Protecting His Kidnapped Family - Leslie North Page 0,24

in my arms was more than enough. I’ll take care of business later. Let’s go inside for now before the owners come out to see what we’re doing.”

10

The next morning, Serena woke up in bed, with Gracie still asleep at her side. After the great dinner and mind-blowing orgasm afterward, she’d slept better than she had in years. Well, in between the feedings. Noah was up and sitting at the table in their room, writing in what looked like a journal. When she stirred, he came over and dropped a kiss on her lips.

“Good morning,” he said, smiling down at her.

“Morning,” Serena said, followed by a yawn and a stretch. “Whatcha doing?”

“Oh,” he straightened and glanced back at the table, then shrugged. “Nothing.”

She frowned and sat up, careful not to wake Gracie, then swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood. “Really? Because it looked like something. Looked like you were writing in a journal.”

Serena started toward the table, but Noah blocked her path, his grin dissolving and his dark brows drawing together. “It’s nothing. Honestly. Forget about it.”

Sunlight streamed in through the blinds behind him, silhouetting his ripped bod and for a moment, Serena just let herself enjoy the view. Damn, the man was fine. No two ways about it. But he was definitely hiding something. She could tell by that stern set to his mouth and the stiffness in his broad shoulders. Rather than going for a direct assault, she decided to try a bait and switch instead. “Fine. Whatever, I’m going to the bathroom.”

She turned to start that way, then faked a left, hoping to get around him and see what the hell he’d been writing. Noah was too quick for her, anticipating her plans and countering. They ended up in each other’s arms, laughing and kissing. It might have gone a bit farther if it wasn’t for Gracie waking up.

Noah peered over the top of Serena’s head toward the bed. “Looks like someone’s up this morning.”

“Yep.” She pulled away and started back to the bed, only to stop at the sound of a strange cry from her daughter. It sounded weak and hoarse and altogether troubling. Serena’s stomach dropped to her toes.

Her worry must have shown on her face because Noah asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Something’s not right with Gracie.”

She rushed over and felt the baby’s forehead, then picked her up and carried her to the bathroom where she flipped on the lights. “She’s got a fever and her nose is runny.”

“Probably just a cold,” Noah said. “Right?”

“Maybe.” Serena’s chest constricted and her heart raced. “But what if it’s not?” Her hands shook slightly as she undressed Gracie, then ran her a nice cool bath in the sink. “We’re in a foreign country and on the run, and what if it’s something terrible? Would it even be safe to go to a hospital?”

Noah hugged her with one arm and kissed the top of her head, while tears stung her eyes. “Don’t worry. Let me go see if the owner lady is up. Maybe she will know what to do. She might even have some supplies we can use.”

Anxious didn’t begin to cover how Serena felt while she waited for Noah to return. Up until now, she’d felt pretty competent as a mother, but then things had gone pretty well. Now she was stuck in the middle of nowhere and her baby was sick. Oh God, she was an awful mother. Gracie depended on her for everything and she’d let her down.

“Hey, hey,” Noah said, when he walked back in with the owner. He took one look at Serena’s tearstained face and pulled her into his arms, holding her while the owner lady examined poor Gracie. She had a thermometer and took the baby’s temperature, then her pulse too before turning to Serena and Noah.

“Her fever isn’t bad. One hundred and one,” the woman said, “but all fevers are troubling in infants. Has she vomited?”

“No,” Serena said, swiping her hand over her damp cheeks. “And her bowel movements have been normal.”

“She’s eating okay?”

“Yes.”

The woman nodded. “I wouldn’t worry too much, then. Just keep an eye on her for the next day or so and monitor her temperature, checking it every few hours.”

Relief swept over her swift and sure. Serena hugged the woman before she turned to Noah. “What about our travel plans?”

Noah shook his head. “Forget them. We’ll stay put until Gracie feels better.”

“Are you sure?” She gave him a cautious look, choosing her words carefully.