An Orphan's Hope by Christina Miller

Author:Christina Miller
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2021-10-29T12:58:53+00:00

* * *

As much as she hated to admit it, Erin wasn’t doing a great job of helping Jase feel confident as Bella’s dad. Anybody could take one look at the clouds in his blue eyes and see how troubled he felt. The problem was, Erin had no idea how to help him believe he could do the job.

Maybe she was doing too much for Bella and should let Jase take the lead more...

“Oh, no—it’s already seven forty-five,” he said, a diaper in his hand and his gaze fixed on his watch. “I’m not going to make my appointment with Joseph Duncan. He wants me to bring Bella.”

Erin looked down at his bare feet. “I can dress her and put her in the car seat while you finish getting ready.”

Rather than relieving the anxiety in his eyes, her words seemed to ramp it up. Maybe she shouldn’t have offered. “Do whatever you feel comfortable with,” she said. “But in the cool mornings, she needs not only a diaper and dress but also a onesie underneath, and tights, shoes and a hat.”

She couldn’t quite decipher his expression—maybe sweet confusion. “Go ahead, Jase. It’s okay. Even experienced parents sometimes need help.”

Jase hesitated then reached out and squeezed her hand. “Thanks.”

He gave her the diaper then hurried past her. Within seconds, she heard him barreling up the stairs.

Before she could control it, her heart melted for this broken man.

Instantly, she shoved aside the feeling, recognizing she merely felt sorry that he’d been forced into this impossible situation. And that she had begun to love Rosewood and its quirky owner and even Miss Eugenia.

She quickly diapered the baby, slipped on her tights and onesie, and slid her smocked pink gingham dress over her head. By the time she’d secured Bella in her car seat, Jase bounded into the kitchen, looking far beyond handsome in his black suit and gray tie.

“Erin, thank you. Thursday night we’ll take some time to relax a little while I show you Windsor Ruins and the bluff. You’ve been on duty every waking moment since the wedding, and I should have thought to give you some time off.” He paused, and his brow furrowed for an instant as if he was deep in thought. “I just realized how conceited that sounded, as if you’d want to spend your free time with me. You’d probably rather get away from all of us for a while. You can use my car if you want to be alone.”

How sweet. “No, I’d like to see the town with you. Unless you have things to do that night or prefer to be alone.”

“Nope.” He picked up the car seat and Bella and headed for the door. “Wear walking shoes.”

In his haste, Jase all but slammed the back door on his way out.

He’d probably no more than left the porch—the gallery—when Miss Fannie’s little bell tinkled.

Erin secretly smiled at the two older ladies as she started toward the parlor-bedroom. How could they possibly have been more

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