Her Kind of Trouble (Harlequin Superromance)

by Sarah Mayberry

  “I just wish you were coming to Australia under better circumstances.” Vivian glanced at their baggage. “My car is a few minutes’ walk away. What can I carry for you?”

  She wound up with two overnight bags while Dennis and Melissa guided their larger wheeled suitcases across the air bridge to the parking garage. Vivian tried to generate conversation, but after a few minutes it was clear that the Browns were in no place to make small talk.

  “How about this,” she proposed once they’d found her car and stowed their baggage in the trunk. “You two sleep or talk or do whatever you need to do on the way across town, and if you have any questions about anything, I’ll try to answer them. But if you just want to be quiet, that’s okay with me, too. All of which is my long way of saying that we don’t need to be polite to each other right now.”

  Dennis gave her a tired smile. “That sounds pretty good to me, thanks, love.”

  He looked very small and sad all of a sudden, and Vivian had to quell the urge to offer him a hug. What a terrible flight it must have been for both of them.

  “Here,” she said, finding Seth’s number and handing him her phone. “You can call Seth if you like, let him know that we’re on the way.”

  She concentrated on navigating her way out of the mazelike multilevel garage. She could hear Dennis asking questions about Lola and the baby as she drove, and she could see them visibly relax when they learned Lola was still stable.

  Melissa had a relieved weep once Dennis signed off and Vivian spent the drive trying not to eavesdrop on their conversation while she battled the traffic-congested roads. They threw the occasional question her way, but it was evident that their thoughts were all for their critically ill daughter.

  Finally they arrived at the hospital, and she felt the tension in the car rise. She pulled beneath the portico at the main entrance and turned to look at them.

  “Why don’t you call Seth again, and he can come meet you, instead of you having to find your way around this enormous place?”

  “That’s a fine idea.” Dennis nodded approvingly.

  She handed him her phone, even though it would have been easier for her to make the call. She wasn’t sure why, but she felt oddly shy about talking to Seth directly. It had been completely unintentional, but she’d once again inveigled her way into his affairs when she’d agreed to pick up Lola’s parents, despite having decided last night that the best and smartest thing for her to do would be to keep her distance.

  “He’s meeting us in the foyer in five minutes,” Dennis reported as he returned her phone. “Thanks for the taxi service, Vivian. It’s much appreciated.”

  “Yes, you saved us a lot of bother,” Melissa said with a watery smile.

  “It was nothing, and I wish I could do more,” Vivian said.

  They both slipped from the car, and it wasn’t until they’d disappeared into the hospital that she realized she still had their luggage in her car.

  Good one, Vivian.

  Maybe she wasn’t that great a taxi driver, after all. She found a parking spot, then went in search of the Browns for the second time that day. She was anticipating having to ask for directions to Lola’s ward before she tracked them down, but they were still in the foyer when she arrived, talking to Seth, their faces set and pale.

  Seth was pale, too, his hair rumpled as though he’d been running his hands through it. He glanced her way the moment she entered, as though some sixth sense told him she was there.

  “Viv. Thanks for picking up Dennis and Melissa. I owe you,” he said as she joined them. He brushed a kiss against her cheek, the gesture entirely natural and unconscious, the awkwardness of last night forgotten.

  “Not a big deal, at all. As I’ve already told these guys,” she said. “How is Daisy doing?”

  “Daisy? You called her Daisy?” Melissa asked, eyebrows raised.

  Vivian gave herself a mental slap for her slip of the tongue. So much for being helpful.

  “Unless you have an objection to the name,” Seth said. “It was on our list, and it seems to suit her.”

  “It’s gorgeous.” Melissa’s eyes welled with tears again.

  Seth glanced at Dennis, who nodded, blinking. “Daisy was my mother’s name.”

  “I didn’t know that,” Seth said.

  “Can we see Lola now?” Melissa asked.

  “She’s on the fourth floor. The elevators are this way.” Seth started across the foyer, and Vivian had no choice but to fall in behind the others, kicking herself every step of the way for letting the cat out of the bag in regard to the baby’s name.

  She tried to catch Seth’s eye to convey her apology as they all stepped into the lift, but he was frowning at the floor, clearly preoccupied. Once they arrived, Seth led them through a warren of corridors before stopping outside the intensive care unit.

  “You should know she’s on a lot of machines,” he said, his tone serious. “There are at least three lines going into her arms, a catheter, the respirator, the heart monitor. Also, they had to shave off a lot of her hair and her head is bandaged.”

  “We understand. The doctors have kept us up-to-date,” Dennis said.

  “I know. It’s just...different when you see it in person,” Seth said, his expression stony.

  Melissa reached for Dennis’s hand.

  Seth led them into the department, leaving them in the waiting area for a minute while he talked to a nurse. Vivian searched in her handbag and found a travel pack of tissues that she passed to Melissa, who gave her an almost-smile of thanks in return.

  “Okay. They’re happy for us all to go in. Normally they limit it to two visitors at a time,” Seth explained.

  Vivian glanced toward the nearby chairs. “I’ll wait here.”

  Seth gave her a grateful nod before ushering the Browns into the clinical area. Vivian sat and tried to stop herself from crying. She didn’t know Lola or Dennis and Melissa, but she didn’t need to to appreciate the utter misery of their situation.

  Her phone chimed with a text after a few minutes and she saw it was from her sister, checking to make sure everything was okay and letting her know that Sam had simply sprained his arm. Vivian had just texted an update back when Seth dropped into the seat beside her.

  She glanced at him, startled. “Did they change their mind about the two-person policy?”

  “No. I figured they might want a bit of privacy.” He said it heavily, and she could see how tired he was in the lines around his eyes and mouth.

  “They seem nice,” she said lamely.

  “Yeah, they do, don’t they? Lola was—is—nice, so that makes sense.”

  “How are things at the bar?”

  “A bloody mess. Ever seen a plate glass window smash? There’s glass everywhere. We won’t be able to open tonight, and Syrie’s got a couple of scratches on her arms from flying debris. Thank God all our customers were in the dining room having lunch when it happened.”

  “I’ll say. It sounds like you’re lucky it wasn’t worse.”

  “Yeah. I keep telling myself that, but it’s not helping much.”

  “Do you have any ideas who did it?”

  “There’s not much information. All Syrie knows is that there was a smash and then glass was flying. By the time she got over the shock and the guys from the kitchen had come out, the perp had done a runner.”

  He rubbed his forehead, then rested his elbows on his knees as he contemplated the floor.

  “I’m really sorry about blabbing Daisy’s name out earlier. I wasn’t thinking and it just slipped out—”

  “I should be thanking you. You saved me a difficult conversation. Now it’s sorted and I didn’t have to put my foot in it.”

  He was sincere, so she decided to abandon the concern. There was enough angst in this situation without her generating any of her own.

  “In that case, happy to be of service.”

  “Becoming a bit of a habit, isn’t it? You being of service?”

  She
could feel her face heating. Where had this sudden propensity for blushing come from?

  “Didn’t I tell you? I’m trying to get a merit badge at Girl Guides.”

  “So this is like community service?”

  “Exactly.”

  “I’ve got some laundry that needs doing at home if you want to score your cooking and cleaning badge.”

  “Cute,” she said. “But not quite cute enough.”

  She noticed a fleck of red on Seth’s thumb, and reached out to catch his wrist, angling his hand toward her. Sure enough, it was speckled with bloody marks.

  “Is this from the glass?”

  “Yeah. There were a few shards still hanging from the frame so I took care of them.”

  “With your bare hands?” she asked incredulously.

  “I used a couple of bar towels, but it turns out glass is sharp. Who knew?” His smile was unrepentant.

  “Worthy of the Darwin Awards, Anderson.” She realized she was still gripping his wrist and let go.

  “I’d barely qualify. Shows what you know.”

  A doctor exited the clinical area and they both glanced at him. When she looked at Seth again, his mouth was once again straight and grim.

  “When is Lola’s doctor meeting with her parents?”

  He pushed back the cuff on his shirt to check his watch. “In about an hour.”

  “Does that mean you’ve got time to introduce me to Daisy properly, then?”

  His eyebrows rose, as if the idea hadn’t even occurred to him. Or maybe he was simply surprised she was interested.

  “Sure. Let me tell Dennis and Melissa where we’ll be.”

  He slipped into the clinical area, returning a minute later. She walked alongside him as they left the ward.

  “Do you know where the Browns are staying? I’ve got their luggage in my car and I could drop it off for them so they don’t have to lug it around the hospital.”

  “Thanks, but you don’t have to do that. We can transfer it into my car,” he said.

  “Your little sporty thing?” she asked.

  “Believe it or not, it takes luggage.”

  “As well as being a chick magnet? Who knew car designers were so practical?”

  “You’d be surprised what I’ve been able to fit into that car over the years.”

  “Bet I wouldn’t.”

  Seth entered the nursery with the ease of familiarity, talking to one of the nurses before gesturing for Vivian to join him on the other side of the glass. They both washed and dried their hands, then Seth led her to the crib holding Daisy.

  Curled on her side, Seth’s daughter was a study in pink, cream and gold, her tiny mouth puckered, her hands fisted tightly. Someone had put a soft-looking pink-and-white striped hat onto her head, but a few curls of golden hair had slipped out.

  “A blonde. That’s going to be fun for you when she’s sixteen.”

  “You mean when she’s thirty.”

  Vivian smiled. “If she takes after you, she will give you one hell of a run for your money. Poetic justice, considering how many fathers you’ve probably given sleepless nights over the years.”

  “You want to hold her or not?” he asked.

  “Am I allowed to do that?” She glanced around, waiting for a nurse to offer a ruling on the issue.

  “Believe it or not, she likes it. Crazy, I know.” Without further ado, Seth reached into the crib and gently slid his hand under Daisy’s neck and head before lifting her. He performed the action so confidently, Vivian had to blink.

  “What’s wrong?” Seth asked.

  “I just realized you’re a dad now.”

  He smiled faintly, and she knew he understood what she meant.

  “Yeah. I am.”

  He offered the baby to her, and she slipped her hand beneath Daisy’s head, necessarily standing close to him as they made the transfer. An odd sort of warmth came over her as her forearm brushed his chest and his fingers grazed her rib cage as he ever-so-carefully passed his daughter into her care. Not sexual warmth, something else. Something more generous and unfathomable.

  “Hello, little girl,” she said.

  The baby wriggled, curving into the shape of her torso. Daisy’s mouth worked, then her lids flickered and she woke. Deep blue eyes stared at Vivian, their regard so uncompromising and compelling Vivian couldn’t look away. She was powerfully aware of how frighteningly frail and slight Daisy was, how small and defenseless, how completely, utterly dependent on the goodwill of others she was. And yet she stared at Vivian with not a shred of fear.

  She hadn’t learned to be afraid yet, which struck Vivian as being a wonderful thing.

  And long may it be so.

  “Aren’t you just perfect,” she whispered.

  “She has awesome genes,” Seth said.

  She glanced at him dazedly. She’d forgotten he was with her for a few seconds there. Tradition demanded that she make some quip or crack—maybe a dig about Lola’s awesome genes compensating for his, or something like that—yet she couldn’t bring herself to do anything but smile goofily.

  “I’m going to have to agree with you.”

  Daisy still watched Vivian with the same intense, slightly unfocused regard, as though she was trying to place her face or recall something she’d heard earlier.

  “What’s going on in that little head of yours, sweetheart? What are you thinking?”

  “She’s splitting the atom,” Seth said. “If only she could speak.”

  “She will soon enough, don’t you worry,” Vivian said. “If she’s anything like Sam and Max, you’ll have trouble getting her to stop.”

  She handed Daisy over after a few minutes, then watched as Seth put her down to sleep. They were silent as they left.

  “I know that none of this is even close to being planned, Seth, but she’s amazing. There’s no way you can regret helping her come into the world.”

  “I know. She’s already the best thing I ever did and she’s only five days old.” It was his turn to smile like a goof. He looked so endearing, hopeful and uncertain that this time she couldn’t stop herself from giving him a hug. He hugged her a little more tightly than she’d expected. It was only then that she understood how worried and alone he was feeling.

  Was it any wonder? A veritable storm of trauma had been raining on him since Saturday night. He was doing a damned good job of doing all the right things and covering all bases, but he was only human.

  All it took was that single moment of insight, and last night’s resolution to keep her distance burned to ash faster than she could snap her fingers. He and Daisy needed all the friends they could get, and Vivian intended to be one of them.

  It wasn’t a choice. It was simply the way it would be, because she couldn’t turn her back on this man and his daughter. Not if her life depended on it.

  And if that meant she would have to keep a close guard on her emotions...well, so be it.

  * * *

  SETH HAD TO force himself to release Vivian. She felt so good, and there was something about the straightness of her spine and the strength in her arms that made him want to stop and stay a while. A day or two, perhaps, while this crazy, chaotic sadness whirled around them.

  But that wasn’t possible, and this chaos was his to deal with, not hers.

  A timely reminder.

  “Show me where your car is and we’ll sort out the luggage,” he said finally.

  She looked a little surprised by the abrupt shift in conversation, but led him to the parking lot and pointed toward where her car was located.

  “I’ll come find you in a minute,” he said.

  She cast a questioning look his way before heading for her car. He watched her go. He’d always admired her walk, the sass and confidence of it. It was one of the first things he’d noticed about her. That, and her sexy body.

  It had taken him a lot longer to notice her quieter qualities, like her kindness and generosity. Over the years, he’d listened to Jodie rave abou
t the clothes Vivian had sent home for her, and he’d watch her engage and play with her nephews. But the true extent of Vivian’s generosity and care for her loved ones had hit home for him only in the past week. She was a giver, one of those people who showered her friends and family with gifts she’d picked up because she’d “seen it and thought of them.” She wasn’t precious or afraid of pitching in and rolling up her shirtsleeves. He bet she hadn’t hesitated when Jodie had asked her to pick up Dennis and Melissa today. Even though his dumb-ass behavior had ensured that they’d parted in less than stellar fashion last night, and even though he’d said all those ugly things about her to his brother when he’d been flailing around in his own excrement.

  Frankly, he was lucky she’d given him the time of day, let alone gone out of her way to help him.

  He went to his own car, then drove through the lot until he spotted Vivian standing next to her SUV.

  She eyed his Audi with a speculative gaze as he climbed out. “You know, we could do a trade if you like. My SUV for your TT.”

  “Like that’s going to happen.”

  “Think about it and get back to me,” she said, opening the rear hatch of her car.

  He told himself not to look as she leaned forward to tug a case closer to the edge, but he’d been unable to stop himself from noticing a nice ass since he was in high school and it seemed he wasn’t about to learn the skill now.

  “Want to give me hand here, Man of the Year?”

  “Right. Sorry.”

  He gave himself a mental slap. He’d just been chastising himself for misjudging and undervaluing her, and at the very first opportunity he’d reverted to knuckle-dragging, drooling-idiot mode. Way to go.

  He grabbed the case, brushing past her as he hefted it. She glanced at him quickly then, just as quickly, looked away. He transferred the first bag to his car, then the second, wedging in the two overnight bags. He had to push one side of the tiny rear seat forward to accommodate the luggage, but there would still be room for Melissa or Dennis to origami themselves into the rear while the other sat up front with him.

  “Call me when you want to do the car swap,” Vivian said knowingly.

  He eyed her, standing there in the afternoon sun, her hair glinting red and gold. Her eyes were slightly squinted against the brightness of the day, and her mouth was curved into a cocky, smart-ass smile.