Not Quite Mine (Not Quite series) - By Catherine Bybee Page 0,74

to be alone for a while?”

Katie hadn’t thought of that. “I’m just a few streets away.”

Monica laughed as she pulled away. “A few streets, one freeway, and an entire airport away…but who’s drawing a map?”

Katie laughed.

Monica’s face grew stoic. “Call me if you need anything!”

“I will. You, too!”

“OK.” Monica leaned over and kissed Savannah. “Be good for your mommy. She’s the best.”

Katie lifted Savannah into her arms, picked up her tiny hand, and waved as Monica drove away.

Alone, she wandered about Dean’s home and moved a few of her clothes into his closet. He’d pushed aside some of his clothes as if picturing what it would look like with her clothes in his space.

She smiled at the thought and lined up some of her favorite heels on the floor of the closet next to his shoes.

Dean lived simply. A bachelor in every way. He’d moved to the area shortly after their breakup. Jack had told her it was because work in the area had taken off. She had her doubts. Texas was one of the only states in the union that wasn’t as hard hit by the recession depressing the country. California wasn’t as fortunate.

Pushing aside the thoughts as to why Dean had moved to a suburb of LA, Katie walked around his home and took note of her surroundings. There was a distinct lack of knickknacks and dust collectors. He had the occasional family photo, but for the most part the place felt like a house and not a home. Maybe together they could make it a home.

Katie stepped into the guest room across the hall from Dean’s master bedroom. She pictured a crib where she’d placed a playpen to aid in Savannah’s afternoon nap. The room would be close enough to hear Savannah in the middle of the night, but far enough away so she and Dean wouldn’t wake with every toss and turn Savannah managed during the night.

All the books Katie had read assured her that she was a typical new mom that jumped to help Savannah with every whine. According to the mommy bloggers, that wasn’t always a good thing. Maybe now with a little more space, Savannah would sleep better at night.

And so could she.

A mom could hope.

After putting Savannah down for a nap, Katie set out for the kitchen to take inventory and make shelf room for formula, baby food, plastic bottles, and bowls. Now that Savannah was eating a little solid food, she was growing even bigger. Everything about her was looking less like an infant, and more like a tiny girl.

When most of the unpacking was finished, Katie considered pulling out her spreadsheets and working on the tight budget she’d been given for the hotel, but then decided on a cool drink on the back porch. It had been a long time since she’d enjoyed a quiet veranda moment.

Curling her legs under her, she closed her eyes and enjoyed the warm breeze. It was unseasonably cool for Southern California in late summer. She could picture herself curling up under a blanket with a cup of hot chocolate in the fall.

It wasn’t long before her mind drifted to how this new living arrangement was going to work out. Her cooking was marginal at best. Dean obviously hadn’t starved as a single man, so maybe he had more hidden talents. They could order out. Hire a cook. But bringing in too many eyes of domestic help could backfire. Although Katie had dodged the media in the past year, they still knew of her. If they found her with a baby, she would make the tabloids and rumors would fly.

Low profile. That’s what she had to remember.

The hair on her neck prickled and she turned toward the open door leading into the house.

Dean leaned against the frame, a bouquet of white roses sitting limply in his hand. His eyes were soft, the smile he wore could only be described as dreamy.

“You’re home early,” she said softly.

Dean unceremoniously dropped the flowers on the table beside her and captured her face in his palms. His lips were warm and welcoming and edged on desperate. Dean brought her to her feet without words, kept her lips locked to his.

She knew how he felt. The enormity of them living together, of their growing feelings for the other…all of that played out as he kissed her. His tongue traveled into her mouth and traced hers. The prickling of her skin she’d experienced as he watched from the doorway started to