A Forever Family: Reunited By Their Baby. Rebecca Winters

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      Even if it were possible to love another man again, the idea of meeting one who said he’d be willing to adopt wasn’t an option for her. Maybe one day she might meet and fall in love with a widower who had a child or children. At least then she could take over the mother role to help fill that empty space in her heart.

      She simply couldn’t see it happening, but Kellie wouldn’t let her think that way. Dear Kellie…Her friend was in turmoil right now.

      Her eyes strayed to Demi who was wide awake for the trip. She made sounds and was growing restless at being confined. In order to placate her, Fran got out another bottle of formula to keep her happy. Demi held it and mostly played with it, only sucking on the nipple without absorbing a lot of liquid. Her two bottom teeth had come in, helping her to tug on it.

      Fran was amused to see the funny behavior coming from this child who could win the most beautiful baby of the year award. That was because she had the classic features of her mother and glossy black hair like Nik’s…and his brothers, Fran hastened to remind herself.

      But Nik possessed an unconscious sensuality and sophistication that stood out from his siblings. She put her head back for a minute and closed her eyes so she wouldn’t keep staring at the back of his head where a few tendrils of black hair lay curled against his neck. Once in a while he turned to say something to his brothers and she glimpsed his striking male profile and chiseled jaw.

      Dressed in the light brown sport shirt and dark trousers he’d changed into at the hotel last night, there was no man to match him. The celebrated bachelor’s appeal went far beyond the physical. He was warm and generous. She doubted he had a selfish bone in his body. Nik was so different from Rob… .

      Before long the helicopter landed, and they were driven to the Angelis Corporation jet, the size of a 727, waiting on the tarmac. While Sandro and Cosimo helped her and Demi onboard, Nik excused himself to talk to the people who’d taken care of putting his family’s bodies in the cargo area.

      A few minutes later he walked down the aisle toward her. After speaking to his brothers on the way, he came to sit on the other side of her and Demi. His half smile turned her heart over.

      “The flight to Mykonos won’t take too long. Then it’s just another short helicopter ride to the villa. After we reach cruising speed, we’ll eat breakfast, then I’d like to have a private talk with you in the compartment behind the galley. My brothers will entertain Demi.”

      She nodded, but couldn’t help but wonder what was on his mind. He’d said something about a position in front of the doctor. What exactly had he meant?

      She strapped herself in, and the jet took off. Like clockwork, the minute the Fasten Seat Belt light went off, the steward started serving their food. Fran needed a good meal, if only to brace herself for their talk.

      Once the steward removed their trays, she undid Demi long enough to change her diaper. Nik got up from his seat and reached for another bottle in the hospital diaper bag. Once Demi was strapped in again, he kissed her and gave her the bottle to keep her occupied.

      Touching Fran’s elbow he whispered, “Follow me.”

      She did his bidding, but it was but a few seconds before they could hear Demi cry. Fran felt like the biggest meanie on earth, but she kept going. Once inside the compartment set up as a den with a computer, Nik closed the door and invited her to sit in one of the club seats opposite him. They could still hear Demi’s cries though they sounded fainter. Fran knew the baby’s uncles would take care of her, but the sound of her distress tugged at her.

      Nik sat back in his club chair with that unconscious aura of a CEO at home in his world. His dark eyes seemed to scrutinize her as if he were looking for secrets she might be hiding. Her pulse quickened in response.

      “Before we reach Mykonos, I wonder if you’d answer some personal questions for me.”

      Personal? “If I can.”

      “Are you a full-time employee at the hospital?”

      “Yes.”

      He cocked his head. “What would happen if you needed more time off? Would they give it to you without it causing you problems?”

      “I think so, but it would have to be because of an emergency.”

      “Of course. One more question. Are you involved with another man right now?”

      She blinked. He obviously had a reason for all this probing. “No.”

      “And your friend Kellie. Would it disappoint her terribly if you didn’t spend your vacation with her?”

      “Yes,” Fran answered honestly. “Why?”

      Her question caused him to lean forward with his hands clasped. His intelligent dark eyes fused with hers. “Because I have a great favor to ask of you. I know I don’t have the right, but Demi’s needs are going to be top priority for my family in the days ahead.”

      “I can understand that.”

      “Judging by her behavior around you in the hospital, and including the fact that she started crying the minute we walked away from her a few moments ago, it’s clear Demi has formed a strong attachment to you. I dread what things are going to be like when you leave on your vacation with Kellie. She’ll not only be looking for her parents, but for you. That’s what’s got me worried.”

      Fran had been worried about it, too, but she would never have brought it up. “Surely when she’s surrounded by your family again, she’ll get through the transition.”

      He inhaled sharply. “I would have thought her seeing me and my brothers would have been all she needed. We’re a close family and get together often. But this experience has traumatized her in some way we don’t understand. If she isn’t clinging to us, then I don’t expect she’ll want anyone else, not even the staff who are familiar to her.”

      “What about your parents? Your mother? Does she look like Melina?”

      “They shared certain traits.” His eyes stared into Fran’s. “But I don’t know if Demi would cling to them the way she does to you. I’m very interested to see what happens when she’s with them again. Something tells me it won’t be enough to make the baby feel secure.”

      “You’ll have to give Demi time.”

      “That goes without saying. Nevertheless, I plan to consult a child psychiatrist after the funeral is over. Depending on what he or she says, I’ll go from there. But for the time being, I’d like to hire you to take care of Demi until you have to get back to Philadelphia. By then I’ll have some idea of how to proceed.”

      Fran stirred in the chair. While trembling with excitement at the prospect of loving that little girl for a while longer, she knew how painful it would be when she had to say a final goodbye. She’d known a lot of pain in her life. First the death of her brother, then the death of a dream that had ended in divorce. She might not have lost Rob in death, but it felt like one.

      No brother, no husband, no child of her own after three years of marriage. Fran knew herself too well. Another twenty-four hours taking care of that precious baby would be hard enough. But ten more days? She couldn’t risk the inevitable pain. It would come and she wouldn’t be able to stop it.

      “When СКАЧАТЬ