The Christmas Baby (9 page)

“You quit your last job because of Lily. Maybe she had good reason to leave modeling.”

“I didn’t quit. I was fired.”

He winced, feeling like a jerk for reminding her of losing her job. “Whatever. I didn’t get all the details from her. A woman’s work history isn’t exactly high on my list of questions when I’m asking her out.” And why in the hell were they discussing his imaginary date with an imaginary former model turned secretary?
Damn.
Executive assistant.

To make Faith jealous, that’s why. How stupid was that? He didn’t play games like this. He’d never needed to. But then, he’d never been stuck on a woman he couldn’t have. Hell, he’d never been stuck on a woman he
could
have.

He
wasn’t
stuck on Faith. He wanted to make love to her. That’s all. Nothing like being stuck on her.

“Yes, I feel sure you’re much
smoother
than that.”

That was him. Brian Kincaid, the king of smooth, lying through his teeth. He couldn’t even think of a decent comeback.

“I’m going to bed. I’ll see you in the morning,” Faith said and left the room.

Brian raked his hands through his hair. He couldn’t continue to live with Faith like this and not lose his mind. He had to stop thinking about taking her to bed and the obvious way to do that lay in another woman’s arms. He needed a date. He needed to get laid. And he really, really needed to forget about Faith McClain.

“L
OOK
, isn’t this cute?” Faith handed Brian a stuffed pink hippo. “Feel how soft it is.”

“Uh-uh.” He handed it back. “No way. It’s pink. You want me to give my son a girl toy? Where’s the boy stuff?”

Faith curbed her exasperation. Who knew Brian would be such a perfectionist when it came to picking out a present for Will? They were at their third store, since he’d rejected everything in the first two. He’d at least allowed her to buy the decorations at the discount store, but insisted they try another store for the toys. At this rate they’d never finish in time to pick up the babies at Mothers’ Day Out.

He’d found some upscale baby store in Corpus Christi with, in Faith’s opinion, overpriced toys that they could have just as easily picked up at the discount store if he’d only been patient enough to look. But he’d found the Baby Palace on the Internet that morning and was convinced it would have what they needed.

Maybe the pink hippo was a little girlie. “There’s no such thing as girl and boy toys,” she said nonetheless. “You don’t want him to be sexist, do you?”

Will’s a boy. He ought to have something boys like to play with. Like this.” He reached up to the top shelf and pulled down an enormous box that had a picture of a colorful garage with big plastic cars on it. “Yeah, this is more like it.”

“That’s a very good choice, sir,” the salesclerk said, beaming at him. “You have discerning tastes. The StarBright garage is one of our bestsellers.”

Faith rolled her eyes. Sheena, as her name tag read, was a curvaceous brunette who had latched on to them the minute they’d walked into the store. She’d obviously figured out Brian was a soft touch. When she’d assumed Faith was Brian’s wife, he had quickly set her straight and ever since the woman had flirted with him shamelessly. Which he clearly didn’t mind, since he flirted right back.

“All right, I’ll take it,” Brian told her. “Also the jack-in-the-box and the nesting cubes. And throw in that pink hippo, too.”

“I thought you didn’t want him to have a girlie toy?” Faith said.

“The hippo’s for Lily.” He turned back to the clerk. “And I need something for my nephew, too. He’s about a year and a half, I think.”

“I know just the thing.”

“Are you getting these presents for Christmas?” Faith asked as Brian followed the clerk to another aisle. “I didn’t realize you wanted to Christmas shop today.”

“No, we don’t have time. We’ll have to save Christmas shopping for another day.”

“Then why are you buying toys for Jason and Lily?”

“I don’t want them to feel left out. Mel and Roxy and Cole are old enough not to care, but—” he broke off and smacked his forehead. “I can’t believe I forgot about Mark’s kids. I’d better get them something, too.”

“Brian, it’s just before Christmas. You’ll be buying them all toys then.”

“So I’ll get them different ones for Christmas. That looks good,” he said when Sheena dragged out a bright red push car. “I need three more toys,” he added, and told her the genders and ages of his oldest brother’s children.

“That’s very generous of you,” the clerk gushed before Faith could speak. “Your nieces and nephews will love these toys. And the pink hippo is adorable, isn’t it? Do you want me to gift wrap all the presents?”

“Sure, why not?”

“Yes, why not, it’s only money,” Faith said sarcastically. She could hear the
ka-ching
of the cash register ringing in the woman’s ears.

Brian’s eyes were a beautiful, vibrant green that right now looked at her with some amusement. “Do you think Lily would like the hippo or not?”

“Of course she’d like it. She loves cuddly toys.”

“Good. Ring everything up,” he told Sheena. “You’ve been a big help. Thanks.”

“Oh, it’s been my pleasure. I’ll ring these up before I gift wrap them and then bring you the receipt.” She beamed again and left with the cart full of toys.

“Why are you so grumpy?” Brian asked Faith. “You’ve been snapping my head off all morning.”

“No, I haven’t. I just think it’s a waste of money to pay for gift wrapping when I could do it at home for a lot less. Do you have any idea what they charge to gift wrap in a place like this?”

“I don’t think a little gift wrap is going to break me.” He studied her for a minute and she fought the urge to squirm. “Is there something else? Did the gym rat break your date?”

“No, he didn’t. And don’t call him that. I didn’t sleep well last night, that’s all.”

“I didn’t hear Will during the night.”

“Lily was fussy,” she improvised.

Lily had nothing to do with her restless night. Brian, on the other hand, had everything to do with it. She’d dreamed about him. About being in his arms and kissing him. About making love with him. Sexy, sensual dreams. She’d never had those kinds of dreams in her life. Not about anyone, until now.

Damn it, what was she supposed to do when her subconscious mind betrayed her? She’d made another date, hadn’t she? She was doing her best to ignore what she felt every time she looked at Brian. Every time she thought about him.

If Brian had been totally disinterested that would make her attempts easier. But he was fighting the attraction as much as she was. Remembering his reaction to her date she nearly laughed. If she didn’t know better, she’d have thought he was jealous. Even so, he clearly didn’t mean to do anything about it. Him and his supermodel date. Not that she’d believed him for a minute, but she didn’t doubt that by now he had a real date with some bombshell.

Sheena came back with the gaily wrapped packages and after another few minutes of Brian and the woman flirting, they finally left.

Fortunately, Brian had bought a new car—a small SUV to drive the kids around in—and they were able to fit all the packages in the back of it.

“It was really sweet of you to buy Lily a toy.” She hadn’t been very appreciative, Faith thought guiltily. And Brian was good to her baby.

“Every little girl should have a pink hippo.” He gave her the beguiling smile that went straight to her heart. “Make sure you don’t lose those coupons Sheena put in the bag. We’ll need them for Christmas shopping.”

“I’ll get them out and put them in my purse.” Even though it would take a pretty big discount to make these prices seem reasonable to Faith. She looked through the plastic bag and pulled out a wad of paper. Coupons and flyers of every description. Faith glanced at the one on top.
Oh, pu-leeze
. Picking it up, she waved it at Brian. “I wonder if this means she discounts her services, too.”

He shot her a cocky grin. “Sheena’s phone number?”

“How did you guess?”

“You really don’t like her, do you? I thought she was nice.”

“Nice? She was so obviously after you, I’m surprised she didn’t strip naked in the toy aisle.”

Brian burst out laughing. “Now that’s an image that would not have entered my mind.”

What was wrong with her? She never made catty remarks about other women. Well, almost never. Jealousy was not having a good effect on her.

W
HEN
B
RIAN WALKED IN
that afternoon, he’d thought he’d stepped into an explosion. He hadn’t paid much attention when Faith had picked out the decorations, but judging from the kitchen, she’d decided on bears. Blue bears. With blue and white streamers and blue and white balloons and blue bears, bears, bears. Everywhere.

Will had liked them. His chubby little face had lit up when Brian carried him into the kitchen. He laughed and clapped his hands and reached for everything. He was soon sitting at the kitchen table in his high chair playing with a stuffed bear. A blue stuffed bear, of course.

Who knew Faith could be such a smart-ass?

“So what does it feel like to be the father of a one-year-old?” Mark asked him later in the evening after the pizza and cake had been demolished and all the presents opened.

They’d retreated to the kitchen in search of a little quiet, but they could still hear laughing and screaming from the other room. Roxy and Mel had organized some kind of game and one of the key elements seemed to be whoever was the loudest won.

“It’s not as weird as it was at first. I don’t wake up anymore wondering why there’s a crying baby in my house. Or babies,” he added reflectively. “And man, does Will have a temper sometimes. He must have gotten that from his mother.”

Mark gave a crack of laughter. “I remember you as a baby. Trust me, he got it from his daddy.”

Brian laughed but then turned sober. “It still scares the hell out of me to realize that I’m totally responsible for another person,” he admitted. “A baby. But at least we have Faith to help us. I don’t know what I’d do without her.”

“You’d cope. But it’s good you don’t have to.”

“Will’s crazy about her.” He motioned to the decorations. “The party and everything was her idea. She did it all. I don’t know how she does everything she does. It took me days to recuperate after one day of taking care of the kids when she was sick.”

“Sounds like she’s a godsend, all right. And I’d never have thought of giving the other kids a toy, too. Faith had a good idea there.”

“Hey, that was my idea. I read it in one of those books Cat and Gail gave me.” He thought about Will’s reaction to his new toys and smiled. “I wonder when Will’s going to figure out he’s supposed to play with those cars and not throw them at people.” He rubbed the bridge of his nose. The kid was too young to have such a good arm.

“If he’s like Max, it will be a long time. Speaking of toy cars, I’m sorry Miranda flushed one down the toilet. She learned that from Max. I swear, I was watching her but she can disappear faster than seems humanly possible.”

“That’s all right. We’ll get the plumber out in the morning.” He surveyed the kitchen. Cat had come through with the cake and what hadn’t been eaten appeared to be spread around the room. Even on the ceiling. “Does it always look like this after a kid’s party?”

“It gets worse,” Mark warned. “Wait until he’s older.”

Faith came into the kitchen just then with Lily. “I need a bottle. I have to put her down. I think she’s a little overstimulated.”

Brian looked at the red-faced, wailing baby and thought so, too. Will would probably be impossible to get to sleep, as well. “I can hold her for you.”

“Okay, but you asked for it.” Faith passed Lily over to Brian and went to fix her bottle.

The baby’s breath caught on a tremulous sigh. Suddenly quiet, she stared at Brian, her eyes big, blue and wet with tears. “It’s okay, beautiful.” He made a face at her and was rewarded with a smile. Encouraged, he tried another and she waved a dimpled hand in the air and laughed.

He glanced at his brother, who was grinning at him knowingly.

“What? She likes it when I make faces.” He’d discovered that while Faith was ill. If Mark hadn’t been there he’d have sung to her, which he’d also done that day he’d taken care of Lily and Will. But he couldn’t sing in front of his brother and not feel like a fool. Come to think of it, he wouldn’t sing in front of Faith, either, unless it was an emergency.

“Her bottle’s ready,” Faith said, coming to his side. “You’re a miracle worker. Thanks.” She took Lily from him, cradled her and gave her the bottle. “There, now. Is that better?”

Brian smoothed a hand over the fine baby curls. He glanced up and saw Faith watching him, her eyes soft and brown and warm with pleasure. There was a dab of icing at the corner of her mouth. He wanted to put his mouth there and taste it, slide his tongue over those plump lips, slip it into that pretty mouth and…

He stopped himself middaydream, looked into Faith’s eyes and saw the same desire reflected in their depths. Her lashes fluttered closed, she turned away and walked quickly out of the room with Lily in her arms.

Mark cleared his throat.

Crap. He’d completely forgotten his brother was in the room.

“You’ve fallen for her.” It wasn’t a question.

“For Faith? No, I haven’t.”

“Yes, you have. Not only for Faith, but for Lily, too.”

Brian leaned back against the counter and gave him his most cynical smile. “Get real. You know me. Does that sound like me?”

“It doesn’t sound like Brian the player. But Brian the father, I don’t know about him.”

“I’m the same person I was before I knew I was a father, Mark.”

“I don’t think so. I saw the way you looked at her, Brian. I saw how you looked at the baby. And I saw the way Faith looked at you. Are you sure you know what you’re doing here?”

“I’m not doing anything. You’re making a big deal out of nothing.”

“Am I?”

“Look, she’s great with Will and I like her. But there’s nothing going on. She’s not my type. Besides, she’s my kid’s nanny. Hands off, remember?”

“I remember,” Mark said. “The question is, when she looks at you like that again, like you hung the moon, will
you
remember?”