Baby Benefits Read Free Page B

brilliant ones? Derek was a financial genius. He ran a multi-billion-dollar business. He was handsome, impeccably dressed and a whiz with the ladies. Yet when it came to some things, he was dumber than dirt.
    And by “some things” she meant real relationships. Family. The things that mattered. And his daughter certainly fell into that category.
    Raina straightened, considering the crumpled ball of paper in her hand. Maybe all wasn’t lost after all. Maybe she could find a way to knock some sense into him over the next few weeks. As for her own emotional state…well, the thought of him sleeping with Jewel had certainly put a damper on her affections. And—if she were honest with herself—probably explained her outburst back in his office.
    One thing was for certain. She wasn’t going to sit in her car and cry, no matter how appealing doing so sounded.
    As she climbed from the car, she muttered, “And damn that Trinity for being right. Does she have an actual, working Magic 8-ball or something?”
    And if she did, what were the chances Raina could get her hands on it? Because she’d darn sure like to know how she was going to get through this without becoming even more emotionally involved than she already was.

    “Sounds like you need some help in here.”
    Derek glanced up from the screaming infant to see his brother standing in his office doorway. Just beyond Dex, in the reception area where Raina’s now-empty desk sat, stood a cluster of curious onlookers, their heads tilted close together, their “concerned” whispers hung in the air as they angled for a view into his office. Apparently more than one person out there was eager to see him fail. Raina, had she been at her usual guard post, would have put a stop to the rubbernecking.
    Damn Raina for leaving him when he needed her most. And damn Dex for wandering by to witness Isabella’s rebellion.
    “I don’t need your help,” Derek insisted, but Isabella ruined the effect by letting out a scream of protest so loud he thought it must have ruptured his eardrum.
    Dex stepped into the office and closed the door behind him. “You sure about that?”
    The bastard was smiling. As if this was just about the funniest thing he’d ever seen.
    Isabella must have recognized Dex’s voice, because she turned her head toward him. For an instant, her cries quieted. Then, no doubt sensing an ally, she redoubled her efforts to escape from Derek’s arms. Derek felt each howl like a stab to the chest.
    She pressed her tiny hands against his shoulder, shoving her upper body away from his. Since she obviously didn’t want to be held against him, he hooked his hands under her armpits and held her at arm’s length. Her protestations grew louder.
    “Um, Derek, she doesn’t like that.”
    Derek could only scowl. “You think?”
    Before Dex could make any more smartass comments, Isabella kicked her legs out toward Derek. He instinctively sucked in his gut to stay out of range of her feet. As he did so, she squirmed again, nearly propelling herself out of his arms.
    “Whoa, there.” In a second, Dex crossed the room and pulled her from Derek’s arms.
    Instantly, Isabella quieted down. She curled up in the protection of Dex’s arms and buried her face against his chest.
    Resentment surged through Derek. Dex was his kid brother. Derek had spent his entire life protecting and taking care of him. And sure, sometimes he was a pain in the butt, but he was basically a good guy. So why did the sight of Isabella cuddled in his arms make Derek want to deck him?
    Dex cradled her, slowly swaying back and forth. To Derek he said, “You need to be careful. You don’t want to drop her.”
    Derek glanced at the stack of books on his desk. Drily, he said, “I bought fifteen books on child rearing at the bookstore this morning. I’m pretty sure one of them would have mentioned that it’s better not to drop the baby on the floor.”
    Dex smiled. “Hey, I’m just trying to help. The