Fool's Gold Collection Part 2. Susan Mallery

It might have been a long time since his brothers were babies, but Finn remembered the drill.

      He returned to the living room only to find it empty. Making a logical assumption, he went down the short hallway and into the baby’s room.

      Hannah lay in her crib. Earlier, Dakota had changed the baby’s clothes. Everyone had agreed that she could wait on the bath. There had already been enough new experiences for one day.

      Hannah stared up at the gently turning mobile. She was mesmerized by the rotating bunnies. But even as she stared, her eyes slowly drifted closed.

      “I didn’t expect her to be so beautiful,” Dakota whispered as she brushed her daughter’s cheek.

      He came up behind her and put his hand on her waist. “In about fifteen years, you’re going to have guys lined up around the block.”

      Dakota smiled at him. “Right now I’d settle for getting through the night.”

      “She’s on her medicine and seems to be feeling better. Her tummy is full, you know how to change a diaper.”

      She stepped away from the crib. He followed her into the living room.

      “You’re right,” she said brightly. “I’ve had a crash course in parenting. I’m going to be fine.” She smiled, which didn’t fool him. “You’ve been great. I really appreciate all your help. It’s been such a long day, you must be exhausted.”

      She was working the program, he thought. Faking it with the best of them. He could see the terror in her eyes, but she was determined to be brave. At least on the outside.

      This was where he told her he was leaving, he reminded himself. What they’d had before had been great. Fun and uncomplicated. Hannah changed everything. Dakota was now a mother. There were new rules, and he wasn’t going to screw with them. Getting out while he could made the most sense.

      Except he couldn’t seem to leave. Her pretend bravery touched him. Her willingness to throw herself into a situation for which she was desperately unprepared made him admire her. Add that to the fact that he already liked her, and there was no way he could walk out. Even though it was the smart thing to do.

      “I’m staying,” he told her. “You can’t change my mind, so don’t bother trying. You’re stuck with me for the night.”

      “Really?”

      He nodded.

      She sank to the sofa and covered her face with her hands. “Thank God. I was trying to make everyone think I know what I’m doing. I don’t have a clue. I’ve never been so scared in my life. She’s completely dependent on me and I don’t know what I’m doing.”

      He sat down next to her and pulled her against him. “Here’s what we’re going to do. You’re going to get the baby monitor and put it in the bedroom. Then we’re going to get ready for bed. I’ll be here, so you’re going to sleep as much as you can.”

      “I’d like to sleep,” she admitted, leaning her head on his shoulder.

      “Then here’s your chance.”

      She raised her head. “Thank you for everything. You’re my hero.”

      “I’ve never been anyone’s hero before.”

      “I doubt that.”

      He stood and pulled her to her feet. Together, they walked toward the bedroom.

      Inside of him, a voice screamed that this was trouble, but he silenced the words. He wasn’t getting involved. He was staying for one night and then things would go back to the way they’d been before.

      CHAPTER THIRTEEN

      “WE NEED TO MAKE THE SHOW more interesting,” Geoff said. “I want to use one of the festivals as a backdrop. This town has them every other week.”

      “Sometimes more,” Dakota agreed. “I think the Tulip Festival is next. I’ll talk to the mayor and see what she says about you filming there.”

      She had a feeling Mayor Marsha would be less than amused at the idea but would still probably agree to it. After all, keeping Geoff in plain view was safest for everyone.

      “Good,” Geoff told her. “We need to add some drama to the show. I’ve been getting complaints from the executives. I’m not sure the festival is going to be enough. Do you think we could get a police band radio and follow the cops? Maybe if there was an explosion or something.”

      “We don’t have an explosion rate here,” she told him, doing her best not to roll her eyes.

      “Too bad,” he muttered.

      Dakota wasn’t sure what to say to that.

      Geoff glanced at the pad in his hand, as if checking to see if there was more. Just then, Hannah made a cooing sound.

      The producer turned toward the noise and saw the baby in her playpen. Hannah was on her back, staring at the mobile Dakota had attached to the side of the crib.

      “Is that a baby?” Geoff asked.

      “Uh-huh.”

      “Yours?”

      She hid a smile. “Yes.”

      He turned to leave, then looked at her again. “Were you pregnant and I missed it?”

      “She’s six months old.”

      “So that’s a no?”

      The smile escaped. “I wasn’t pregnant before.”

      “Okay. Because I’ve been told that I’m not very observant when it comes to anything other than the show. But I would have noticed if you were pregnant.”

      “I’m sure that’s true.”

      He looked at Hannah. “She’s yours, right?”

      Dakota thought about explaining about the adoption, but decided he really wasn’t that interested. “She’s mine.”

      “Okay, then. You’ll ask about the explosion?”

      “No, but I’ll ask about the festival.”

      Geoff sighed. “I guess that will have to do.”

      “I guess it will.”

      He left.

      Dakota laughed, then crossed to the playpen and picked up Hannah. “What a silly man,” she said, holding her daughter in her arms. She felt the girl’s forehead and was pleased that it was cool. The antibiotic was working quickly.

      Her mother had stopped by that morning to check on her and warn her that Hannah’s fever could climb during the day. Dakota was prepared with Tylenol drops. So far, though, everything was going well. Hannah had been eating and seemed less frightened of all the new experiences.

      While Dakota sat in her chair, holding the baby, she called the mayor and explained about the festival.

      “If I say no, will he take his show and go away?”

      “Probably not.”

      “Then I suppose he can film it. How’s Hannah?”

      “Doing well. She slept for a few hours last night. She’s eating well.”

      “Good. You know you can call me if you need anything.”

      “Yes, I know. Thanks.”

      Dakota made a couple more calls, then walked around the production office with her daughter. No one seemed overly interested in the child, which was fine. These people didn’t know her.

      When they got back to her desk, she put the baby in her car seat and placed her so that she could see the morning filming out the window. Dakota did her best to work but found herself glancing at Hannah every few seconds.

      She