Borrowed Baby Read Online Free Page B

passed. She couldn't tell. He had a wide, rugged face that gave absolutely no clues as to what was going on behind those large brown eyes.
    What on earth was he doing here?
    Casie yelped as Griff shifted her seat.
    "Arresting them a little young, aren't you?"
    Griff cleared his throat. Though he tried to hide it, his discomfort was evident. He raised the infant seat and infant slightly in the air. "This is my niece."
    Liz inclined her head. That still didn't explain what he was doing here. He certainly hadn't brought the child over for show-and-tell. If she was any judge, he looked as if he didn't even like holding the little girl.
    "Hello, Niece." Liz assessed the awkward way he was holding the baby, almost at arm's length—and he had long arms. "You're holding her as if you expect her to explode at any second."
    He didn't think he liked her attitude. "Do you always answer the door at six-thirty half naked?"
    Maybe he came here to pick a fight. "I don't usually answer the door at six-thirty at all." A breeze threatened to separate her from all attempts at modesty. Her hand darted down to the hem of the jersey. "Get in here. It's downright chilly outside."
    She took hold of his arm, intending to draw him in. It was a purely reflexive move. He didn't budge. His arm felt hard, unyielding beneath her hand. Liz looked at him curiously, mild amusement highlighting the corners of her mouth. "Does this come under the heading of assaulting an officer?"
    Only then did he take a step inside her house. "I, um, have a problem."
    "Yes," she agreed, closing the door, "you definitely do." Taking pity on him, Liz took the disgruntled baby out of his hands. She could feel the dampness even with the baby strapped into the seat. "She's wet," Liz accused.
    Griff nodded. "That's part of the problem."
    "Why didn't you change her?"
    "I, um—" In response, he held out the purse Sally had left behind. "I think there are things you need in here."
    "Another man afraid of diapers. C'mon, follow me." She led him to the family room.
    They stepped across a maze comprised of toys and games. She set Casie down on the sofa and unstrapped her. Pushing the baby seat aside, she reached her hand up toward Griff without looking. "Diaper, please."
    Griff felt as if he were involved in some kind of ritualistic surgery. "Here." He gave her what he assumed was a diaper. It was square and covered in white plastic and didn't look a thing like cloth.
    Deftly, Liz began to change the baby. She noticed with amusement that the policeman averted his eyes as she did so. The man was definitely one for the books.
    "There, nice and dry. At least for the moment." She sat the infant up and smoothed down the frilly pink dress. "She certainly is a cutie. Does she have a name?"
    "Who?"
    Liz looked over her shoulder at the policeman. She was five foot seven and she still felt dwarfed by him. Liz rose to her feet, taking the baby into her arms. "Your niece."
    "Oh." He paused before he answered. "Casie."
    She noticed the hesitation. "You two aren't very close, are you? "
    "No." He saw no reason to explain any more than he had to.
    "So, Officer, now that I've changed your niece, what is it that I can do for you?"
    Casie reached out to grab hold of the badge on his shirt. Liz watched in fascination as he took a step back. No, not close at all, she judged. What was he doing with the baby, then? It didn't make any sense.
    He hated asking anyone for anything. Always had. He prided himself on being able to manage no matter what the situation. This, though, was different. Silently he cursed the guitar player for ever having wandered into his sister's life. "Sally, my sister, had to leave suddenly and I have to go to work, so..."
    Explanations didn't come easily to. him, Liz thought. "You'd like me to watch the baby?" she prompted. She had a spot in her heart for strays and lost puppies. Disgruntled and somber looking, the man qualified for the label.
    He was relieved now that the words were