A Home by the Sea Read Online Free Page A

you’re holding to be one of them. But you found them, so that’s your call.”
    â€œOh, no. I hadn’t thought that far ahead. I’m only here in D.C. temporarily, so they’ll need homes. Best of all would be keeping them together, at least until the little ones are older.” Something crossed her face, and Noah saw worry darken her eyes. “I’ll be traveling a lot for the next six months. I won’t be able to take any of them with me. What am I going to do?”
    â€œWe’ll work something out. They won’t go back on the street.” He spared time for a quick glance and saw her biting her lip. “Are you going far?”
    â€œChicago. Oregon. Paris. Provence. Back to Paris. Then probably Romania.”
    â€œYep, I’d say that’s far. What kind of work do you do, anyway?”
    â€œFood research.”
    â€œCome again?” Noah slowed for a light and frowned when he felt his Jeep slide. The ice was getting worse, but he didn’t want to worry her. “Is that like food technology? Artificial fragrances and additives? Because I have to tell you, I hate people who tamper with what we eat. If God had meant us to eat Red Dye #4, hydrogenated fats and square tomatoes, he would have made them that way to begin with.”
    Grace smiled faintly. “I’m with you. Basic is best. The kind of research I do is largely historical.”
    â€œHistorical food?” Now Noah was really confused. “How historical?”
    â€œAbout a thousand years. Herbs and storage skills to prevent disease. Medieval food preparation. Royal feasting rituals from Europe and Asia.” She gave a wry smile. “Are you asleep yet?”
    â€œHell, no. That’s fascinating stuff. My mom would pick your brains to learn about any of that.
    She might even surprise you with what she knows.”
    â€œIs she a nutritionist?”
    â€œNo. It’s just a hobby of hers. Or family tradition—maybe you’d call it an obsession. She grew up in Ukraine and her family was dirt-poor, so she was hungry a lot as a child. She was homeless when she came to this country. Pretty grim times. She hasgreat respect for a good, nourishing meal and home cooking. She taught all of us to have that.”
    â€œYour family? You cook together?”
    Noah nodded. “Four brothers and one sister.” He swerved again, and this time his tires spun out on a patch of ice. He eased off the brake immediately, but noticed that Grace sucked in an anxious breath. Yet even then she didn’t complain.
    Strong stomach.
    Noah liked that in a woman.
    â€œYou can ask my mother for all the details when you meet her.”
    â€œMeet her? But I don’t—”
    Noah revved the motor, making the snow fly. The big wheels dug in hard, but they didn’t move. As Noah gunned the motor again, a silver Hummer pulled out of a side street and nosed parallel to the now seriously snowbound Jeep. Grace watched the doors open and two very big men jump out.
    She leaned forward, clutching her bundle of babies protectively. “Who are those men?”
    â€œIt’s all right, Grace. You can relax.” Noah grinned at the older man, who was wearing a big Russian fur hat. “The cavalry has just arrived.”
    Â 
    T HEY DIDN’T LOOK LIKE CAVALRY .
    They didn’t look like anything Grace had seen before. The younger man was blond with striking cheekbones and a tan as if he worked outside. His face was unreadable as he pulled open Noah’s door.His wary expression deepened to alarm when he saw Grace hunching protectively over the neatly wrapped bundle on her lap. “Hospital, ASAP,” he snapped decisively. “Why didn’t you go straight to the E.R., Noah? You passed one—”
    Grace shifted in her seat. “No. I mean, it’s not what you think—”
    â€œNo hospital needed. We’re going home,” Noah said firmly. “The women