Caitlyn and the Alien Protector (Intergalactic Brides 7) Read Free Page A

heritage, I’d have given her up for adoption. I’m not including my contact information because I don’t want to hear from you, or from Katy, ever again. Tell her whatever you want when she asks about me. With any luck, she’ll never ask why I gave her up. I’m not sure how much she understands about the situation.
     
    Sasha Nepaul
     
    Well, at least he had a name, even if he still didn’t remember her. But then, he hadn’t exactly discriminated on who he slept with a few years ago. He’d tried the one-night stand thing just to numb the pain he’d felt over leaving his home again, but had decided it wasn’t the right path for him. As was true of every Zelthranite he’d ever met, he wanted to find his mate and start a family. Well, it seemed he had the family part down, but now he needed a mate. And who the hell was going to take a chance on a male who had lost control and created a child with a stranger?
    The phone rang, and it was a number he didn’t recognize.
    “Hello.”
    “Is this Cosmir?” a male voice asked.
    “Yes.”
    “My name is Bane and I’m from Keshpa. Well, originally. As of the last few years, I’ve lived on Tourmaline with my mate, Ari and our daughter, Elise. I heard you wanted to talk to someone who’s a parent.”
    Cosmir quickly explained the situation, about Katy being dumped in his lap and his lack of knowledge about children. They spoke a few minutes more and he answered all of Bane’s questions.
    “On our way down from the Terran station, we passed a large store that catered to babies and children. Right off the highway? Do you know the one?” Bane asked.
    “I think so.”
    “Can you meet us there in about twenty minutes? We’ll help you buy everything you need. I hope you have some money saved. If you’re having to get everything from a bed to clothes and toys, this could get rather expensive.” Bane chuckled. “Children aren’t cheap, but they are definitely worth it.”
    “I really appreciate any help you can give me. I’ll be there.”
    Cosmir hung up the phone and glanced at the clock. If he was going to make it to that store on time, they’d need to leave in a few minutes. Surely Katy would be all right long enough for him to change clothes, right? He watched her another minute and she didn’t move. Hurrying into his bedroom, he took off his uniform and put on a pair of jeans and a tee. Cosmir slipped on his boots and hurried back into the living room, but Katy wasn’t there. His heart leapt and his pulse raced as he thought of all the things she could get into. A giggle drew his attention to the hall bathroom, where he found her pulling toilet paper off the roll by the handful and tossing it into the air.
    He breathed a sigh of relief and picked up the squealing little girl. “I can see I’m going to have to keep a close eye on you.”
    She grasped his face between her chubby hands and gave him a sloppy kiss on his cheek. It was probably the best kiss he’d ever received and it warmed him from the inside out. With a grin on his face he carried Katy to the front door, picked up his keys, and went out to his SUV. He faced the same problem he’d had at the fire station. She didn’t quite fit in the seatbelt, but he did the best he could.
    By the time he reached the store, he’d checked his rearview mirror a thousand times, making sure Katy hadn’t escaped the seatbelt or found something to stick in her mouth. He nearly leapt from the vehicle and hurriedly unbuckled Katy, pulling her into his arms. He spotted Bane and his family by the front door. It was a little hard to miss a pale blue alien with white hair in a crowd of humans.
    Bane smiled as Cosmir approached. “I see you made it in one piece.”
    “I won’t lie. I was worried the entire way here that she’d wiggle out of the seatbelt.”
    Bane’s eyebrows rose. “So first thing we need to shop for is a booster seat. Although, as little as she is, a car seat is probably better. How old is