Protecting Her Royal Baby

Author:Beth Cornelison
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-05-11T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

“Uncle Hunter!”

As Brianna and Hunter unloaded Ben, his diaper bag and their suitcases, a blond-haired girl charged across the shady grass lawn of the old clapboard-and-brick house where Hunter’s brother lived.

Hunter’s brow beetled for a moment in consternation before brightening as he greeted his niece. He scooped the girl into a bear hug, lifting her off the ground as she kissed his cheek. “Hey, squirt. How ya doin’?”

“Grandma and Papa are taking us to Disney World!” the girl said, positively vibrating with enthusiasm.

“So I hear. That’s cool! You’re gonna have so much fun.” He kissed her head and set her back on the ground. “Peyton, this is my new friend, Brianna, and her son, Ben.”

“Hi, Peyton,” Brianna said and smiled.

The blonde girl peeked at her and gave a shy grin. “Hi.”

The slam of a screened door drew Brianna’s attention to the front porch, where a tall man with chocolate-brown hair strolled out, a baby in his arms.

“I thought you were sending Peyton to Mom and Dad’s.” Hunter’s tone reproached his brother.

“They’re on their way. A Disney trip doesn’t happen in an instant.” As Grant neared the car, Brianna saw the striking resemblance between Hunter and his older brother. Both men were breathtakingly handsome, though Grant had a few threads of gray at his temples and a few lines in his face that bore witness to the toll the months since his wife’s death had taken on him. “Mom’s making reservations and packing, and Dad is gonna pick the girls up after he settles some things at the office.” Grant shifted his attention to her. “You must be Brianna. Welcome. Mi casa es su casa.”

“Thank you. I appreciate your help more than I can say.” Brianna focused on the baby, who blinked at her with wide brown eyes. “Who is this doll?”

“My youngest, Kaylee. She’s ten months.” Grant wiped drool from the baby’s mouth with the corner of the girl’s bib, then kissed his daughter’s dark hair.

Brianna cut a worried look to Hunter, then back to Grant. “Your parents are taking a ten-month-old to Disney World?”

Grant smiled. “I know. I’d never attempt it by myself, but my mom is Superwoman. She’s looking forward to it.” He jerked his head toward the house. “Shall we? I’ve got the upstairs guest room ready for you.”

“Sure. Let me get Sorsha.” Hunter opened the back door of the extended cab and took out the cardboard pet carrier. Sorsha meowed unhappily, and the scrape of pawing sounded from the box.

Grant turned around, startled. “You have a cat?”

“We did mention it. Didn’t we?” Hunter asked.

“A cat?” Peyton hopped up and down with youthful exuberance. “Yeah!”

“It’s not for us, Squirt. It’s Miss Brianna’s cat.”

Brianna bit her bottom lip. “If it’s too much trouble—”

“I don’t mind. We’ll have to see what Cinderella and Sebastian say about it.”

Brianna sent Hunter a curious look, which he answered with an enigmatic grin.

As the group bustled inside Grant’s country house, Brianna caught a flash of brown fur scurrying from the staircase to the living room.

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