The Deadline (The Friessens: A New Beginning) Read Online Free Page B

loved them so much, and she beamed, thinking of what an overprotective father he’d be. He changed the babies’ diapers and brought them in for Laura to nurse in bed as she relaxed, still feeling the effects of Andy loving her. It had been so long, and she had now realized just how much she needed Andy’s closeness, just as much as he needed her.
    They s till had boxes piled everywhere. It had been only two days since they arrived, and they still had a lot to get through, but the cleaners had transformed the house into something closer to the pictures they’d originally seen. The place had five bedrooms and three bathrooms, with a formal dining room, a bright, spacious kitchen with two built-in ovens and a gas range, and there were three fireplaces throughout the house, with a huge walk-in closet in their master bedroom. However, Laura thought the best feature was the sunken tub in her bathroom, the huge plate-glass window revealing a view of the distant mountains.
    “Laura , you should slip into the bath and relax a bit after you finish nursing the kids,” Andy said. He had that very male look of a man who took pride in his woman, and just watching her care for his babies seemed to inflate his ego.
    “Did you check on Gabriel , see how he’s doing?” Laura asked as he made no move to leave.
    “He’s still warm, but he’s sleeping. I’m going to make some calls, see about getting him a doctor’s appointment.” Andy stepped inside the bedroom and added, “I’ll just grab a quick shower first.”
    A n hour later, she lounged in the bathtub and listened to Andy in the other room, the babies cooing. When Jeremy started to fuss again, she felt the familiar pull in her breasts. How could he be hungry again? He ate way more than his sister and was packing on the pounds faster than she was.
    So much for a break . The water hadn’t even had time to cool, but she drained the tub and quickly dried off, pulling on her robe and striding out to the living room, where boxes were still piled. Andy was wearing a long-sleeved dark shirt tucked into newer blue jeans, and he rummaged through one of the open boxes on the table, pulling out papers while holding Jeremy, who had crammed his fist in his mouth and was sucking away. Andy turned her way and did a double take, his eyes flaring as he took in the sight of her. His expression was approving and intimate—at least she thought so, anyway—and he winked.
    “You look better ,” he said.
    “I feel better. Thanks for letting me chill out in the bath for a bit. I feel…refreshed.” She walked up to him and slid her hand over his arm, feeling the cut of his biceps. She loved how he kept himself in shape, really good shape. He was tall, handsome, strong: a man who could take on the world for her and protect her and the children, but only if she trusted him. She’d learned long ago that Andy could be difficult and stubborn, but he’d always do right by her, by Gabriel and their babies. Trust was something he expected and didn’t take lightly, though nor did he give it easily. Laura had looked for every reason not to trust him, because everyone had let her down in the past. She wondered, would she ever be able to let that go?
    “I’ll take him, ” she said. “Not much you can help him with right now.”
    Andy leaned down and kissed her. “He’s eating an awful lot again.”
    “ Well, I’m starting to think he wants to use me as a soother. Gabriel still sleeping?” Laura looked around the living room and glimpsed Chelsea, who was in one of the baby swings, fast asleep. Gabriel should have been running around, but he’d been in bed ever since they moved in. Laura couldn’t believe the flu had taken her son down this quickly. She was starting to worry, as his fever was still high and he’d barely eaten anything.
    “Yeah , he is,” Andy said, sounding worried. “I called Kim and asked for the names of local doctors. She gave me a few, but there’s only one