” Chase bent over and undid Toby’s bib, smiling when the baby stroked his cheek. To Kelly, he said, “Could you watch him for a minute? I’ll wake my dad, then drive you back to town on my way to work.”

“Please, don’t,” she said, stopping him in his tracks. “Your father had a rough night. He could use more sleep. I’ll stay with Toby until he wakes up.”

He frowned, obviously reluctant to agree. Why shouldn’t he be distrustful? Kelly asked herself. He clearly hadn’t believed her story about the necklace. Despite what had happened last night, she was still a stranger.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I wasn’t thinking. Of course you don’t want to leave Toby with me.”

“That’s not—”

“I should apologize for sending your neighbor home last night,” she interrupted. “But she was so tired she couldn’t keep her eyes open, and she needs to get up early with her youngest. I didn’t think you’d mind.”

“I didn’t,” he said.

“Of course we’re nearly strangers and…” She trailed off as his denial penetrated her brain. “Do you mean that? Were you really okay with me sending your neighbor home last night?”

“Yes,” he said. “I’m okay with you staying with Toby now, too. I just don’t want to take advantage of you.”

“You wouldn’t be,” she refuted. “Really. I’d like to stay with him.”

“Are you sure?”

“If you are.”

He picked up his car keys, kissed Toby on top of the head and grinned at her. “Of course I’m sure. What did you think? That I’d be afraid you’d run off with him?”

“No,” she managed to choke out, imagining how he’d react if he knew the charges she was facing. “Of course not.”

“If you want, leave the necklace and I’ll see Mandy gets it when I find her,” he said. “I’ve gotta run. How ’bout you? Are you going back to New York today?”

“I, uh, haven’t decided.” She hadn’t found out all she could about Mandy, but launching an interrogation when he’d apparently abandoned his didn’t seem wise.

“Help yourself to coffee and whatever’s in the refrigerator,” he called.

He was halfway out of the kitchen before he hesitated, turned around and retraced his steps, not stopping until he stood directly in front of her. She tipped her chin, her gaze focusing on his mouth. His lips were lush, a tantalizing contrast to his masculine features. Her breath caught and for a crazy moment, she thought he was going to kiss her. But then he stuck out a hand.

She took it, and a bizarre sensation hit her like tiny fingers dancing over her skin.

“I’m sorry about all those questions last night,” he said. “If I don’t see you again, thanks. For everything.”

He was dismissing her, she realized. He held on to her hand for a few moments longer. Or maybe she was the one doing the holding. Then he let go and she felt…bereft. And guilty as hell for convincing him she’d told the truth about Mandy.

When he was gone, she attached the suction toy she found on the kitchen table to Toby’s high chair, taking in his oatmeal breath and the lingering smell of baby powder.

“What do you think, Toby?” she asked him while he played with the colorful toy’s spinning, sliding, blinking shapes. “Am I a terrible person? And did you see me almost drool when he shook my hand? I mean, he’s hot, but really.”

“I don’t think you’re a terrible person because you think my son’s hot.” Charlie Bradford said, grinning at her from under the archway that led to the kitchen.

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