Bella shrugged a shoulder. A nice name, she thought. But not one she’d ever heard before. Cal had said it as though she should definitely be impressed. She wasn’t.
“Well, Cal, your daughter’s temperature must have subsided with the cool bath. This thermometer says 101 degrees.” Bella put aside the thermometer and lifted the baby back into her arms. “Does she have a change of clothes in that bag you brought?”
“I guess so.” He picked up the bag and scooted it over the tabletop toward her. “I think I saw some clothes in there. But I didn’t pack it, so I’m not positive.”
She could’ve guessed that this father would be unsure about his daughter’s care. When Bella had first held her, the baby’s pink dress was buttoned backward and the tabs on her plastic diapers dangled dangerously below it.
She held Kaydie against her left shoulder. With her other hand, Bella rummaged through the duffle. She found powder, creams and antibiotic wipes in one of the side pockets. Inside the main compartment were several changes of clothes, plastic diapers and a few small bottles filled with juice and water. Another pocket revealed baby-strength liquid aspirin substitute, vitamins, a few bottles of rehydration fluid and jars of processed baby food.
What Bella wouldn’t have given for such a fantastic stash when she’d worked with the small bands of Mexican families on the border. She’d been making do with whatever was handy for so long that she almost didn’t recognize some of the things.
Jealousy and curiosity got the best of her. “If you didn’t pack this bag, then who did?” she finally asked.
He scrunched up his mouth and rolled his eyes. “I guess I made a big mistake. I was so anxious to make a fresh start and come back to the old family homestead that I hired the first nanny I could find who would agree to leave Fort Worth.
“The woman hadn’t learned to like Kaydie yet, as she’d only been with us a couple of days. So when she got a good look at the place in the sunlight, she threw her hands up and claimed the cabin was falling down and not safe.”
“She left you and the baby alone here?” Bella was stunned. What kind of woman would do such a thing?
“Yeah. I told her to go. There’s absolutely nothing the matter with this old place. I think it looks great. If I can manage to get some temporary help with the baby, I’ll do just fine here.”
An hour later Cal was still wondering who this absolutely beautiful and sensual woman was and why the heck she’d apparently been wandering around on the Gentry Ranch alone. It just didn’t add up.
She’d been busy, giving Kaydie some of the children’s Tylenol after the bath. Then she’d dressed the baby up in soft nightclothes, still too busy to adequately answer his questions. But she seemed to know exactly what she was doing with a sick baby, so he shut up and let her attend to things.
Cal peeked into the little room off the kitchen that he’d planned to make into the nanny’s bedroom and where he’d set up Kaydie’s things last night. Bella bent over the crib, laying a soft baby blanket lightly across Kaydie’s feet.
After she’d finished, she sat down on the single bed by the baby’s portable crib, watching Kaydie sleep as the dim shadows of twilight darkened the room.
“Is she better?” he whispered.
Bella got up and crept toward him as he stood in the doorway. “Sí. The fever has subsided.”
He backed away to let her come into the kitchen.
The minute she’d partially closed the door behind her, Bella drew a deep breath. “I think perhaps Kaydie’s father also needs his sleep. You look as though it’s been a very rough day, señor. I noticed the bed in the baby’s room. You’d better sleep there tonight in case she needs you.”
She sighed and tried to stifle an obvious yawn. “If I may be permitted some water for my journey and perhaps a few directions to the border, I should be on my way.”
“You’re leaving?” That thought hadn’t occurred to him.
In fact, Cal had been quite relieved to think she would be here all night in case Kaydie awoke in trouble. And besides, they still needed to talk. He wanted to find out all about her. He wanted to talk to her. Tomorrow. When he could get a better grip on things.
Couldn’t she see he and Kaydie needed help? But more than that, couldn’t she feel the same draw he felt when he looked at her? There was something… something…
Well, maybe it was just lust, but it felt deeper, more fundamental somehow. Cal was not about to let her out of here until he had a chance to explore what was happening between them.
Tired and irritable, he knew he couldn’t cope with Kaydie any more tonight, either. Tomorrow, after a good night’s sleep, everything would seem easier and clearer.
“You cannot leave tonight. You’ll sleep here,” he commanded. “I’ll bring your things.”
Two
“Me perdona?” Bella questioned Cal’s words in a deliberately hushed voice because she didn’t want to wake the baby.
But she also narrowed her eyes at the demanding and arrogant gringo. Perhaps her English was rustier than she’d thought. Certainly, he had not just commanded her to sleep with him.
Because she was so tired, Bella felt sure her ears had played tricks on her. He’d simply meant that she spend the night, nothing more sinister than that. Obviously her hunger was playing games with her mind.
Still, she knew an order when she heard one. Whether he’d been demanding that she sleep with him or ordering her to spend the night for safety’s sake, he was in for a fight.
She lifted her chin in defiance, but her empty stomach betrayed her. Its rumbling complaint could be heard throughout the house. She folded her arms across her waist and tightly held herself together in the middle.
If she remained still, maybe Cal would ignore the noisy reminder that she hadn’t eaten. He might even help her to be on her way. She was still worried that the men who chased her would be closing in, so she needed to leave this cabin and find a place to hide soon—before her presence put the baby and her injured father in grave danger.
But no such luck. He’d definitely heard her stomach’s grumble. It would’ve been hard to ignore. The stern and commanding expression on his face melted into a cocky but utterly disarming smile. The jaunty ladies’ man was back. Even with his disability, he gave the impression of being strong and virile—yet still tender and giving.
“You are pardoned, sugar. But it’s not hard to tell you’re hungry. Where are my manners?” He took her elbow with his free hand and gingerly guided them both back into the kitchen. “Let me get you something to eat. And I’ll make us some coffee.”
Bella allowed him to lead her back to the kitchen table. To tell the truth, the weakness from hunger had already begun to show up in her lack of stamina and the silly wanderings of her mind. But she was grateful for his charity. She knew she wouldn’t have lasted much longer.
She’d decided to accept his hospitality, but also made the decision that he would
