Daddy by Christmas (8 page)

Mia had sobbed most of the night after that, then the baby was brought to her to be fed. The second she held him in her arms, she knew that she loved him. Yes, BJ was her heart. And he was her son now.

 

Two hours later, Jarrett parked outside the apartment building and Mia glanced back at the baby. She still had trouble thinking of herself as a mother.

It didn't take long for a welcoming party to open the door and wave. “Looks like everyone is anxious to see the new resident,” Jarrett announced.

That made Mia smile. “BJ's going to have many surrogate grandparents, that's for sure.”

“Let's get him inside before they start the inspection,” Jarrett said.

He climbed out and came around to the passenger side. He opened the back door and unfastened the baby carrier from its base. “Come on, fella. You've got people to meet.”

He raised the carrier's hood and used a blanket to protect the baby from the cold, then lifted him out of the car.

Mia was waiting and took his offered arm as they made their way up the shoveled walk to the door and went in.

“Welcome home, Mia,” Nola called along with several other tenants as they walked inside.

“Thank you. It's good to be back.”

She glanced around the large entry to see it had been decorated for the holidays. A large tree sat in the center of the area and lights and garlands had been strung along the wrought-iron stairway.

She went to one of the grouping of sofas and Jarrett placed the baby down on one of the now slip-covered sofas. Mia pulled back the blanket and everyone gasped.

“Oh, he's perfect,” Nola cooed and glanced at Mia. “And so handsome, like your brother. What's his name?”

Mia swallowed. “Bradley Preston Saunders, Junior. That's the name Brad and Karen chose. I'm going to call him BJ.”

Nola smiled. “It's perfect.”

She felt Jarrett's presence behind her. It seemed so natural for him to be there. Too natural.

“I think these two need some rest,” Jarrett told everyone.

Normally, Mia wouldn't like him making decisions for her, but she was tired. “Maybe you can come up later.”

“Of course, but you need to rest now,” Nola added. “If you need someone to watch this little guy, I'm available.”

Jarrett picked up the carrier and placed a hand on her elbow as they made their way to the elevator. She was glad she didn't have to climb the stairs. They stepped into the small paneled compartment. He punched the second floor button and the doors closed.

“This is nice,” she said.

He frowned. “What, the elevator?”

She nodded. “You have to remember it's been a while since we've been able to ride upstairs.”

The doors opened and Jarrett motioned for her to step out first. “Well, only one's working,” he said. “The other has multiple problems. I'm going to have to mortgage my home just to fix it.”

“You're kidding?”

He suddenly grinned and her heart tripped.

“Almost. These old parts aren't easy to find. But all I need to do is make sure it runs for the next few months.”

They reached her apartment and she unlocked the door. Once inside, she tried to take the baby, but Jarrett had already walked into the other room. Her bedroom.

She went after him, knowing it would be best to end this…dependency. She had to do this on her own. No distractions. And Jarrett McKane was definitely a distraction.

“I can handle it from here.” Besides she wanted time with her son. Alone.

He set the carrier on the bed and stepped away. “I just didn't want you to lift anything yet.” He shrugged. “You just got out of the hospital.”

“The baby isn't heavy. Besides, I need to get used to carrying him.” She worked to unfasten the straps and he began to stir, then made a little whimpering sound. She lifted him into her arms, feeling the tiny body root against her shoulder. If Jarrett would just leave.

Even though they had shared the birth, she had to draw a line at having an audience while breast-feeding.

“Not a problem.”

“I'm sure you have plenty to do. And I need to feed him.”

He looked embarrassed as he quickly glanced at his
watch. “Sure, I have a meeting anyway.” He started out and stopped. “If you need anything…”

“I know, you're across the hall,” she echoed, knowing how easy it would be to depend on him. To care more and more for this man. But she had to stand on her own and raise her son. “Jarrett, I could never begin to thank you for everything you've done.”

“Hey, what good are landlords if they can't step in as labor coaches?” He glanced at the baby. “Be good to your mom, hot rod.” He turned and walked out.

Mia heard the door shut and it sounded so final. But it had to be. She couldn't get involved with Jarrett McKane.

She laid BJ down on the changing table. Startled, the baby blinked open his eyes and looked at her. Something stirred in her chest as his rich blue gaze stared back at her.

“Hey, little guy,” she whispered, almost afraid he would start crying. Instead, he stilled at the sound of her voice. Her throat tightened. “Welcome home, son.” She swallowed, knowing there could be only one man in her life.

“Looks like it's just you and me now.”

A
FEW
nights later, Jarrett got off the elevator on the second floor after a friendly poker game with Joe and friends in the community room.

Friendly, hah. They were card sharks. All of 'em. They had set him up, and by the time Jarrett had figured it out, it had cost him nearly a hundred bucks. Nothing to do but cut his losses and go home.

Fighting a smile at how the old guys had tricked him, he unlocked his apartment door. Before he got inside he paused, hearing a sound coming from across the hall. A baby crying. BJ. He checked his watch. It was after midnight. He waited a few minutes, but the crying didn't stop. Concerned, he went to Mia's door, and the sound got louder and angrier.

“Mia.” He knocked, and after a few seconds the door opened.

A tired and anxious-looking Mia stood on the other side. Dressed for bed, she had on a robe, but by the looks of her, she hadn't gotten much sleep.

“Is everything okay?”

She didn't answer, instead she handed him the baby wrapped in a blanket. “Here, you make him stop. I've tried everything.”

He quickly grabbed the bundle, then she turned and walked across the living room.

Jarrett looked down at the red-faced infant with his tiny fists clenched, waving in the air. “Whoa, there, little guy.” He closed the door and followed after the mother. “It can't be that bad.”

The answer was another loud wail. Not good.

He looked at Mia. “Did you feed him?”

She sent him a threatening look. “Of course I fed him. And I diapered him, bathed him, burped him, but he won't stop crying.” Tears filled her eyes, her lower lip trembled. “I'm lousy at this.”

“Stop it. You're just new at it.”

He readjusted the squirming baby in his arms. Hell, he didn't know what he was doing either. He raised the baby to his shoulder and began rubbing his back. The baby stiffened, but Jarrett didn't stop.

“Has he been eating good?”

Mia nodded, but looked concerned. “Maybe he's not getting enough. I feed him every two hours.”

“Maybe he's got an air bubble,” Jarrett said.

He went to the sofa and sat down, laying the screaming baby across his legs. He remembered seeing Kira doing this with Jenna. After a few minutes a burp came from the little guy and the loud crying turned to a few whimpers and then, finally, silence. He kept patting the baby's back until he fell asleep.

He smiled at Mia who still looked close to tears. “Hey, BJ is fine now.”

She didn't look convinced.

He lifted the baby into his arms and caught the clean sent of soap as the tiny bundle move against his shoulder, then finally settled down again. Protectiveness stirred in him as he carried the infant into the bedroom.

There was a night-light on over the crib, and he placed BJ down on his back. He made room as Mia adjusted the baby's position and covered him with a blanket. The kid stirred but didn't make another sound. The silence was golden.

They stepped away from the baby's bed. “He's so exhausted, he should sleep for a while,” Jarrett said encouragingly.

“Thanks to you,” Mia said, then added, “I couldn't even figure out it was gas.”

Jarrett took her by the arm and led her across to the queen-size bed. They sat down side by side.

“So now you'll know,” he said, seeing the dark circles around her pretty blue eyes. He brushed back wayward strands of hair that had escaped her ponytail. His heart pounded at the surge of desire that shot through him. He needed to leave, but he already knew nothing could draw him away from her.

“Call Kira. She had trouble with Jenna, too. That's how I knew what to do. And the next time you'll know, too.”

She swiped at the last of her tears. “You're lucky to have family.”

He glanced away. “Trace and Kira didn't always think so.” He'd made so many mistakes with his brother.

“You and your brother haven't always been close?” she asked.

“Try never,” he admitted. “It was mostly my fault.”

“You two look pretty close now.”

“Sometimes damage can't be fixed. But thanks to Kira, we've been working on it.”

She watched him, waiting for more. “You're half brothers?”

He nodded. “Different mothers. I lost mine at six.” He
shrugged. “My dad remarried, and his wife had a baby, Trace.”

“Was she a good stepmother?”

“Alice? She didn't have much time for me, so I don't know much about her mothering skills. My dad just dealt with the ranch business, and that included taking me along.” He glanced away. “I hated it. I can still smell the stink of the cattle, the burning hide of the steers during branding. And it's damn hard work, for damn little money. And as soon as I could, I got out. Straight into college.”

She smiled. “Bet they were proud of you.”

“Yeah, sure.

“Brad was my cheering squad. My best friend. Whether I wanted him to be or not.” She glanced away. “All I gave him was trouble.”

“I can't believe that. I bet you were a good kid.”

She shook her head. “I was resentful, headstrong, but mostly stupid. An overweight girl who did anything to fit in. I turned out to be a big disappointment to a lot of people.” She released a breath. “So I ran with a crowd that accepted me.”

Jarrett could only nod, but he wanted to know so much more about Mia. What had hurt her so much she couldn't talk about it?

“Sometimes we can't see what's right in front of us.” He began. “I took out resentment for my father on Trace. And it was well over thirty years before I figured out he wasn't my enemy. We're still working on it.”

She brightened. “I bet little Jenna helps.”

He tried not to smile but failed. “Okay, the little squirt has my number. But look at her. She's too cute to tell her no.”
So are you,
he nearly confessed, trying to fight the attraction he felt.

“I agree. You are so lucky to have them.”

“I'm realizing that.” He eyed her closely. “When was the last time you slept?”

She shrugged. “I nap when BJ does.”

He breathed a curse. “It's not enough, Mia. You haven't even been out of the hospital a week.” Had it been that long since he'd seen her? Since he'd been purposely avoiding her? He'd worked late at the office, staying away to finish the repairs. Anything not to get any more entangled in her life. Trace was the family guy, not him.

Tonight, he realized how much he'd missed her. His gaze went from those brilliant blue eyes to her full mouth. God, he had to be crazy, but he couldn't stop himself as his head lowered to hers.

“Jarrett…”

“I like the way you say my name, Mia. A lot.” He reached for her, pulling her to him until his mouth closed over hers. She released a sigh as her fingers gripped his arms and she leaned into him.

Only the sound of their breathing filled the room as his mouth moved over hers in a slow, sensual, drugging kiss, taking as much as she was willing to give. And he wanted it all.

Hungry. He was hungry for her. His tongue slid past her parted lips and tasted her, but it wasn't enough. He never could get enough of her.

He broke off the kiss and they both drew in needed air. He knew he had to stop, it was too soon for her.

Yet, it was already too late for him.

 

Mia stirred in the warm bed. It felt so good as she pressed deeper into her pillow. Sleep. She loved just lying in bed. Soon her thoughts turned to last night and Jarrett. The kiss. Smiling, she opened her eyes to the morning light
coming through the window, then reality hit her, as she registered her tender breasts.

“BJ,” she whispered, throwing back the covers to get out of bed. The crib was empty. Her heart pounded in her chest and she raced out to the other room. That was when she heard a familiar voice in the kitchen. Nola.

She stood in the doorway. “You are getting to be such a big boy,” the older woman cooed at the baby in the plastic tub. BJ's tiny arms waved in the air as he enjoyed his bath.

Nola glanced at her. “Well, good morning.”

“Good morning, Nola.” She brushed her hair back. “What are you doing here? And why didn't you wake me to feed him?”

“He slept most of the night until five o'clock, which is when Jarrett called me and asked about using the bottle of breast milk in the refrigerator. I instructed him on how to heat it and he fed BJ. That was an hour ago, when I came up to relieve him. So I decided to steal some time with this guy while you got some more sleep.” She grinned down at the baby, who was cooing. “BJ and I are getting to know each other.”

Mia glanced around the empty apartment. When she'd dozed off last night Jarrett was still here. She suddenly recalled several things from their evening together. The things she'd told him about herself. Things she hadn't told anyone.

“If you're looking for Jarrett, he had a meeting to go to. He said he'd be back later today. I hope in time for our Christmas party.”

“Who said I was looking for Jarrett?” She hated that she was so easy to read. “Why did he call you instead of waking me?”

“Because we're both worried about you.” She nodded
for Mia to hand her the towel. She lifted the baby out of the water and Mia wrapped her son in the hooded terry cloth. “New mothers can get burnt out.”

Mia hugged BJ to her. “I need to be able to take care of my son.”

“You are a good mother, Mia,” Nola assured her. “You're also doing this alone. But you have what's most important, a good heart and a lot of love for this little boy.”

Together they walked into the bedroom and dressed BJ in one of his new outfits with a shirt that said, Chick Magnet.

Before Mia could pick him up, Nola did. “You need to eat something first. And I figure you have just enough time for some breakfast and a shower before this guy wants his mommy's attention.”

She smiled. How lucky she was to have friends. “Thanks, Nola. I don't know what I'd do without you.”

“We owe you a lot, too. We'd all be homeless without your help.”

“We'll all be homeless soon anyway. So I didn't help that much.”

The older woman pushed her bifocals back in place. “It's not over yet. I have faith in our handsome landlord. I also see the way he looks at you, Mia.” She smiled. “And you should have seen him with BJ this morning. He's a natural.”

Mia tried not to think about Jarrett McKane. He wasn't the man for her. He was the kind who only thought about the financial bottom line. Business before family. It was all about profit. The money. “He's counting the days until we're all out of here.”

Nola watched her. “Yeah, that's the reason he had us all out to his house for Thanksgiving. And helped Joe paint your apartment. And stayed with you at the hospital during
the birth of this little one.” She glanced down at the baby, but quickly looked back at Mia. “Jarrett has a few rough edges, but that just makes him interesting.” She lowered her voice. “And sexy.”

Mia felt heat rise to her face. He had always been the one who'd showed up to help her. She recalled the way he made her feel when he kissed her last night. She hadn't wanted him to stop. That was a problem. If she got involved in a relationship with a man, she had to think about BJ, too. They were a package deal.

Worse yet, could she share all her secrets about her past? Even the lies she'd told to protect herself. What happened when Jarrett discovered who she really was?

 

Just a little before noon, Jarrett walked into the restaurant for his meeting. He hoped his lack of sleep last night wouldn't hinder him from convincing Fulton of his new plans. If he kept thinking about Mia and their kiss, it would. Or the fact that he'd left a beautiful woman's bed and gone into the other room to sleep on the sofa. That had been a first for him. There had been a lot of firsts with Mia, including being a babysitter for her son.

When Nola had relieved him from his duties early this morning, he'd had time to shower at his apartment and then go to the office where he'd finished up the presentation for today.

Over the past week or so, he'd been working on new plans for the Fulton factory. He hoped he'd come up with some changes to the construction that would be beneficial to everyone.

And save this deal for him.

If this new idea didn't go over with the CEO, he could lose a lot more than just a sale. Business ventures like this
just didn't come down the road every day. It could take years for him to unload this property.

He walked across the restaurant behind the hostess to find Neil at the table by the window. The man didn't look happy, but Jarrett was hopeful he could convince him to make a few concessions.

“Neil, glad you could make it on such short notice.”

They shook hands then sat down. “I hope you have some good news. I'd like to finalize this before I fly out tonight.”

Jarrett released a quiet breath to calm his nervousness.
Don't let them see you sweat,
his college football coach had always told him. “Then let's get to it,” he suggested.

The waitress came by and took their order.

“Now, tell me what's so important.” Neil checked his watch. “I have to get on a plane and be back in Chicago tonight for a Christmas party. Robin will kill me if I'm late, especially since we're hosting it.”

“It's what I want to show you.” Jarrett pulled out the sketches for the plant site. “As you know, I have two apartment buildings located on the property.” He took a breath and rushed on. “Because of airtight lease agreements, the remaining tenants aren't moving out until March.”

Fulton frowned. “I thought you said you had it handled, that the building would be demolished by the end of January so we could break ground by early spring.” Fulton was visibly irritated. “You assured me there wouldn't be a problem.”