nieces aren’t babies any longer. I’ve forgotten how to deal with a baby. I don’t remember much about them.”
She laughed, a soft, delightful sound that made him relax slightly. “I’ll admit, I had moments before he was born when I felt terrified and overwhelmed. I’ve found out that you learn very fast when you have a baby to care for.”
He placed a hand on her arm. “I’m sorry you were alone when he was born. I’m sorry Kern didn’t live to be there. He would have been a huge support for you. I’ll try to do what I think Kern would have wanted, but I can’t take his place. Kern was unique.”
“I hope you will, and it’ll be wonderful if you do,” she said.
He followed her into a playroom in shades of blue with paintings of animals hanging on the walls. Two other attractive women faced him. One was a pretty brunette in a red sweater and matching slacks, who stood looking at him with curious blue-green eyes. “Ashley, meet Marek Rangel, Noah’s uncle. Marek, this is my sister Ashley Avanole.” Camille turned slightly to another woman, who bore little resemblance to Camille or Ashley.
He was momentarily startled by the hostility in her cold gaze and assumed she didn’t want him involved in Noah’s life. “Stephanie, meet Marek Rangel. Marek, this is my sister Stephanie.”
Marek greeted her, lost in thinking about being an uncle. His gaze shifted to the baby in a tire-shaped cushion on the floor.
Camille swept the baby up and held him, smiling and speaking softly to him. “Marek, meet your nephew, Noah Avanole.” Noah waved his arms, blowing bubbles. She held him out to Marek, who took him carefully. He pulled the baby close, cradling him in his arms and looking down into twinkling, wide brown eyes that were filled with mischief as Noah blew bubbles and drooled. Marek felt weak-kneed as he had a moment of déjà vu. It was as if he were looking into Kern’s eyes after he had played a joke on Marek. How could a little baby look like a grown man? If Marek had had a doubt before who had fathered this baby, it vanished now.
“He’s Kern,” he whispered without realizing he was speaking aloud. For a moment, he had a flash of the future, thinking this child and Ginny’s girls would be the children in his life. Since the loss of Jillian, he never expected to marry or have a family. His arm tightened slightly around Noah. He felt a warmth toward the baby while they looked into each other’s eyes; it was as if a tangible bond formed, which Marek knew was foolishness. From the first glance there was no way he could keep from loving this baby.
“He does seem to have a resemblance, but I’m going from memory and I thought maybe it was my imagination,” Camille replied.
“There’s more than a physical resemblance. He’s like Kern. Is he always this happy?”
“Yes, he is,” Camille answered, smiling and stepping closer to look at her son with Marek. “He’s a wonderful baby.”
Babbling unintelligible sounds, Noah blew more bubbles and Marek’s smile broadened. “He’s so tiny.”
“He’ll grow. He’s gained weight and gotten much bigger since his birth.” She gave him a moment longer. “If you’re ready, I’ll take him and we can go.”
Marek handed Noah to her, brushing her arms and catching a whiff of an enticing jasmine scent. He hated to turn loose Noah, whose brown eyes gazed intently at him.
“And you’re his nanny?” he asked Ashley, glancing at her and trying to politely include her.
“Yes. When he was born, I had to learn fast. Camille hired a nurse for the first month, so she taught me quite a bit. Being his nanny right now is a good job to have.”
“And I help manage my sister’s career,” Stephanie interjected. “We love Noah very much.”
Her tone was polite, but Marek’s caution returned. Her glacial dark blue eyes held a warning, which reemphasized what he guessed was worry about his claims on Noah. For the first time, it occurred to Marek he might not ever have easy access to his nephew.
It was obvious the sisters were not in agreement about sharing Noah with his paternal relatives.
“It was nice to meet you,” Ashley stated. Stephanie merely nodded perfunctorily, and Marek was certain about her feelings toward him. At the door he couldn’t resist turning to glance back at Noah, who was playing with a rattle, kicking his legs and enjoying himself.
Marek’s glance rested only briefly on Stephanie, who glared at him. Her mouth was set in a hard line. Marek followed Camille into the hall.
“I take it your sister Stephanie doesn’t share your feelings about allowing Noah to know the paternal side of the family. I couldn’t get a reading on what Ashley felt.”
“Don’t worry about Stephanie. Noah is my child, and I want you to know him. I told you, I want him to know the Rangels and ranching. I want you as an influence in his life. Ashley is all right with letting you see Noah.”
“I’m glad,” he said, “because we all want to know him. It’s startling to me to look at him. There’s something about him that really resembles Kern.”
As they walked toward the front, he caught another whiff of the perfume she wore. When they passed the room with the piano, he glanced inside. “Is this where you practice your voice lessons?”
“Yes. It’s an office of sorts, too. Stephanie wanted an office this spring to work on taxes. Noah disturbs her sometimes, so this room is the farthest from the nursery. I study languages every day, trying to improve my grasp of Italian, French and German. Wherever we go, I take my own furniture, so that’s why we have such a minimal amount. I like having my own bed. But I rent the piano. I can’t practice in a hotel.”
“Good idea. I don’t blame you. It sounds like it works out well,” Marek said, thinking she must not have much time in her life for Noah.
In minutes they were in his black limousine, headed toward the airport. He sat facing her. “I feel as if my life is changing and I don’t have control over the changes,” he said. “That’s unusual. I’d like to work out something before you leave Texas. Something that’s permanent as far as seeing him periodically,” he added. He’d like to see more of her. She interested him and seemed different from other women he had known.
“We may have to have those lawyers yet,” she replied.
“Let’s try to work it out between us,” he urged, thinking she had a flair for the dramatic in her manner and her dress. Once again, she stood out with her midnight hair secured with a blue scarf and her deep blue dress that emphasized her lush curves and narrow waist. Her startling pale blue eyes were a vivid contrast to her thick, black lashes.
He had never associated with women in show business, much less in opera. She was an unknown in many ways. His gaze rested on her full, enticing lips. What would it be like to kiss her? His question startled him. He hadn’t noticed any women in a personal way since losing Jillian, but Camille was bringing him back into the world without any effort to do so. She had been forthright, businesslike about Noah. Yet his physical response to her was becoming more personal. “I have a lot of resources. I have a plane available at all times. Most of the time I can come and go as I please. We should be able to adjust schedules,” he said.
“We’ll try. I might be out of the United States some of the time.”
“Let’s
