The Sheriff and the Baby Read Online Free Page B

foolish enough to drive around looking for a hospital while in such intense pain. Surely Beth Ford had a cell phone…. She didn’t look dumb. She looked bone-deep scared. More than ever, he was convinced she was lying through her teeth.
    “You referred to clients. What do you do?”
    “Why do you want to know?”
    He shrugged again in an effort to appear unthreatening. “Just making conversation. I wondered what might keep you out so late in weather like last night’s.”
    “You make it sound as though I’m up to something sinister.”
    Matt held up his hands. “No, not at all. I was just curious.”
    She finally stopped twisting the sheets into a knot and fixed him with a steady gaze. “I’m an architect.”
    Matt’s eyebrows rose a little at that. She’d stopped worrying the sheets, so maybe that at least was the truth. “You’ve been too busy with moving and the baby coming to get around to changing your license plates?” he suggested.
    Her expression eased further and he watched her smooth the sheets, pressing out the creases with shaky fingers.
    “Yes, that’s right.” Her look was one of innocent inquiry as she asked, “Was there anything wrong in not attending to it sooner?”
    He couldn’t help admiring her for neatly turning the situation around by questioning him about changing her plates. “State law requires that if you’re living and working in Colorado, you have thirty days to change them,” he said, then immediately wanted to swallow his words. This woman didn’t need Colorado law shoved down her throat. More than anything, she needed compassion.
    She was lying because she was scared, and something about her stirred a desire within him to protect her and her baby.
    The heat burned in his gut. This was foolishness. So he’d rescued a woman in labor. It didn’t make up for Sally and the baby. Nothing could ever absolve him of the guilt of letting them die alone. He concentrated on the present situation instead and glanced at the baby in her crib. His heart melted.
    She was yawning, her tiny mouth forming a perfect O. She sure looked a whole lot prettier than she had last night. Her formerly screwed-up red face was a soft pink and fair down covered her head.
    As though aware of his scrutiny Sarah began to squirm a little, then she started to cry. Matt reached out to quiet her, his big hand brushing her arm in a comforting gesture. She grasped his finger.
    The kid had a fierce grip! Like mother, like daughter, he thought, but there was something nice about someone wanting to hold you so tight.
    Beth leaned over to get her baby from the crib.
    “It’s okay. I’ve got her,” he said and picked her up, careful to wrap Sarah in the blanket that had fallen away. He held her protectively against him and cooed to her.
     
    B ETH WAS TERRIFIED . On the one hand, she didn’t want this police man near her daughter. On the other, he seemed toknow what he was doing, which was more than she could say for herself. She hadn’t been able to rewrap Sarah properly into the tight bundle she’d been before she’d unwound the blanket to count all her fingers and toes and to kiss her tiny hands and feet.
    “What have you done to yourself, missy?” he asked when Sarah continued to fuss. He placed her on the bed. “Got yourself all undone. Don’t you know babies are supposed to stay wrapped up so they feel safe and protected?”
    Beth watched, fascinated, as he expertly rewrapped her daughter into a semblance of the little bundle she’d been before her investigations.
    “You…you obviously know what you’re doing,” she said, trying to keep the envy from her voice.
    “Sorry. I didn’t mean to take over.” His hands touched hers as he put the baby in her arms.
    She cradled Sarah against her and asked, “Have you got children of your own?”
     
    T HE HOT, BURNING KNIFE of guilt twisted inside him. Damn! Why had he allowed himself to be drawn into this? He took a deep breath. He wasn’t going