don’t have a girlfriend who could do this?” she asked curiously.
“No, I don’t. None of the women I date is into babies and diapers and formula. Not even remotely.”
“I can imagine,” she said, and again, David wondered what she thought of him. In her eyes he might be an irresponsible playboy. “The mother is all alone in a coma in the hospital?” Marissa asked.
“Not altogether alone. One of my friends, Clint Andover, is standing watch.”
Marissa nodded in approval. “What are my hours?”
Startled, he stared at her. “All the time, I thought.”
She shook her head. “I have a family and I want some time off.”
He tilted his head to study her, desperation looming inside him again. “This may be a short-term job, but I really need the help. I’ll pay you extra if you’ll stay on the job twenty-four-seven.”
“Double my pay on weekends,” she suggested.
“Done,” he said, nodding. He would have agreed if she had demanded that he quadruple it. Money wasn’t the problem here. He glanced at the little baby who slept so serenely and looked angelic, yet he knew that was a mere facade.
David’s gaze shifted to Marissa Wilder, and he was unaccustomed to the feeling of losing control to a slip of a girl who, in her frou-frou dress, appeared to be all of twelve years old. And the dress looked like something no female past the age of five would want to wear. With the glob of makeup on her face, she was ready for the stage. But he didn’t care if she wore feathers and pajamas and had purple hair. She knew how to take care of a baby, and he had a dim recollection of her family and her older sister Karen, so she wasn’t a complete stranger.
“Now, at night, am I to get up with Autumn?” she asked.
“Yes,” he answered instantly, and held his breath to see if she was going to refuse.
She nodded. “Of course, I’m giving up all my benefits, my health insurance, my 401—”
“Marissa, I’ll not only triple your salary—which, by the way, I found out from your manager what you’re making— but I will pay your premiums for health insurance and I’ll put in whatever the store contributed to a savings plan,” he said, deciding she had a mind for money as well as a knack with babies.
“Thank you,” she answered, brightening. “That’s generous.”
“It is, but I’m desperate.”
“Why did you want to take Autumn if it was going to be such a big deal to you?”
“It’s a long story,” he replied, “but I’ve told you the main reasons—I didn’t think she should become a ward of the state and her mother should be able to take her very soon. It hasn’t been twenty-four hours yet.”
“Here comes Manny,” Marissa said, and then smiled. “Hi, Manny.”
“Hi, there, Marissa,” he said, wiping his hands on his apron, wearing his customary white undershirt that revealed his bodybuilder’s muscles. “Look at you. Aren’t you cute today.”
“Thanks, Manny,” she answered, her dimple showing again.
“Hi, Manny,” David said.
“Hi, David.” Manny looked at the baby. “This is the baby from last night, isn’t it?”
“Yes, little Autumn,” David said, still marveling how news circulated in the small town. He pulled out his wallet. “Let me pay you for the chili and for the other guys’ dinners.”
Manny waved his hand. “Forget it. It’s on the house. You earned a free dinner last night. The chili is on me,” the man said gruffly.
“Thanks, Manny, but you don’t need to do that.”
“Forget it. Did you see me on the tube last night?” Manny asked.
“No, I missed that. I was probably still at the hospital.”
“Yeah. I got interviewed by a Midland station, too. Wanted to know all about the woman and baby.”
So much for keeping a low profile, David thought. “How did Midland pick up the story?”
Manny shrugged muscled shoulders. “You know how news gets around in this part of the world. How’s the mother?”
“I don’t know,” David replied. “I’ll probably go by the hospital this afternoon.”
“Yeah, well, hope she recovers real quickly. It’s good you’re helping her out. Good Samaritan Sorrenson. What are you folks having? I’ve got a breakfast special—eggs, grits, sausage, biscuits and gravy.”
“Sounds fine,” David said. “Okay, Marissa?”
“I think just eggs and toast for me,” she replied.
“Aw, come on, Marissa. You need to put some meat on your bones,” Manny urged. “I’ll send out two specials plus some toast. You eat what you want.” He turned and left, passing Sheila at the counter and giving her a pat on the behind. Sheila giggled and sashayed away with platters of steaming bacon and eggs.
“Where do you live, David? You have a house in Pine Valley, don’t you?” Marissa asked, mentioning an exclusive gated area in Royal.
“That’s where my dad lives—when he’s in Texas and when he’s not traveling somewhere. Right now, he’s out of the country. I live on our ranch, just west of town.”
They talked about the job until Sheila brought platters of eggs, sausage, pale yellow grits with cheese and fluffy golden biscuits.
“I need to get some supplies for Autumn—she has very few clothes,” David said, putting salt and pepper on his eggs.
“I can help you select some clothing,” Marissa volunteered.
“Can we go back to the store from here and you show me what to get for her?”
“Sure. With your powers of persuasion, maybe you can talk my boss into letting me use my employee discount,” Marissa teased.
“That’s no problem.” David waved away her suggestion. “You just pick out what we need, including diapers and a crib.”
Marissa sat back and daintily wiped her mouth. David idly noticed that her mouth was delectable. He glanced at her platter.
“You didn’t eat much,” he said.
“I couldn’t possibly eat all that. I only ordered eggs and toast.”
“Yeah, well, Manny has never been known for small helpings. Ready to go?” he asked.
“Yes.” She paused when he picked up the bill. “I can buy my own breakfast, David.”
“You’re
