Daddy by Christmas by Patricia Thayer Page B

had set him up, and by the time Jarrett had figured it out, it had cost him nearly a hundred bucks. Nothing to do but cut his losses and go home.
    Fighting a smile at how the old guys had tricked him, he unlocked his apartment door. Before he got inside he paused, hearing a sound coming from across the hall. A baby crying. BJ. He checked his watch. It was after midnight. He waited a few minutes, but the crying didn’t stop. Concerned, he went to Mia’s door, and the sound got louder and angrier.
    â€œMia.” He knocked, and after a few seconds the door opened.
    A tired and anxious-looking Mia stood on the other side. Dressed for bed, she had on a robe, but by the looks of her, she hadn’t gotten much sleep.
    â€œIs everything okay?”
    She didn’t answer, instead she handed him the baby wrapped in a blanket. “Here, you make him stop. I’ve tried everything.”
    He quickly grabbed the bundle, then she turned and walked across the living room.
    Jarrett looked down at the red-faced infant with his tiny fists clenched, waving in the air. “Whoa, there, little guy.” He closed the door and followed after the mother. “It can’t be that bad.”
    The answer was another loud wail. Not good.
    He looked at Mia. “Did you feed him?”
    She sent him a threatening look. “Of course I fed him. And I diapered him, bathed him, burped him, but he won’t stop crying.” Tears filled her eyes, her lower lip trembled. “I’m lousy at this.”
    â€œStop it. You’re just new at it.”
    He readjusted the squirming baby in his arms. Hell, he didn’t know what he was doing either. He raised the baby to his shoulder and began rubbing his back. The baby stiffened, but Jarrett didn’t stop.
    â€œHas he been eating good?”
    Mia nodded, but looked concerned. “Maybe he’s not getting enough. I feed him every two hours.”
    â€œMaybe he’s got an air bubble,” Jarrett said.
    He went to the sofa and sat down, laying the screaming baby across his legs. He remembered seeing Kira doing this with Jenna. After a few minutes a burp came from the little guy and the loud crying turned to a few whimpers and then, finally, silence. He kept patting the baby’s back until he fell asleep.
    He smiled at Mia who still looked close to tears. “Hey, BJ is fine now.”
    She didn’t look convinced.
    He lifted the baby into his arms and caught the clean sent of soap as the tiny bundle move against his shoulder, then finally settled down again. Protectiveness stirred in him as he carried the infant into the bedroom.
    There was a night-light on over the crib, and he placed BJ down on his back. He made room as Mia adjusted the baby’s position and covered him with a blanket. The kid stirred but didn’t make another sound. The silence was golden.
    They stepped away from the baby’s bed. “He’s so exhausted, he should sleep for a while,” Jarrett said encouragingly.
    â€œThanks to you,” Mia said, then added, “I couldn’t even figure out it was gas.”
    Jarrett took her by the arm and led her across to the queen-size bed. They sat down side by side.
    â€œSo now you’ll know,” he said, seeing the dark circles around her pretty blue eyes. He brushed back wayward strands of hair that had escaped her ponytail. His heart pounded at the surge of desire that shot through him. He needed to leave, but he already knew nothing could draw him away from her.
    â€œCall Kira. She had trouble with Jenna, too. That’s how I knew what to do. And the next time you’ll know, too.”
    She swiped at the last of her tears. “You’re lucky to have family.”
    He glanced away. “Trace and Kira didn’t always think so.” He’d made so many mistakes with his brother.
    â€œYou and your brother haven’t always been close?” she asked.
    â€œTry never,” he