The Army Doctor's Christmas Baby Read online

  They ordered and were halfway through their meal when Alice stopped eating and screwed up her face. "The small of my back aches like mad. I've been trying to ignore it, but I can't anymore."

  Cameron rubbed a soothing hand in circles over the painful place. "Perhaps we should go home, love."

  "Yes. I think so. I just need to visit the ladies' room first. The baby likes to sit on my bladder." With Cameron's assistance, she heaved her heavy body out of the chair and straightened, a hand pressed against her lower spine.

  "Shall I help?" Kelly stood, going to Alice's side to offer her arm.

  Olivia followed. "I'll come as well."

  Alice made her way between the tables, Kelly and Olivia at hand, ready to help if necessary. Just outside the restrooms, Alice leaned a shoulder against the wall, groaning. "My tummy and back really hurt now. I think the contractions must have started."

  "Cam had better call the hospital. I'll get him," Olivia said.

  Kelly went in the restroom with Alice and waited while she used the toilet. She came out and sat on the velvet bench, rubbing her belly.

  "The pain is definitely coming in waves. I've done all the classes and I'm still not sure if they're contractions. What do you think?" She turned a questioning gaze on Kelly.

  Kelly smiled weakly. "You'd best ask Olivia. I've never given birth." She was tempted to add that she never would. A sudden urge filled her to share her burden, but this was not the time or place. Alice had enough on her mind.

  Kelly sat beside Alice and rubbed her lower back as Cameron had earlier. "Does that help?"

  "Yes, thanks. If you like, you're welcome to come and see the baby as soon as he's born."

  "I'd love to. I'm a sucker for kids, especially newborns."

  "I remember how good you were with Sami when I was first admitted to the field hospital in Africa. I don't know what I'd have done without your help. I don't think I ever thanked you properly."

  "No need. I was happy to lend a hand."

  "I'm so pleased you hooked up with Sean. The two of you look good together. I hope it works out."

  Kelly had always wondered if Cameron's wife knew of the soft spot she had for her husband. She had an inkling that she did.

  "Thank you. I owe you one for getting me the bunny girl gig."

  Alice laughed, then winced and pressed a palm to her belly. Kelly rubbed her back some more.

  The restroom door opened and Olivia hurried in, Cameron on her heels. He rushed to Alice's side, put his arm around her, and helped her to her feet. "I've called the hospital. They're expecting us. We'll stop at home for your bag on the way."

  "What about Sami?"

  "Don't worry. Everything's arranged. Olivia and Radley will follow us and take him home with them."

  "Good luck," Kelly said, pursuing them out.

  Cameron smiled at her over his shoulder, a warm, friendly smile full of affection, a smile that triggered so many happy memories. "Thanks, Kell. Have a lovely Christmas with Sean."

  Kelly stood at the open door of the pub, Sean's arm around her shoulders against the chill. Together they watched Cameron and Alice drive off, followed a few moments later by Radley and Olivia.

  "Funny to think that by this time tomorrow there will likely be a new little Knight in the world," Sean said. "Nature's a wonderful thing."

  "A Christmas baby." Kelly's sigh of longing spread a smoky plume through the cold air.

  Chapter Eight

  What a strange evening. In the quiet back of the taxi on the way home from dinner, Sean slid his hand over Kelly's and squeezed. The car passed along the narrow country lanes, the River Thames on their left, moonlight painting ripples of gold on the water.

  "Are you all right, Kell?"

  "Hmm." She didn't even look at him.

  She seemed withdrawn, almost sad; he had no idea why. His instinct was to take her in his arms to comfort her, but he wasn't sure that's what she'd want. They'd both been happy after the visit to Santa with the girls. He'd hoped the date would go well and bring them even closer.

  He'd been resisting the temptation of Kelly ever since the night he met her at his birthday party. In the end, his rule of not dating women he worked with or employed had fallen by the wayside.

  And he was glad. After a year in an emotional desert, he had found an oasis. These last two weeks he felt as though he'd been poised on the edge, too scared to take the leap and try love again.

  Staring at Kelly's profile in the dim light, he realized he'd already leaped the first time he kissed her. Now he was falling. If he didn't trust her to catch him, he was going to hit the ground with an almighty painful thud when she left.

  The twins had formed a strong attachment to Kelly as well. Monique was supposed to provide female company for them, but she would never be anything more than an employee.

  Did he want his girls raised by an employee? No. He wanted them to have a mother, to experience the love and stability of a proper family. It was time to let the past go. Eleanor had done her best to make him miserable, but he wouldn't allow her continue to rule his life.

  Kelly was everything Eleanor hadn't been—kind, thoughtful, caring, and loving. She filled his dreams at night and his thoughts during the day, even though he tried to banish her and concentrate on his work. She had woken his libido and reminded him that he was missing a loving woman in his arms.

  Tonight it was time to trust this woman who had moved into his house and stolen his heart, and share all he had to give.

  The taxi turned through the open gates to River View House and stopped outside the front door. Sean pulled some money from his wallet and handed it to the driver. "Can you take the babysitter home? It's only a couple of miles down the road."

  The man nodded. "Sure thing. Thanks, mate."

  The cold air hit Sean's face as he climbed from the vehicle, but his blood surged hot through his veins in anticipation.

  ***

  Kelly waited for Sean to round the car and open her door, then stepped out and accepted his arm to walk to the house. A strange melancholy had fallen over her when Alice and Cameron left for the hospital, as if this baby of Cameron's marked the end of an era. Really, the end of the era had come over a year ago when Cameron married Alice.

  It wasn't that Kelly wanted to go back in time and have Cameron for herself again. She simply wished for a chance to relive those early hopes and dreams, the promise for the future she'd felt when she and Cameron dated during his first posting in Germany.

  They'd been young and innocent then, before they were stationed in a war zone, before she found out she couldn't have children.

  "You're very quiet." Sean curved his arm around her back as he unlocked the front door.

  "Just thinking."

  He smiled and stepped aside for her to enter first. The sound of the television blared from the sitting room. She couldn't face watching the babysitter flirt with Sean right now. She felt old and world-weary. "I'll go and check the girls. Will you send Lisa home?"

  "Okay. I won't be long."

  Sean strode along the hall towards the kitchen and Kelly mounted the stairs. She paused just inside the door to the babies' bedroom, listening to the soft sound of their breathing.

  Both girls slept peacefully. Kelly adjusted Annabelle's covers, then gently touched the cute curl that fell across Zoe's forehead. They might be identical twins but she could tell them apart easily. They were so different in personality and behavior, each one a little darling in her own way.

  Much as she enjoyed being with Sean and looked forward to dating him, the girls each held a corner of her heart as well. She had fallen in love with all three members of the Fabian family.

  Voices sounded downstairs, then the front door closed, followed by the familiar tread of Sean's footsteps on the stairs.

  "All okay?" he asked from the doorway. The hall light silhouetted the masculine outline of his broad shoulders and narrow hips, shooting a burst of longing through her.

  Long
ing that might be doomed to remain unfulfilled.

  A relationship with a man who already had children sounded like the answer to her prayers. The trouble was Sean's first wife had left him with such painful baggage, he might never be ready to move on.

  She stepped aside as Sean moved to peep at Annabelle and Zoe. "They look peaceful."

  She nodded.

  "Are you sure you're okay, Kell?" Sean grasped her fingers and brushed his lips across her palm. Streamers of sensation ran up her arm. Every time he touched her, nerves sparked beneath her skin like fireworks.

  Drawing her closer, he stroked a hand up her back to caress her hair. "It's thirty minutes until Christmas Day."

  She followed his gaze to the illuminated clock on the nursery wall. "So it is. After the drama with Alice, I'd nearly forgotten it was Christmas."

  "I hadn't." He grinned, those sexy dimples appearing on his cheeks.

  He took her hand and tugged her out onto the landing, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.

  "What's going on?" He definitely had something on his mind.

  Holding both her hands, he backed up, taking her with him towards his bedroom door. He stopped outside and pulled her into his arms. She splayed her palms on his chest, felt the firm contours of muscles beneath his shirt. Her gaze met his, her whole body tingling.

  "I want to make love with you, Kelly."

  The teasing look on his face was gone, an intensity of need in his eyes.

  She trembled inside, excited but nervous of taking this step, and risking her heart. "You do realize that technically tonight was only our first date?"

  "Let's not get bogged down in technicalities. I prefer to follow my instincts. Right now my instincts know exactly what I want. You."

  He lowered his mouth to hers. Kelly melted in his arms at the smooth, warm brush of his lips. The gentle caress of his hands wiped away all thought. Her instincts knew what she wanted as well.

  ***

  Happiness flooded Sean's senses the moment he woke to the sweet floral fragrance of Kelly. She was still here, in his bed. Last night was not a dream. He hadn't realized how lonely he'd been until this wonderful woman came into his life.

  He rolled on his side and watched her sleep, her dark red hair spread across the pillow, wild and thick. He'd never known a woman with hair like hers. She had so much of it. In contrast, the rest of her features were neat and small. Her dark lashes lay in perfect crescents against her cheeks, her upper lip a bow, her bottom lip soft, full, and, as he'd discovered last night, very bitable.

  She'd loved him with a passion and energy that left him breathless.

  He gently stroked some hair away from her face so he could see her better. A faint sigh whispered between her lips and her eyelashes fluttered in her sleep. Dreaming of him? He hoped so.

  Why had he ever thought that dating her would be enough? He wanted this woman in his life full time, living in his home, and sleeping in his bed. She was so unlike Eleanor it was as though they were different species. She would never lie to him, deceive him, or hurt him as Eleanor had.

  Sean trusted Kelly with the most precious things in his life, his sweet angels, Zoe and Annabelle. He could trust her with his heart as well.

  He watched her for a while as the wintry sun fought back the lingering darkness and light filtered into the room. He grew impatient to talk to her and wanted her to wake up. They only had a week left before the New Year. After that he was due back at work, unless he extended his leave. He didn't want to waste a moment of their time together.

  She stirred and he took the opportunity to pull her into the curve of his body. With a murmur, she came to him all soft, sleepy, and adorable.

  "Sean," she whispered.

  He snuggled her closer, relishing the slide of her skin on his. "Merry Christmas, darling."

  Her eyes blinked open and she rubbed them. "Are the girls awake?"

  "Not yet."

  A slow smile spread across her face. She wriggled against him, making his breath catch in desire. "Merry Christmas to you too. Has Santa remembered to put the girls' presents under the Christmas tree?"

  "Santa might have been too busy last night enjoying himself to think of that. He'll do it in a little while." Sean was not about to leave her arms to lay out gifts. There would be plenty of time for that later. Right now he wanted to be with Kelly. His instincts demanded he make love to her again, but while they had no other distractions he needed to talk to her, to let her know exactly how he felt.

  ***

  Kelly stretched, arching her body against Sean's in a dreamy, semiconscious daze. She loved this man, loved everything about him. He was kind, generous and caring, the sort of man any woman would be lucky to share her life with. The fact he had the face of an angel and the body of a Greek god didn't hurt either.

  In the heat of the moment last night, she had nearly blurted that she loved him but held back, frightened of scaring him off. After all, he'd said he wanted to take things slowly. But she'd fallen into the trap of hiding her feelings before. She'd spent years loving Cameron without telling him. She wasn't going to make the same mistake again.

  She stroked a hand through his mussed hair and across the rough stubble on his jaw. She loved him in his army uniform all polished without a hair out of place, and she loved him just as much all ruffled and naked in bed.

  He caught her hand and pressed a kiss to her palm. The long, tapered fingers of his clever hands stroked her skin, fingers so skilled with fine surgical work, and so skilled at bringing her pleasure.

  He kissed the tip of her nose, her cheeks, and her lips, lingering over the last. When he pulled back, he smiled. "I've changed my mind," he said. "I'd like you to stay here if you want to."

  Kelly's heart jolted. "As in…live with you?"

  "I love having you here, Kell. I know I wanted to take things slowly and date, but we're already way past that stage."

  Relief burst through Kelly so potent it was almost painful.

  "I love you," she whispered. "I know we've only known each other a short while, but I do."

  She met his intense blue gaze. Waiting, hoping he might return her feelings.

  "It has only been a short while, but when you know, you know. I love you too." He hugged her so tightly she could hardly breathe.

  For long moments they simply held each other, heart to heart, skin to skin. She pressed against him, wanting to melt into him so they never had to be apart.

  "So you'll stay?" he said.

  "How could you doubt it?"

  "I hoped I hadn't put you off. I was overthinking things, letting my past dictate my future."

  "I forgive you." She tapped him on the end of his nose as he sometimes did to her, and he laughed.

  "We make a good team caring for the children."

  "We do."

  "I don't expect you to do all the child care and household tasks, though. I know you want to continue nursing."

  "Let me think about it. I love looking after the girls." At this moment, Kelly couldn't get her thoughts in order to make any decisions. Her heart danced, happiness bubbling inside her like a bottle of champagne ready to pop its cork. Then she remembered the au pair.

  "What about Monique?" Kelly didn't want to put anyone out of a job, but the prospect of an au pair living with them 24/7 was not appealing.

  "Monique thought she might have to stay in France to care for her grandmother. I'll give her a call tomorrow and tell her my plans. I'm sure she won't mind."

  A sleepy murmur issued from the baby monitor on the nightstand, followed by soft chattering.

  "Annabelle, I bet," Kelly said.

  Sean nodded. "Looks like it's time to get up."

  Much as Kelly loved being curled in bed with Sean, she was looking forward to seeing the girls. This would be a wonderful Christmas Day, her first Christmas playing mum to this family she hoped might one day really be hers.

  Chapter Nine

  Kelly put the turkey in the oven and starte
d making the stuffing, humming along to the Christmas carols on the radio. Childish giggles and Sean's laughter kept pulling her gaze over her shoulder to where he played with his daughters on the thick rug in front of the fire.

  He lay on his back as the two little girls jumped on him, squealing with excitement. Kelly wiped off her hands, grabbed her mobile phone, and snapped a few pictures of the family fun.

  It still hadn't quite sunk in that Sean wanted her to stay on, to live with him. During the next week they could discuss the arrangements, but not today. Christmas Day was a time for carefree fun. The children had the right idea.

  She and Sean had decided the girls should spread out opening their presents over the day so they didn't get overexcited. After breakfast they unwrapped a plastic play kitchen with an oven, sink, pans, and utensils. They didn't really know what to do with it yet, but they enjoyed chewing on the plastic vegetables and hitting Sean with the pans.

  Sean left them playing in the large cardboard box the toy had come in, and joined Kelly in the kitchen. "What can I do to help?"

  Kelly pointed at the potatoes. "Peel those if you like, but you don't have to. I want you to enjoy yourself with the girls."

  He stepped behind her, circled his arms around her waist, and kissed her neck, making her go all tickly. "I want you to enjoy yourself too. So let me help with lunch, then we can both relax."

  They prepared the vegetables and trimmings, sipping glasses of wine, and laughing together at the children's antics. For the first time in her adult life, she was part of a family. Memories of her childhood swirled back, of the happy times with her parents and sister. She rarely saw them now they lived in Australia. Her mum and dad had emigrated to be near their grandchildren after Kelly's sister, Joanne, married an Aussie.

  Kelly had flown down to spend Christmas with them a few years ago when she had leave from the army. The experience had been uncomfortable, everyone handling her with kid gloves. Her family had changed how they behaved around her once they knew she couldn't have children, as if every mention of her nephew and nieces would upset her. That was partly why she preferred not to tell people about her issue.