The Marine's Baby

The Marine's Baby
Deb Kastner

The U.S. Marine Corps made a man out of Nathan Morningway.But the orphaned baby girl left to him by his military buddy made him a father. A single father. With no training in diaper duty, let alone parenthood, Nathan heads home to Morningway Lodge–where he's not exactly warmly welcomed by his family. But day-care worker Jessica Sabin helps care for little Gracie and teaches him how to be a daddy. That seems to make Jessica happy. So why does she look so sad sometimes? Nathan's new mission: to find out–and make Jessica smile forever.

“I’d be happy to care for Gracie on weekdays if you want to drop her by.”

Nate smiled again, at once both a charming and disarming gesture. “I’ll do that.”

No, no, no, no, no! the voice inside of her railed. Not now. Not this baby, who reminded her all too much of a similar tiny, smiling infant, one she would never forget.

She had come to Morningway Lodge in part to escape from her memories, not indulge in them with someone else’s baby. And though she’d cared for several infants since taking the position here, none had affected her the way Gracie had from the first moment Jessica had seen her.

Her own sweet baby, Elizabeth, had had big brown eyes and curly black hair, as well. Maybe that was it.

DEB KASTNER

lives and writes in colorful Colorado with the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains for inspiration. She loves writing for the Steeple Hill Love Inspired line, where she can write about her two favorite things—faith and love. Her characters range from upbeat and humorous to (her favorite) dark and broody heroes. Her plots fall anywhere in between, from a playful romp to the deeply emotional.

Deb’s books have been twice nominated for the RT Book Reviews Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best Book of the Year for Steeple Hill.

Deb and her husband share their home with their two youngest daughters. Deb is thrilled about the newest member of the family—her first granddaughter, Isabella. What fun to be a granny!

Deb loves to hear from her readers. You can contact her by e-mail at DEBWRTR@aol.com, or on her MySpace or Facebook pages.

The Marine’s Baby

Deb Kastner

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

—Ephesians 2:8–9

To Katie. You have the kindest heart ever, and I have so much to learn from you. I’m so proud of the young woman my “baby” girl has become.

I love you more every day.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Letter to Reader

Questions for Discussion

Chapter One

The baby, sleeping soundly with her tiny thumb pressed in her mouth and her index finger crooked over her button nose, was cooperating beautifully.

The car seat, not so much.

Sergeant First Class Nathan Morningway scowled at the offensive piece of equipment and grunted as he tried the release lever again. At least he thought it was the release lever. The directions enclosed in the box had been less than helpful, and he’d chosen to wing it instead. He now wished he’d at least kept the useless instructions instead of wadding them up and tossing them in the nearest garbage can.

How hard could this be?

As a marine, he’d taken apart and reassembled countless firearms. He’d defused hundreds of bombs and improvised explosive devices over the years. And he couldn’t handle a simple baby seat?

Nate tried the lever once more, and then decided it wasn’t worth the effort. He’d just have to figure out how to use the uncooperative piece of equipment after he’d spoken to his brother.

Instead, he unhooked the straps, intending to take baby Gracie out of the car seat and carry her in his arms. The only problem was—and Nate hadn’t noticed this until he’d already unbuckled the harness— Gracie’s arm was wrapped like a noose around one of the straps, anchored by the thumb she was sucking.

Oh, boy. He really hated to do this, but he didn’t see any other way around it. Holding his breath, he gently pulled on Gracie’s little fist. She made a small murmur of protest and sucked even harder.

Nate tried again, more firmly this time. Gracie’s thumb left her mouth with a pop. The baby’s enormous brown eyes opened and blinked back at him. Her chin started quivering, her face scrunched up adorably and a moment later she was howling at the top of her lungs.

Nate grimaced. He still couldn’t believe something that small could make so much noise. He’d never been around babies before in his entire life.

And now…