The Baby Arrangement

“I’ll know more when I get there,” Paula had said when the cab finally arrived. “I’ll call tomorrow morning, say around ten,” she’d said, and, giving Faith a final hug, she’d climbed into the taxi.

But Paula hadn’t called, at least not yet. Faith set the empty baby bottle on the end table beside her. She glanced at her watch. It was past nine-thirty. Shifting Nicky to her right shoulder, she began to rub his back in slow, circular motions.

Faith’s gaze drifted to the man dozing in the armchair. There could be no mistake. The description Paula had given her of Jared McAndrew the night before fitted him to a T.

Asleep, he looked considerably less threatening. Several strands of jet black hair had fallen across his forehead, affording him a boyish, almost youthful appearance. But she only had to transfer her attention to the dark shadow outlining his jaw to dispel that notion.

Nonetheless, Jared McAndrew’s threat to take Nicky was definitely real. A shiver chased down Faith’s spine. Should she call the police? she wondered. But even if she did, could they do anything to prevent him from taking Nicky?

Paula hadn’t left her the baby’s birth certificate or any documentation to prove she was related to the child. And besides, Paula had said Jared was a lawyer, and in all likelihood that would work in his favor.

Why hadn’t her twin warned her to be on the lookout for Nicky’s father? What had happened between them? Suddenly Faith recalled the comments Jared had made outside earlier, implying Paula had been running away. But why?

It appeared he was unaware Paula had a twin sister, and Faith wondered if keeping that knowledge to herself, at least for time being, might give her a slight edge.

She glanced again at his sleeping figure. The idea of tiptoeing past him and making her escape with Nicky was very tempting, but she sensed if she tried to leave, he would awaken.

Deciding to test her theory, she tightened her hold on the baby and with her pulse starting to race, she carefully eased herself out of the rocking chair.

She’d barely taken a step before the stranger’s dark, sweeping lashes lifted and a pair of piercing blue eyes met hers.

“Going somewhere?” He jerked upright into a sitting position.

“Nicky’s asleep,” Faith told him. “I was going to put him down for a nap.”

“You named the baby Nicky?” Jared asked, rising from the chair to effectively bar her exit.

“Nicholas,” she corrected, taking a step back.

“Nicholas McAndrew...” he said, testing out the name. He glanced at the sleeping child in her arms and a slow smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “Nicholas McAndrew. I like it. It’s got a nice ring to it.”

“I’m glad you approve,” Faith said, fighting to keep the sarcasm out of her voice.

“But there’s no point putting the baby to bed,” he told her evenly.

“Why not?” Faith took another step back, his nearness making her feel a little claustrophobic.

“Because I’m taking him home to Grace Harbor with me.”

“Grace Harbor?” Faith repeated, never having heard of the place.

“Come on, Paula,” he said, his tone scathing. “I don’t know what game you’re playing, but it cuts no ice with me. We had a deal, signed and sealed. And if you think you can back out of it now, you’re very much mistaken.”

“A deal? What deal?” Instinctively, Faith tightened her hold on the baby, making him squirm a little in his sleep.

She watched a shadow pass over Jared’s handsome features at her words, and a look of anger darkened his eyes.

“Don’t play the innocent with me. You know damned well what I’m talking about.” His tone was icy as he held out his hands toward her. “If you’ll give me my son, we’ll get out of your life.”

Faith stared in bewilderment at the man’s outstretched hands. Regardless of the deal he’d referred to, a deal she had no knowledge of and one he’d made with Paula, Faith simply couldn’t bring herself to hand Nicky over to him and let him walk out.

She’d made a promise to look after Nicky until Paula returned from L.A.... It was a promise she intended to keep.

“I can’t do that,” Faith stated with a calmness she was far from feeling. “Where Nicky goes, I go!” she blurted out, and had the satisfaction of seeing Jared McAndrew’s blue eyes widen with surprise.

Chapter Two

Jared held Paula’s gaze for several long seconds. Her announcement had caught him off guard, but what he found even more disturbing was the protective, almost possessive way she was holding on to the baby.

“Don’t you have an audition to go to?” he asked. “I thought you were anxious to get back to L.A. and your career.”

“Not at the moment,” Faith responded, yet knowing her twin’s trip to L.A. undoubtedly had everything to do with Paula wanting to resume her acting career. “Besides, how are you proposing to take care of Nicky while you drive? I didn’t see a proper safety seat in your car. Maybe you were planning to toss Nicky into the back seat and let him fend for himself.”

Jared bristled at her sarcastic tone. In his race to reach San Francisco before she disappeared again, his only thought had been to find his son. He hadn’t considered the need for a car seat to transport the baby home.

“And where would I find a car seat?” he asked.

“There’s a baby store in the mall a couple of blocks away. You could drive there now,” she suggested, pleased he appeared concerned with Nicky’s safety.

“And while I’m driving around looking for a store that probably doesn’t exist, you’ll take Nicky and run,” he countered in a cynical tone. “I don’t think so. But nice try.”

Faith shrugged her shoulders. She wasn’t lying—the store she’d mentioned was located in a shopping mall only a few blocks away—but his mocking tone left her in no doubt he didn’t trust her...or more accurately, he didn’t trust Paula.

Somehow she’d have to stall for time, at least until Paula called...if she called. Faith bit back a sigh, wishing that Paula had told her more about the mess she was in, and about the angry, cynical and distrustful man who was Nicky’s father.

“You’re not serious about coming back to Grace Harbor, are you?” Jared’s question startled her, and she met his gaze head-on.

“Of course I’m serious,” she responded, anger edging her tone.

“I thought you couldn’t wait to get out of there.”

The baby shifted in her arms as if to remind them both of his presence. “Nicky’s only two weeks old. He needs me.”

Faith saw the pulse throbbing at Jared’s jaw, and knew by the tension emanating from him that he was fighting an internal battle. “How long will it take to get the baby ready?” he asked abruptly. “We have a long drive ahead.”

Relief spiraled through her. “Half an hour, maybe more,” she said, and without waiting for a reply she swept past him into the hallway.

Jared let out the breath trapped in his lungs. He didn’t know what to make of Paula’s behavior. She’d sounded sincere just now when she’d said the baby needed her.

It had to be an act! Giving birth couldn’t possibly have brought about such a dramatic and profound transformation, awakening the maternal instincts she’d assured him she didn’t possess.

A leopard couldn’t change its spots. And if he’d learned anything about the woman during the five months she’d spent under his roof, it was that while she might have a conscience—why else had she gone through with the pregnancy instead of aborting the child?—her ultimate goal of becoming an actress remained unchanged.

Jared cursed under his breath. His thoughts drifted back to the first time he’d met Paula. He’d still been living in L.A. then, and they’d been seated next to each other at a dinner party given by one of Jared’s clients. Beautiful and confident, she’d dazzled him with her smile. He’d admired her determination to succeed as an actress.

Though as a rule he avoided dating would-be starlets, he’d accepted her invitation about a week later to partner her to a party. They’d gone out several times after that, but lost touch once he moved to Grace Harbor.

But on a visit to L.A., he’d run into her at one of his old favorite haunts. She was celebrating her birthday with friends and insisted he join them. On impulse he’d invited her back to his hotel room for a nightcap. They’d had several, and later he wasn’t sure who had seduced whom....