Nine-Month Protector

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“You got me back into the country with a new identity.” He combed his fingers through the thick wave of dark hair he’d been growing out for months. Danielle would have liked it. She’d always said his short cut was too severe. But covering the strands of gray and growing it out wasn’t the only obvious change in his appearance. “That’s enough for now. If I need anything else, I’ll let you know.”

“They killed my boy, Shaw. Teddy may have been a disappointment, but he was my flesh and blood. That can’t go unpunished.”

“It won’t. You’ll keep to our agreement?”

“You’re the closest thing I have to a son now. Do what I ask, and everything I own in the States is yours.”

Shaw McDonough disconnected the overseas call. He pressed the phone against his temple and flipped it shut. Then he placed the pink rosebud over Danielle’s name and straightened.

The hour was late, but there was something pleasant, freeing, about the cooling night air. Tomorrow would be soon enough to begin his work. He’d spend a little more time with Danielle. Maybe he’d eat one of those famous Kansas City steaks tonight. Then he’d sleep. God, how he needed to sleep.

It felt good to be back in Kansas City. Good to be back where there was so much to do. Good to be back with Danielle.

“I love you, Dani.”

A few minutes later he walked down the hill to the rented car he’d parked there.

It would be good to finally get what was rightfully his.

SARAH WATCHED HER fourth graders run from the monkey bars to the climbing pit, argue over whose turn it was in an impromptu game of kickball and huddle together at the edge of the playground to discuss the plans and secrets that nine-and ten-year-olds loved to talk about. Normally, one of the aides brought her students out for afternoon recess while she graded papers or prepped the next lesson, but today she needed the fresh air.

She needed something to stir her from the disturbing thoughts that had given her a fitful sleep last night and had plagued her all day long.

“I’m sterile.”

How could that be possible? Cooper Bellamy was a kid at heart, with a wise man’s soul. He’d lived through the worst the world had to offer and had come out a stronger man for it—strong enough to keep his sense of humor and not turn bitter. He’d make a wonderful father, combining just the right amount of softie and strength.

But he couldn’t be a father. He could never pass on those tall, blue-eyed genes.

That meant…

Sarah didn’t even want to think of the alternative. She caught a strand of hair the breeze kept trying to free and tucked it back behind her ear. Concentrating on the small, mindless task offered a brief respite from the inevitable truth she had to face.

Her brief affair with Teddy Wolfe had left her ego in shreds, her faith in men in shambles. She’d been leading with her heart all her life—loving, forgiving, trusting. What an idiot she’d been, thinking the father she’d protected for so long would protect her in return, thinking the man she desired would desire her in the same way.

Now she couldn’t even trust her own judgment. The instincts she’d always believed in had led her astray. She’d gotten herself pregnant by a mobster who was now dead. A man surrounded by deception and murder. A man she couldn’t form any cherished memories over because he’d used her merely as a means to an end. He must have loved that other woman—Dawn—whom she’d seen shot and killed and bundled away—if he was even capable of loving. Teddy wasn’t the man she’d thought he was.

Neither was her father.

But Coop…

Sarah turned her face into the breeze to keep the hair off her face. She warned one of her boys down from the top of the monkey bars, checked the time and quickly scanned the rest of the play area to make sure all were safe and accounted for in the last five minutes of play time. But she couldn’t shake the images of heat and hardness against her skin. Of tender, husky praises against her ear. Of seductive, demanding lips against her own.

Lying in Cooper Bellamy’s arms had been healing and foolish and wonderful. She was ashamed to think that she’d taken advantage of his long-time friendship. She’d been so frightened, so vulnerable. She’d looked to him for acceptance and strength, and he’d been too kind to turn her away.

Coop was caring and funny. Strong. And so intuitively perceptive. He’d known what she needed. Her brother said the same thing about his police work. That he just seemed to know when he needed to show up.

He’d shown up and more. He’d made her feel whole. Clean. He’d made her feel it was safe to trust him.

No wonder he’d acted so betrayed yesterday. He’d been there for her when she’d needed him most. And she’d repaid him by secluding herself without an explanation and getting pregnant by another man.

Cooper Bellamy deserved better.

The thought of carrying Teddy Wolfe’s child while a good man like Coop was cheated of fatherhood made her sick to her fragile stomach.

So how was she going to make this right? Short of turning back time and being wiser the second time around, how could she fix this?

“I’m not blaming you, sweetie.” She instinctively folded her arm across her waist and let her hand slide down a fraction to caress her belly. As the shock had worn off and she distanced herself from that awful night, she was beginning to fall in love with the child. Being a single mother wouldn’t be easy, but it was one challenge she refused to fail. Maybe motherhood was one relationship she could get right. After all, she had a stellar role model in Shauna Cartwright-Masterson.

Oh, damn. Sarah pinched the bridge of her nose and blinked away the tears that suddenly filled her eyes. Her mom was going to make a fabulously cool grandmother. Commissioner of Police. Pretty nifty title for a grandma. Plus, she could cook and bake like nobody’s business when she had the time, so she was a winner whether this baby decided to be an overachiever or a homebody or both. Stupid hormones. Sarah snuck her fingers up to wipe away the tear that had spilled over.

Maybe she had more to live up to as a single mom than she’d considered. What if she made more stupid choices? What if her baby paid the price for her mistakes?

“Not gonna happen.” Sarah rubbed a soothing circle over her stomach, reassuring herself as much as the baby. “None of this is your fault. I’ll do better by you. I promise.”

The first step would be telling someone besides Coop that she was pregnant. The cool October air had helped her delay the announcement by giving her an excuse to wear layers and loose sweaters that masked her changing shape. Her waist was already thickening and her small breasts seemed to be firmer, if not actually bigger. Though there was no bump to show on her belly yet, she hoped there would be fewer questions later if she started wearing baggy clothes now.

Eventually she’d have to have an explanation for her students. And when the baby arrived in April, she’d have to have arrangements in place with the administration regarding her maternity leave. One of the family dinners she went to with her mom and stepfather, and Seth and his fiancée, Rebecca, would be a perfect opportunity to share the news with the family.