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He held up his hand to stop her. “Tell you what. I’m heading over to my office for a few hours. I’ll call you around three. At that time you can give me a shopping list. Since you didn’t plan to have your baby yesterday, I doubt you’ve got supplies in. Right?”
She stared at him. “Who are you? Why are you doing all this?”
“Because I want to,” he answered lightly, dancing around the truth. He helped because it gave him the illusion of belonging and doing the right thing. Because these simple acts held the demons at bay. “Between now and then, make up a grocery list and I’ll stop on my way over. If you’re up to company, I’ll put together the dresser and the crib. If you’re worried about trusting me, I have references.”
Diane stirred. Heather dropped her gaze to her child, then returned it to him. “Do you make a habit of rescuing people?”
“It’s my hobby.”
“I want to ask why, but I have a funny feeling you wouldn’t tell me.”
He didn’t respond. They both knew she was right.
She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and bit her lower lip. “I’m very tough and capable. I don’t actually need you to help me.”
“Agreed. But wouldn’t it be nice to be able to let someone else take on some of the responsibility, even just for a couple of hours?”
She had long, pale lashes and a couple of freckles dotting her nose. Her full mouth turned up at the corners. “I would like to curl up and take a nap.”
“So go for it. Write down your phone number, and I’ll call about three. Oh, and I need to move the car seat into your car. Which is probably still parked at your doctor’s office. We’ll talk about that later, too.”
“You’re right…about all of it.” She smiled. “I know it’s probably getting boring to hear, but thank you. Again.”
“My pleasure,” he said lightly, and he meant it. Not just because Heather appealed to him, but because helping her allowed him to pretend, if only for a while, that everything was fine.
Chapter Four
Heather opened the front door of her apartment and stared at Jim as he stood on the porch, a shopping bag in each hand. She didn’t know whether to laugh or scream. “You’re making me crazy,” she said as she pushed open the screen door to let him in.
“You love all the attention,” he said easily as he strolled into her kitchen and began putting away groceries. As if he was completely comfortable. As if he knew where everything went. Which he was and he did. The man had been visiting her twice a day for a week. Why wouldn’t he be at home in her house?
“You can’t keep buying me things,” she said.
“Wanna bet?” He winked. “Besides, this isn’t all for you.”
“What have you bought her now?”
He tried to look innocent and instead only looked sinfully handsome. Really, it was incredibly unfair. She wasn’t getting a whole lot of sleep, so there were unattractive circles under her eyes. She had breasts for the first time in her life, which was nice except they hurt a lot and leaked, not to mention the fact that her clothes didn’t fit right yet and she swam in her maternity stuff. Jim, on the other hand, was gorgeous. He frequently wore casual business dress or jeans, but he always looked put together, healthy and beautiful, if a man could be such a thing.
“Is she awake?” he asked instead of answering her question, then breezed past her and headed for Diane’s room. Heather followed. “You’re awake,” he murmured to the baby in the bassinet. “Aren’t you the clever girl, knowing that your uncle Jim was coming to see you?” He glanced at Heather. “May I pick her up?”
She nodded. Jim reached down and lifted Diane into his arms, then cooed at the infant.
“Did I tell you how pretty you are? That nightshirt Mommy chose is very flattering on you. It makes your eyes look even more blue. You’re going to be a heartbreaker when you grow up. And smart, too. I can tell.”
The litany went on. By now, Heather was used to Jim’s ongoing conversations with her daughter. As far as he was concerned, little Diane was the most beautiful, brilliant, incredible child ever born. Lord knows what he would say if he had a kid of his own.
As Jim rocked and tickled and generally fussed over Diane, Heather tried to figure out who this man was. He had to have flaws, although to date she hadn’t found any. He showed up with the regularity of a paid nurse, brought her groceries, stamps and any number of things she needed. He filled her car with gas so she could drive several hundred miles if circumstances called for it. He’d put together the dresser and the crib, had brought more toys than any three children could ever play with. He was funny and kind, fun to be with and the perfect gentleman. According to the brief rundown he’d given her on his life, he was single, had never been married and wasn’t seriously involved with anyone. So why was he hanging out with an infant and her still-hormonal mother?
Heather didn’t think of herself as a cynical person, but she’d seen a bit of the world. Men like Jim didn’t exist. Therefore, there had to be something very, very wrong with him. If only she could figure out what it was….
Jim led the way back into the kitchen where he lifted a small pink bakery box out of a bag and set it on the table. He flashed Heather a grin. “You’re welcome to join us if you’d like.”
“Gee, thanks. If you don’t think I’ll be in the way.”
He glanced down at the baby in his arms. “Do you think Mom will be in the way? I don’t. I think she’ll be a lot of fun at the party and I happen to know she’s your favorite person in the whole world. So what do you say?” He paused as if Diane was answering, then nodded solemnly. “Diane says she’s thrilled you’re going to join us.”
Despite her confusion and the unanswered questions she had about Jim, Heather had to laugh. “I’m honored.” She took a seat across from him at the round table.
