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Oh, no. The second bag was a diaper bag. This was going to be interesting.
She placed it on the trunk also and opened the passenger side door and
leaned in momentarily. When she stood back up, she held a newborn infant
in a fuzzy blue sleeper against her chest. The baby also had jet-black hair
and was snuggled up to the pretty young woman, fast asleep.
Rachel s heart began to pound, and the muscles in her throat refused to
work, so she couldn t swallow. A cold chill skated over her skin, and she
willed herself to breathe deeply, knowing it was just adrenaline. She trusted
him, and there had to be more to this than what she saw.
The young woman spoke to Eli from the open door of the car. As she
spoke, she became emotional. By this point, Eli had walked slowly to the
car and then gently enfolded the young woman and the baby in his arms.
She cried while he held her and patted her back. He spoke to the young
woman and gestured with his hand toward the house. The young woman
wiped her face with one hand and smiled at him.
Rachel watched, her heart aching as he took the tiny little infant boy
with shiny black hair from his mother. He snuggled him up high on his
chest, under his jaw, held him with one big hand, and gently guided her to
the duplex before he grabbed the two bags off the trunk and closed the car
door with his boot.
Rachel turned and hurtled into the bathroom, stripped his robe off and
quickly turned on the shower, jumping in even before it was warm, gasping
at the shock of the cold water on her skin. She needed a few minutes to
process this latest development. Was that his baby? Was that an old
girlfriend? She had cried and looked so vulnerable. He comforted her like
Her Gentle Giant, Part 1: No Regrets 65
someone who was emotionally invested in her. He had not acted unhappy to
see her. He might have been surprised but not unhappy.
As she bathed, she was reminded that she and Eli had made love earlier.
She was very sensitive, though not all that sore. He d been so sweet to her
and so careful with her. She knew he wouldn t take her trust and the
intimacy they now shared for granted in light of this new visitor. At least,
she hoped not. Whatever the case, whoever she was, it was too late for
Rachel. Her heart was lost to him, and when she thought of it, it beat a
hollow rhythm in her chest.
There had to be a reasonable explanation for this young woman s
presence. He had gestured to the house like he wanted her to come in, even
knowing Rachel was there. He was not trying to keep this woman and her
baby a secret from Rachel. She wanted to kick herself remembering that he
was the one she trusted. She had no reason, and he had given her no reason
to distrust him.
Her problem was with the women who threw themselves at him in the
club. In the club. This woman wasn t throwing herself at him. She also
didn t seem like the barfly type. Maybe she was
She leaned against the tile and allowed the spray from the showerhead
to run over her hair. She put her head on her forearm and tried to calm her
breathing, feeling foolish for thinking this could possibly work out between
them. She should have known it would be too complicated. She should have
known she d find all this out after her heart was completely open to him.
She should have known something this magical, this fantastical couldn t be
real. Her breath hitched in her throat, and she jammed her lips shut, trying
unsuccessfully to contain the small sob that shook her whole body before
they heard her.
Eli s warm hand on her shoulder made her shriek and practically jump
out of her skin. She looked up at him through overflowing eyes, waiting for
him to lower the boom. His head tilted in concern at her obviously upset
state, and then he smiled at her compassionately. Rachel? I m sorry I
scared you. My little sister is here. She drove in from Abilene with my new
nephew. I want you to meet them. I should have brought her right in, but I
was surprised by their arrival. Breathe, baby, are you all right? he asked,
looking into her eyes with concern.
66 Heather Rainier
She put her hands to her face, feeling like an utter dumbass. I m so
stupid. I need to work on my trust and jealousy issues. I m such an ass, Eli.
I m
He smiled softly at her and leaned forward to kiss her shoulder. So
beautiful, naked and wet in my shower? Sexy and dripping like a marooned
mermaid? Yeah, you are all that, but stupid or an ass? No, I don t think so.
Her husband shipped out for Afghanistan two weeks ago, and she s missing
him and having cabin fever. I can t believe she drove all the way here by
herself with the baby. Why don t you finish up and come meet Kelly and
Matthew. They re dying to meet you. He slid his hand down her wet back
and over her ass cheek, squeezing gently. Everything else all right? Feeling
okay?
Her relief was so great, she shook a little with it. I feel fine, she
replied, looking up at him as she rinsed the rest of the shampoo from her
hair and reached up to squeeze the water out. The action tipped her breasts
up to him invitingly, a temptation he didn t resist. He smiled mischievously
as he cupped her breast in his hand and rubbed his thumb over her tight
nipple, making her sigh in pleasure and wish for more.
You re not sore? he asked as she turned off the water and he wrapped
a towel around her.
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