Baby on Board Read Free Page A

everything in the house, showed him how to change
    diapers and how to make formula.
    “Okay, I have to get going,” Ivy yawned. “I’m dead on my feet.”
    Rafe felt a sliver of terror slide into his heart. Alone with Bonnie?
    He’d just found her on his doorstep a few hours ago.
    “Um, can’t you stay? There’s plenty of room,” he said. “What if
    something happens?”
    “Then you’ll handle it, Dad. Just like women, men have the instinct to
    protect and nurture their young, so you’ll be fine.” She pulled out a pen
    and a small notebook from her purse and scribbled on it quickly. “Here’s
    my number and my cell. If you need anything, give me a ring-a-ding.”
    Rafe sighed in defeat. He honestly couldn’t expect her to give up her
    sleep and stay at his place to help with a child she barely knew...hell, he
    barely knew.
    “Thanks for all you did today.” He smiled at her as he took Bonnie out
    of the car seat and held her against him. She patted his face with her little
    chubby hands and he felt his heart melt. “You can check in on us anytime

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    you want. I’m going to spend the weekend getting to know my daughter.”
    Again, Rafe swore he saw something spark in her eyes at his words—
    respect and something else.
    She cleared her throat and went to the door. “Well, goodnight.”
    It closed quietly behind her and he was left alone with Bonnie. She
    began to babble and drool, and then fuss.
    “You’re probably hungry, huh, baby girl? Let’s make you a bottle and
    then we’ll figure out the rest of this stuff,” he said.
    He went into the kitchen and while holding the baby in his arms,
    followed the direction’s Ivy had given him on how to make her formula.
    He put a scoop of baby cereal in the milk to make it a bit thicker just like
    Bonnie had showed him. She told him it was a trick mothers used to help
    babies stay fuller longer. He sat in his leather recliner and held her in his
    arms. Bonnie fixed her mouth over the nipple hungrily and began to drink
    the milk down. She stared up at him with beautiful, clear eyes and smiled
    around the bottle. Rafe couldn’t help but grin. He’d heard fathers on base
    talk about their children with pride. In the hardest of situations, living on a
    FOB far away from home, Rafe saw the love shine on faces of hardened
    soldiers when they looked at pictures of their children. He never thought
    he would experience it. Yet here he was holding Bonnie and those same
    sensations coursed through him. Was this what his life had been missing?
    “You’ve got grandparents who will be thrilled to meet you, baby girl,”
    he murmured.
    He could picture his mother’s face when he showed up at their house.
    Granted, she would have a bunch of questions about everything, but even
    so she would welcome Bonnie with open arms. He made a mental note to
    take Bonnie to a pediatrician to make sure she was okay and to request a
    paternity test. On Tuesday, he would drive to the base and get her added
    to his medical benefits and everything else the military gave the children
    of soldiers. Her mother might not have wanted her, but he did. After he
    got the baby settled he would get on his computer and research who Juno
    was. He wanted no problems when he took custody of Bonnie. He was not

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    going to give this woman the opportunity to come back into his daughter’s
    life. If she walked away once, she would probably try to do it again.
    Maybe pity was what she needed, but Rafe had none. He’d seen too
    many young men and women join up just because their family life sucked
    and they needed a place to belong. If Juno knew how to find his house,
    she sure as hell could’ve contacted him. The nipple fell from Bonnie’s
    mouth; she’d fallen asleep while drinking her milk. He lifted her gently
    and almost immediately she burped on his shoulder and he felt something
    warm run down his back.
    “Eww,” Rafe said