Jingle Bell Baby

“So you heard the door and came out here,” he said in a low tone, mindful of the baby. “Then what?”

“There was no one here when I came out. I saw the laundry basket on the countertop, and then, after a moment or so, I realized what—or rather, who—was in it.”

“And you didn’t see anyone around, out on the street or getting into a car?”

“No, didn’t see a soul.” Jessie shook her head. “There was just that note.”

Clint’s gaze rested on the baby, who was fidgeting a little as she tried to fall asleep, burrowing her head into Jessie’s shoulder.

“What kind of a mother would leave her little baby like that?” he asked, and the intensity in his blue eyes was frightening, Jessie thought.

“Oh, I don’t know…A young, scared, overwhelmed kind?” Jessie offered.

Maybe it was her Christmas spirit acting up, but Jessie didn’t want to judge whoever had left Daisy and that note too harshly. At the very least, whoever it was had thought to bring her somewhere safe and warm.

Had they known that Jessie would be alone tonight in the cafе? Had they chosen her specially to find Daisy?

Jessie felt the baby’s head drop against her shoulder and her breath go heavy and slow. “Are her eyes closed?” she whispered.

Clint stooped over to check. “Out like a light.”

He lifted his big hand toward the baby’s cheek, paused, then let his hand drop without actually touching her.

He straightened up and was all business again. “I suppose I’d better take her over to the hospital in Whitewood.”

“She doesn’t seem sick,” Jessie said. “She seems perfectly fine to me.”

“It’s routine procedure in a case like this. She needs to be examined and observed for twenty-four hours.”

“But Whitewood is over an hour’s drive, even in good weather,” Jessie pointed out. “Do you really have to take her there tonight?”

He stooped over and peered at the baby again. “Regulations—besides, what else can I do with her? Wrap her up and slip her under someone’s Christmas tree, maybe…”

His voice trailed off as he regarded Daisy’s angelic expression.

“I’ll take her,” Jessie piped up, trying to control the eagerness in her voice. “She’ll be just fine with me. I live only a few miles away and it will be safer driving her to my house than all the way over to Whitewood in this weather, don’t you think?”

“I suppose—” Clint frowned, trying to weigh his official responsibilities against the flat-out convenience of Jessie’s offer. The baby appeared to be perfectly healthy. There was no reason why she had to be rushed over to a hospital in a snowstorm. Which would certainly be putting the rules above consideration for the child’s safety and comfort. And as for taking a chance on Jessica Malone, she certainly seemed to handle the baby with a gentle touch. And he could always make a few calls tonight to check her out. Everyone seemed to know everyone in this town. It shouldn’t be too difficult to get a quick character check on Jessica Malone.

Clint considered himself a good judge of character; in his line of work he figured he had to be. He had made up his mind in about ten seconds about Jessie Malone. She was smart, stubborn and more than a little eccentric, he thought. For example, the way she was holed up all alone here, hiding out from the holiday.

But still unable to hide her good looks, he had to note, even in that getup, an outfit that made her look half chorus girl, half bag lady. When she’d stood up before and strolled around the place with the baby, he couldn’t help but notice the enticing sweep of her long lean legs, her slim waist and soft full breasts. That mop of red hair looked as if it led a life of its own, and those huge brown eyes were lethal.

But no man in sight. Now, he found that curious. Maybe the “too damned independent for her own good” type? She had a story to tell, he’d wager. Still, something about her got to him, from the first moment he’d set eyes on her. Clint told himself he’d just been away from female company for too long. And he didn’t plan on getting involved with any of the local citizens. Hell, he wasn’t looking to get involved with anyone. Besides, just one glance at the way she was cradling and cooing to that baby should be warning enough for him to steer clear.

He raked his hand through his dark hair and finally met Jessie’s questioning gaze. “You know how to take care of a baby, I guess, right?”

“Uh, sure I do. Nothing to it.” Jessie casually shrugged, trying not to disturb Daisy. “I’ve taken care of loads of babies. Loads.”

The sheriff met her gaze with his penetrating blue eyes and Jessie stared back at him, willing herself to look innocent and honest.

Okay, so she was lying a little. She was lying big-time, actually, but she just couldn’t help herself. Besides, she and the baby were getting along just fine, weren’t they? She’d already managed to feed her and burp her—with a little prompting—and had put her to sleep like a pro. As for diaper duty, she’d get to that in due time, she had no doubt. She could handle this, Jessie assured herself. For heaven’s sake, it wasn’t rocket science.

Besides, it would take a crowbar to pry the baby out of her arms. It felt so good holding her, Jessie thought, she wasn’t about to give her up without a struggle.

“I guess you can take her home tonight,” he said finally. “That seems the most sensible thing to do, under the circumstances.”

“Can I really? That’s just great,” Jessic said in a hushed tone.

The radiant look on her lovely face nearly took his breath away. He pulled his gloves from his pocket just to supply some distraction.

“Like I said before, I’ll drive you two home,” he said. “Where do you live?”

“I’ve been driving in snow like this and worse my whole life. I won’t have any problem,” she assured him.

“Are you always so darn contrary, or is it just something about me?” he asked her in a curious tone. “Is it the badge? Some people have a real thing about authority, you know. It’s not at all uncommon.”

Jessica paused for a second. He was staring at her in a way that was downright unnerving. She nervously bit down on her lip. “I’m not sure, Sheriff,” she ventured with a small, teasing grin. “Maybe it’s your after-shave.”

“I don’t wear after-shave,” he replied, the corner of his

mouth tilted up in the hint of a smile—but he was fighting it all the way. “If you don’t need a ride, I’ll follow you. And I’ll take the baby in my car. I need to make sure you get her home safely,” he responded in a stern tone.

“Whatever you say,” Jessie responded with a shrug.

She blew at an errant wisp of hair that was hanging down along the side of her cheek, tickling her nose. Before she could shift the baby around to reach it, Clint reached out and brushed it back behind her ear. His fingertips brushed soft as a whisper against her cheek, but the brief contact jolted her as if she’d been touched with the live end of an electric wire.

Their gazes met for one searing second; his eyes darkened and Jessie looked away.

“Uh, thanks,” she mumbled.

He stepped back and cleared his throat. “I guess we’d better get out of here.”

“Right,” Jessie said. “I’ll just wrap her up.”

She carried Daisy to her basket and began to wrap blankets around her with shaky hands. What in the world was happening here? Was she getting all tangled up inside over this grim lawman?

Nonsense, she told herself. It was the snowy, silent night, and the sheer adventure of finding a baby—period, Jessie told herself.

“We’re ready,” Jessie said, slipping on her coat and scarf.

Clint took the basket from her and headed out to the car. As he walked along she could hear him talking softly to the baby, and she smiled. Jessie gave the cafе one last long look before closing the lights and locking up, and she felt suddenly hopeful and bright, as if one part of her life were ending and new one just about to begin.

But it didn’t have one damn thing to do with Clint Bradshaw, she reminded herself.

And it wasn’t going to, either.

Two (#ulink_581b7f45-aace-5df8-9ebc-8f3a897db5b0)