Vanished In The Night. Lynette Eason

a mental shrug, she dismissed thoughts of her father and stroked the downy-soft cheek. “You need a name, don’t you?”

      She’d not wanted to know the gender of the baby before he was born. As a result, she’d decorated only a little after she’d moved in with her father. And while she’d had offers of help from Mrs. Crawford, she simply couldn’t bring herself to accept it—or the fact that the woman would be marrying her father in three weeks.

      Yes, her father was known for his drinking issues, but as far as she could tell, that was in the past, just as he claimed. Since she’d been living in his home, she hadn’t seen a drop of alcohol in the place.

      Of course, she didn’t know what he did when he left the house.

      But could it possibly be true?

      Then again, he also had a lot of money from some smart real-estate investments, and while people judged him for his drinking—not everyone believed he’d quit—they sure didn’t mind taking his money. Or marrying him to get it. Women tended to overlook his questionable past while trying to get their hands on his cash. However, he’d ignored them all.

      Until Olivia Crawford.

      Kaylee couldn’t stop the tide of resentment. Toward both her father and his fiancée. Nor could she stop the guilt. She knew it wasn’t right, but what was she to do about it? Pretend it wasn’t there? Pray for God to change her heart? She probably should. After all, she’d known Mrs. Crawford practically all her life, and if the woman wasn’t marrying her father, Kaylee would adore her. So, what was her problem? Why was she so out of sorts about this marriage?

      Because she believed Mrs. Crawford had proved that she was just like every other woman in town and out to grab her father’s fortune. Then again, why did she care? If he was so blind, what did it matter to her? She sighed. Because he was still her father and she had a responsibility to look out for him even if he didn’t return the sentiment. And, in a way, she felt like she should look out for Mrs. Crawford. Her father was no prize catch, that was for sure.

      A knock on the door jerked her from her conflicted thoughts. “Come in.”

      The door swung open and Joshua stepped inside. Kaylee’s heart stalled while he shut the door behind him. When he turned back, his warm blue eyes met hers. “Hi.”

      * * *

      “Hi,” she said. Her eyes dropped down when the baby stirred.

      Joshua watched in awe as the little one’s eyes opened and blinked at his mother. His mouth rounded into a small O before his lids dropped again. Joshua’s heart filled with an emotion he couldn’t name and wasn’t sure he should examine too closely. In fact, he should push it far, far away. Hadn’t he learned his lesson when it came to attractive women with children? “Don’t get involved” had been his motto for the past two years. Why was he actually reconsidering that?

      And then her focus was back on him. “What are you doing here?”

      He tried to read if she was glad, angry or simply indifferent in the question, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. “I hope it’s all right. I just came to check in on you.”

      “Of course it’s all right. But why?”

      Heat surged into his cheeks and he shrugged, hoping she wouldn’t notice. “Because I wanted to make sure you and the baby were okay.” He should have stayed away, but he simply hadn’t been able to. He was overreacting and being silly. It wasn’t like he planned to marry the woman. He was just concerned.

       Get a grip, Joshua.

      “We’re fine. In fact, we’ll be leaving first thing tomorrow morning. You didn’t have to come by.”

      Joshua sighed. She didn’t want him there.

      “But for some strange reason, I’m glad you did,” she said softly.

      His heart lifted in spite of the sermon he’d just preached to himself about staying uninvolved. “You are?”

      “I am. I’m so grateful. If it wasn’t for you, I would have given birth in the back of—” She swallowed and looked away. “Well, let’s just say I’m grateful and leave it at that.”

      He took her hand, wondering if all of his preconceived notions about this woman were false. Had he judged her too quickly?

      She shivered. “Why is your mother marrying my father?”

      He paused. “So, you’ll talk to me about it?”

      “Of course I’ll talk about it. If you’ll help me stop it. Or at least figure it out.”

      He frowned. “Why do you want to stop it? My mother is a perfectly fine, upstanding lady.”

      “I sure thought she was. So, why would she agree to marry someone like my father? He doesn’t exactly have the best reputation in town.”

      Her question threw him. “Ah... I don’t know. I’ll be sure to ask her when I see her.” He didn’t bother telling that had been priority number one before he’d had to alter his plans to fight off her attacker and deliver her baby. He nodded to the infant. “What’s his name?”

      “I haven’t decided.”

      He lifted a brow. “Well, you can’t just keep calling him Baby. Or Bubba.”

      “Bubba?” A smile curved her lips. “I’ve not once referred to him as Bubba, I assure you.”

      Whoa. Her smile packed a punch. He cleared his throat. “What’s wrong with Bubba?”

      “Not a thing. Bubba is a perfectly respectable name for those who choose it. I’m just not calling my child that, so don’t start.”

      He shrugged. “I’m kidding, of course. Why don’t you have a name picked out, though? What about naming him after his father?”

      She flinched and her eyes narrowed. “I wouldn’t name him after his father if it were the only name left on the planet. I want my son to grow up to be good and honorable, to be a man who respects women and loves God. I’ll name him after someone who deserves it.”

      Okay, then. There was a story behind those words.

      Joshua eased into the chair beside her bed and held out his arms. “Sounds like things a good mother teaches her child. What did your husband do to make you so mad at him?”

      She hesitated, then placed the baby in his arms. “He found someone else.”

      “Ouch.” He knew the feeling. “Yes, that would do it.”

      “And then was killed while he was sleeping next to her.”

      He jerked and stared at her. “Seriously?”

      “Seriously.”

      “Wow. Who killed him?”

      “The woman’s husband. He was found guilty of murder and is now serving a life sentence.”

      Okay, so he probably should stop feeling sorry for himself. She’d been through much worse than he. Joshua settled back into the chair and held the infant in the crook of his arm. “I’m afraid I have no idea what to say to that one.”

      A sigh slipped from her. “There’s nothing to say.” Silence fell between them and he adjusted the blanket over the tiny arm. “You’re good at that,” she said softly.

      “I like babies.”

      * * *

      And she liked the image of him holding her son way too much. She almost snatched the child from him, but instead, sighed and rubbed her eyes. When she opened them, she found Joshua staring at the baby with one of the most gentle, caring expressions she’d ever seen on a man.

      “What’s your name?”

      He looked up, confusion in