Beauty & the Blue Angel

by Maureen Child

  Maria waved aside her apologies and leaned back in the chair. “Don’t worry about it.” Letting her gaze drift around the room, she said quietly, “Since Gina got married and moved out, we’ve really hated having this place empty. It’s nice to be up here again.” She paused. “There’s no rush for you to move home. I mean, if you stay here for a few days, one of us would always be around to help out if you needed anything.”

  It worried Daisy just how much that idea appealed to her. Not that she didn’t love her little apartment. She did. But the thought of having someone close by for her first few days of motherhood was a comforting one. After all, she’d read all the books, taken the nursing classes and talked to every mother she met at the restaurant. But actually being in charge of a helpless, new human being was just a little scary.

  Having company might make the transition from single woman to mommy a little easier.

  “Maybe I will,” she said, telling herself that her desire to stay a bit longer had absolutely nothing at all to do with Alex. “Thank you for offering.”

  Maria grinned and shook her head. “No thanks necessary. Believe me, Rita would love to spend some extra time with the baby, and I’d enjoy the company, too. Like I said, it’s nice to have somebody in Gina’s apartment again. Feels wrong with it empty.”

  “It must have been nice,” Daisy said, wondering what it must have been like to be a part of a huge, loving family. She guessed the Barones must be a close bunch, since the sisters shared this brownstone. “I mean, for all of you. Living here together, but with your own separate apartments.”

  “Oh, it’s been fun…most of the time. But trust me, the separate apartments were a necessity.” Maria grinned conspiratorially. She leaned forward, propping her elbows on her knees and her chin on her hands. “I love my sisters, but if we didn’t have our own doors to close, well, let’s just say we’re all very Italian.”

  Instantly, Daisy flashed back to the scene at Antonio’s and remembered how Sal and Alex had shouted at each other. Of course, anyone who worked with Sal would be used to his lightning-quick temper and his ability to shout over anyone except his aunt Lucia. The shouting didn’t bother Daisy. Never had. Growing up in foster homes, you learned early to tune out arguments. Besides, there was something about a family that shouted at each other. As bizarre as it seemed, it at least meant they cared enough about each other to argue.

  And everyone at Antonio’s knew about the feud between the Conti family and the Barones.

  She just hadn’t realized that Alex was a member of the enemy camp until it was way too late to do anything about it. And honestly, she told herself, she didn’t know if she’d have changed anything, anyway. She could still remember the feeling of being held in his arms, close against his chest. The feel of his hand on hers while she labored to deliver the baby; his soft, soothing voice as he talked and talked in an effort to help. No. She wouldn’t have changed a thing. Alex Barone was…nice. And in Daisy’s admittedly small experience, that was a rarity.

  Her heart twisted just a bit as she allowed herself to wonder what her life might have been like if the father of her baby had been someone like Alex. She and her daughter would be loved. They would have a real home with family to care about and celebrate this child’s birth. Instead, there was just Daisy and the baby. But that was okay, too, she reminded herself firmly. She and the baby would be fine. Just the two of them. And if she wished things could be different, if she should dream about a deep, rumbling voice and a pair of beautiful brown eyes, her daughter would never know about it.

  “So, Alex said you work at Antonio’s.”

  Daisy stopped thinking, which was probably just as well, considering where her thoughts had been moving.

  “Yes,” she said, grateful for something to think about besides Alex. “For a few years now.”

  Leaning back in the chair again, Maria lowered her gaze to the hem of her blouse and plucked at a loose thread. “Do you like it?”

  “I do.” Daisy smiled. “It’s actually a lot of fun and I get to meet different people all the time. Plus the tips are pretty good.”

  “And the Contis…”

  Daisy braced herself. She didn’t want to offend any of the Barones. After all, they’d pretty much saved her neck tonight. They’d been kind and generous, and one of them had safely delivered her baby while another had held her hand and soothed her fears. So she spoke tentatively, wanting to be loyal to the people who employed her and treated her well, yet not wanting to offend the family that had helped her when she’d needed it most.

  “Maria,” she said, “I don’t know much about this feud between your families, but I do know the Contis have always been very good to me and I—”

  Instantly, Maria jumped to her feet and paced a few steps before whirling around to look at Daisy. “This stupid feud. It’s ridiculous. It’s the twenty-first century, for Pete’s sake.”

  Surprised and relieved, Daisy asked, “So, you’re not anti-Conti?”

  Maria laughed, a short, harsh sound that seemed to scrape at the air. “I guess you could say that. For all the good it’ll do me.”

  She looked so miserable all of a sudden that Daisy found herself wanting to help in some way. “If it makes you feel any better, not all of the Contis are interested in your family’s war, either.”

  “Really?” Maria’s dark gaze locked on her, and even from a distance Daisy could read the spark of hope there.

  “Really,” she assured the other woman. “Sal and his aunt Lucia are the angriest.” And just thinking about the old woman who was the head of the Conti family was enough to give Daisy cold chills. Lucia was a cold-hearted woman whose perpetual anger at the world had drawn deep, ugly lines on her face and withered whatever spirit she’d once had. No. If Lucia had her way, every last Barone would be wiped from the face of the earth. But there was no point in saying that. “For whatever reason, Sal and Lucia have got a big grudge against the Barones. They never talk about it where any of us can hear it, but when the shouting starts, it’s hard not to pick up pieces of information.”

  “I’ll bet,” Maria said glumly.

  “That’s just the two of them, though,” Daisy pointed out. “Bianca and Steven and their mother don’t want anything to do with this feud.”

  “Really?”

  “Oh yeah. Steven hates it when Sal goes on a tear about your family. He’s even tried to defend the Barones once or twice. But Sal won’t listen.”

  Maria released a breath and a slow smile curved her mouth. Swallowing hard, she said, “That’s something, then, at least. Maybe things can change. Maybe it’s not too late to— Oh!”

  “Is something wrong?” Daisy asked as the other woman’s face paled noticeably.

  Maria swallowed hard again. “My stomach’s a little…queasy. It’s nothing.” Clapping one hand to her stomach and the other to her mouth, she breathed slowly, deeply.

  “Maria.” Rita stuck her head in the doorway. “Geez. The woman just had a baby. Why don’t you come on out and let her get some sleep?”

  “It’s okay—” Daisy began.

  “Of course—” Maria said at the same time, making a visible effort to get control of her upset stomach. “Get some sleep, Daisy. I’ll see you later.”

  As she left, Rita smiled. “Do you need anything?”

  Need, no. Want, yes. Daisy wanted to see Alex. Wanted to know where he was and when—or if—he’d be coming back. Strange that she should feel such a connection to a man she hadn’t known existed just a few short hours ago. But hadn’t someone once said that battlefield friendships were the strongest because they were formed during trial and tribulation?

  Well, what was labor but a battlefield?

  Remembering Alex’s warm, strong grip on her hand, the deep rumble of his voice and the calm reassurance in his eyes was enough to make Daisy’s heart ache to see him again. They’d come through labor and delivery together, and that bond went deeper than she’d suspected.

  But
how could she say all of that to his sister? Why would Rita want an unwed mother to latch on to her brother? She wouldn’t. So Daisy swallowed the questions she wanted to ask and instead said simply, “No, thanks. I don’t need anything.”

  “Sure?”

  “Yes, I’m sure. Besides, you’ve already done enough. I can’t really even begin to thank you.”

  “Then don’t try,” Rita said, still smiling. “Being able to take part in your little miracle was something I’ll always remember. I don’t get to see many births in cardiac care.”

  Daisy’s gaze dropped briefly to her still-sleeping baby. “She is a miracle, isn’t she?”

  “You’re darn right. Now…” She pulled in a breath, blew it out and said in a rush, “I have to get downstairs. But Maria will be here until Alex gets back, in case you need anything.”

  Alex. The other woman saying his name made it seem all right to ask. “He left?” Daisy tried to make the question sound casual, but something in Rita’s eyes told her she hadn’t quite pulled it off.

  “He’ll be back soon.”

  “Oh,” she said, “he doesn’t have to—”

  “Of course he does,” Rita interrupted, glancing at the baby. “Even miracles need a change of diapers.” She grinned. “He went out to pick up some supplies for the baby.”

  A deliciously warm feeling did battle with a pang of guilt. He hadn’t run for the hills. He’d gone off to do her yet another favor.

  “So why don’t you take a nap while the baby’s sleeping?”

  “I think I will,” Daisy said, and she was still smiling as Rita left.

  Snuggling down deeper under the light blanket, Daisy cuddled her daughter close and planted a gentle kiss on her forehead. The lamp on the other side of the room glowed a pale yellow. Outside the window, dawn was just lightening the sky with pastel shades of rose and gold. Even through the double glass panes, Daisy heard the sounds of the city waking up and going about its business. But here, in this shadow-filled room, life was quiet, complete.

  Her body ached, but her heart was full. The adrenaline pumping through her veins had slowed to a trickle, and fatigue pulled at her as she closed her eyes. She breathed deeply, slowly, letting herself relax, shutting off her busy brain until only thoughts of Alex remained. Then, closing her eyes, she willed herself to sleep, and planting the seeds for a lovely dream, her mind conjured up the image of Alex’s smile.

  By the time Alex rushed back to the apartment, carrying four bags of things no baby should be without, Rita had gone downstairs and Maria was asleep on the couch. He stashed the bags in the kitchen, woke his sister up and sent her off to her own apartment, then walked into Gina’s former bedroom.

  Pale, soft daylight crept through the window on the far side of the room and reached toward the woman sound asleep on the bed. Her long hair fanned out on the pillow beneath her head like a chestnut halo, framing her face with rich color. The dim morning light glimmered off the streaks of red and deep brown and highlighted a few strands of bronze that shone like old gold. Shadows lay beneath her closed eyes, but even in her sleep, she smiled and held her daughter close.

  He watched the rise and fall of her breasts and reassured himself that she and the baby were fine. There was no reason to be worried. And yet a thread of concern wound through him, anyway. She was fine now. But what about later? What about when she went home, alone? Just she and the baby.

  Alex scowled to himself at the thought. What the hell kind of man walked away from a woman like this? he wondered. What kind of subspecies of male turned his back on his own child?

  And why did Alex care so damn much?

  That thought stopped him cold.

  Shoving his hands into his pockets, he leaned one shoulder against the doorjamb and crossed one foot over the other as he continued to study Daisy. Why did he care? What was it about this woman that had gotten to him in such a short amount of time? Was it the old knight-in-shining-armor-riding-to-the-rescueof-a-lady-in-distress complex? Was he putting too much into this, making more of what he was feeling than was actually there?

  No.

  He couldn’t buy that.

  He’d never been the type to have a hero complex. He didn’t go out of his way looking for people to save. This had just happened.

  And now that it had, he wasn’t at all sure what to do about it.

  Pushing away from the doorjamb, he walked quietly into the room. Mother and baby slept on, blissfully unaware of his presence, which was just as well. He had a few things to think about and he knew that if Daisy opened her eyes and looked at him, his brain would refuse to work.

  Taking a seat in the chair beside the bed, Alex leaned toward them and reached out one hand. Gently, he smoothed Daisy’s hair back from her face and smiled to himself when she sighed in her sleep and turned toward his touch. His fingertips slid tenderly across her cheek, and he marveled at the smooth silkiness of her skin and the tiny, near electrical surges of heat snaking straight up the length of his arm.

  He’d never felt this instant and bone-deep reaction to any woman before. And he wondered what kind of man he was to have these feelings for a woman who’d just given birth.

  But as he watched her sleep, Alex told himself that for now he wasn’t going to question anything. He was just going to enjoy being here, standing guard in the shadows, with Daisy.

  Five

  The baby woke her.

  In Daisy’s dream, a kitten mewed softly, demanding attention. And when she opened her eyes, she realized it was no kitten, but her own daughter, wide awake and apparently hungry.

  “She just woke up.”

  That deep voice was unmistakable. As were the goose bumps racing up the length of her spine. Shifting her gaze from her daughter’s tiny, scrunched-up face to the man sitting in a chair beside the bed, Daisy felt her stomach flip-flop, and told herself she was an idiot.

  Here she lay, a brand-new mother. A single mother, thank you very much, mainly because she’d allowed her heart to rule her head. She’d mistaken a man’s interest in her for love, and now she was…well, here. And she wasn’t about to make the same mistake all over again. She couldn’t afford to. It wasn’t just her own happiness and well-being at stake now. There was her baby to think about.

  Her daughter.

  Her family.

  Keeping that thought firmly in mind, Daisy met that deep brown gaze of his and resisted the urge to slide into the warm chocolate welcome she saw there. “I can’t believe I almost slept through her waking up,” she said, and turned her gaze briefly back to her daughter. A much safer plan. “What kind of mother does that make me?”

  “A tired one,” he said, leaning forward and bracing his elbows on his knees.

  His dark gold shirt made his skin look even more tan, more bronzed. His shirt collar lay open, exposing a V of flesh that looked just as tanned as his face. His broad chest strained that shirt to the breaking point, and Daisy didn’t even want to think about how long his legs looked in the worn denims he had on.

  He smiled at her, and darn it, she noticed a flash of warmth in his eyes that jabbed at her, poking holes in her resolution to keep her distance. Oh, Alex Barone was one potent man.

  “I think she’d have managed to get your attention in another minute or two.”

  Her mouth curved gently as she stroked the tip of one finger along her baby’s cheek. “Isn’t she amazing?”

  “She’s beautiful, all right,” he said, his gaze locked on her until Daisy felt the strength of his stare and turned her head to look at him. “But I was just thinking that you’re amazing, Daisy…” He paused, grinned and said, “I don’t even know your last name.”

  “Cusak,” she provided, adding, “There really wasn’t a lot of time for introductions, was there?”

  “Things were a little tense.”

  “Oh,” she said with a laugh, “now there’s an understatement.”

  Alex nodded, but didn’t take his gaze off her. He couldn’t seem to stop
looking at her. And even while that thought registered, he wondered what in the hell he was supposed to do about it. This wasn’t exactly a romance situation. God, the woman had just given birth, and he was sitting here thinking about— Well, it was probably better if he just steered his brain down a new path.

  The baby mewed again and waved one tiny fist halfheartedly. Tearing his gaze from Daisy, Alex looked at the tiny scrap of humanity and found himself smiling again. So small. So helpless. A rush of something warm and tender filled him and Alex gave himself a minute to enjoy it.

  “Do you have a name for her?”

  “I’ve been thinking about that,” Daisy said, and tried to shift into a more comfortable position on the bed.

  Noticing what she was doing, Alex moved quickly. “Let me get her,” he offered, and scooped up the baby expertly, nestling her in the crook of his left arm. Every Italian man was comfortable holding a baby. It was almost second nature. And apparently the infant sensed his confidence, because she settled down instantly, as though she’d only been waiting for him to hold her.

  “Oh,” he whispered, “you’re a heartbreaker, aren’t you?”

  “She likes you,” Daisy said, and he glanced at her. She’d pushed herself higher against the pillows. The deep rose nightgown she’d borrowed from Rita was a little big on her and the scoop neck opening dipped a bit too low for Alex’s comfort. One of the straps slipped down off her shoulder, and between that and her tousled curls, she was an impossible combination of sexy innocence. She was enough to take his breath away. That soft smile on her lips wasn’t helping anything, either.

  Forcing himself to look away, he shifted his gaze to the baby and right away knew he was no safer. He looked down into those milky-blue eyes and felt a hard, solid punch of something damn near indescribable. It was as if the tiny girl was staring deep inside him and reaching a part of him that had never been touched before.