He needed to get this apartment building in shape and get the hell out of here. “We’d better get inside and out of the cold so you can rest.”
She grumbled. “That’s all I’ve been doing.”
“From what Kira tells me you won’t get much sleep after the baby comes, so enjoy it now.” He started to climb out of the car when she stopped him with a soft touch on his arm.
She nodded in agreement. “Thank you,” she said softly. “Thank you for being there with me today.”
He caught her pretty blue eyes still glistening with tears and something tightened in his chest. Dear Lord. He was in big trouble.
BY the next week, Jarrett had accomplished several things. He’d finally gotten one of the elevators repaired and a plumber had replaced the rusted pipes in the community room. Somehow, he’d even been talked into helping put up some Christmas decorations. Joe convinced him that since this would be Mia’s baby’s first Christmas, they should celebrate it.
The major thing he’d wanted to do was keep his distance from Mia. He’d gotten too involved with the expectant mother.
Thanks to Nola, Jarrett knew how Mia was doing, whether he wanted to or not. By afternoon, he’d seen several women going into his neighbor’s apartment carrying presents for a baby shower.
Kira and Jenna stopped by his place afterward to see him and tell him all about the gifts Mia had gotten for the baby. His niece also had several things to say about the condition of his temporary home. None were good.
“Unca Jay, I like your other house better.”
“I still have my other house, sweetie. I’ll move back there soon.”
She smiled, then looked thoughtful. “But you have to take care of Mia until she has her baby. Promise you will.”
What was going on? “Okay, I promise as long as I live here I’ll watch out for Mia and the baby.”
That seemed to satisfy the three-year-old and she smiled. “Then you can come see her at the ranch. She’s going to move in with the new baby.” She turned to her mother and was practically jumping up and down. “I can’t wait. I get to hold the baby, too.”
Jarrett looked at his sister-in-law. “So, it’s definite?”
Kira nodded. “I’m pretty sure I have her convinced it’s best for her and the child.”
“Isn’t that neat, Unca Jay, she’s gonna be in our family? It’s almost going to be our baby, too.”
“That’s great,” he said.
The girl’s eyes lit up more. “Maybe if you ask, Mia will share her baby with you, too.”
Jarrett looked at Kira for help, hoping she didn’t read anything more into his relationship with his neighbor. “Where does she get this stuff?”
Kira only smiled. “Sounds like a pretty good idea to me.”
The next day Jarrett drove to his office, McKane Properties, and started two of his staff working on finding affordable apartments for some of the tenants. He needed to get this over and done with.
He needed everyone to move on, but if Mia and the baby moved out to the ranch, he’d still see her. Would that be so bad? With Kira and Trace looking out for her, at least he wouldn’t worry about her so much.
That way he could go back to business as usual and a life without Mia in it. He turned his thoughts to the day at the doctor’s office and seeing the ultrasound. He’d had no business sharing that with her. Just as he’d had no business kissing her Thanksgiving Day.
He had to stay away.
There were other things he needed to think about, like the Fulton plant project. It had been a big cause of his loss of sleep. He’d been working on some changes, changes to the factory site that might help everyone.
For him to survive financially, Jarrett knew he had to finalize this deal, or he might be living in the Mountain View Apartments permanently.
A few days later Jarrett was awakened in the middle of the night by his ringing phone. He grabbed it off the bedside table.
“Hello,” he groaned.
“Jarrett,” a familiar voice said. “I’m sorry to bother you, but could you come over?”
“Sure.” He hung up, got out of bed, pulled on jeans and shirt along with boots. He crossed the hall, but before he could knock she opened the door.
At 3:00 a.m. in the morning, she looked fresh and dressed for the day. Her dark hair lay in waves around her shoulders and she even had on makeup. “I take it the call wasn’t for a donut run?” he joked.
“I need you to take me to the hospital. My water broke.”
He froze, then his heart began to race. “You’re in labor?”
She nodded. “I’ve only had some light contractions, but Doctor Drake said I need to come in now.”
“Of course.” He pointed to his apartment. “Let me grab my car keys.” He rushed back, slipped on a coat and hurried back to find her waiting with a small bag.
“I hated to ask you, but Nola’s daughter is sick and she’s helping with the grandkids,” Mia apologized.
He took her by the arm and they slowly made their way to the elevator. “I’m glad you asked me, I don’t want Nola to drive at night.” He gave her the once-over. “You okay?”
She smiled. “Outside of being a little scared, I feel pretty good.”
“I think it’s normal to feel scared.”
They rode down one floor and the doors opened. “Thank you for helping me out, Jarrett. I know this isn’t in your landlord duties.”
“Hey, I told you it’s not a problem.” They stepped off the elevator and walked outside. “Is there anyone you want me to call?”
Mia shook her head. “Nola was supposed to be my coach, but I can’t take her away from her grandkids.”
“Is there a backup?”
She stopped and looked at him pleadingly. “You?”
“You’re kidding?”
“Do you think I like asking you again?”
“I didn’t say I mind doing it, I just don’t know what to do.” He wasn’t making any sense.
“Join the club. This is my first time, too,” she began, then suddenly groaned.
He saw the pain etched across her face, but it was her fingernails digging into his arm
