by Robin Wells
He watched from the doorway as she climbed in her car, backed it out of the driveway and drove off down the street. He watched until her taillights faded in the distance, then disappeared around a corner.
Old friends. He pulled his forehead into a scowl, not understanding why her remark bothered him so. It was what he’d wanted, wasn’t it? A pleasant, platonic relationship. So why the hell did the thought of being friends with Rachel leave him feeling as if he’d just been served a stalk of celery when what he was hungry for was a steak dinner?
Chapter Three
The shrill ring of the telephone awakened Rachel the next morning. Groggy and still half-asleep, she opened her eyes, winced against the morning light filtering through the muted floral curtains of her bedroom window and glanced at the alarm clock on her nightstand.
Seven o’clock. Who would be calling her at this hour on a Saturday? Without lifting her head from the pillow, she reached out and grabbed the phone in the middle of the second ring.
“Hello?”
“Rachel, it’s Nick.”
Her pulse immediately accelerated. She abruptly sat up in bed, clutching the phone in one hand, brushing her hair out of her face with the other. The loud wail of a baby shrieked through the receiver. “I hear Jenny. Is something wrong?”
“She woke up at three, and she’s been crying ever since. I’ve tried everything I could think of to calm her down. I changed her diaper, I gave her a bottle, I rocked her in the rocking chair. I burped her and sang to her and carried her around the house. I even got out her stroller and wheeled her around the kitchen. Nothing works.” He sounded frazzled and worried. “I hate bothering you, but I don’t know what to do.”
“Does she have a fever?”
“I don’t know.”
“Well, does she feel hot?”
“I don’t think so, but I’m not a good judge of these things. Her face is awfully red, but that might be because she’s been crying so hard for so long.”
“Do you have a thermometer?”
“No. But even if I did, I know just enough about how to take a baby’s temperature to know I don’t dare try it.” Jenny’s crying switched to a higher pitch. “Rachel, what should I do?”
The baby sounded frantic, and so did Nick.
Rachel sighed. “I’ll be right over.”
She threw off the covers and swung her feet to the floor, emotions warring inside of her, the same emotions that had kept her tossing and turning for much of the night It was a mistake to go back over there, especially now that she knew that Nick had left two years ago because they’d grown too close.
It was a mistake, because a piece of her heart rejoiced in that knowledge.
She’d spent the past two years wondering why he’d left so suddenly, wondering if she’d deluded herself about his degree of emotional involvement with her, wondering if she’d been so head over heels in love that she hadn’t accurately judged his true feelings for her. Perhaps she’d misread his signals. Perhaps he’d never been as attracted to her as she was to him, never cared for her as she’d cared for him. Perhaps he’d simply grown tired of her and found it was easier to move on than to break up with her since she was a co-worker.
But she hadn’t been wrong. He had cared for her. The reason he hadn’t made love to her was not because he didn’t desire her, but because he didn’t want to hurt her. A tender, honorable part of Nick had been respecting her dreams and protecting her heart.
But then there was the flip side of him. He had a deep-seated aversion to permanence. He’d told her again last night that he had no intention of ever marrying. Time had passed, but nothing had changed.
Nothing except for Jenny. The thought of the poor, orphaned baby inconsolably crying propelled Rachel off the bed and into the shower.
When she pulled her car into Nick’s driveway thirty minutes later, he and Jenny were waiting for her on the front porch.
Rachel’s heart turned over at the sight of them. Unshaven and red-eyed, the normally well-groomed Nick wore rumpled navy sweatpants and a stained T-shirt, and looked as distraught as Jenny sounded. Rachel had never seen two more miserable-looking human beings in her life.
Nick met her halfway up the sidewalk, carrying the red-faced, howling baby. “Thank heavens you’re here.”
Jenny strained her chubby arms toward Rachel, her tiny face red and wrinkled as a baked apple. Rachel lifted the child into her arms, cradling her head against her shoulder.
“Hey, there, sweetie pie,” Rachel said soothingly. “What’s the matter?”
“She’s in the custody of an incompetent, that’s what’s the matter.” Nick’s mouth curved in a rueful smile, but his eyes were full of worry.
Rachel’s urge to comfort Nick was nearly as strong as her urge to comfort Jenny. “She’s probably just missing her parents.”
“What if it’s something more?” Nick’s brow wrinkled in concern. “What if she’s sick and we just don’t know it?”
Rachel felt the child’s forehead. “She doesn’t feel feverish, but it would probably be a good idea to take her to a pediatrician and get her checked out all the same.”
“Any idea how to find a pediatrician?”
Rachel nodded. “I’ve got a friend in the legal department who’s pregnant. Olivia has interviewed half of the children’s doctors in Phoenix, trying to find the right one for her baby. I’ll give her a call.”
“Thanks a million, Rachel.”
The gratitude in his olive eyes sent a rush of warmth through her chest. She abruptly turned away, steeling herself against the pull of attraction she felt for him. “I’m glad to help.”
But she was secretly glad of more than that. She was glad to be needed, glad of an excuse to be here with him and Jenny again.
The realization dismayed her. She didn’t want any emotional ties to Nick. She’d hoped that time had loosened the hold he had on her, but the wild pounding of her heart warned her otherwise.
“Hello. I’m Dr. Jackson.”
Nick rose from the straight-backed chair as the gray-haired pediatrician entered the examining room.
The man’s kindly face folded into a smile as he shook Nick’s hand, glancing at the medical chart in his hand. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Delaney.” He nodded amiably at Rachel, who was seated across the room with Jenny on her lap. “Mrs. Delaney.”
“Oh, no,” Rachel blurted. “I mean, we’re not married.”
The doctor closed the door behind him, doing an admirable job of squelching the surprise on his face. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t jump to conclusions like that in this day and age.” He turned his attention to Jenny, who was still sitting on Rachel’s lap. “Hello there, young lady. You must be Jenny.”
Jenny turned her head against Rachel’s shoulder and whimpered.
“A shy one, eh?” the doctor remarked. “Are you the child’s mother?”
Rachel’s face flamed beet-red. “No.”
The doctor turned to Nick, his eyebrows raised in confusion. “I seem to be striking out all around. Then you must be the child’s father.”
Nick shifted uncomfortably. “Well, not exactly.”
The doctor all but scratched his head.
“She’s my niece,” Nick hurried to explain. “My brother and his wife were killed in an auto accident, and I’m her new legal guardian. Problem is, ever since I’ve been taking care of her, all she does is cry. She’s always been finicky about anyone except her parents caring for her, but ever since they died, she’s been impossible. She won’t let me feed her or hold her or comfort her in any way. In fact, she won’t tolerate anyone coming close to her except Rachel here.”
“I see.” The doctor looked again at Rachel. “And Rachel is...?”
Crimony—how was he supposed to describe his relationship with Rachel? He fell back on the phrase he’d so hated the night before. “An old friend—a very close old friend. Jenny and I have just moved to Phoenix, and Rachel’s helping us out until I can hire a nanny.
”
“I see.” The doctor turned to Rachel and smiled. “Well, let’s start by ruling out any physical reasons for Jenny’s distress.”
Rachel carried the child to the examining table. Jenny wailed the moment the doctor approached her. Dr. Jackson peered over his glasses at Rachel. “If you don’t mind, it might help if you hold her while I examine her.”
“Of course.”
Nick watched, feeling completely useless, as Rachel sat on the table and held the whimpering baby in her arms while the doctor checked the child’s ears, eyes, nose and throat. At the doctor’s instructions, Rachel stretched the child on the table and talked to her soothingly as he felt Jenny’s stomach, checked her legs and examined her diaper area. When he’d finished his examination, he handed the outraged infant back to Rachel.
Dr. Jackson watched thoughtfully as Jenny calmed down almost immediately once she was back in Rachel’s arms.
“Well?” Nick prompted.
“She seems to be perfectly healthy.” Dr. Jackson removed his spectacles and regarded Nick calmly. “I’d guess that she’s grieving the loss of her parents.”
Nick raised his eyebrows in surprise. “Babies can experience grief?”
The doctor nodded. “Oh, yes. They begin to recognize their parents’ voices while they’re still in the womb, and they form attachments very early. Like adults, different babies cope with loss and change in different ways.” The doctor eyed Nick speculatively. “Babies are sometimes confused by the way an unfamiliar relative can look or even smell like a lost parent. It’s not inconceivable that Jenny is rejecting you because you remind her of her missing father.”
Nick frowned. “You mean I make her miss him more?”
The doctor nodded. “She might be angry that you’re so much like her daddy, yet you’re not him.”
Nick ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “What do you recommend I do?”
The doctor lowered himself onto a backless stool by the examining table, his face serious. “You need to ease the baby’s transition to her new home and new environment as much as possible. She has to get used to you gradually. The best way to do that is to let someone she trusts, like Rachel here, care for her while she gets accustomed to being around you.”
A surge of alarm rushed through Nick. It was bad enough that he’d turned to Rachel twice in less than twenty-four hours. He didn’t want to involve her any further. “I intend to hire a daytime nanny as soon as possible. In fact, I’m hoping to do that today.”
The doctor frowned. “I don’t recommend introducing another new person right now. From what you’ve told me, the child has a hard time adjusting to a change in caregivers under the best of circumstances, and Jenny is confused and upset enough as it is. Since she’s obviously comfortable with Rachel, the ideal situation would be to have Rachel stay in your home and care for the baby around the clock while Jenny grows to accept you.”
No way. He hated taking help from anyone, but especially from Rachel. She’d already done more than enough as it was. He didn’t want to feel indebted, didn’t want to feel dependent. Most of all, he didn’t want to feel like he needed her.
Nick glanced at Rachel. Her eyes were fixed straight ahead, but her face looked paler than usual.
“I know it’s a lot to ask of a friend,” Dr. Jackson continued. “I don’t know your circumstances or the nature of your relationship, but it would be in the baby’s best interests.”
“How long do you think it would take?” Rachel asked.
“There’s no way to say exactly, but I would think that about a week would probably do it.”
Nick shook his head. “I don’t want to impose on Rachel any further. What are the alternatives?”
The doctor stroked his chin. “Well, you could try finding a nanny Jenny can relate to, but if the baby is as sensitive to strangers as you say, you’re likely to have a situation where the baby rejects you both.” The doctor perched his glasses back on his nose. “I had a similar case with an adopted infant a few years ago. The child ended up having to be hospitalized for dehydration because she refused to eat or drink.”
“Oh, Nick—we can’t let that happen to Jenny,” Rachel murmured.
“In any event,” the doctor continued, “regardless of who you use as an interim caregiver, you’re going to need to be around the child almost continually for the next week or so, Mr. Delaney, in order for the primary relationship between you and the baby to have a chance to form.”
Nick frowned. “You mean I need to stay home from work in order to bond with the baby?”
The doctor smiled mildly. “Unless you and your caregiver can take the child to your place of work.”
“I’m sure Rex wouldn’t mind, especially under the circumstances,” Rachel said. “Several employees have brought their children to the office when their child-care arrangements fell through. It’s up to the discretion of the divisional vice president. In this case, that’s you.”
The doctor regarded them curiously. “I take it you two work together?”
Nick nodded.
“Then I’d say the situation is just about ideal.” The doctor grinned and rose from the stool. “I’d like to see Jenny again in two weeks. Tell the receptionist to schedule a well-baby appointment, and be sure to bring all of her immunization records.” He walked to the door and hesitated, his hand on the handle. “For the baby’s sake, I hope you can talk Rachel here into giving you a hand for the next week or so. If not, keep an eye on how long the child goes without taking in any liquids. Babies dehydrate a lot faster than adults. If she goes more than twenty-four hours without consuming any fluids, bring her back and let me check her.”
The whole situation sounded frighteningly serious. Nick shook his head as the doctor closed the examining room door behind him.
“We won’t let anything happen to Jenny,” Rachel said firmly, boosting the baby higher on her shoulder. “I’ll stay and take care of her.”
What was she saying? a voice deep inside her demanded. After just one evening with Nick, she’d been an emotional basket case. What would a whole week do to her?
Rachel didn’t know, and at the moment, she didn’t care. She only cared about Jenny. The baby needed her, and that was what counted.
Nick shoved his hands in his pockets, the way he always did when he was ill at ease. “Look, I don’t want to drag you into this. It’s unfair to put you on the spot just because you were kind enough to come help me out this morning.”
Nick was the one who was on the spot, Rachel thought. He’d lost his brother and sister-in-law, he’d suddenly become the parent of a very needy baby, he’d just made a major move and he was due to start a new, demanding job on Monday. It was almost too much for one person to deal with alone.
But Nick didn’t want to accept any further help from her. She could see it in the stubborn set of his jaw. Was he, too, afraid of spending too much time alone with her? The thought made her pulse quicken.
“You’ve been very kind, but you’ve done more than enough already,” Nick continued.
“I’m not offering to help you. I’m offering to help Jenny.” Rachel looked directly into his eyes. “The doctor said it would be in her best interests. Are you going to refuse to follow Jenny’s doctor’s orders because you’re too proud and stubborn?”
She could almost see the battle within him. He gazed at the baby, then looked back at her.
She gave her most persuasive smile. “I love babies. Let me help Jenny.”
She saw him swallow, then slowly nod. “Thanks, Rachel,” he said softly. “Thanks a million.”
Rachel refolded a pair of jeans for the second time, deliberately dawdling as she unpacked her suitcase in Nick’s guest room. The longer she took putting her things away, the longer she could postpone going downstairs.
It was unnerving enough, being in the same room with Nick when Jenny was present. But now that their tiny chaperone was taking a midday nap, they would be alone.
Sp
ending time alone with Nick was an inevitable consequence of staying in his home, of course. On some level she’d known that when she’d volunteered to help him out, but she hadn’t allowed herself to really think about it.
They’d driven to her apartment after they’d left the doctor’s office so that she could collect her things. She’d quickly packed a couple of bags while Jenny played on a blanket on the bedroom floor. Nick had watched from the bedroom doorway.
It had felt odd, having Nick in her place again—especially in her bedroom. She couldn’t help but remember the night he’d carried her in there, the night she’d wanted to give him her heart and soul and body.
The night he’d walked out on her.
The memories had made her feel overheated and overwrought. As a result, she’d thrown clothes into her suitcase so rapidly, she wasn’t quite sure what she’d packed.
Once they’d arrived at Nick’s house, she’d kept her attention tightly focused on Jenny. As Nick watched, she’d fed Jenny, changed her, given her an extra bottle of juice, then rocked her to sleep for a much-needed nap. Rachel had then fled to the safety of her bedroom.
A knock sounded on her door. Tucking the folded jeans into an empty bureau drawer, Rachel crossed the room and opened it. Nick stood in the doorway, wearing a boyish grin. To her chagrin, her heart sped up at the sight of him.
“I’ve made some lunch. Come and get it.”
She opened her mouth to make an excuse, then abruptly closed it. She’d been in such a hurry to get to Nick’s place this morning that she’d skipped breakfast. She was famished. Besides, she couldn’t spend the whole week hiding out in the guest room. She needed to get comfortable around Nick or at least learn to act as if she was. Either way, it would be good practice for working with him again.
Forcing a smile, she reached for the portable baby monitor and clipped it onto the pocket of her jeans. “Great I’m starved.”
She followed him down the stairs and into the breakfast nook where two places were set side by side at the oval oak table by the window.
