The Baby's Bodyguard. Jacqueline Diamond

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      CONTENTS

       COVER

       BACK COVER TEXT

       TITLE PAGE

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

       CHAPTER SIX

       CHAPTER SEVEN

       CHAPTER EIGHT

       CHAPTER NINE

       CHAPTER TEN

       CHAPTER ELEVEN

       CHAPTER TWELVE

       CHAPTER THIRTEEN

       CHAPTER FOURTEEN

       CHAPTER FIFTEEN

       CHAPTER SIXTEEN

       CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

       CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

       CHAPTER NINETEEN

       CHAPTER TWENTY

       EXTRACT

       COPYRIGHT

CHAPTER ONE

      One stuffed bear in the crib atop the yellow-and-white comforter. Check.

      One set of freshly painted walls stenciled with birds in flight. Check.

      One changing table with drawers, one diaper stacker and one set of white shelves—the latest addition—screwed neatly into the wall. Check.

      Something was missing.

      How about a husband? Casey asked herself ruefully as she replaced the screwdriver in her tool kit.

      Actually, she had a husband, although not for much longer. She’d expected him to sign their divorce papers weeks ago so they could finalize the split, but so far her lawyer reported no success.

      Probably Jack was off to some exotic locale providing security services for a client. You could always count on him to be there when people needed him.

      Except for his wife. And the daughter he hadn’t wanted.

      Tears pricked Casey’s eyes as her hand cupped the bulge. It rippled in response. Less than a month to go until she could hold the little girl in her arms, count the fingers and gaze into her loving eyes.

      Casey had already picked out a name: Diane. She’d always loved the sound and flow of it, like running water in the moonlight.

      She hadn’t hesitated when Dr. Smithson asked if she wanted to know the gender. There’d been enough surprises already, including this pregnancy.

      Jack would be furious if he found out. He’d adamantly opposed having children. The issue had hardened into the wedge that drove them apart, although they’d had other, less obvious problems. But she believed they might have worked those out.

      Toolbox in hand, Casey took one more fond look around the room before turning off the light, and that’s when she realized what was missing. Books. She wanted her daughter to grow up smelling leather-bound volumes even before she could read.

      That, at least, Jack would approve of.

      She went into the living room to select a couple of classics from her collection. When the phone rang, she scooped the handset absentmindedly off an end table while trying to choose among such favorites as Black Beauty, The Wind in the Willows and Little Women.

      “Arnett residence.”

      “Casey, it’s Gail.” Tension underscored the gravelly voice. “Remember the prowler? He’s back.”

      Casey stiffened. Instinctively, she glanced through the living-room window into the darkness. But if someone lurked outside, she couldn’t tell.

      Ten months ago, when she’d moved back to Richfield Crossing, Tennessee, to manage the rustic property she’d inherited from her parents, she’d loved the СКАЧАТЬ