Chapter 22 22
The next morning Alana's alarm went off as usual, but when she stepped into her daughter's room, she found the crib empty, and panic swept over her. Then she remembered Stefan was here. Pulling on a robe, she walked into the living area and found him on his phone and having coffee.
Juliana was chasing cereal around the high-chair tray.
When the baby squealed, Stefan dropped his phone. His gaze slid over Alana like warm sheets on a cool morning, and Alana, too aware of his gaze tightened the sash of her robe.
"Morning," he said, and his voice was like velvet.
"Hi. You're up early." It was a crime to look that good in the morning, she thought.
Stefan inclined his head to Juliana. "She woke up and I didn't want to bother you."
Alana smiled, said hello to the baby, then went into the kitchen for coffee.
She returned and slid into the opposite chair, nursing the cup and thinking of the dreams that had plagued her half the night. All about Stefan. Stefan going back to his job. Stefan in danger, Stefan walking through her door, Stefan sitting across the table like he was right now. Stefan making himself indispensable.
"I really should be getting a shower." She started to rise.
"Relax. You have time. I've already fed Juliana."
She lowered herself back into the chair.
"Hungry?" he asked, folding the paper and setting it aside.
"No, I can't eat this early."
Stefan logged that into his memory.
"How was the sofa?" she asked.
"Lonely."
"Stefan."
He just grinned. It was good to be here in the morning, he thought, and wondered how Alana managed to get ready for work, what with the baby and short a pair of hands. "Does Diana show up this early?"
"No, not till I'm ready to leave. Juliana doesn't take too well to my leaving her in the morning."
Stefan arched a brow. "She seems fine now."
"Yes, well, she gets breakfast with Diana. Juliana's not a morning person… well—" Alana frowned at her daughter "—not usually."
"Something to be said about having two parents around, huh?"
Alana made a face. "Even if you were here all the time, you'd have to leave for work early, too."
"I know. But I take about ten minutes to get ready."
"Bully for the trained detective," she said, and he laughed.
"Drink more coffee," he said.
She had a second cup and played with her daughter for a little bit.
"I might as well go get ready for work," she finally said.
The idea wasn't at all appealing.
Stefan noticed how reluctant Alana was to leave, and he took the baby from her. She disappeared into her bedroom and thirty minutes later, almost to the second, she came out looking ready to battle the corporate world, in a dark-blue suit and a crisp high-collared white blouse.
All Stefan could think of when she was dressed like that was that under it all she was wearing lace and silk. It drove him nuts to know it, and he whistled softly. "Look at Mama, Jules."
Alana flushed a little as she gathered her handbag and office bag, which were exactly where she'd left them yesterday. As if on cue, the baby whimpered, reaching for her mother. Stefan noticed the expression on Alana's face. Guilt. She held the baby for a little while, talked with her, then glancing at the time, finally handed her back to Stefan. Stefan soothed his daughter as Alana stepped into her high-heeled shoes.
"I'll see you tonight," she said.
"Can you get away for lunch?" Stefan asked.
"I won't know till I get to the office. I'll call."
"Try. I'm sure Jules would like to see her mother more than just for meals and baths."
Stefan knew it was a cheap shot, but it was the truth.
"I have to work, Stefan, and no, don't say that marriage will change that. I know it would. But I can't marry for financial reasons and you know it."
"You won't do it for a name, for more time or for yourself. What will it take?"
Already half out the door, she met his gaze. Then after she stepped out and closed the door, she muttered under her breath, “Love, you idiot,”
__________
Alana laughed, a deep-throated sound that wafted through her backyard. But Stefan, sitting across from her on the blanket, didn't return it. Of course, the baby food dribbling down his face could have something to do with that, she thought.
"Well, when she doesn't want something, she doesn't," he said resolutely.
Still laughing, Alana came up on her knees and with a cloth, wiped at the globs. "Just think if it had been an apple," she said, giggling.
"I'd be out cold." Stefan watched her, enjoyed the moment of having her close, touching him. She'd kept at least two feet away from him at all times lately. Since he'd kissed her.
"Oh, tough guy."
"You smell great." He told her.
"You smell like strained peas."
"It's hard for you to take a compliment, isn't it."
"No, not really."
"You just don't trust men to tell you the truth."
"Well, there is that," she said, and started to sit back.
He grabbed her wrist, holding her there. "I'll always tell you the truth, Alana. I swear on my honor I will."
Alana stared into his cool blue eyes and saw only sincerity. "I think I believe you."
He grinned, then before she could back away, he kissed her, quick and deep, a warm play of lips and tongue that made her insides yank tight. He really had to stop doing that, she thought. She was breathless when she eased back and finished feeding the baby. Who, much to Stefan's disappointment, ate the peas she'd just spat at him.
"She knows you're a pushover," Alana said at his pained look.
"I wish you were," he muttered under his breath, and when she asked him what he'd said, he smiled. "How about you go out with me tonight?"
She blinked at him, stunned. She stammered a bit before saying, "But what about Juliana?''
"We get a sitter like normal parents. Diana will do it, I bet."
"I haven't had time with the baby, I'd rather—"
"Chicken."
"Excuse me?"
Lord, he loved that righteous look of hers. "You're afraid to be alone with me without Juliana as a buffer."
She looked appalled. "I am not."