Lani's Makeshift Family Read online

  Alexa promptly shoved them over in a fit of laughter.

  “My mother always said chicken soup did the trick to cure anything.” He stood back and watched the baby who reminded him of his Emma. No matter how he disliked this situation, he had to take care of all three of them. “Sure hope Mom was right.” He turned and headed toward the kitchen.

  Nick slammed the knife into the celery, releasing his frustration on the innocent vegetable.

  “Can I…help?”

  He swung around to see a pathetic sight. Lani stood in the doorway, clutching an afghan around her slender form, her hair wild as Medusa’s and a deep pink wrinkle slashed across her cheek from sleeping on her side.

  “It doesn’t look as though you can stand, let alone help.”

  “Don’t be rude.”

  “Get back to bed, Cabot.” He shoved the chopped celery into a pot. “I’ll let you know when this soup’s done. In the meantime—”

  “In the meantime, I can feed Alexa.” She tottered toward the table and collapsed onto a chair.

  Nick leaned near and touched her forehead with the back of his fingers. “I could cook my soup on your head, Cabot. Get back to bed.”

  She didn’t budge. “You don’t understand. I need to take care of my girls—”

  “And get them sick?”

  Her eyes widened like the emeralds they resembled. He didn’t mean to be cruel, but he was still adjusting to his “surprise” guests.

  “I’d never intentionally get them sick—”

  “I know.” He took her by the arm and eased her to stand. “I know. You mean well, but I can manage.”

  She gave him a dubious look. Maybe the fever had her confused. Who did she think cooked and cleaned this place? He looked at the mess on the counter. Well, cooked anyway. Forcing a smile, he said, “I do know how to cook and your girls…will be fine.” He guided her toward the door.

  In a feeble voice, she managed between coughs, “If you…need me, wake…me up.”

  As if this weak person could help. He shook his head. “Sure.”

  The soup sputtered in the pot, filling the kitchen with a nostalgic aroma. Nick leaned back his chair and took a sip of coffee. He shut his eyes and pictured his mother’s kitchen. He, his brother, Todd, sisters, Liz and Kate, would all congregate around the pot until Mom shooed them away with threats of no lunch if they bothered her. He and Kate, his partner in crime, would sneak in when their mother wasn’t looking and fish out their favorite part of the meal, the neck. They’d share it like everything else they shared.

  Inhaling deeply, he wondered what Kate would think of this situation he’d landed in. Without a doubt she’d say it was the best thing that had happened to him in years. He could hear Kate spouting about how he needed to live his life again—not just exist.

  The aroma of chicken soup filled the air, indicating it was damn near done.

  “I’m feeling better now, Nick.”

  He swung around to see Lani coming toward the table. Her beauty couldn’t be disguised by the flu. His heart stumbled in its rhythm, and he wondered if maybe Kate wasn’t right after all. “Sit down.” With his foot, he shoved the chair from the table. “The soup is nearly done. I’ll start the noodles.”

  Lani watched him head toward the pantry. Her body continued to betray her, aching with every move. Deep in her chest, a fullness made breathing difficult. Stifling a cough, she wondered where Nick learned to cook.

  “Big or small?” he called out from the pantry.

  Lani leaned forward to see him holding two boxes of macaroni toward her. “Small.” He looked out of place in the domestic setting. She could easily picture him chopping wood, scaling the mountain outside or, she shuddered, hunting bears. Yet…she ran her tongue across her dry lips, he looked adorable.

  “Small it is.” He lifted the lid of the pot and poured in the full box. “Guess these would be best for the kids anyway.”

  She smiled despite the urge to cough as he walked out of the back door to the porch. She remained seated, enjoying the rest and telling herself she couldn’t stand too long if she had wanted to.

  Nick came in and fiddled around at the stove then went to get Alexa after serving Lani a bowlful of soup.

  Forcing herself to take a sip, she wondered if it tasted as good as it looked.

  “Well, what’s your verdict?” Nick asked as he came back and set Alexa into the highchair.

  Lani leaned forward and patted the baby’s arm. “Delicious.”

  He leaned toward her. “You can’t taste a thing, can you?”

  She shook her head. “But I’m sure it is wonderful. And it looks good.” Lifting a spoonful, she stared at it.

  “If you can’t get it down, don’t force it. Go back to bed.” Once again, he took her arm to help her stand.

  If she thought her head was warm, it was no comparison to the spot on her arm. He hadn’t held her tightly, but he didn’t have to. Strangely, his touch sent a heat through her body that made her fever seem like a chill. Swallowing, she eased free. “I’ll just rest a while.” Looking at Alexa, who munched down on the noodles Nick had spread on the tray, she felt a stab of jealousy. The baby barely paid attention to her, yet each time Nick looked at her daughter, the baby’s little brown eyes sparkled.

  “Go. Go. I’ll heat up the soup for you later.”

  If she wasn’t so weak and confused, she’d think Nick was trying to get rid of her. Either he doubted her mothering abilities, or he just wanted her to get better fast. The door wobbled on its hinges behind her as Alexa’s giggles filled the kitchen.

  Lani steadied herself against the wall on her way back to bed and hoped she’d get well fast so she could prove to Nick Hunter that she was going to be the best mother possible.

  Chapter Six

  Lani blinked. The sun was certainly bright for late afternoon. She turned to see several glasses, half-full of juice, a bottle of aspirin, and a half-drunk ginger ale near her bedside. No memory of drinking a thing came to her, but the heat she’d felt from the fever seemed less. She touched her forehead and it felt cooler. Of course, she had no idea if someone could tell if they still had a fever by using their own hand. Logic said her hand would be hot, too.

  Gingerly, she eased to a sitting position. Dizziness didn’t knock her back down this time. In fact, her skin did feel much cooler. She managed to stand, but she toddled like the twins. Okay, so she wasn’t all better, but at least it seemed as if she’d slept since morning.

  Supporting herself on various pieces of furniture, she went to find her daughters. Lani stopped in the living room, bracing a hand on the wall. Something looked different. The furniture had been moved toward the walls of the room. Nick Hunter didn’t seem the type to periodically rearrange his furniture. She stepped toward the end table and noticed gray duct tape running along the wood floor. Beneath the bulge in the center was the electric cord of the lamp.

  The playpen was empty, and she could hear Alexa’s giggles coming from the kitchen. She pushed the swinging door open that had usually been propped open and stopped. Nick Hunter crawled on all fours across the kitchen floor, and Alexa sat in her highchair watching and giggling.

  Despite feeling weak, Lani remained standing. She grabbed onto the door and watched.

  Nick opened the cabinet below the sink and stuck his head inside.

  She strangled back a laugh, and that started an urge to cough. Before she could choke it back, the cough exploded through her lips.

  “Ouch!” Nick shouted, banging his head. He lifted his head from under the sink and banged it again.

  Lani coughed out, “I’m…sorry—”

  “Like hel—” He glanced toward Alexa. “—like heck, Cabot. You did that on purpose.” He rubbed the obviously sore spot. “You know this isn’t the first time you’ve given me a knot on my noggin.”

  He was teasing her? She curled her lips. “I thought you were a burglar. And this time…well, what the heck were you doing on the…” Before
she could finish her question, she noticed bottles of detergent, cleaner, chemicals to wash windows, and boxes of dishwasher soap on the counter.

  Nick Hunter had been childproofing the cabin.

  She’d read in her book that the best way to childproof a room was to crawl around like the babies—to be at their eye level. She smiled to herself, knowing full well that he wouldn’t want her to mention that she had noticed.

  Her smile faded when she realized she should have thought to make the cabin safe. “Is Ana still asleep?” she asked.

  “She’s…fine.”

  He seemed to hesitate, but Ana did take longer naps than Alexa. “I’ve lost all track of time. What time is it?” She eased herself into a chair across from Alexa just in time for a coughing fit.

  “Point your mouth away from the baby,” Nick growled. He opened the freezer, grabbed a handful of ice cubes, and shoved them onto the back of his head.

  Lani heard him mumble something inaudible, but she knew his words fit into the cursing category. She was smart enough not to flatter herself that Nick Hunter was trying not to curse in front of her. Alexa’s giggle told the truth. Well, at least she could rest easy knowing he wasn’t teaching her one-year-old foul language while she slept.

  Nick set a glassful of orange juice in front of her. “It’s six.” He bent, very slowly, to take a few other containers from the cabinet.

  She watched him set them on the counter and push them toward the back. She took a sip of juice, the cool liquid soothing her throat. “Six o’clock? I’ve been sleeping for hours—”

  “Thirty.”

  “Thirty what?” Lani felt her brows rise. A feeling of confusion passed through her. “What are you talking about?”

  Nick came toward her. He towered above her as she remained seated. His hair seemed longer, but it must have been the fact that he wore it so wildly. Musk cologne filled the air around him. She inhaled deeply, thankful that her nose was no longer stuffed up, then regretted how the darn scent affected her. How odd that he’d changed his shirt. Before she fell asleep he’d worn a red one, now it was black. Nick reached out to touch her forehead, and this time, she sat like an obedient child.

  “Fever’s gone. And I’m talking about how long you’ve been out of it.”

  “Your nonsense is making my head spin.” She stuck her elbows on the table and dropped her head into her palms.

  “You’ve been conked out for close to thirty hours—nearly a day and a half to be exact.” He pulled out a chair with his feet, swung it around and straddled the seat as if he rode a horse. Without a word, he covered a piece of carrot on Alexa’s highchair with a block.

  She giggled, fished it out and chewed away.

  Lani didn’t know what surprised her more—having a day and a half of her life a blur or seeing Nick sharing a moment with Alexa—and having her respond so well. The interplay or action seemed to come so natural for him. His hands didn’t shake as hers did when she touched the babies. “Thirty hours? You’re just saying that to confuse me.”

  Nick gave his head a shake of what looked like annoyance.

  “No one could…lose so much time in her life.” Tears threatened to pour from Lani’s eyes but she refused to let them. No way would she start bawling like the twins in front of Nick Hunter. But, my gosh, how could she have slept for so long without drinking something? She remembered the glasses of juice and aspirin at her bedside. Nick must have been getting her to drink.

  Like the chill caused by a fingernail scraping across a blackboard, a freezing wave surged up her spine. How had he managed to get her to drink? Oh God, had he sat near her and held her head, feeding her like a baby? And…she didn’t even want to think about how she made it to the bathroom. “How could someone not remember so many hours?” she mumbled.

  “Well, you managed to.” He took a sip of coffee and winced.

  She could tell he didn’t enjoy it black.

  “You were one sick lady, Cabot. I assume you’re feeling better now since you’ve obviously scoffed in the Grim Reaper’s face?” A lazy smile covered his lips. He leaned his chin on his hands, which rested on the chair’s back.

  A tiny sparkle, which she knew was not there before, glistened in the mahogany depths. Lani moved as if in slow motion, trying to tuck back her hair. She fished behind her head, feeling wild strands of hair. Her ribbon was gone. The news of losing time had stunned her so, she felt as if her arms were weighed down by lead. Her entire body felt sluggish from the long sleep. “Yes…I feel better.”

  “Well, you don’t look a hundred percent perky, so slug that down and get back to bed.”

  “Ana?”

  “Is fine. Go.”

  What nerve! Even though he owned the cabin, he didn’t own her and had no right to tell her what to do. Anger simmered inside, but fizzled with her lack of energy. Shoot. She didn’t have the strength to tell him what she really wanted to. And, darn it, he was right. She hadn’t been paying attention to herself, but the longer she sat, the more tired she felt. The room was starting to take on a haziness as if she were dreaming. Without a word, she stood and placed a kiss on Alexa’s forehead.

  Nick growled. “Remember I said to keep your distance. You want her sick too?”

  The accusation stung. “Of course I don’t…she’s my baby—”

  “No one said she wasn’t, but even I know you can spread germs by kissing.”

  The baby grabbed his finger. Her soft baby gurgle filled the kitchen.

  Lani winced. “I knew that. It just…came naturally.” She smiled at the baby and turned to leave. She’d been having enough trouble adjusting to motherhood, now this illness had made it worse. She wasn’t even thinking clearly. Oh God, don’t let the babies get sick, too. She plain just hadn’t had enough time to learn much about being a mother before getting sick.

  “You hungry?” he asked from behind.

  She turned to face him. Alexa held onto his finger as if it were the most natural thing for the child—her child. Even though she appreciated his fatherly care for her girls, she was miffed at the situation. “I might take a little of that chicken soup.”

  He laughed. “The girls and I polished that off yesterday.”

  Lani rubbed her head. “Yesterday?”

  “Look, you obviously needed the sleep. If you want, I can fix you something else.”

  She shook her head. “No, but thank you for offering.” Her returning appetite took a nose-dive when she thought of how much time she’d missed. Nick had to care for her and the girls when obviously he would rather they weren’t here. His offer to fix her something else now showed a nice side of him. “Maybe I’ll eat something later.”

  Lani stopped in to see Ana on her way to rest. Surprise ran through her as she stepped into the bedroom. Ana was in a crib! Tucked in one corner were a few toys, and snuggled in her arms was her favorite bear. Thank God, she seemed to be forming her own little personality and not relying on Alexa for everything. The social worker had said these twins were more adjusted than many in the orphanage. Lani was noticing the difference everyday. She leaned to kiss the baby and stopped. Placing a kiss on her fingertip, she touched Ana’s forehead and gasped. Ana was so hot!

  “She just needs more rest.”

  Lani spun to see Nick standing in the doorway.

  “Why didn’t you—” The sudden motion put her off balance and she wavered and grabbed onto the dresser. “—tell me she was sick?”

  “You didn’t look as if you needed the worry. Go to bed. I’m giving her a bottle now.”

  Lani looked to see Nick held a bottle of clear liquid. “She needs her milk—a pint a day.”

  “She’d just spit it up—”

  Worry clenched her stomach. “She’s been that sick?”

  Nick came near and, with a gentle push to her arm, eased her toward the door. “It’s only some bug like the one you had—and you lived. Go get some sleep.”

  Using every ounce of energy she could summon, she pulled fr
ee of his hold. “I want her to see me when she wakes.” With a thud, she dropped into the wicker rocker in the corner of the room.

  “If you insist, sit over there.”

  Too weak to argue, Lani shrugged away Nick’s help and moved to sit on the bed where he had pointed. Watching him, she realized why he wanted her to move.

  Nick whispered something to Ana and paused. When the baby stirred and opened her eyes, he lifted her up and sat in the rocking chair.

  Lani could see he held her as if she were made of glass. Was he that revolted to be holding one of her daughters? He didn’t seem the type to be rough with a baby, but she couldn’t see any concern in his eyes—only a blank stare as he held Ana. But he held her with such ease.

  “What are you giving her?” She hated the effort required to speak. How she wanted to fully recover and be in control of her girls’ care.

  “Water.”

  Ana gave Nick a look that said she was weak but safe and sucked on the bottle with half-opened eyes.

  Lani’s heart thudded. She should be holding Ana. “Water? She needs more than just water. Is this well water out here? Oh God! She could get—”

  “Save your energy, Cabot. The water’s boiled, and I added sugar and a little salt since she isn’t taking in anything else.”

  Lani’s mouth opened, but nothing came out. Nick Hunter had everything under control, and she was furious. She leaned back and watched in silence—and thanked God that Nick had known what to do.

  Her fury was directed inward because she might not have.

  ****

  “That’s a good girl, sweetie,” Nick whispered so only Ana could hear. Of course, Lani’s gentle snoring would have overpowered any words he’d spoken. Reminded him of a jet’s engine and he’d heard plenty of those before. She’d fallen asleep as he rocked Ana. Lani’s arm fell off one side of the bed, so Nick reached over and lifted it up. She moaned and turned, curling into a fetal position. She looked like one of the twins—easier to think of her like that, instead of admitting she was a grown woman.